First Flight: Tips for Flying Internationally

Believe it or not, the first flight I did solo was a 10-hour international flight. Talk about trial by fire! I had flown before, but always with other people and they were mostly domestic flights. It was definitely a little daunting, a pinch stressful, and the entire time I kept thinking "This feels too easy!"

By the end of the flight, when my partner picked me up, I realized that it wasn't as hard as I had worked it up to be in my head. Since I regularly see people online asking for tips before their first flight and/or their first international flight, in this article I'm going to share some of my top flying tips - especially for long-haul trips.

Bring a water bottle

I know, you're already questioning me. You're thinking, "You can't bring liquids through airport security!" But hydration is important and I didn't say to fill it. 😉 Bring an empty reusable water bottle in your carry-on. Once you're through security, there are always water fountains or bottle-filling stations for you to use. Fill that bottle up and take it with you because it's very easy to get dehydrated on long flights. Can you buy water on the other side? Sure. But you're going to seriously overpay for a plastic bottle of water.

Things to note: Open bottles like a Yeti, that have a straw you can't close are not your friend in this situation. Your best bet is a metal bottle with a screw-top lid. If you have a water bottle with a flip-up straw, those can work, but before take off do not forget to open the straw at least part way. If you don't, you're going to create a small geyser when you finally open it on the plane. See the video below for an example of what the plane's change in pressure does to the straw.

While the above video is a fun little science moment, when flying for long stretches, getting wet with no way to change or dry off properly is really going to ruin your mood -and potentially the moods of your fellow nearby travelers.

Bring Snacks

While most, if not all, internationally flying airlines will offer some kind of food as part of your journey with no extra charge, that doesn't mean you're going to particularly like whatever is on offer. We all know the reputation plane food holds, especially if you're not in first class or business class.

In case the food is something you just can't stomach or even if you get peckish a few hours after mealtime, then having a few snacks that you know you like on hand will feel like an absolute lifesaver.

Personally, I tend toward protein bars or snack bars because they're easy, mess-free, and will hold me over (at least for the most part) until the next time I can get my hands on something more substantial. I tend to avoid anything with nuts since it's such a common and often severe allergy. It's also not unheard of for flight attendants to sometimes ask passengers not to open anything containing nuts if a passenger has made them aware of their life-threatening allergy. Medical emergencies will not make the flight smoother and not being able to open your chosen snack might be very disappointing.

Another useful snack is single-serve bags of chips or crackers you enjoy. (But they may get crushed.) A tip that I've recently seen going viral online is to bring a Cup of Noodles with you. All you have to do is ask the flight attendant for hot water (which they will have) and you have a reliable meal. I haven't done this myself, but it looks like an easy way to keep some palatable food on hand and the people who have done it, swear by it.

Compression Socks and Movement

This is one of those tips that you think sounds silly at first, but I promise this is really useful for flying internationally: Wear compression socks for long flights! My personal rule of thumb is if the flight is longer than six hours I should probably be putting them on. Many airlines will even provide compression socks as part of their amenity kit, but not always, and sometimes it's only for certain classes.

What are compression socks? They're tall socks that apply a light amount of pressure on your ankle and lower leg. This increases circulation & blood flow. Why does this matter? On long flights you don't really get to move around much and sitting still for long periods can increase your chance of a blood clot, especially if you already have circulation issues.

Speaking of moving around, I'll often go to the restroom two or three times (this is why I fly aisle on long flights) in order to stretch my legs even if I don't have to go super badly. It's not much, but it's better than nothing. If you're confident, you can even stand in the aisle for a minute or two and actually do a couple of toe reaches. I see this almost every time I'm flying internationally, but I've never been brave enough to do it myself. Just make sure you're doing this at a quiet time when there isn't much movement and the attendants aren't rolling carts around! This will also help your circulation.

Luggage

If this is your first flight you may not have luggage yet. Before you go purchase a suitcase, know which airline you're flying. Each airline has different size and weight maximums both for check-in and carry-ons. The last thing you want is to be surprised by extra charges or by being forced to check a bag you intended to take on the plane with you. This is even more crucial for flying internationally since that carry-on is going to have the aforementioned water, snacks, and socks. Plus, whatever form of entertainment you've decided to bring with you.

Another thing to keep in mind when purchasing luggage is how distinct your bag looks. When you look at a luggage carousel, the vast majority of bags are going to be black and of a similar size. This means spotting your bag is going to be trickier if your bag also fits that description. I always recommend buying colorful baggage or something with a pattern so it's easier to spot your suitcase and there's less chance of a mix-up.

Now, if black just happens to be your favorite color, then here are some other ways you can make your bag more unique. First, a bright luggage tag. The bonus is that if there is a mix-up you'll have put your last name & phone number on the tag so whoever has your bag can contact you. If the airline loses your luggage this will also help them identify it. Always have a tag. Luggage straps can also make your bag more easily identifiable - this can also help keep your bag shut in case of a zipper malfunction. Or to keep things simple, you can even just put some bright duct tape on a handle.

Conclusion

These are some of my biggest tips for flying internationally (or even domestically, really). Whether it's your first-ever flight or your first flight solo, you've got this! It seems daunting, but it's easier than you think. And statistically, flying is the safest form of travel around!

If you need help or support planning and booking your upcoming trip, I'm happy to help you and provide all the advice you need. Email: brynley@meridianvacations.co