We've all been told over and over what not to take with us on a plane, but when it comes to packing for a stress-free journey, what are the absolute must-haves?
Whether you're planning a long-haul flight which will take most of a day, or a short hop which will be over in just a few hours, there are many ways to keep yourself – and your children – occupied and happy whilst on board. Just follow our simple plan and you'll soon find that time will be flying too!
1. Your own entertainment
After suffering a nine-hour flight where the entertainment system broke down, I have never travelled again without a stash of goodies to keep me distracted. Don't just rely on a book, as it's easy to become distracted on a flight, so make sure you have a choice of activities depending on your mood.
A laptop with earphones, a battery pack and stash of DVDs can go a long way to keep you and your kids happy. Try downloading podcasts and audiobooks – it can be quite relaxing to just sit and listen, rather than straining to read under harsh lighting. Finally, try giving sudoku or word puzzles a whirl – you'd be surprised how much time you can lose puzzling out clues like 'Roman house (5)'!
2. A water bottle
One of the problems of flying is that it can easily make your body feel dehydrated. This is because we are used to humidity levels of around 50%, but in a plane the humidity can drop to 1%. Unless you remember to buy a bottle once you're past security, this will mean relying on your air stewards for water, so plan ahead. Invest in an aluminium or plastic water bottle, the kind that you might use at the gym – just make sure that it's empty when you go through security. Now, you can fill up your bottle, and stay hydrated for the whole flight without having to ask for help. Try to drink at least the equivalent of a glass each hour. Avoid drinking caffeinated or alcoholic drinks on board, as these will make you more dehydrated.
3. Hard-boiled sweets
Years ago, flight attendants would hand out sweets before take-off. But that custom seems to have disappeared, so make sure you bring your own! No, it's not to give you something sweet to start your trip – sucking on a hard-boiled sweet makes you swallow, which helps reduce pressure on your inner ear. If you do suffer from pain in your ears on landing and take-off, it can be a miserable experience, so start sucking the minute the plane starts to move and keep going until the 'unfasten seatbelts' sign lights up; the cabin pressure should have equalised by then. On landing, start sucking when the 'fasten seatbelts' sign lights up and hopefully you should be fine.
4. A tracksuit
No, we're not suggesting that you try working out in the plane! Although, some stretching exercises are always a good idea throughout a long-haul flight. This is to try and be as comfortable as possible for the journey. Many of us suffer from bloating and water retention when we fly, if you're wearing jeans or tights, this can be uncomfortable, so as soon as you're able to visit the bathroom on board, take your tracksuit (that you packed in your hand luggage) and slip into it. When it's almost time to land, you can go and change again, giving you the added bonus of arriving feeling fresh!
5. Wet wipes and a tooth brush
OK, so if you're a mum or a dad you probably travel with wet wipes anyway, but just in case you don't, these are an absolute must-have for any flight. Staggering off a long-haul flight feeling grubby and grim has to be one of the most depressing experiences, especially if you're landing in a sunny paradise! Make sure that doesn't happen by nipping to the loos before landing to give yourself a bit of a once-over with a couple of wet wipes and clean your teeth (and also to change out of your tracksuit and into fresh clothes!). Don't forget to take your water into the loo with you – you don't want to drink from that tap! OK, so it's not the same as a full shower, but importantly, you'll feel clean and refreshed and when you may have another few hours before you get to your destination that goes a long way!
Return to News HomepagePublished Date: Monday, August 22, 2011 1:58 PM