As a travel writer who used to work as an international flight attendant, I’ve crisscrossed the globe many times over.
I’ve serviced every cabin and sat in just about every seat on the plane, from a first-class sleeper suite to the dreaded middle spot in the back of economy. In doing so, I’ve learned many of the tricks of the trade.
Here’s what I’ve noticed many travelers do, consciously or subconsciously, to sabotage their comfort and overall experience on long-haul international flights.
Walking around the plane without shoes or socks on isn’t the best idea.
There’s nothing like settling in for a long flight by kicking off your shoes and pulling on a comfy pair of socks, an amenity that crew members often hand out in first class.
However, you’re supposed to wear those socks when you’re sitting down in your seat, not when you’re walking around the cabin.
When I worked as a flight attendant, I learned that many airplane carpets weren’t deep-cleaned very often. Because the cabin can get bumpy during turbulence, the liquid on the lavatory floor might also not be water.
If you want to walk around without shoes on, pack some slippers to avoid direct contact with the floor.
Many forget to test out their bulky neck pillows before packing them for a flight.
Some people swear by those classic U-shaped neck pillows, and my daughter actually loves hers.
More often than not, though, I’ve seen passengers schlep them all over the world only to hang them up on the plane after finding them uncomfortable.
Before you burden yourself with such a bulky addition to your carry-on, test the pillow at home to make sure it’s a good fit.
Be careful experimenting with sleep aids while in the air.
Don’t assume you can wash down a sleep aid with a couple of drinks and stay comfortably asleep for precisely the right amount of time.
Some sleeping pills can lead to grogginess and other side effects, and you need to be able to be awake and alert in the case of a mechanical issue or other emergencies on the plane.
If you have a hard time getting up after trying sleep aids for the first time, having a stronger-than-usual reaction to them, or taking too many, you could wake up to a frustrated flight attendant in front of your face.
Always talk to your doctor before taking prescription medication in general, especially in the air. And if you’re taking over-the-counter sleep aids, make sure you follow the instructions closely.
Watching TV shows and movies the entire flight may lead to worse jet lag the next day.
As a mom, I don’t judge parents for loosening their usual rules to get their kids through long flights. My oldest would happily hop on the world’s longest flight just for the opportunity to watch TV and movies the whole time.
The number of kids’ TV shows, movies, and games on most international flights is glorious, but if you don’t mix in some analog-entertainment options — such as coloring books, sticker books, or mazes — your kids will likely be too wired to wind down and sleep.
And without sleep, they’ll probably experience jet lag the next day. This sort of logic applies to adults, too.
Many travelers don’t drink enough water and arrive at their destinations dehydrated.
If the captain is constantly switching the seatbelt sign on and off, or you have to climb over other people to get to the lavatory, it can be tempting to ration your water intake on flights.
However, the dry air and high altitude can both contribute to dehydration, which can then exacerbate jet-lag symptoms or lead to other health issues.
Flight attendants should frequently sweep through the cabin offering water, but if they don’t, don’t hesitate to ask for more.
To have more control over the situation, consider bringing your own empty water bottle to fill after you pass through security.
If you’re not wearing proper layers, you could end up uncomfortably hot or cold on the plane.
It’s hard to please everyone, and that’s especially true when it comes to the temperature inside an airplane that’s hurtling across the world thousands of feet above the ground.
There’s a high probability that, at some point, the cabin will be too hot or too cold for your liking. You can try asking a flight attendant to tweak the temperature, but keep in mind that another passenger may have just requested a change in the opposite direction.
Play it safe by dressing in layers that are easy to pile on or take off.
Don’t skip a chance to charge your devices.
It’s smart to load your devices up with movies, shows, and e-books before a long flight.
Just make sure to keep your devices fully charged before you board because it’s not uncommon for the outlets in a seat, a row, or an entire plane to stop working.
To be extra safe, bring a book or download a few podcasts, which won’t drain your battery and will help you stay entertained through the night.
Travelers shouldn’t rely on in-flight entertainment, which also doesn’t always work.
A long-haul flight is a perfect opportunity to catch a new movie release or a TV series that streams on a channel you’re not subscribed to at home.
However, seat-back TVs can be finicky, so there’s a chance the one in front of you won’t work. If you’re not the kind of person who can sleep all night on a plane, bring your own entertainment just in case.
Drinking too much alcohol before or during a flight can worsen your experience.
Because of decreased blood-oxygen levels from low cabin pressure and dehydration from low humidity, alcohol’s effects can feel like they hit much harder in the air.
I’ve seen inebriated passengers embarrass themselves, start fights, and vomit after boasting about how much alcohol they can handle.
I’m not saying you can’t have a glass of wine with dinner — I rarely pass up the opportunity — but please keep in mind that even if you don’t misbehave, too much alcohol and dehydration can lead to a brutal case of jet lag.
It’s easy to forget small items, such as earplugs and moisturizers, that can make a flight way more comfortable.
If you’re in a premium cabin, a flight attendant may hand you a cute amenity kit. If you’re in the back, though, you’ll probably have to bring your own.
The air in plane cabins tends to be low in moisture, so bring lip balm to keep your lips from chapping and lotion to keep your skin from flaking.
If you don’t have noise-canceling headphones, bring earplugs to block out the sound of people chewing, chattering, coughing, and pacing up and down the aisles.
An eye mask can help shield your eyes from flashing TV screens, flight attendants’ flashlights, and light streaming in from open window shades.
And after a long night of eating airplane food and sipping wine and then waking up to breakfast and coffee, you’ll probably appreciate having travel-size toothpaste and a toothbrush. At the very least, you may want to bring a stick of gum to freshen up your breath.
You may want to skip gassy foods and carbonated beverages when flying.
Some airplane food is very processed, so it makes sense that travelers want to fill up on salads and fresh vegetables at the airport.
That said, do your best to lay off anything that can give you gas, including carbonated beverages. The low air pressure at cruise altitude causes gases to expand.
That’s the reason your bag of chips inflates like a balloon, and it explains why you may have to loosen your belt to accommodate your in-flight bloat.
All that trapped wind can be agonizing, which is why my airline trained its flight attendants to put passengers in flatulence-friendly positions to ease their pain.
This story was originally published on December 19, 2022, and most recently updated on May 11, 2026.
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