Travel Hacks for Flying

This is from a Quora post I did a while back.  "Travel hacks for trans-continental flights."

Once you find your seat all that is left to do is relax and be a package.  I usually read a kindle or sleep.  In my view the only really productive thing to do on a plane is sleep.  Otherwise make sure that you get up and walk around now and then - stretching while doing so.  Not to mention drinking lots of water.  Limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol.  Not very glam but it helps. 

As below I travel with a Redoxx bag as a carryon.  If I need a hard carry on I use an age old Rimowa.  

Find the best seats: try Seatguru. (Airline Seat Maps, Flights shopping and Flight information- Best Airplane Seats)

Research where your gates are so you will know where to go before you land.  Download the airport maps.

Travel Gear:

Warmth: A deep hood hoody... mine is from Triple Aught Design is SF. (Triple Aught Design)  A scarf or thin blanket is also nice for those that are so inclined.   This serves two purposes: warmth and draft protection.  Planes are often cool and they keep the air moving so you will not be annoyed by the scent of your fellow travelers.  

Head Phones: Noise Canceling head phones are a great!  Bose seems to hold onto the lead but Sony and many other companies make good products.  I like the in ear version as they take up less space in my bag.

Eye Mask - Keeping the light out of your eyes helps with sleep.  It also limits distraction and helps your relax.

Neck Pillow:  This keeps your neck braced while you sleep upright.  Mine is from Muji.  Like most things Muji - good quality, inexpensive and compact.  (Choose your country or region)

Travel Wipes:  These things are fetish items for frequent fliers.  Clean you hands and face, or polish shoes.  Not to mention your arm rests and tray table.   

Warm Socks: Take off your shoes and relax.  Warm socks will help.

Travel Organizer: I use a Seat Pak from Flight 001 to keep all my items in one place in the seat pocket.  That way your passport does not end up in the bottom of the seat pocket half lost.  (Travel Seat Pak - Flight 001)

Snacks:  High protein snacks for the flight. In flight food is not always what you might expect.  I tend to go for Almonds and dried fruit.

No-Jet-Lag Tablets: These are have Arnica in them and help with all the aches of sitting in a seat for an extended period of time. (Jet Lag Prevention, using No-Jet-Lag to reduce jet lag.)

Something for a headache:  Travel is work. Often you will feel a bit ache on a flight.  Your choice of an analgesic will help you there.  

Melatonin: Melatonin never really worked well for me on the flight.  It works to reset body rhythms but not to go to sleep on command.  Take it once or twice after you landed, more and it just clogs the receptors.

See your doctor: When I was traveling trans-atlantic a few times a month my Doc was kind enough to provide a very low dose Xanax script.  That worked. Instant sleep. Talk to your doc if you are really in need of sleep or concerned about your flight.