From constant stretching to wearing loose-fitting clothing, a pilot who regularly flies one of the longest commercial flights in the world has revealed his top tips for making long-haul economic travel bearable.
Yusri Abu Bakar, who lives in Dubai and works for Emirates, says one of his most grueling journeys takes nearly 16 hours in the air, to and from Auckland, New Zealand.
He flies this long route two to three times a month, and to make it easier on the mind and body, he employs a series of crafty techniques.
Fly down to learn about six of Yusri’s time-tested methods for surviving long-haul flight, as shared with Insider.
1. Sync with your destination
To minimize the symptoms of jet lag, Yusri recommends syncing your destination at least two days before you fly (stock image)
Flying to a new time zone can really mess up your biological clock.
To minimize the symptoms of jet lag, Yusri recommends getting in sync with your destination at least two days before flying.
He does this by gradually changing his eating and sleeping patterns.
He explains: ‘If I fly on a Saturday, I go to bed two hours earlier on Thursday and four hours earlier on Friday. It’s slowly pushing me closer to the new time zone.’
2. Being kind to the crew will improve your experience
According to Yusri, if you make life easier for the flight crew, you will score points sooner and you will receive extra drinks or snacks, for example.
He recommends doing helpful things like fasten your seatbelt on top of your blanket so the stewards don’t have to disturb you.
He doesn’t recommend ringing the bell multiple times and instead recommends stocking up on everything you need before settling in or visiting the galley yourself.
3. Keep your body moving
Staying active during a flight is important, says Ysuri.
He recommends stretching for at least five to 10 minutes every hour of your flight.
Some of the areas he says are good to focus on are your glutes, your hips, and your back.
“These are the areas that can get stiff during a flight,” he adds. To avoid disturbing people while stretching, he advises reserving bulkhead or aisle seats.
4. Make a schedule if you’re flying with kids
From his observations, Yusri says the kids who perform best on long-haul flights follow some kind of schedule.
This includes play time, as well as stints to sleep.
He reveals, “I’ve seen parents have timed activities for their kids. During the flight, they bring out other toys or books at regular intervals, so that the child is surprised and entertained.
“Early in the flight they let them play games on their tablets, but when they go to bed they will take some of the stimulation away and give them a traditional board game so they calm down.”
5. Pack an eye mask and noise-cancelling headphones
Two of Yusri’s essential carry-on items are noise-canceling headphones and an eye mask.
He says these two things will vastly improve your long-distance experience and are worth the investment.
Other passengers can open the blinds or turn on the lights, and Yusri says a good pair of eyeshadows will improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep.
6. Drink plenty of water
The aviator warns: “If you’re thirsty, it’s too late because you’re already dehydrated” (stock image)
Frequent travelers always talk about the benefits of drinking plenty of water, and Yusri agrees it makes a big difference.
He says staying hydrated will make you feel much better when you land.
The aviator warns, “If you’re thirsty, it’s too late, because you’re already dehydrated.”
7. Dress comfortably
While many people believe that traveling in business attire increases your chances of getting a free upgrade, Yusri says this is a myth.
He recommends ditching smart outfits for something more comfortable.
On long-haul flights, loose-fitting clothing helps you feel less claustrophobic and stuffy.
8. Listen to music or audio books to fall asleep
Falling asleep standing up on a plane can be tricky, but Yusri says he has a few methods for successfully drifting off.
He will always have a good book with him or download some relaxing music that he can listen to with noise-cancelling earplugs instead of the standard airplane headsets.
He offers some advice on music choices, saying, “There are some playlists on Spotify that you can use to induce sleep. I have a playlist full of classical music and jazz.’
Audiobooks are another of Yusri’s secret sleeping weapons, as he says they can also be “a little meditative.”
His preference is for “self-help” books such as ikigai or Ryan Holiday books [on Stoic philosophy].’