In short, aka, TLDR: snacks & headphones/earplugs & self sedation aka gravol, but read through if you desire.

I’ve just touched down in beautiful Bangkok after the longest flight of my life. I’ve dabbled in overseas flights, around half a dozen over the Pacific and a couple the other way. Always multi leg journeys, maxing out at 10/11h for the longest leg. But now we’ve got the option to book direct YVR to BKK, a solid 16h in the air. It’ll dramatically decrease total travel time, of course, but being stuck in one seat for that long is a whole new experience. I’ll break down my tips into three categories, snacks, comfort & entertainment.

I always travel with snacks and never trust airplane food, unless flying British Airways. Along with something sweet&/salty&/crunchy, a book and a scarf turned blanket I can be happy as a clam for hours on end, even squished up in cattle class. So back to snacks. Depending on flight duration, and time of departure – like, if they’re serving you the sick joke they call breakfast – I’d likely prefer to self cater. Because really. What sounds worse than microwaved eggs. So I either come prepared to the airport, or as a last resort I collect the goods after security, since money isn’t real in airports. If we’re leaving from YVR on a long flight, I’ll bring a lil treat, a venti chai and a sweet treat, can last me the first hour of a flight, and do wonders for my mental state, takes my mind off the impending doom of takeoff, when death is most likely.

My Personal Ultimate Travel Snacks (not healthy at all)

• cashews
• dried mango
• candied ginger
• eat more
• wine gums
• granola bars, in case meals are inedible

Planes and their recycled air is dry. Stale, cold and dry, but we’ll focus on dry first. Key to hydration & to avoid rationed water/beverage situation, /single use plastic, you’re more than allowed to bring your empty water bottle through security and fill on the other side, there’s usually stations in airports or water fountains, or as a last resort the stewardesses will fill ya up. I also can’t live without lip butter, and face cream. On that note, I keep a little toiletries kit handy, including, but not limited to:

In Flight Kit

• comb
• toothbrush/toothpaste/mints
• hand sanitizer
• face cream/hand cream
• lip butter
• roller ball with rosemary EO
• dry shampoo
• deodorant
• cozy socks
• baby wipes
• alcohol wipes

Nice and handy to take into the comically small bathrooms -and remember, the bathrooms can be horrendously filthy, so I suggest *always* wearing your shoes, I know, you’d think this would be obvious, but it’s not. Wipes are a godsend for air travel. Wipe the sweat/salt/dirt away. Wake yourself up on a plane before disembarking. In a pinch they’ll make you feel clean & fresh, great for hands too. Having a few disinfectant wipes handy as you board and settle into your seat is also a nice little routine, just to double check that everything is proper clean.

Beyond those basics, there’s something you mustn’t forget to avoid induced psychosis, inflicted by screaming babies/children, and that’s either good earbuds or ear plugs, which you’d be a fool to forget, and I also find necessary when attempting to fall asleep. If you choose to indulge in the supplied inflight entertainment, nowadays, they may expect you to supply your own headphones, (plug in) so come prepared if that’s what you’re into. I’ll generally load a few shows I’ve been meaning to watch on my iPad, a nice light murder documentary/docuseries or something about cults. Tuck in under a cozy pashmina, feet elevated with a nifty foot hammock – a game changer for me. Back to sleep. You could splurge for some sort of prescription aid, but my go to is a specific gravol, adult strength, liquid gel capsule, I find that 2 of those babies knock me out gently without feeling groggy afterwards. I also carry kids level chewable gravol for motion sickness, and I’ll take one prior to takeoff, or on a bus, or ferry, I keep them handy.

TSA Tips

Waiting in lines in airports is straight trash. It’s all lines. Waiting to check bags or get boarding passes, waiting for customs, waiting for security, waiting to board. By the time I’m up for security you best believe I have all my ducks in a row, I want the entire process to go as quickly and as smoothly as possible, so we’re talking no belts, no jewelry, no messing around. Nothing in your pockets. No metal on your shoes. Shoes ready to be removed and in a bin, if that’s what’s the TSA gods demand – always wear shoes with socks for this reason, coat and or sweater off. Assorted liquids in proper bag, ready for inspection. Electronics separated from your bags, likely in separate bins, passport and boarding pass in hand, ready for further inspection. Get in, get out, get your stuff back together. Don’t try to bring anything goofy. Or do. It’s not like I haven’t. We all make mistakes. Sometimes we slip up. Spice up your life.

Fun things confiscated by TSA over the years:

(not necessarily my items)

• lighters
• fish hooks
• power bank
• aerosol bug spray, even under 100ml, not allowed…
• a razor blade (out of my safety razor, eco friendliness is not a priority)
• Spanish ham, technically customs… should’ve just eaten it

In hindsight, these are all embarrassingly/hilariously obvious.

Grab & Go List

• excessive snacks
• headphones/earplugs
• iPad/books
• scarf/blanket
• toiletries kit
• water bottle