Long-haul flights last over seven hours and can cause exhaustion, boredom, and health problems. Airlines provide in-flight entertainment and food, but passengers should bring comfort items and stretch periodically. Jet lag is common, and cabin crew also face stress.
A long-haul flight is a flight lasting more than seven hours. Long-haul flights often involve intercontinental travel; flights from Asia to the Americas, for example, are always long-haul flights due to the distance that the aircraft must travel. In some cases, it may be necessary for an aircraft to stop for refueling during a long-haul flight, especially for smaller aircraft.
For travellers, a long-haul flight can be exhausting. Most people don’t like being trapped in an airplane for an extended period of time and may start to feel bored or restless. Long-haul flights can also create health problems such as deep vein thrombosis, which can be caused by sitting too long, or they can exaggerate existing health problems as passengers breathe recycled air and struggle to stay hydrated.
Most airlines recognize that long-haul flights can be quite exhausting. In-flight entertainment such as music and movies is often provided, with many airlines having private entertainment stations at each seat allowing passengers to choose from a range of movies, television programmes, games and music. Food is also generally offered on a long-haul flight, along with drinks.
Some things can make long-haul flights more bearable for passengers. It’s a good idea to dress comfortably and pack items such as books, magazines, a computer, a personal music player, and a sleep mask to cover your eyes while you sleep. Pillows, blankets and other comfort items can also make flying more enjoyable, as can family snacks. It’s also a good idea to get up to stretch periodically.
In many cases, a long-haul flight is associated with jet lag at the other end, because the plane has crossed several time zones. A variety of techniques can be used to deal with jet lag; regular travelers often develop their own. Many people recommend that you set your watch to your destination time when you board the plane and try to get some sleep or rest through the “night,” regardless of the time of day on the plane.
Cabin crew also have to cope with the stress of a long-haul flight, because in addition to being trapped on an airline, they also have to deal with customers. Many airlines provide space for cabin crew to rest or sleep, and crew can rotate duties on a long-haul flight so that no one has to work the entire flight.
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