Qantas prepares extra-long trips with luxury and comfort 1:10
(CNN) --
Any plane trip can be stressful, but facing a long-haul flight can be especially intimidating.
Should you prioritize sleeping or eating, or both?
Should you try exercising in the hallway?
Is it acceptable to take off your shoes?
Kris Major is a British flight attendant with 24 years of experience.
He has worked short hauls and has spent 14 straight hours in the sky.
He has endured trips with an unenviable number of layovers, and has become an expert at reenergizing with naps at 30,000 feet.
As the pandemic wanes and many of us eagerly await long-awaited long-haul adventures, CNN Travel asked Major for his tips and tricks for surviving multi-hour flights in the sky.
Should I eat before or during a night flight?
If you're traveling on an overnight flight and want to maximize sleep on board, Major suggests eating before boarding.
This is especially important if the flight is short: if you're traveling from New York to London, for example, you'll be getting five or six hours of sleep at best, so you'll want to make the most of that rest time.
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Major, who also represents European flight attendants and pilots as chairman of the Joint Aircrew Committee of the European Transport Workers' Federation, says it is telling that most business travelers close their eyes as soon as they get on board.
"The most experienced travelers, after takeoff, go into the cabin and they're gone: they've covered themselves up and they're asleep," he says.
Why we love airplane food
Still, Major admits that eating before you fly isn't always feasible, due to long security lines and busy airport terminals.
Even if you have the best of intentions, you may end up settling for a sad-looking sandwich as you rush to the departure gate.
If you're flying business or first class, you may also be tempted to make the most of the onboard food and drink;
After all, it's hard to turn down the complimentary champagne.
But realistically, in-cabin food and beverage service can take about two hours, so you'll be wasting valuable break time.
Also, your Business Class ticket should give you access to an airport lounge, so make the most of those facilities and board the plane well satisfied and ready to rest.
When should you eat on the plane?
Kris Major says that you have to prioritize sleep.
Credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg/Getty Images
If you're flying long-haul, it's likely that you'll be offered more than one meal during the flight.
Meal times start to get a bit arbitrary when you cross multiple time zones, but should you always eat when offered food?
Or should you turn it down if you are not hungry or want to sleep?
According to Major, passengers should do what works best for their travel schedule.
If you're exhausted, it's better to sleep than force yourself to eat dinner at 3 in the morning.
"Most airlines don't specially plan their [meal] service around the passenger and acclimatization and time zone crossing," Major explains.
Should you bring a travel pillow or trust airline deals?
Airlines often provide travelers with pillows on long hauls, regardless of cabin, but Major says bringing your own eye mask, travel pillow, and/or blanket might be a good idea depending on your preferences.
Eye masks are great if you want to sleep when the cabin lights are on, while you might prefer your own travel pillow to the airline version.
Also, while rare, there's always the chance that pillows won't be available, something that could be a big problem on a 14-hour flight.
"It often happens," Major says.
"So I would say take care of your own comfort and your own needs as much as you can."
What if you can't sleep?
Many of us have a hard time sleeping on airplanes, either because of unfamiliar noises or, in the case of cheaper seats, limited legroom and upright postures.
Fighting to sleep on a long flight, knowing you'll pay for lost hours when you land, can be an unpleasant cycle of worry.
Should you persevere and keep trying, or give up and watch a movie?
Major says there's no point in trying to force yourself to sleep, especially if your body clock thinks it's broad daylight and you're just not tired.
But he warns that it is important to take into account what is done on the other side.
If you are going to drive, for example, or go directly to a meeting, you should try to get as much rest as possible.
What are the flight attendant rest areas like?
Flight attendants on long-haul flights have spaces to rest.
Here's a photo of the crew rest area on a Boeing 787. (Photo: Boeing)
Crew rest areas exist on all aircraft, but what they look like depends on the airline, the aircraft, and the duration of the flight.
"If the flight lasts more than 13 hours, you have to have good rest areas," says Major, explaining that flight attendants are often entitled to 90-minute breaks.
That way, they complete a full sleep cycle before going back to work.
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"Scientifically, at least one sleep cycle is needed to be useful, to maintain the ability to operate safely, decision-making processes, and communication skills," Major says.
Flight attendants have to stay alert throughout the trip, so they take turns refueling with mid-flight power naps.
Major says that sleeping in the crew rest areas is easy enough for him, but he knows flight attendants who have a hard time sleeping in beds that Major calls "technically coffins."
"There are crew members who have a hard time sleeping in the bunks, they're not nice," says Major.
"You push in, they're long and skinny, because they're up on the plane, so there's not a lot of room. They're like what you'd imagine you'd see on a submarine."
Flight attendants often choose to change out of their uniform and into comfortable clothing before getting into their bunks.
Major says that he always wears a comfortable T-shirt and pants.
Being a veteran flight attendant, Major hangs his tie on the outside of his bunk curtain before closing his eyes.
"That way, if there's an emergency while I'm in the bunk, they know exactly which one I'm in, even though there's usually one designated for seniors," Major explains.
Do you have any tips for feeling refreshed after sleeping on a plane?
It has happened to all of us at some point in time to wake up after having slept in mid-flight, go to the airplane bathroom to freshen up, and be alarmed to see how exhausted we are in our reflection.
Major's advice to feel fresh after the break on board may seem obvious, but he insists it makes a world of difference.
"Brushing your teeth is the most refreshing thing for everyone," he says, adding that flight attendants always have five to 10 minutes to freshen up before going back to work.
This is enough time to dress, wash and, if necessary, comb your hair and freshen up your makeup.
Flight attendants greet their colleagues with a cup of tea or coffee.
They will then retire for their own rest.
Do I have to exercise on a long-haul flight?
Sitting in the same upright position for hours on end is uncomfortable, but getting up to stretch isn't always easy.
Maybe the seat belt sign is on or you prefer to avoid disturbing your seat neighbor.
Major stresses that even wiggling your toes while sitting is worth it.
"Move around in the seat, move your legs, do what comes naturally to you: sway, move, get the blood flowing if that's what you need to. If you have circulatory problems, talk to your doctor," he says.
What do you think about passengers taking off their shoes?
For many passengers, this is a controversial issue due to concerns about stinky feet.
But Major encourages anyone traveling on a long-haul flight to remove their shoes for comfort and circulation.
The flight attendants don't care, he says.
"We do it ourselves. I think most people do it. It's what you have to do on a long-haul flight," he says.
"You hope you've had the decency to take a bath or shower and put on clean socks, stockings or tights before you get on the plane. That's the only problem, if your feet smell."
Major adds that it's polite, if you think there's a chance your feet smell, "go to the bathroom and do something about it."
But flight attendants, he says, are more concerned with passengers sticking their feet out into the aisle.
"Especially on a night flight, if you put your feet in the aisle and you're wearing dark socks, we won't see you and we'll bump into you, and it's a bit annoying for us."
What is the best seat for a long flight?
If you're worried about turbulence, Major advises you try to sit near the front of the plane.
"You can be in the front and feel nothing, but in the back the plane moves differently," he explains.
If you're tall, reserving the emergency exit seat to give yourself more legroom may help, though Major says it's worth remembering "you can't put suitcases at your feet or anything like that because it has to be clear as an evacuation path." ".
Airlines also sometimes charge extra for seats with extra legroom.
What is the safest seat on an airplane?
We asked an aviation expert
Major's personal choice on a long-haul flight is to book a window seat.
"I can lean against the bulkhead, put my head down and fall asleep. Whereas in the aisle or middle seats you can't," he says.
The middle seat is never enviable, but it might be especially unappetizing on a long flight.
Major considers that it is convenient to pay more for the aisle or the window, especially "if you need to sleep during the flight."
Should I invest in noise canceling headphones and bring my iPad on board?
Some passengers choose to watch movies on their personal devices, instead of the built-in screens.
Credit: Nick Morris/British Airways
The way we consume TV and movies has changed dramatically in the last decade, but inflight entertainment has largely remained unchanged.
Although many of us still like to see first-run movies on board, it's not as new as it used to be.
Many passengers prefer to watch a pre-downloaded show on a personal device.
"Most people self-solve their in-flight entertainment needs," Major says.
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Your own devices are also a good backup in case there are problems with the inflight entertainment system, which Major admits "may not always work."
Flight attendants often have manuals advising how to operate the onboard displays, but they are not always able to fix the problem.
"There's not a lot we can do on the plane to bring it back to life if it starts to fail," Major says.
"There's very little we can do, other than the usual scientific 'turn it off, turn it back on'."
These days, most planes have USB charging sockets, but a portable charger can also give you more peace of mind.
As a flight attendant, do you judge the movies that passengers choose?
Major says that in his experience, the crew don't pay much attention to what they've chosen to see on board, but he does occasionally comment on a traveler's choice.
"We can use it to break the ice," he says.
"If I've seen a movie and it's good, it's something that helps me start a conversation."
Major does remember once seeing a Business Class passenger reading a book that included some graphic descriptions.
"The words were quite pornographic, although I couldn't see well enough to follow the thread," says Major.
The man read the book openly and did not try to hide the contents.
"I was quite surprised," Major says.
"It turned out that we were taking a group of sex therapists to a conference."
Do I have to bring food and snacks?
Of course, Major says.
"On most flights, people forget that when you get on the plane, you're not going to eat for the first hour, at least; it'll probably be an hour and a half after takeoff before you eat," he says.
If you suffer from some type of disease, such as diabetes, bringing your own food is especially important.
It is also important to bring snacks if you are traveling with children.
I am taking my children on a long-haul flight, what should I do?
Major has young children, so he can answer this question as a parent and as a flight attendant.
"If you're tense, your child will be tense, it's as simple as that. If you're stressed and anxious, your child will be anxious," he says.
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Major adds that flight attendants have experience explaining to children and parents what the process of flying is like.
"Since we're generally very relaxed, we can quickly calm them down," she says.
When babies cry, parents panic and fellow passengers sigh, Major says he always handles the situation the same way.
"I make sure everyone hears it and I say, 'Please don't worry. Don't worry about your child crying. You're helping your child rebalance their ears. The only way to do it is by yelling. Everybody we've been kids, we've all cried, don't worry.' I'll try to reassure the parents. If I reassure the parents, I hope we can reassure the child."
Major says that bringing favorite toys and blankets on the plane can also help calm a child, as it helps make the unfamiliar surroundings of the plane feel more familiar and comforting.
How do you help nervous passengers on long-haul flights?
Those who are afraid of flying are, in Major's experience, worried about one of two things.
Either it is the "lack of control" and the "foreign environment", or it is the fear of the plane crashing.
Some people find it reassuring when Major explains the mechanics of the plane, that unfamiliar engine noises are normal, or that air travel is generally very safe and has many safety features.
Others prefer not to know the ins and outs, they just need to be distracted.
Major recently spent two hours on board a flight chatting with a nervous passenger in the galley, taking his mind off the situation.
Even for those who aren't usually afraid of flying, long-distance travel presents its own pressure points that can send people into panic mode.
Crying babies might be considered more of a nuisance on a short flight, but passengers can "freak out," as Major puts it, if they think that's going to be their soundtrack for the next 12 hours.
Delays on any flight are frustrating, but on longer flights, delays can bring out "the reality of distance and time," Major says.
But Major says it's important to remember that "there's always taxi time built into flight time."
"It is much easier to recover time on long-haul flights than on short ones," he adds.
"You can win a good half hour."
What do you think about AirTags?
Major has never used an AirTag, but understands its appeal, especially for passengers who have suffered a lost bag in the past.
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Although things change when she travels with her family, Major says she often travels with only carry-on luggage, even on long-haul flights.
It's not so much because you're worried about losing your luggage, but more for convenience and speed.
"When I travel alone, I have a suitcase I can live with for a week. I fly only with hand luggage so I can get through the airport as quickly as possible."
If you have a layover, how should you make the most of that time?
If you have several hours before the next leg of your trip, it might be a good idea to book a hotel room to catch up on sleep, says Major, who also advises stretching your legs and walking as much as possible.
If there's enough time to get out of the airport and get some fresh air, it's also worth it.
Major knows what he's talking about, having once made a huge trip with multiple airport layovers, "from Cannes - Brisbane, Brisbane - Sydney, Sydney - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi - Vienna, Vienna - Frankfurt, Frankfurt - [London] Gatwick ".
"When I got out, I was almost dead," he jokes.
What do you think about ultra-long-haul flights that could be a reality in the future?
El vuelo más largo en el que ha trabajado Major duró unas 14 horas. El vuelo regular más largo que opera actualmente Singapore Airlines es el de Nueva York a Singapur, que dura 18 horas y 40 minutos.
La aerolínea australiana Qantas está preparando el lanzamiento de sus vuelos de ultralarga distancia "Project Sunrise", que durarían más de 19 horas llevando pasajeros de Nueva York y Londres a Sydney (Australia). Para los auxiliares de vuelo, dice Major, eso supondrá trabajar durante periodos superiores a 24 horas.
"Perderán dos noches de sueño", dice Major. "El impacto de eso no lo entendemos del todo".
Todavía es pronto, dice Major, y hay que pulir estos detalles. Pero ve los vuelos ultralargos como la "evolución del vuelo".
"Now we have the planes to do it, so we have to figure out how to do it," Major says.
"And we will. We're working hard on it."
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