Most of the places that I want to travel are at least a 5 hour flight away. Since I don’t want to waste a vacation day traveling I try to do red-eye flights when possible. This leads to some long days but these tips help make the trip a little better.

Tips for Surviving a Red Eye Flight

1. Shower before you head to the airport- About an hour before leaving for the airport I like to take a quick shower and dry my hair. This guarantees that the grime from the day is removed and I start as fresh as possible going into the flight. My hair is guaranteed to wind up in a ponytail at some point during the flight so I might as well have it looking as nice as possible before that so that the ponytail won’t be a greasy mess.
2. Wear Comfortable Clothes – I’m not going to board a plane in my pajamas; however, I am grateful for soft and cozy yoga pants for these flights. They are comfortable and forgiving if the long flight causes some swelling. Pair with a cozy hoodie to keep you warm and you are set!
3. If you wear contacts, bring glasses – I hate wearing my glasses so generally I will wear my contacts up until I’m on the plane then will take them off and store for the duration of the flight. Once I wake up and we’re about to land I take put my contacts back in (make sure they are stored in solution during the flight).
4. Wear minimal makeup, and bring a bit to touch up with – You don’t want makeup smearing all over while flying but a touch of mascara and tinted moisturizer can make a world of difference about how you feel coming off the flight.
5. Bring a Pillow – I like the Travelrest pillow because it stores easily in my carry-on and I find that it works a lot better than the standard u-shaped neck pillow. I just saw the “J-Pillow” on Amazon and I’m intrigued, I think it could be perfect for me because it is the head-bob that always wakes me up.
6. Stay Hydrated (but not so much that you have to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes) – Pretty much what it says; drink so you don’t get dehydrated but don’t down a liter of water as you walk on the flight and then have to use the bathroom every half hour.
7. Brush your teeth – You do it normally before going to bed (you do, right???) so treat this like a normal bed-time and wake up with a bit fresher.
8. Know what helps you sleep – Do you need pitch black darkness? Then bring an eyemask. Need silence? Bring some noise-canceling headphones. Get cold? Bring a blanket.

What are your tips for surviving a red-eye flight? I’d love to hear your suggestions!