THE 5 BEST AIR TRAVEL HACKS
2024 Travel Trend: In Flight Self Care and “Luxury Economy”
YOU HAVE ARRIVED IN YOUR DESTINATION!
The pilot is giving the time and the temperature and thanking you for flying with said airline and you are standing up and cringing at the sound of your joints and you just KNOW everyone else can hear them too. You’re doing the Jennifer Coolidge tight lip smile as you nod at the flight attendants and your fellow passengers as you wait to deplane- Desperately trying to keep your mouth shut so you don’t get your in-flight-sleep-breath on the person next to you, and you notice that your lips are SO chapped from the circulating oxygen and you think “Oh my gosh I probably look like a raisin…”
You do! That’s the bad news…Sorry to be the one to tell you, but at least now it’s out of the way!?
The GOOD news is, Everyone is thinking the same thing.
We All look terrible and smell stale…
Economy Class- 1, Passengers- 0.
In a perfect world, we all get to fly business class! We get to lay down to sleep, and have a relaxing international flight… But it’s not a perfect world, and many of us will never know the sweet relief of sleeping while laying flat on a ten hour flight over the ocean, (me too, don’t worry, we are in this much too tight seat together) most of us will think about it, consider it for a moment… and inevitably settle for those low fare economy class seats, because we want to spend our money when we touch down in our destination…
And so we suffer *queue the sounds of creaking knees, and popping ankles
According to this Article published in September of 2023 by Clinikally, in flight air filtration systems only allow for approximately 20% humidity in the air on a plane, whereas the optimum level for human comfort is(on the low end) 40%. This can cause all sorts of side effects from dry and cracking skin, dry mouth leading to bad breath, to some more serious concerns like poor circulation. Those of us who are looking to stretch those pennies as far as we possibly can are going to Literally feel it, and for those of us with underlying health conditions that are already exacerbated by long periods of stagnancy, uncomfortable restless sleep coupled with dry air and poor circulation can lead to a compromised immune system, and contracting illness as soon as we get off the plane. It’s a gamble whether or not we will actually get to enjoy the relaxation we were so looking forward to!
I got to thinking about this topic as I booked my flights for my upcoming trip to Mykonos and Athens, reminiscing over a recent (short) flight I took to Sacramento. I fell asleep on my travel pillow on the way there, thinking perhaps I would just sleep through, and woke up only an hour later stiff and feeling like a dried out sponge. My hands and arms were numb from laying forward on the tray table in front of me. Standing up to get off the plane was sweet relief, coupled with that oh so familiar crackle of my knees, hips, and ankles- and I clenched my mouth shut as to not breathe on my neighbors in those lovely economy class tight quarters (is this starting to sound familiar yet?)… and as I remembered this, I thought, “How in the World am I going to make it through 10 hours on a plane?” A dreadful thought to have after paying in full for a trip, and an even more dreadful thought to have when you realize the last time you were on a plane for that long was when you were 18 and still used body wash for skin care.**
**(I know, I know don’t judge me I was young and TikTok didn’t exist yet.)
“How in the World am I going to make it through 10 hours on a plane?”
Thankfully, through years of therapy, I know how to stop a spiral before it goes too far, and I said, “Abbey, what will you be able to control in that moment? What can you plan ahead for?”
Et Voila- a list was born!
*THIS LIST HAS IT ALL* or at least the top things I will now ALWAYS have with me in my carry on… and because we do not gate-keep while we girl-boss, I already created an entire amazon list on my store front with many different options so you can stock up in one place. You are welcome, bestie. SO without further ado:
The Finding Kairos’
TOP FIVE IN FLIGHT SELF CARE TIPS:
1. HYDRATE!!!!!!!
Bring your (EMPTY) refillable water bottle through security and fill her up in the terminal, my friend, because we will not be bothering our best friends the flight attendants on the plane to fill it for us. Bring an extra to fill with water and some electrolytes as well. Electrolytes are Essential to getting and staying hydrated!
PACK ME!
2. Moisturize… Everything.
I’m talking about thick body butters and lotions and face masks. You heard me. Your hands? Moisturize them. Your feet? Moisturize them (please go to the bathroom for this step though….don’t be that ) Your face? Moisturize it. Give your self the baby seal treatment and lather yourself up. Bring extra sheet masks for others on the plane- make a friend, spread the word.
PACK ME!
3. Get Comfy
I believe airplanes and hospitals must get their pillows and blankets from the same supplier… and whoever that supplier is should receive a strongly worded letter. Why must the provided amenities on planes feel like rocks and sand paper? If you can’t lay down (or even if you can) you deserve a soft plush blanket to keep you warm in the air while you rest!
PACK ME!
4. Move Those Muscles!
This might feel tricky, but in reality there are so many ways to keep your blood moving while staying in your personal bubble. Don’t feel comfortable standing up to move around? Bring a hand held personal massager. This will keep your blood moving and keep you from getting stiff. Wear compression socks and gloves to help with circulation. Use a gua sha! Your joints will thank you later.
PACK ME
5. Catch Some Zzzzzs
For me this looks like a few well timed Acetaminophen PM, a (drowsy) allergy pill, and some melatonin and hemp gummies to really knock me out… but it also looks like following some semblance of my daily night time routine from home. Skin care, comfy pjs/lounge wear, personal hygiene (mini breath freshening tooth brushes are a great alternative to having an actual toothbrush on the plane because they are disposable) noise canceling headphones, a sleep mask… anything I can do to simulate the same feeling of quiet comfort I have access to at home.
PACK ME
Got any other tips and tricks? Drop me a line! Comment your travel self care hacks on Finding Kairos Socials! Spread the love and let’s make “Luxury Economy” the travel trend of 2024!
Until we meet again, I will be out here searching for Kairos just like you!
Happy Traveling!
XOXO- Abbs
