Strategies for Defeating Long Haul Flights: The 16-Hour LNY Commute

Lunar New Year just isn’t the same in the United States.

In Hong Kong and many other Asian countries, the new year falls somewhere between January’s end and the first weeks of February, depending on the lunar calendar. The weeks leading up to LNY are an explosion of festivities, flowers, and most importantly, great savings--everything’s heavily discounted, so it’s all hands on deck for the ensuing shopping spree. Almost every business will acknowledge the holiday in some way.

McDonald’s in Hong Kong even has a prosperity pork burger around this time of year. It comes with curly fries.

So I do my very best to make it back for LNY every year that I’m able. Of course, seeing my cousins and extended family is also a nice bonus. The only snag is that flying from New Jersey to Hong Kong takes 16 hours on a good day, longer if air traffic at your destination is busy. 

These long-haul flights are not for the faint of heart. Air sickness, claustrophobia, and lack of sleep are all very real evils you will come face to face with during your time cramped in a tiny airline seat. For those like me who don’t enjoy sharing breathing space with sixty of your closest friends in a flying tin coffin, it’s imperative to plan ahead and minimize your struggles wherever possible. 

When you’re trapped 30,000 feet above the ocean with only your carry-on and a prayer, suddenly every little thing matters, from the solitary cough there aisles down to the material of the pants you’re wearing.

I used to suffer from severe air sickness, occasionally enduring the entire flight with absolutely no food to prevent an upset stomach. 

I’ve been able to manage my air sickness and general dislike of airplanes much better during my last few trips, due in part to figuring out what to bring with me. So here’s my buy list and best practices for crushing even the longest flights. Good luck to all my fellow travellers!

Products for Good Sleep

Sleeping on long-haul flights is underrated. Once you’ve sat awake for 12 hours straight, eyes burning and stomach churning, you’ll realize the bliss in just passing out for as long as you can. Sleeping fights boredom, tummy aches, and anxiety all at once. 

In my opinion, the best thing you can buy for good sleep is a ticket for a red-eye flight. Forcing yourself to stay awake a little past your bedtime and then heading to the airport ensures you’ll be sleepy enough after takeoff to get a few good hours in. But if the timing of your flight can’t be changed, there’s a few other things I like to have with me. 

• Immunity Sleep Gummies, Olly $13.99

• Mulberry Silk Sleep Mask, Amazon $5.52

• Quiet Comfort Earbuds, Bose $370

Melatonin + Immune Support Gummies

I pop two of these as soon as we’ve reached cruising altitude. The melatonin will help improve the quality and length of your sleep, and as airplanes are hardly ideal sleeping spaces, this can help a lot. I try to do everything I can to stay asleep for as long as possible, because once you wake up it’ll be hard to go back to sleep. Your first sleep on the plane is going to be your best one, so keep that in mind. 

Plus, planes are not the most sanitary of public spaces. Coming down with a cold as soon as you reach your destination is really going to mess with your trip, so try and fill up on vitamins and immune boosters when you can.

A Good Sleeping Mask

Pretty obvious, but I’ll include it anyway. Any mask that helps you keep your eyes closed and doesn’t irritate your skin is great. I like this mulberry silk mask for its soft, smooth texture. 

Warm, Comfy, Secure Clothing

Airplanes can get really cold, at least in my experience. Layer up and bring a soft, thick sweater so you’re not stuck shivering in your seat. It’s easier to fall asleep when you’re warm. If you find yourself on the plane in your best sweat set still feeling cold, ask the flight attendant for a cup of warm water before you try to sleep.

I added “secure” as well because it helps me sleep knowing my passport and valuables are protected. My favorite plane pants are these Addidas joggers because they’re soft, not too thick yet warm, and have side zipper pockets. I keep my passport and wallet in the zipper pockets, and when I nod off, I know for a fact they’re still on my person and can’t fall out. 

Any type of zipper pants will do. If you really can’t sleep with stuff in your pockets, try a secure zipper pouch for your valuables and bury it at the bottom of your carry-on once you’re on board. But I wouldn’t say theft is a huge concern on planes anyway; most of us are too busy not thinking about how high off the ground we are.

Noise-Cancelling Earbuds

Also a generally obvious pick, but still worth mentioning. The droning of the plane engine, squeaking snack cart, and little coughs or noises can become quite stressful after several hours. Get yourself a nice pair to tune out everything else. Even if you can’t sleep, sometimes it helps avoid a headache. 

Face and Throat Care

The airplane atmosphere is unpleasantly dry, infused with a weird, musty smell somewhere between aged disinfectant and warm plastic. Sensitive passengers may experience dry, chafed skin or dehydration. While it’s not the end of the world, it can make your flight more uncomfortable than it has to be. 

Throat-Caring Drops

I absolutely love bringing a packet of vitamin C or hydration throat candies. Personally, I don’t like menthol, so I avoid the really strong cough drops and opt for soothing ingredients like honey or gentle citrus flavors. These do double the work by rehydrating your throat and boosting your immune system.

Skincare

In-flight skincare is having a moment. Feel free to go crazy with the sheet masks and under-eye patches, but in my experience, flights are such dehydrating environments that I try to mess with my face as little as possible. Every time you wash your face, a little more moisture escapes into the veritable Sahara of the plane. 

If I feel really oily and need to wash my face, I go for a cloth towel + water in the lavatory. In my experience, trying to tangle with soaps and lotions in the tiny bathrooms is not worth it. I do a quick scrub with the towel, then wipe down with a toner pad and apply a thick moisturizer. The toner pads let you get some extra hydration in without a liquidy mess, and using a thicker moisturizer than you’re used to can help keep your skin soft for longer. Don’t forget to bring a good lip balm; your lips will be the first to dry out.

Pimple Patches

If you have any active breakouts or little dry spots you want to protect, pimple patches are a must. The drying plane air is going to make any skin issues you have even worse, so invest in preventative care with pimple patches. Try to avoid switching out the patches more than once while on board, as that can increase the risk that you’ll accidentally trap more germs under the patch. 

Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Your breath is going to be naaaasty after a few meals, constant dehydration, and a long nap. Some airlines will provide these, but most won’t, so I try to bring my own. Having a clean mouth can do wonders after the constant slog of eating and sleeping and throat-clearing. Bonus if you bring a flight-safe mouthwash concentrate in a fun flavor, like rose lychee or orange creamsicle. 

Surgical Masks

I might be a bit of a germaphobe for this one, but when you stop and think about how many people are on your plane, breathing and coughing into the same air, it does start to feel a little icky. And as I’ve said, you do NOT want to survive a long-haul flight just to be trapped in bed with a cold when you reach your destination. I’m able to sleep with a surgical mask on, and I do feel that it helps protect my general health on these long flights. 

While they might chafe on your skin a bit, wearing a thick moisturizer usually mitigates that effect. Don’t forget that masks can help keep germs away from your face as well, decreasing the risk of a breakout when you land. 

General Comfort

If you really can’t sleep, don’t forget to bring something that will keep you entertained. You don’t want to be wide awake with nothing to while the hours away. Most airlines will provide in-flight entertainment, but if watching eight movies back to back doesn’t appeal to you, come with a plan. 

Compression Socks

Sitting down for more than ten hours is truly not it. I’ve had the uncomfortable experience before of trying to stuff my feet back into my sneakers at the end of the flight and struggling because my ankles were swollen. All the blood and fluids in your legs are going to slowly sit in your lower calves due to lack of movement, which can make some passengers feel stiff and uncomfortable. 

I try to layer compression socks under a pair of warmer socks so that I can easily put my shoes back on at the end of the flight, avoid muscle pain, and stay warm. 

Food and Snacks

Oh boy, I don’t see this one on nearly enough long-haul flight guides. You are going to get hungry. In the case of a 14 to 16-hour flight, you’ll usually get two full meals, probably a dinner menu and a breakfast option. Coffee or tea will also be served. Airlines may provide snacks in between, but they’ll be pretty sparse offerings: stuff like pretzel packets or chocolate.

Some of my most egregious carry-ons have included fresh sandwiches bought from the airport Starbucks or an entire pork curry cutlet, ordered from a restaurant as takeout before I even drove to the airport. The security guard did, in fact, stop me to examine the cutlet, but happily it was considered a nonthreatening item.

Try to bring one or two snacks that feel filling for you, whether that’s a bag of popcorn or a sandwich with meats and greens. The tiny airline meals are not going to cut it unless you’re aiming for a calorie deficit. For easier, hand-held options, try picking up a large sourdough bun or a half-loaf of rosemary and olive oil bread. A bagel with cream cheese is also a compact option that should satiate your cravings for a few hours. 

The Humble, Multi-Purpose Ziplock Bag

Bring a nice, sturdy, gallon-size ziplock bag with you. You’ll probably produce a decent amount of trash on the flight: candy wrappers, snot tissues, and other waste. I prefer to seal these away where they can’t hurt me as opposed to stuffing them in the seat pocket in front of me. Plus, if you’re suddenly airsick, you can upchuck in the bag instead of all over yourself and your seatmate. 

Safe travels and good luck!