Sarah Maber expels the myths and reveal the truth about how to feel your best on long-haul flights.
Things to do
Take eye drops. Long-haul, overnight flights could leave your eyes dry and painful; eye drops are an essential carry-on. Buy: Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops, £4.29 for 10ml, boots.com.
Make sure you and your family drink plenty of water and electrolyte solutions such as Lucozade. Avoid caffeine, too.
Move around regularly, at least once an hour. Walk up and down the plane, move and flex your legs. Wear compression socks during the flight.
Invest in a good moisturiser. Your skin needs hydration during a long-haul flight.
Take 100ml of Calpol on board if you’re travelling with children. Teething, earache or a temperature might strike at any point during the flight, and you’ll be able to dose them up.
What to avoid
Don’t head to the bar when you get to the airport. Drinking alcohol risks dehydration, which increases the risk of deep-vein thrombosis on flights.
Don’t wear anything tight – skinny jeans, suits or anything that might impede blood flow are out. Don’t forget to take off your shoes, as ankles may swell up at high altitudes.
Don’t count on your children eating airline food. Children can be fussy eaters at the best of times, and may reject the in-flight meals on offer. Make sandwiches, bring dried and fresh fruit – bananas are a godsend; as well as being nutritious and filling, they also contain the amino acid Tryptophan, which encourages sleep.