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Long-Haul Economy Without the Misery
A flight attendant's tested checklist for arriving at the other end feeling almost human.
April 10, 2026 5 min readBy Marco Reyes
Fourteen hours in 31 inches of pitch doesn't have to wreck you. A few small habits picked up from frequent flyers and crew make a real difference.
Before you fly
- Pick your seat the moment booking opens.
- Hydrate aggressively the day before, not just on board.
- Eat lighter than you think you should.
In the air
Move every two hours, even just to the galley and back. Set your watch to the destination time the moment you board, and try to sleep on that schedule.
MR
Marco Reyes
Contributing Writer at FlightCompare
Writing about smarter flying, longer trips, and the parts of travel nobody warns you about.
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