Going on a long-haul flight? Here are some pandemic travel survival tips

Most airlines will have a policy requiring you to wear your mask during the entire duration of your flight, except during mealtimes. This means you can expect to have your mask on for at least 6 or more hours. Therefore, having a comfortable mask will make a huge difference in your in-flight experience.

Case in point: I took a 19-hour flight to New York with an N95 mask that was secured by straps around my ears. By the end of the flight, I was left with blisters on the inner corner of my ears, as my mask would move as I yawned or slept in the plane.

To avoid such instances, it’s best to give your mask a trial run. Wear it at home for a few hours and see how it feels or bring two different options on board so you can see which one feels more comfortable.

With the pandemic, many businesses have opted for paperless practices, and some airlines are no different. On a Singapore Airlines flight, paper menus and inflight entertainment magazines are no longer available in your seat pocket.

In place, Singapore Airline flights now offer in-flight wi-fi that allow you to access your menu and entertainment guides through your phone. And don’t worry, perusing these portals will not trigger any wi-fi charges for you!

Again, in view of Covid-19 safety measurements, some airlines have opted to reduce the number of interaction cabin crew have with the passengers.

This may mean that some flight perks you’re normally used to have been done away, including welcome drinks, mid-flight snack trolleys and amenity kits automatically placed into your seat pocket.

If there is something that you’d like, get used to calling your cabin crew over and checking with them!

In the early days of vaccinated travel, some airlines have provided passengers with a care pack that includes hand sanitizers and alcohol wipes.

However, some airlines do not offer such packs, so it never hurts to bring your own. Prior to my flight, I bought a large pack of disinfecting wipes from Watsons for $4.90, and they lasted me my entire trip.

If your mask breaks mid-flight, most airlines have spare masks on standby, so feel free to ask them for one.

Lastly, a cabin crew friend I spoke with also suggested that upon retrieving your luggage and before opening it, give it a good wipe down with a disinfecting wipe to minimise the risk of coming into contact with Covid-19.

Taking extra precautions – including regularly sanitizing your hands and your tray tables – can help reduce the risk of falling ill and ruining your much-anticipated vacation.

With many countries still having vaccination and testing requirements for all in-bound passengers, it never hurts to arrive a little bit earlier than usual.

This is because counter staff may be required to check the vaccination and testing statuses of each passenger, and it gets even more complicated when your flight also has passengers transiting in a country with different requirements!

In the two times that I’ve flown long-haul, I’d recommend arriving 2.5 hours ahead of your flight.

This gives you ample time to clear the queues at the check-in counters, enjoy the shopping and dining within the transit lounge (it’s been two years, and you’ve missed the shops!), and get to your flight without stress.

Fortunately, apart from the above tips, the rest of your in-flight experience shouldn’t differ too much from what it was pre-pandemic.

Have your skincare essentials with you, make sure you dress warmly and tuck a pair of eye shades into your carry-on for a restful sleep!

Bon voyage!

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