Do you feel tired when taking a long flight? Well, in this article we’ll tell you some tricks to avoid this and who better to do this than Sonia Sevilla, a cabin crew member at the airline Level. In a recent interview, she shared her best tips for getting through long flights without the experience becoming exhausting. Sonia regularly flies between Barcelona and destinations in the Americas, such as New York, Boston, Buenos Aires, or Santiago de Chile, with flights that last between 8 and over 14 hours. Thanks to her experience, she offers useful recommendations for both passengers and people who work on airplanes. So, let’s get started!
What does she do to prepare before a long flight?
Sonia says her trick for not getting too tired during long flights is to take a nap before going to work and, a few hours before the flight, do some exercise, like walking or training. This helps her get moving and start the flight with more energy.
How does she deal with jet lag?
It depends on how much time she spends at the destination:
- If the stopover is short (24 hours or less): She tries to rest as much as possible, since it’s not worth trying to adapt to the local time.
- If the stay is longer (several days): It’s best to adjust to the new time zone as soon as possible. For example, if they’re in the U.S., they usually get up at 5:00 in the morning (local time) because it’s already midday in Spain. They start the day with some exercise, a healthy breakfast, and generally light, healthy food.
- When returning to Spain (Barcelona): She avoids going to sleep right after landing, to keep her schedule in balance. Instead, she tries to stay awake a bit longer and go to bed earlier than usual, so she wakes up the next day already on Barcelona time.
What does she recommend eating and drinking during a long flight?
When we think of long flights, we feel like eating heavy meals is a great option since we’re going to spend many hours on the plane, but this makes digestion and rest more difficult. Another thing to avoid is something we see in the movies: alcoholic drinks. Their effects are stronger in the cabin due to low humidity and air pressure.
Instead, great alternatives are: drinking water, mild herbal teas, or eating light snacks, to feel better during the flight and get better rest.
What other advice does she give for very long flights?
Apart from food and drinks, there are other aspects we should take into account when going on a long flight such as:
- Wear comfortable and loose clothing.
- Bring a jacket or blanket, since the temperature on the plane can vary a lot.
- Get up and walk every hour or hour and a half, and stretch your legs so blood circulates properly.
- Wear compression socks, because the body tends to swell at altitude and circulation doesn’t work as well.
In her basic travel kit (when she’s not working), she always includes an eye mask and earplugs, because it’s hard for her to sleep if there’s too much light.
What does she say about coexistence and unwritten rules on board?
There are still some things that many passengers are not sure about, so let’s answer them here:
- Who controls the window shade? Even though no one owns the plane, the person sitting by the window usually decides whether to raise or lower the shade.
- Who has the right to the armrests? In general, the person in the middle seat should have priority, since it’s the least comfortable (they have neither a window nor an aisle).
Another aspect you should have in mind is that during the meal service, passengers are asked to keep their seats upright out of consideration for the person behind them. They are also asked not to recline again until the trays have been cleared.
What does she say about her work as cabin crew member?
Sonia also clears up some common myths about her profession: cabin crew are waitresses and waiters, and they have a lot of leisure time.
First of all, they are not just there to serve food and drinks, their main role is to ensure the safety of the flight and the passengers. Also, it’s not a job full of leisure, although they travel to many cities, their priority is to rest, especially during short layovers. The job involves changing schedules, long working hours, and significant physical and emotional wear. That’s why it requires good training, discipline, and enough recovery time between flights.
We should thank professionals like Sonia who are on the plane to help passengers on short and long flights. So, next time you take a flight, think about these advice and the importance of the cabin crew’s job.