Tonight’s the night! I am off to Australia and subsequently also off to experience the longest flight I’ve ever been on. I wanted to share what I’m planning to wear on tonight’s 17.5 hour flight from Houston as well as all my tips for red eye and long haul flights that I’ve learned over the years.

This entire outfit is so, so comfortable yet stylish and practical. I’m not usually one to travel in sweats of sorts but this long of a trip calls for it. I also always ensure I have layers on because my body temperature loves to be erratic when on planes for a long period of time. In addition to the Upstate Sweat that I own in two colors, I love the entire Lou & Grey SignatureSoft collection for lounge and travel. I own this sweatshirt and have worn it many times on planes, too (size S).

Red Eye & Long Haul Flight Tips

Avoid caffeine.

I always want to sleep on overnight flights so I avoid caffeine for at least 24 hours before to ensure there’s none in my system by the time I step on the plane.

Noise cancelling headphones.

These are a game-changer for helping to drown out noise from fellow passengers, children and flight attendants when trying to find some zen and get some shut-eye. I also bought these recently which also have noise cancelling capabilities from Bose but are easier to sleep in.

Download podcasts and meditation sessions.

Movies aren’t always enough when it comes to entertainment on long flights so I like to have podcast episodes downloaded and also some meditation sessions on my favorite app Inscape to help soothe any travel anxiety. I crowdsourced recommendations on Instagram Stories this weekend and you guys had loads of good recs! I ended up downloading Last Seen, To Live and Die in LA, Up and Vanished and A Killing on the Cape.

Workout in the morning.

I always do some cardio on the mornings that I’m doing a red eye flight. It helps tire me out some and given I rarely workout when I travel, ensures I fit in one more workout before I’m wheels up.

Don’t overdo it on the food or alcohol.

Did you know digestion can effect your sleep? And that alcohol is actually a stimulant? Don’t over-eat while in flight and if you want to sleep make sure you’re not having more than 1-2 drinks on the day you’re traveling.

Pack snacks.

One too many times I’ve had travel go array and been unprepared with some snacks. Now I always have some in my bag should I need something to carry me over. I find the snacks at the airport super limiting (and often way too big) so I try and stock up at my local drugstore before I head out of town.

Stay super hydrated.

As we all know by now, air travel really dehydrates you so drinking water and avoiding excess alcohol or sugary drinks is key. I always bring a big bottle of water on the plane with me and take every single opportunity to drink water when flight attendants offer it. I bought these to bring on this extra long flight with me at the recommendation of another blogger who has done a lot of long haul flights. The powder essentially multiples the hydration in your water so you’re getting more without having to go to the bathroom around the clock.

Get on your destination’s schedule right away.

This is difficult to do but is my key to warding off jet lag as much as possible. I attempt to avoid naps and instead hit the ground running when I arrive in my destination and go to bed at the time I normally would. We’ll see if I can manage this in Australia given the massive time difference – fingers crossed! 

Do you have any tips for long haul travel? I’d love to hear them!

Long Haul Travel Outfit:

Similar Hoodie // Lou & Grey Joggers (size down – wearing a S) // Golden Goose Sneakers // Everlane Tote // Away Bigger Carry On

p.s. all my travel essentials and how I reset after traveling.

[Carter Fish Photography]