May 28, 2025 • 39 mins
Dreading your next long-haul flight? In this month’s “Ladies Who Travel” episode of the Global Travel Planning Podcast, Tracy is joined by Melissa and Shelly, who collectively have logged thousands of hours in the air. Listen as they share their practical tips and hard-won wisdom to help make marathon journeys not just bearable—but genuinely enjoyable!
The conversation kicks off by addressing a common dilemma: Is it better to endure one ultra-long flight or break the journey into shorter segments? While conventional wisdom might suggest multiple flights, Tracy, Melissa, and Shelly make a compelling case for direct routes—like the 17-hour Perth-to-London flight—provided you can secure the right seat. Tracy openly admits, "I hate flying," making her strategies especially valuable for fellow nervous flyers.
Access to premium cabins emerges as a transformative factor in long-haul comfort. Beyond the expected luxuries, the hosts highlight practical considerations that can justify the extra cost—such as increased baggage allowances, potentially offsetting upgrade expenses for extended trips. For those on tighter budgets, they discuss strategic "point hacking," timing upgrade bids wisely, and identifying flights truly worth the premium investment.
In the segment on carry-on essentials, expect insights that go beyond the usual recommendations. Yes, noise-cancelling headphones make the list, but have you considered bringing an adapter to connect them to the plane’s entertainment system? Or organizing your items in small pouches to avoid rummaging through your bag mid-flight?
Perhaps the most valuable part is the deep dive into managing jet lag—a real challenge when crossing multiple time zones, especially to and from Australia. Tracy, Melissa, and Shelly acknowledge the difficulty and offer concrete strategies for minimizing recovery time. Their unanimous advice never to drive immediately after a long-haul flight could genuinely save lives.
Whether you're a frequent flyer or planning your first intercontinental adventure, this episode will transform potentially miserable travel hour
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, welcome to episode 56 of the Global Travel
Plan podcast.
So this is one of our regularchats with a Brit, an Aussie and
a Yank.
So that's me, melissa andShelley, and today we're diving
into the highs and lows of longhaul travel.
So, whether you're headingacross continents or flying
halfway around the world, we'vegot tips, hacks and real stories
(00:20):
to help make those long flightsa little more manageable.
Hi and welcome to the GlobalTravel Planning Podcast.
I'm your host, tracey Collins,who, with my expert guests, will
take you on a weekly journey todestinations around the globe,
providing travel inspiration,itinerary ideas, practical tips
and more to help you plan yournext travel adventure.
(00:43):
So, as always, let's start theepisode with a quick catch-up
where we all are in the worldand what we've been up to since
we last spoke.
So, shelley, where are you?
Whereabouts are you?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Well, I just landed back in the United States and
you're in Florida, is that right?
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Yes, I'm in Florida right now visiting family, so
I'm getting caught up, and it'sbeen almost a year since I've
been back, wow, yeah yeah, I'llsay that I've just landed back
in australia after nine months,so I'm actually in perth at the
moment, uh, visiting my daughterand her partner.
(01:31):
So that's really cool.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
and, melissa, you're back to the queensland yeah, I'm
at home in brisbane, so I'vebeen doing a lot of exploring in
the backyard.
Recently, um shelly and Ifinally got to do our trip to
Lady Elliot Island, which isfabulous.
But, yeah, just doing the localstuff at the moment.
(01:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Yeah, but there's loads to do and I'm really
excited, actually, about beingback in Queensland.
I'll be there at the end of themonth and we've already talked
about loads of stuff to see anddo in Brisbane.
That's new, so I'm reallylooking forward to that.
So that's going to be good, andI know I talked to Shelly about
her Lady Elliot experience andI really want to do it.
I'm like, yeah, that soundsamazing.
And I know, shelly, you were inNew Zealand, um, and yes, yeah,
(02:17):
and then you flew to, you werein Thailand, and then we met.
We got to actually have go outfor dinner in Kuala Lumpur.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Yes, it was so cool that it just happened to work
out that way.
And then after I left there, Iwent to Korea and spent a little
bit of time in Korea and yeah,now I'm here.
So it was kind of like boom,boom, boom, you know, after I
(02:48):
left Australia.
But it was so cool meeting upwith you because we got to chit
chat about your travels, becauseyou've been gone so long and
you know, I got to just seeeveryone.
So, yeah, it was.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
It was really good.
And I'm going to ask one thingCan you share the photos of your
nails that you had done inKorea?
I think we need to show all ourlisteners, I believe, fabulous
nails that you had done.
Yeah, they are so, oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
They are definitely.
It was such a great experience.
It was definitely this lady's.
Such an artist she's.
Yeah, yeah, if you go on my uh,instagram or tiktok or website,
you'll see it.
But yes, I will share thephotos.
But she, I mean, I was justamazed, she did everything by
(03:43):
hand.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Wow.
Well, they look amazing, so weneed to share.
They look fabulous, thank you.
So the main thing we're goingto talk about this episode is
about is about surviving longhaul flights.
So just surviving flying whenyou're doing a lot of flights
and I, before you came on,shelley, I was just saying to
Melissa I think I added it upand I think we've done 17
(04:04):
flights.
I've done 17 flights between no, I've done 17 flights and
Doug's about the same in thelast nine months, which is,
which is crazy, it's a crazyamount of flying.
Um, and I know you've beenflying everywhere and, and you
know, shelley, you flyeverywhere and Melissa, we're
always flying all the time.
We're always thinking aboutstuff.
So let's let's talk about howwe plan when we're going to fly,
cause that.
(04:24):
So let's talk about how we planwhen we're going to fly,
because that's something that Ikind of you know.
How far ahead do you startplanning for a long haul journey
?
And I'm going to start withthis one, because actually, when
I was planning this trip, thatI did.
I actually wanted to avoid longhaul, because I hate flying,
which everybody always findsincredible, especially after 17
flights.
So one thing that I've starteddoing and that's a luxury that I
(04:46):
guess that we can afford interms of time is take shorter
flights and avoid those longflights, because I cannot bear
them.
And we have a lot of them fromAustralia Now, melissa,
obviously based in Australia allthe time.
They're always they've longhauled going anywhere, going to
Europe, going to the States, along haul flight.
So how do you kind of prepare,knowing that you're going to do
(05:08):
a long haul?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
flight.
Um, if you're just talkingabout, like you know, once the
flights booked, um, I'm a bitshort term sort of preparing.
You know, I might startthinking about it like the day
before, um, but in terms of likebefore I book, because I'm a
bit of a point hacker, I willsort of plan, like well and
(05:31):
truly in advance and even beforeI've even thought of the flight
, I'll be trying to make themost of every purchase I get.
So I get lots of points so Ican try and upgrade, which I
know we'll talk about later yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
What about you, shelly, when you're taking I
mean any of those long-haulflights, because I know you've
just recently taken quite a fewin terms of Europe, to Australia
, and then you've flown toFlorida, which took quite a few
hours yeah, um, and so thelong-haul flights, I I don't
dislike them.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
But, like you were saying, I totally get now from
Australia because you knowthat's got to be a really,
really hard one that one kind oflike jet lag I know we'll talk
about later that one kind ofkicked me in the butt, to be
honest, because it is such along flight and it's not so much
(06:25):
that I haven't taken that longof a flight.
You know, long-haul flightbefore it's just the low.
I don't know the time change, Idon't know what it is, but, man
, it was like intense.
But as far as long-haul flights, I consider a long-haul flight.
I don't know what you guysconsider a long-haul flight,
(06:46):
anything over like eight hours,yeah, yeah, yeah, okay.
So so you know, as far as thatgoes, um, if they have a layover
, that's fine, but you know whatI, I'm the type that like I'd
rather just get it over with.
So I mean, if they don't, ifit's a direct, if I'm lucky
enough to get a direct, I'lltake the direct every time okay,
(07:09):
would you do.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I'm going to ask this would you would either of you
do the 17 hour flight from perthdirect to london?
I've done it, yeah, and inbusiness?
All right, okay, I think Iwould do it in business class um
.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I go ahead.
I'm sorry, melissa, no.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
I was just gonna say I'm, I'm not, I'm not sure I
would do it on economy, like Idon't know.
Um business was hard enough, um, but it was very, very doable
in business, very doable, okay,what?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
about you, uh, shelly um, I, that's one thing that
I've I've done when I firstfirst first started.
Uh, I did the economy thing andI just was a train wreck for
several days after now.
If that's the only way you canget there, I say, go for it.
You know you could recoverlater.
(08:02):
But now, minimum, I try likeComfort Plus.
I try because it's so long.
It's so long.
If you can't do business or youcan't get bumped up, at least
do the Comfort Plus, where youcould stretch out your legs a
little bit more, legs a littlebit more.
(08:29):
Um, but yeah, I'd rather takethe 17 hour and get it done than
to take maybe a 10 hour, have afour hour layover, then get
back on a plane.
Then you know, it's just to me,it just drags it on too long
yeah, I think that.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
I think that I agree, because we've done quite often
the the Brisbane to Dubai route,which is like 13 and a half
hours.
Then you get off the plane,you're already tired and then
you've got another seven hoursor whatever it is, and I think
they're harder in some ways.
But I have to say I like thislast trip.
The most we've done is afive-hour out.
No, there's 17-hour flight.
Oh yeah, we've done it.
(09:01):
We've really hopped around,which has been really nice, and
we've done a lot with points,which kind of brings me back to
the whole kind of you know, doyou splurge on upgrades?
If you do, how do you do it?
And I know I've used pointsbefore to go business class and,
oh my goodness, it was amazing.
We actually did an upgrade thistime and we went business class
(09:22):
.
Um, it was, it was an overnight, was a red eye flight, and it
was worth it.
We did an upgrade this time andwe went business class.
It was an overnight, it was ared-eye flight and it was worth
it.
We did an overnight one withQatar oh no, it was actually
Malaysia Airways from Colombo toKuala Lumpur and it was
absolutely worth it.
It was, I don't know.
I think we spent maybe $250Australian dollars each.
We did the upgrade but honestlyand it was only a five-hour
flight, but it was 100% worth itand it was only a five-hour
(09:43):
flight, but it was 100% worth it.
So how do you do?
Do you splurge, do you usepoints or you know what's the
minimum kind of thing?
You'll go okay, it's a two-hourflight, I'm not going to bother
.
Thirty-an-hour flight, I'mgoing to go for that upgrade.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
For me, like anything that's long haul and like we
just sort of said we're sayinganything from eight hours.
I will always look at myoptions, whether or not I book
the business class straight upwith points or, if I can't, then
putting the upgrade in.
If I've got enough points, I'llalways try for the upgrade or
book the points.
I just think it's something andI know I'm the youngest out of
(10:17):
us three, but it's something.
As you get older it's reallyhard on your body.
It's really hard on your bodyand you know, know, I am small,
I don't have long legs oranything like that, so I can
only imagine what it must be forother people.
It's, it's hard, it's hard.
So, yeah, I'll always go for anupgrade if I can oh, I
absolutely agree.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
As you get older, just comfort becomes so
important and I know, shelley,you, you, you look at using
points as well and looking toupgrade when you can.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yes, so I use points, but I usually will upgrade
anyways, just like I said, to atleast like the premium comfort,
the comfort class, whatever theairlines may call it, due to
the fact that I do long-termtravel and I do travel with that
(11:07):
medium suitcase and thecarry-on and I check it.
So sometimes when you bookthose upgrades, they allot you
more luggage weight.
So for me that offsets the cost, so it's kind of a win-win
because I get my luggage onthere and I'm not having to pay
(11:28):
hundreds of dollars for myluggage and at the same token I
have a much more comfortableseat, a little bit more legroom,
because I'm a little bit taller.
And so, yeah, that's what Imostly do.
I very rarely unless it'sshort-term flights under the
eight hours, very rarely takeeconomy anymore for long-haul
(11:54):
flights and then, if I'm luckyenough, I'll get bumped up.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Yeah, you shared a picture the other day and I was
like that doesn't look likeeconomy, shelley, and you said
you'd been bumped up.
I was like, hmm, looks verynice.
But I think the point you madeabout luggage is totally valid
and the time that I actually dida bid for a flight from
Singapore back to Brisbane, I'dactually been shopping in
Singapore, got the upgrade andwent straight back and did some
(12:18):
more shopping and marks andexpenses because I knew I could
take extra luggage on.
It was brilliant.
I was like, okay, I'll buy morefood and take it back.
So that's what I did.
So anyway, let's talk about isthis like, if we're talking
about what we take on, so we'vegot a long haul flight, so over
the eight hours, are thereparticular things that you pack
in your bag when you take on?
So I mean, I assume you've gotsome checked-in luggage, but if
(12:42):
you're taking on that personalhand luggage with you, what do
you take on that?
You're always back, like Ialways have my headphones.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Yeah, I was going to say in the last few years, I'll
always have, like, mynoise-cancelling headphones, and
the other thing I also do nowis have the adapter so that I
can use my noise-cancellingheadphones in the airline's
entertainment system.
So, yeah, so I always make sureI have that.
(13:11):
And the other thing I alwayshave in relation to
entertainment is I have myiPhone full of downloads.
I have been.
I remember one trip I did with abunch of people and the
entertainment system was notworking and I was the only one
who had shows downloaded on myphone.
Everyone else was just like oh,this is so boring, and I was
(13:34):
shocked.
These were all other travelbloggers as well, and I was
shocked that nobody cameprepared.
Like I always come prepared,you never know when those
entertainment systems aren'tworking.
So I have like like shows fromnetflix.
I'll have podcasts um music,because I'm like I never know
what mood I'm going to be in.
So I have a range of things andsometimes I never use them, but
(13:54):
it's always good to comeprepared well, I I downloaded
the entire three series of whitelotus for my flight to perth
and I'm I've watched.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
I't know.
It's about an hour an episode,so I think I watched five
episodes.
It was brilliant.
Flight was really quick becauseI was totally engrossed in it.
So I look at something that Iknow will interest me,
especially if you're not goingto be on an airline that you
know there's not necessarilygoing to be the entertainment or
, as you say, it might not work,so 100% cover.
(14:25):
One thing that I do do and Ilearned this actually from the
amount of travel I used to dofor my job previously is I
always put um things like alittle notepad and a pen and my
book in in a small little bagwithin my bag so I can lift that
out, um, without having toscrabble around, because I think
there's nothing worse thantrying to find all your pieces
in a bag.
So I put them in small, little,tiny little, just little bags
(14:46):
and do that and I find thatreally easy, um, same as like a
little toothbrush or whatever.
If I have those things, then Ican take those without having to
take lots of different likejust found trying to find things
.
I actually didn't do this on aflight from london and morocco
and I lost my um pencil from mymy ipad.
Yeah, I've just had to buy anew one, so I think that works
(15:08):
really well.
So that's a tip that that Ialways do.
Um one time I didn't lostsomething, so that's a good idea
.
What about you, shelly?
What do you always take?
Tell me it's going to beskincare store, are you?
Speaker 3 (15:18):
it's not going to be skincare.
I could tell you what Shelleytypes.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
It's going to be skincare.
Well, melissa saw me on hertrip.
I do bring, like either theEvian or the mist water.
I always have that in my pursebecause it makes your skin the
plane dries out your skin somuch so I miss myself just like
(15:47):
a plant, like throughout theflight I'll go to the bathroom
and miss myself.
Plus, it makes you feel alittle bit good Always, always,
always a toothbrush and toothkit.
You know the airlines way backin the day they used to for long
haul flights, they used toprovide that stuff.
They don't do it anymore.
(16:09):
Um, so I either purchase alittle one or I snag one out of
the hotel room before I leaveand I just shove it in my purse.
And then that way, because Idon't know, I just have to those
long flights, you have to brushyour teeth.
And then the other thing that Ibring is, like you were saying
(16:29):
in the last episode, you can'tgo wrong with a sarong.
So I have a standard likesarong that I actually tie to my
leather bag and that's what Icarry on and I just tie it on
there, super lightweight.
But I can't tell you how manyairlines normally on long term,
(16:52):
long haul, they'll have ablanket, but sometimes they
don't, or they run out orwhatever, and it is flipping
cold, so I will just untie itfrom my bag and then I have a
blanket.
So those are kind of myessentials.
And then I agree with all ofyou noise-canceling headphones.
Those are like right up therewith my skincare.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Yeah, absolutely, and make sure you've got some.
I guess, though, you can't useit, you're taking a battery to
charge your phone or your ipad.
These days they're getting abit strict with the, with the um
the batteries on on some of theflights.
I know um I can't think whatflight it was.
Yeah, we couldn't, actuallyweren't, allowed to charge
anything on the, so make sureyou charge.
That's a big make sure youcharge everything before you get
(17:40):
on the plane, like if you'regoing have your ipad and your
phone to watch stuff.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Make sure you charge it, just in case you can't,
because they seem to be gettingstrict with that well, I'll tell
you, tracy, I just went throughum inchan airport, uh, and I
have never been now they'veimplemented this rule recently
and I've taken several, severalflights since but this was the
(18:04):
first time that they actuallyasked me a check-in to show them
my power bank.
So I was like okay.
So I took it out of my bag, Ihanded it to her and she took a
piece of electrical tape, blackelectrical tape, and taped it
over like the plug, like theplugins inserts, I don't know
(18:25):
what you call it, and I was like, okay, that's interesting.
So then, you know, she handedit back to me and some airlines
will require you to put it in alittle plastic zip, some
airlines don't.
But that was the first time Ihad seen where they actually had
black electrical tape to tapeover so you can use it.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Yeah, that seems to definitely, over the last few
months, become a bit more of a.
They're really concerned.
So, yeah, just make sure you'vegot stuff, stuff, charged up
before you before you go on.
I was trying to think what elseI always take.
I tried to take a book, buthalf the time I don't read it.
But it's just have it if I needit.
And Doug always has a drink, sohe will always buy a bottle of
(19:09):
water before I get on the plane.
That's something I always do.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Yeah, and that's.
And one thing I want topiggyback off of that, off of
Doug here, is I always make surethat I buy like at least a
liter of water and maybe someone with electrolytes in it so
you stay hydrated.
But the pet peeve I have is nowthese airlines have two
(19:36):
checkpoints sometimes.
So you think you have clearedthe checkpoint, it's okay to
purchase, and then they pop upanother checkpoint and then
you're stuck with the liter ofwater that you have to chuck and
then you got to buy new water.
That happened to me twicelately I know.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
So when I went the last time I went through dubai,
they after, when you got becausethere's a few checkpoints there
before you get on the plane,but the very last one there was
a water fountain so you couldrefill a water bottle.
So that's the other thing thatobviously, rather than having to
buy a bottle of water, is thatdoug goes travels with his water
bottle is then, if you can'trefill it, if there's actual um
(20:15):
water stations, which I thinkthat's that's also something I'm
seeing a bit more that they'retrying to encourage you to do
that.
So that's pretty good.
Yes, now, what do you wear on along haul flight?
Now, if you're in businessclass, you get the pajamas which
I still have, my pajamas fromQantas, thank you very much for
my, my uh, which Douglas takesthe mickey out of, but I like
wear them.
So, obviously, whether you'rechanging the pajamas is up to
(20:35):
you.
But generally, what do you wearon a long haul flight?
Well, I tend to wear the mostcomfortable trousers I can find
and underwire bra no, thank youvery much, not very comfortable.
So just a not underwire bra andcomfortable top.
I don't care, I don't carenecessarily how I look, I just
want to be comfortable.
But what about you know, do yougo for comforts and I can know
(20:59):
what shelly's gonna stay on thisone kyle or both?
See, I'm just comfort.
What about you, shelly?
Because I know what you'regonna say.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Oh, well, we had this conversation a little while ago
because I did a little likesnippet video, uh, about that,
because I don't know.
My frame of thought is, if youdress nicer casual, comfort yes,
(21:30):
but nicer casual, you know, forme, sometimes I get a little
bit more perks.
Sometimes it's a differentlevel, different vibe when you
go through immigration, it'swhen you arrive at the hotel you
sometimes will get perks or yousometimes will get a different
(21:51):
vibe from them.
So I'm not saying dress up, butI always make sure I'm very put
together, can you?
Speaker 1 (22:00):
tell Shelly is the glamorous one out of all of us.
I am going to say that.
I am going to say that, do you?
Speaker 3 (22:08):
agree, melissa, I do, and I'm the least glamorous out
of the three of us.
If you could see our videoright now, you would see what
I'm talking about.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
So, what about you, melissa, when you go on a flight
.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
What do you Absolutely comfort?
I tend to wear the same thingevery time, like a pair of
leggings, um yeah, a t-shirt anda jumper, and normally I'll
have shoes that I can easilytake on and off, like I'm
totally for.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Um, yeah, comfort yeah, no, that's me right.
I'm going to do a quick, aquick fire one.
This time.
You can't think about it.
You're just going to give methe answer straight away window
aisle or middle, which onewindow aisle, window, window
which?
Why window melissa?
Speaker 3 (22:50):
I like the window because I like putting my head
against it to try and sleep yeah, I, I like aisle, I like aisle.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Yeah, you've got long legs, so I'm guessing the aisle
might be better for you, foryour legs, though, shelley.
So I like window because I liketo see out.
I hate it.
I hate it when it's night and Ihate it when they make you
close the blind, because I liketo see where I am, even if I'm
in the clouds.
I want to see the clouds.
I feel happy all the time.
Nobody wants to sit in themiddle seat when we fly, because
(23:19):
I always have to have thewindow on, so he kind of was a
bit sulky about that, aren't you?
Speaker 3 (23:24):
I reckon I should charge less for the middle seat,
because then maybe more peoplewould sit there.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Yeah, that's true.
That is absolutely true.
So now, do you take snacks withyou on the flight?
Do you take anything inparticular, or do you just
depend on what they give youduring the flight?
Speaker 3 (23:40):
I just whatever they give me.
I always take water with me butmight have some Mentos, but no.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Yeah, you should take sweets for takeoff, not the
chew on.
What about?
Speaker 2 (23:50):
you, shelley, I always have snacks.
Yeah, yeah, I mean, I getteased by my friends because,
even like going anyplace, I havesnacks.
When we went on our trip,melissa, I had snacks.
You did, I did.
Yeah, yeah, I always carry atleast two protein bars and then
usually a small bag of nuts andthen, of course, water, because
(24:14):
I have gotten stuck like it,like if a plane's late, a
layover, or I get in like 1,like 1am someplace, and like
there's nothing open and no food.
So, yeah, sometimes it's notnecessary for the plane per se,
especially if you're in businessor something like that, because
(24:34):
they tend to feed you the wholetime.
But, um, but no, I always havesnacks so let's talk about jet
lag now.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
I've avoided jet lag this particular trip because
I've come back so slowly and I,I hate, I really struggle with
jet lag.
I really struggle going.
Coming back to australia isfrom from in europe is
particularly.
I found that direction far moredifficult than kind of going,
uh, west towards europe.
Now, um, shelly, you've justliterally skipped a whole back.
(25:04):
You've gone back in timeinternational dateline.
Um, so you went over from, fromsoutheast asia over to the
states.
So now, how are you dealingwith that jet lag?
Are you experiencing any jetlag?
Speaker 2 (25:19):
you know, I, I am, I am, usually the first couple
days are the hardest, um, but Iwill tell you the Australia one
you are right, tracy, thatAustralia one really kicks your
butt For some reason, that one'slike the hardest one.
But yeah, I, yes, usually thefirst couple days are like
(25:41):
really the hardest days are likereally the hardest, and what I
tend to do is make sure I'msuper hydrated before the flight
, during the flight, after theflight, because I know it sounds
minor but it's good for fatigue.
You know your mental clarity,all that.
And then I also, then I also,you know, try not to book myself
(26:04):
for anything like the day afterand maybe even two days after,
if I know it's long, becausethen that way it gives my body,
like Melissa was saying.
You know, especially if you're,you know, getting a little bit
older or you're travelingmultiple, multiple flights, you
(26:25):
know your body needs time torecover because you're not going
to enjoy doing what you'redoing, if you're miserable.
And then I try to stay up, so,like when I arrived here, I
arrived here at almost 1am inthe morning and so I had to like
make myself go to sleep, whichI wasn't tired.
(26:47):
But you know, you just try toadjust, but that's yeah that's
the hard part.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
I think that's a good tip, I think getting if you can
.
And I remember in the 80sbecause I was a nanny, you know,
and I worked for a family andthe guy was constantly flying
around the world and I remembersaying to him how do you deal
with all the jet lag and how doyou?
And he said the.
The thing I do is go directlyinto the time of the zone that
I'm arriving to.
So if that means going to thegym to keep myself awake until
(27:13):
10 o'clock and then I'll go tobed, that's what I'll do.
So that's for eating, forsleeping, for doing a lot, just
keeping yourself into exactlywhat you'd expect, even if you
don't feel like it.
And I know I find it easier tosay got europe and I'll just my
mom usually we stay at my mom'sand she just like keeps us awake
, keeps talking to us, and youknow we're probably to the keep
awake, you know.
(27:33):
But I think it's harder when weget back to australia and we're
back in our apartment and we'relike we really struggle.
Um, I've had a friend who'srecently been taking melatonin
and she said that that's helped.
Yeah, that's helped her.
So that's not something I'vetried before.
How do you cope with jet lag,melissa?
Speaker 3 (27:49):
I think you guys have really covered it, like trying
to adjust to the new time zonestraightaway, whether that's
staying awake or trying to go tosleep, yeah, and giving
yourself a bit of space.
I don't know.
I don't tend to find I sufferjet lag when I go somewhere, and
I'm not.
(28:09):
I thought.
I kind of thought that wasbecause I was really excited
about the new place, and thenwhen I come home, I find it
really really tough.
But then everyone says it.
So, like you said, it'sobviously something to do with
coming back to Australia and itmesses with you and I find it
can take me a good week, eventwo weeks sometimes, and I'm
(28:31):
always really surprised,particularly like for
Australians who land inAustralia and have themselves
going to work the next day.
I think that's mental.
Like you definitely need tolike give yourself a couple of
days if it's a long-haul flightanyway, so you have to have a
few.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
So, yeah, and one other thing I will say as well
to avoid doing if you're on along haul flight is please,
please, please, do not get off along haul flight in london.
You throw and hire a car.
Really don't do that anywhere,anywhere that you're driving,
because I just it's, even ifyou've been in business class
and you think you slept, youstill won't know how to put my
night's sleep and I just thinkthat it's just a really
(29:06):
dangerous thing to do if youfeel like, oh, I'm just going to
go.
So we always tell you giveyourself a day, give yourself
some time and when I talk topeople flying into London, give
yourself that to just do a hopon a bus, get picked up at
Heathrow, get taken to yourhotel, chill into your hotel,
chill out.
Don't put stress on yourself tooverfill your first day.
(29:28):
And I know some people havesaid, oh well, I'm so excited, I
want to do everything I said.
To be honest, I feel sometimeslike a zombie on that first day
where I can't I couldn't tellyou half the time I do.
sometimes you like, feel likeyou're floating you're so tired
and you know, and people havesaid that people who work like
night shift have said that'swhat it's like when you do a
night shift and you get intoyour sleeping pattern.
So I think it's important togive yourself that time to
(29:48):
adjust.
Don't put too much pressure onyourself, fill your first day
with stuff and when you get homeafter the trip, don't go back
to work, if you can the next day, especially when you're doing a
long haul flight back toAustralia which is, you know,
we're talking 23 hours.
It's a long, long flight.
So I think those are all kindof important things to think
about.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
I was going to say Tracy, you're absolutely right
about hiring a car, but likewhen I went to Australia, you
know, I did not drive for likethe first week.
I just I mean, I had to go tothe store or whatever.
I took an Uber.
I took because I just I was sowiped out I'm like there is no
(30:33):
way I'm going to get behind thewheel of a car.
So that is like really, reallypertinent information.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
For sure.
Yeah, I think it's important.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
I just had a little tip that someone shared as a
family travel for any of ourfamilies that are listening that
one thing that I got told umand I followed it when my I was
traveling with my daughter whenshe was little is when you're on
the airplane trying to get thekids in in the um time zone.
So, for example, when I wastraveling with Myla, when she
was like a tiny one, like Iwould even, like you know, pull
(31:05):
out her pajamas and put her inher pajamas and, you know, get
out a book and like, like youwould at home, even if it was
like three o'clock in theafternoon in Australia but kind
of say, you know, we're going tosleep now, you know, on the
airplane, because it's one thingfor us when we get to a new
destination to stay awake or goto sleep, but it's a bit much to
expect the tiny kids to be ableto do that.
(31:26):
But I always found that itreally worked pretty well with
her that she was like oh, I'mgoing to sleep now because I'm
in my pajamas and getting a bookread to me.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
So yeah, I was gonna.
I was actually gonna ask youbecause you know, because you've
traveled quite a lot around theworld with Myla, how did she
cope with that jet lag when shegot older?
Did it get more difficult?
Speaker 3 (31:45):
she was always a really good sleeper on an
airplane.
So you know, I don't knowwhether I was just lucky, but
you know, I think when they'relittle it's much easier for for
them to be on a plane.
One thing that I did and Iguess this is a tip for
long-haul flights I've alwayspaid for a seat for Myla.
I've never, ever flown longhaul with her on my lap.
(32:05):
I do not know how parents dothat.
That's crazy, I think.
So I've always paid for her tohave her own seat.
And you know what the goodthing is?
They're so tiny, they take upso much little space, so you get
a bit of extra space as well.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
That's a good one.
That's a good thing.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
I know you might be like oh, but I can save money,
but honestly I think it's crazyto think that you're going to
have a kid on your lap for 17hours, or whatever it is.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
No, no, definitely not.
I couldn't imagine that.
I think the first time I tookDominique Longhaw, she was five
and I took her to South Africaand she had her own seat.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
There's no way.
It's like no, should, I don'tknow.
Is there an age limit on okay?
Yeah, well, at least most, Imean my daughter's um 14 now, so
it's been a while, but at leastit used to be two yeah, no, I
couldn't imagine like evenhaving a wriggling toddler
trying to really reallydifficult, really difficult.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
Okay, so let's, let's end the podcast.
We've been talking for 30-oddminutes already, which is I mean
we can talk forever, I know wecan and talking about flying,
because it's something we do allthe time.
I think it's really important.
Now, have you got one tip thatyou would share for surviving
long haul?
And I'm going to start withsaying, if you can avoid it,
(33:29):
that's my tip.
I enjoy doing this in australiathough.
Well, and we've got a long.
We've got a few long hauls atthe end of the year because
we've got a south american andtalk to carmen.
So we've got.
We've got long hauls coming up,which I've already started to
talk, to talk about stressingand going oh my goodness, um,
but I'll be with you.
I don't like flying on my ownas well, so if I can fly with
five, with a friend, long haulthat's mine.
What about you, melissa?
Have you got any particular tip?
Speaker 3 (33:49):
oh, save up for those points and fly.
Business class or, like umShelly said, at least the middle
one, premium economy is tendsto what we call it here in
Australia.
But yeah, save up those pointsand don't fly economy yeah,
that's a good one, and shelly umcould I do two okay, so so one
(34:13):
for long-haul flights.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
I know this may sound a little bit frivolous, but
like I'm a vegetarian, so I makesure that before, when I'm
booking my flight, that my mealsare pre-ordered before I go,
because there's nothing worsethan getting on a flight and
then you have no food.
(34:35):
That's going to cause more jetlag, that's going to cause this,
that's going to cause a bunchof things.
That's one thing.
The airlines don't chargeanymore for that.
You might as well get what youwant to get.
And then the other thing Iwould say for a long haul flight
is again, try to book it atleast like a couple weeks or
(34:59):
three weeks in advance.
And again, I use my VPN becausesometimes, if you are looking
for flights on search engines,you can purchase the ticket in
that country's currency, andthat could save you a lot of
money.
If you like myself, I'm US andlet's say I buy a ticket in, you
(35:23):
know, asia, and let's say I buya ticket in Asia, the currency
exchange.
So keep that in mind whenyou're searching your flights.
Speaker 1 (35:33):
It's worth a look.
Those are really good tips.
Well as always, it's really goodto catch up with both of you.
Next month we've got a greattopic because we're going to be
talking about kind of lost intranslation.
So we're going to be talking inlanguage because there's been
some really interesting TikToksbeen shared by Shelley which
have gone down a storm with you.
(35:54):
Know, we might all speakEnglish, but Australian English,
british English and AmericanEnglish very different and there
are, as often, lots of thingslost in translation.
So we're going to be talkingabout that next month.
Um, but it's been greatchatting to you about um flights
and about long haul travel.
I do want to do a big shout outfrom all of us to laura, who I
(36:16):
think is probably one of ourbiggest fans, and, yes, thank
you.
Every week, laura's leaving usa message on speakpipe, which is
wonderful, and we lovelistening to your tips and your
thoughts as well, laura.
So please continue to do that.
It's very special and we lookforward to that.
So thanks very much and anybodyelse listening, if you want to
leave us a message, get in touchwith us via SpeakPipe, like
(36:38):
Laura does.
We'll get back to you and we'llgive you a shout out on the
podcast, because we we love to.
We want to get to know you guysas well.
What is it that you want fromus?
What information can we sharefrom our experience and our tips
?
What do you want to know?
That'd be great, so let us know.
But, um, great to catch up withyou guys.
I'm going to be seeing you soon, melissa.
I'm not sure it's jelly whenwe're going to catch up, but we
(36:59):
will make gonna.
We'll make a date for the nextpodcast for the end of next
month, but great chatting to youguys.
So thanks very much, as always,for joining me this month.
And I'm just going to say youcan find all the links to
anything we talked about in theshow notes at
globaltravelplanningcom forwardslash, episode 56.
And there will be links toMelissa's website and Shelley's
(37:20):
website, tiktok, all socialmedia, so you can follow all of
us on that.
But that leaves me to say untilnext week's episode, happy
global travel planning.
Bye.
Thank you for joining us onthis episode of the global
travel planning podcast.
For more details and links toeverything we discussed today,
check out the show notes atglobaltravelplanningcom.
(37:42):
Remember if you, if you enjoyedthe show, please consider
leaving us a review on yourfavorite podcast app, because
your feedback helps us reachmore travel enthusiasts, just
like you.
Anyway, that leaves me to say,as always, happy global travel
planning, thank you.
Hi, welcome to episode 56 of the Global Travel
Plan podcast.
So this is one of our regularchats with a Brit, an Aussie and
a Yank.
So that's me, melissa andShelley, and today we're diving
into the highs and lows of longhaul travel.
So, whether you're headingacross continents or flying
halfway around the world, we'vegot tips, hacks and real stories
(00:20):
to help make those long flightsa little more manageable.
Hi and welcome to the GlobalTravel Planning Podcast.
I'm your host, tracey Collins,who, with my expert guests, will
take you on a weekly journey todestinations around the globe,
providing travel inspiration,itinerary ideas, practical tips
and more to help you plan yournext travel adventure.
(00:43):
So, as always, let's start theepisode with a quick catch-up
where we all are in the worldand what we've been up to since
we last spoke.
So, shelley, where are you?
Whereabouts are you?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Well, I just landed back in the United States and
you're in Florida, is that right?
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Yes, I'm in Florida right now visiting family, so
I'm getting caught up, and it'sbeen almost a year since I've
been back, wow, yeah yeah, I'llsay that I've just landed back
in australia after nine months,so I'm actually in perth at the
moment, uh, visiting my daughterand her partner.
(01:31):
So that's really cool.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
and, melissa, you're back to the queensland yeah, I'm
at home in brisbane, so I'vebeen doing a lot of exploring in
the backyard.
Recently, um shelly and Ifinally got to do our trip to
Lady Elliot Island, which isfabulous.
But, yeah, just doing the localstuff at the moment.
(01:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Yeah, but there's loads to do and I'm really
excited, actually, about beingback in Queensland.
I'll be there at the end of themonth and we've already talked
about loads of stuff to see anddo in Brisbane.
That's new, so I'm reallylooking forward to that.
So that's going to be good, andI know I talked to Shelly about
her Lady Elliot experience andI really want to do it.
I'm like, yeah, that soundsamazing.
And I know, shelly, you were inNew Zealand, um, and yes, yeah,
(02:17):
and then you flew to, you werein Thailand, and then we met.
We got to actually have go outfor dinner in Kuala Lumpur.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Yes, it was so cool that it just happened to work
out that way.
And then after I left there, Iwent to Korea and spent a little
bit of time in Korea and yeah,now I'm here.
So it was kind of like boom,boom, boom, you know, after I
(02:48):
left Australia.
But it was so cool meeting upwith you because we got to chit
chat about your travels, becauseyou've been gone so long and
you know, I got to just seeeveryone.
So, yeah, it was.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
It was really good.
And I'm going to ask one thingCan you share the photos of your
nails that you had done inKorea?
I think we need to show all ourlisteners, I believe, fabulous
nails that you had done.
Yeah, they are so, oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
They are definitely.
It was such a great experience.
It was definitely this lady's.
Such an artist she's.
Yeah, yeah, if you go on my uh,instagram or tiktok or website,
you'll see it.
But yes, I will share thephotos.
But she, I mean, I was justamazed, she did everything by
(03:43):
hand.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Wow.
Well, they look amazing, so weneed to share.
They look fabulous, thank you.
So the main thing we're goingto talk about this episode is
about is about surviving longhaul flights.
So just surviving flying whenyou're doing a lot of flights
and I, before you came on,shelley, I was just saying to
Melissa I think I added it upand I think we've done 17
(04:04):
flights.
I've done 17 flights between no, I've done 17 flights and
Doug's about the same in thelast nine months, which is,
which is crazy, it's a crazyamount of flying.
Um, and I know you've beenflying everywhere and, and you
know, shelley, you flyeverywhere and Melissa, we're
always flying all the time.
We're always thinking aboutstuff.
So let's let's talk about howwe plan when we're going to fly,
cause that.
(04:24):
So let's talk about how we planwhen we're going to fly,
because that's something that Ikind of you know.
How far ahead do you startplanning for a long haul journey
?
And I'm going to start withthis one, because actually, when
I was planning this trip, thatI did.
I actually wanted to avoid longhaul, because I hate flying,
which everybody always findsincredible, especially after 17
flights.
So one thing that I've starteddoing and that's a luxury that I
(04:46):
guess that we can afford interms of time is take shorter
flights and avoid those longflights, because I cannot bear
them.
And we have a lot of them fromAustralia Now, melissa,
obviously based in Australia allthe time.
They're always they've longhauled going anywhere, going to
Europe, going to the States, along haul flight.
So how do you kind of prepare,knowing that you're going to do
(05:08):
a long haul?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
flight.
Um, if you're just talkingabout, like you know, once the
flights booked, um, I'm a bitshort term sort of preparing.
You know, I might startthinking about it like the day
before, um, but in terms of likebefore I book, because I'm a
bit of a point hacker, I willsort of plan, like well and
(05:31):
truly in advance and even beforeI've even thought of the flight
, I'll be trying to make themost of every purchase I get.
So I get lots of points so Ican try and upgrade, which I
know we'll talk about later yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
What about you, shelly, when you're taking I
mean any of those long-haulflights, because I know you've
just recently taken quite a fewin terms of Europe, to Australia
, and then you've flown toFlorida, which took quite a few
hours yeah, um, and so thelong-haul flights, I I don't
dislike them.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
But, like you were saying, I totally get now from
Australia because you knowthat's got to be a really,
really hard one that one kind oflike jet lag I know we'll talk
about later that one kind ofkicked me in the butt, to be
honest, because it is such along flight and it's not so much
(06:25):
that I haven't taken that longof a flight.
You know, long-haul flightbefore it's just the low.
I don't know the time change, Idon't know what it is, but, man
, it was like intense.
But as far as long-haul flights, I consider a long-haul flight.
I don't know what you guysconsider a long-haul flight,
(06:46):
anything over like eight hours,yeah, yeah, yeah, okay.
So so you know, as far as thatgoes, um, if they have a layover
, that's fine, but you know whatI, I'm the type that like I'd
rather just get it over with.
So I mean, if they don't, ifit's a direct, if I'm lucky
enough to get a direct, I'lltake the direct every time okay,
(07:09):
would you do.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I'm going to ask this would you would either of you
do the 17 hour flight from perthdirect to london?
I've done it, yeah, and inbusiness?
All right, okay, I think Iwould do it in business class um
.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I go ahead.
I'm sorry, melissa, no.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
I was just gonna say I'm, I'm not, I'm not sure I
would do it on economy, like Idon't know.
Um business was hard enough, um, but it was very, very doable
in business, very doable, okay,what?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
about you, uh, shelly um, I, that's one thing that
I've I've done when I firstfirst first started.
Uh, I did the economy thing andI just was a train wreck for
several days after now.
If that's the only way you canget there, I say, go for it.
You know you could recoverlater.
(08:02):
But now, minimum, I try likeComfort Plus.
I try because it's so long.
It's so long.
If you can't do business or youcan't get bumped up, at least
do the Comfort Plus, where youcould stretch out your legs a
little bit more, legs a littlebit more.
(08:29):
Um, but yeah, I'd rather takethe 17 hour and get it done than
to take maybe a 10 hour, have afour hour layover, then get
back on a plane.
Then you know, it's just to me,it just drags it on too long
yeah, I think that.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
I think that I agree, because we've done quite often
the the Brisbane to Dubai route,which is like 13 and a half
hours.
Then you get off the plane,you're already tired and then
you've got another seven hoursor whatever it is, and I think
they're harder in some ways.
But I have to say I like thislast trip.
The most we've done is afive-hour out.
No, there's 17-hour flight.
Oh yeah, we've done it.
(09:01):
We've really hopped around,which has been really nice, and
we've done a lot with points,which kind of brings me back to
the whole kind of you know, doyou splurge on upgrades?
If you do, how do you do it?
And I know I've used pointsbefore to go business class and,
oh my goodness, it was amazing.
We actually did an upgrade thistime and we went business class
(09:22):
.
Um, it was, it was an overnight, was a red eye flight, and it
was worth it.
We did an upgrade this time andwe went business class.
It was an overnight, it was ared-eye flight and it was worth
it.
We did an overnight one withQatar oh no, it was actually
Malaysia Airways from Colombo toKuala Lumpur and it was
absolutely worth it.
It was, I don't know.
I think we spent maybe $250Australian dollars each.
We did the upgrade but honestlyand it was only a five-hour
flight, but it was 100% worth itand it was only a five-hour
(09:43):
flight, but it was 100% worth it.
So how do you do?
Do you splurge, do you usepoints or you know what's the
minimum kind of thing?
You'll go okay, it's a two-hourflight, I'm not going to bother
.
Thirty-an-hour flight, I'mgoing to go for that upgrade.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
For me, like anything that's long haul and like we
just sort of said we're sayinganything from eight hours.
I will always look at myoptions, whether or not I book
the business class straight upwith points or, if I can't, then
putting the upgrade in.
If I've got enough points, I'llalways try for the upgrade or
book the points.
I just think it's something andI know I'm the youngest out of
(10:17):
us three, but it's something.
As you get older it's reallyhard on your body.
It's really hard on your bodyand you know, know, I am small,
I don't have long legs oranything like that, so I can
only imagine what it must be forother people.
It's, it's hard, it's hard.
So, yeah, I'll always go for anupgrade if I can oh, I
absolutely agree.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
As you get older, just comfort becomes so
important and I know, shelley,you, you, you look at using
points as well and looking toupgrade when you can.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yes, so I use points, but I usually will upgrade
anyways, just like I said, to atleast like the premium comfort,
the comfort class, whatever theairlines may call it, due to
the fact that I do long-termtravel and I do travel with that
(11:07):
medium suitcase and thecarry-on and I check it.
So sometimes when you bookthose upgrades, they allot you
more luggage weight.
So for me that offsets the cost, so it's kind of a win-win
because I get my luggage onthere and I'm not having to pay
(11:28):
hundreds of dollars for myluggage and at the same token I
have a much more comfortableseat, a little bit more legroom,
because I'm a little bit taller.
And so, yeah, that's what Imostly do.
I very rarely unless it'sshort-term flights under the
eight hours, very rarely takeeconomy anymore for long-haul
(11:54):
flights and then, if I'm luckyenough, I'll get bumped up.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Yeah, you shared a picture the other day and I was
like that doesn't look likeeconomy, shelley, and you said
you'd been bumped up.
I was like, hmm, looks verynice.
But I think the point you madeabout luggage is totally valid
and the time that I actually dida bid for a flight from
Singapore back to Brisbane, I'dactually been shopping in
Singapore, got the upgrade andwent straight back and did some
(12:18):
more shopping and marks andexpenses because I knew I could
take extra luggage on.
It was brilliant.
I was like, okay, I'll buy morefood and take it back.
So that's what I did.
So anyway, let's talk about isthis like, if we're talking
about what we take on, so we'vegot a long haul flight, so over
the eight hours, are thereparticular things that you pack
in your bag when you take on?
So I mean, I assume you've gotsome checked-in luggage, but if
(12:42):
you're taking on that personalhand luggage with you, what do
you take on that?
You're always back, like Ialways have my headphones.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Yeah, I was going to say in the last few years, I'll
always have, like, mynoise-cancelling headphones, and
the other thing I also do nowis have the adapter so that I
can use my noise-cancellingheadphones in the airline's
entertainment system.
So, yeah, so I always make sureI have that.
(13:11):
And the other thing I alwayshave in relation to
entertainment is I have myiPhone full of downloads.
I have been.
I remember one trip I did with abunch of people and the
entertainment system was notworking and I was the only one
who had shows downloaded on myphone.
Everyone else was just like oh,this is so boring, and I was
(13:34):
shocked.
These were all other travelbloggers as well, and I was
shocked that nobody cameprepared.
Like I always come prepared,you never know when those
entertainment systems aren'tworking.
So I have like like shows fromnetflix.
I'll have podcasts um music,because I'm like I never know
what mood I'm going to be in.
So I have a range of things andsometimes I never use them, but
(13:54):
it's always good to comeprepared well, I I downloaded
the entire three series of whitelotus for my flight to perth
and I'm I've watched.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
I't know.
It's about an hour an episode,so I think I watched five
episodes.
It was brilliant.
Flight was really quick becauseI was totally engrossed in it.
So I look at something that Iknow will interest me,
especially if you're not goingto be on an airline that you
know there's not necessarilygoing to be the entertainment or
, as you say, it might not work,so 100% cover.
(14:25):
One thing that I do do and Ilearned this actually from the
amount of travel I used to dofor my job previously is I
always put um things like alittle notepad and a pen and my
book in in a small little bagwithin my bag so I can lift that
out, um, without having toscrabble around, because I think
there's nothing worse thantrying to find all your pieces
in a bag.
So I put them in small, little,tiny little, just little bags
(14:46):
and do that and I find thatreally easy, um, same as like a
little toothbrush or whatever.
If I have those things, then Ican take those without having to
take lots of different likejust found trying to find things
.
I actually didn't do this on aflight from london and morocco
and I lost my um pencil from mymy ipad.
Yeah, I've just had to buy anew one, so I think that works
(15:08):
really well.
So that's a tip that that Ialways do.
Um one time I didn't lostsomething, so that's a good idea
.
What about you, shelly?
What do you always take?
Tell me it's going to beskincare store, are you?
Speaker 3 (15:18):
it's not going to be skincare.
I could tell you what Shelleytypes.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
It's going to be skincare.
Well, melissa saw me on hertrip.
I do bring, like either theEvian or the mist water.
I always have that in my pursebecause it makes your skin the
plane dries out your skin somuch so I miss myself just like
(15:47):
a plant, like throughout theflight I'll go to the bathroom
and miss myself.
Plus, it makes you feel alittle bit good Always, always,
always a toothbrush and toothkit.
You know the airlines way backin the day they used to for long
haul flights, they used toprovide that stuff.
They don't do it anymore.
(16:09):
Um, so I either purchase alittle one or I snag one out of
the hotel room before I leaveand I just shove it in my purse.
And then that way, because Idon't know, I just have to those
long flights, you have to brushyour teeth.
And then the other thing that Ibring is, like you were saying
(16:29):
in the last episode, you can'tgo wrong with a sarong.
So I have a standard likesarong that I actually tie to my
leather bag and that's what Icarry on and I just tie it on
there, super lightweight.
But I can't tell you how manyairlines normally on long term,
(16:52):
long haul, they'll have ablanket, but sometimes they
don't, or they run out orwhatever, and it is flipping
cold, so I will just untie itfrom my bag and then I have a
blanket.
So those are kind of myessentials.
And then I agree with all ofyou noise-canceling headphones.
Those are like right up therewith my skincare.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Yeah, absolutely, and make sure you've got some.
I guess, though, you can't useit, you're taking a battery to
charge your phone or your ipad.
These days they're getting abit strict with the, with the um
the batteries on on some of theflights.
I know um I can't think whatflight it was.
Yeah, we couldn't, actuallyweren't, allowed to charge
anything on the, so make sureyou charge.
That's a big make sure youcharge everything before you get
(17:40):
on the plane, like if you'regoing have your ipad and your
phone to watch stuff.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Make sure you charge it, just in case you can't,
because they seem to be gettingstrict with that well, I'll tell
you, tracy, I just went throughum inchan airport, uh, and I
have never been now they'veimplemented this rule recently
and I've taken several, severalflights since but this was the
(18:04):
first time that they actuallyasked me a check-in to show them
my power bank.
So I was like okay.
So I took it out of my bag, Ihanded it to her and she took a
piece of electrical tape, blackelectrical tape, and taped it
over like the plug, like theplugins inserts, I don't know
(18:25):
what you call it, and I was like, okay, that's interesting.
So then, you know, she handedit back to me and some airlines
will require you to put it in alittle plastic zip, some
airlines don't.
But that was the first time Ihad seen where they actually had
black electrical tape to tapeover so you can use it.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Yeah, that seems to definitely, over the last few
months, become a bit more of a.
They're really concerned.
So, yeah, just make sure you'vegot stuff, stuff, charged up
before you before you go on.
I was trying to think what elseI always take.
I tried to take a book, buthalf the time I don't read it.
But it's just have it if I needit.
And Doug always has a drink, sohe will always buy a bottle of
(19:09):
water before I get on the plane.
That's something I always do.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Yeah, and that's.
And one thing I want topiggyback off of that, off of
Doug here, is I always make surethat I buy like at least a
liter of water and maybe someone with electrolytes in it so
you stay hydrated.
But the pet peeve I have is nowthese airlines have two
(19:36):
checkpoints sometimes.
So you think you have clearedthe checkpoint, it's okay to
purchase, and then they pop upanother checkpoint and then
you're stuck with the liter ofwater that you have to chuck and
then you got to buy new water.
That happened to me twicelately I know.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
So when I went the last time I went through dubai,
they after, when you got becausethere's a few checkpoints there
before you get on the plane,but the very last one there was
a water fountain so you couldrefill a water bottle.
So that's the other thing thatobviously, rather than having to
buy a bottle of water, is thatdoug goes travels with his water
bottle is then, if you can'trefill it, if there's actual um
(20:15):
water stations, which I thinkthat's that's also something I'm
seeing a bit more that they'retrying to encourage you to do
that.
So that's pretty good.
Yes, now, what do you wear on along haul flight?
Now, if you're in businessclass, you get the pajamas which
I still have, my pajamas fromQantas, thank you very much for
my, my uh, which Douglas takesthe mickey out of, but I like
wear them.
So, obviously, whether you'rechanging the pajamas is up to
(20:35):
you.
But generally, what do you wearon a long haul flight?
Well, I tend to wear the mostcomfortable trousers I can find
and underwire bra no, thank youvery much, not very comfortable.
So just a not underwire bra andcomfortable top.
I don't care, I don't carenecessarily how I look, I just
want to be comfortable.
But what about you know, do yougo for comforts and I can know
(20:59):
what shelly's gonna stay on thisone kyle or both?
See, I'm just comfort.
What about you, shelly?
Because I know what you'regonna say.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Oh, well, we had this conversation a little while ago
because I did a little likesnippet video, uh, about that,
because I don't know.
My frame of thought is, if youdress nicer casual, comfort yes,
(21:30):
but nicer casual, you know, forme, sometimes I get a little
bit more perks.
Sometimes it's a differentlevel, different vibe when you
go through immigration, it'swhen you arrive at the hotel you
sometimes will get perks or yousometimes will get a different
(21:51):
vibe from them.
So I'm not saying dress up, butI always make sure I'm very put
together, can you?
Speaker 1 (22:00):
tell Shelly is the glamorous one out of all of us.
I am going to say that.
I am going to say that, do you?
Speaker 3 (22:08):
agree, melissa, I do, and I'm the least glamorous out
of the three of us.
If you could see our videoright now, you would see what
I'm talking about.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
So, what about you, melissa, when you go on a flight
.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
What do you Absolutely comfort?
I tend to wear the same thingevery time, like a pair of
leggings, um yeah, a t-shirt anda jumper, and normally I'll
have shoes that I can easilytake on and off, like I'm
totally for.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Um, yeah, comfort yeah, no, that's me right.
I'm going to do a quick, aquick fire one.
This time.
You can't think about it.
You're just going to give methe answer straight away window
aisle or middle, which onewindow aisle, window, window
which?
Why window melissa?
Speaker 3 (22:50):
I like the window because I like putting my head
against it to try and sleep yeah, I, I like aisle, I like aisle.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Yeah, you've got long legs, so I'm guessing the aisle
might be better for you, foryour legs, though, shelley.
So I like window because I liketo see out.
I hate it.
I hate it when it's night and Ihate it when they make you
close the blind, because I liketo see where I am, even if I'm
in the clouds.
I want to see the clouds.
I feel happy all the time.
Nobody wants to sit in themiddle seat when we fly, because
(23:19):
I always have to have thewindow on, so he kind of was a
bit sulky about that, aren't you?
Speaker 3 (23:24):
I reckon I should charge less for the middle seat,
because then maybe more peoplewould sit there.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Yeah, that's true.
That is absolutely true.
So now, do you take snacks withyou on the flight?
Do you take anything inparticular, or do you just
depend on what they give youduring the flight?
Speaker 3 (23:40):
I just whatever they give me.
I always take water with me butmight have some Mentos, but no.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Yeah, you should take sweets for takeoff, not the
chew on.
What about?
Speaker 2 (23:50):
you, shelley, I always have snacks.
Yeah, yeah, I mean, I getteased by my friends because,
even like going anyplace, I havesnacks.
When we went on our trip,melissa, I had snacks.
You did, I did.
Yeah, yeah, I always carry atleast two protein bars and then
usually a small bag of nuts andthen, of course, water, because
(24:14):
I have gotten stuck like it,like if a plane's late, a
layover, or I get in like 1,like 1am someplace, and like
there's nothing open and no food.
So, yeah, sometimes it's notnecessary for the plane per se,
especially if you're in businessor something like that, because
(24:34):
they tend to feed you the wholetime.
But, um, but no, I always havesnacks so let's talk about jet
lag now.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
I've avoided jet lag this particular trip because
I've come back so slowly and I,I hate, I really struggle with
jet lag.
I really struggle going.
Coming back to australia isfrom from in europe is
particularly.
I found that direction far moredifficult than kind of going,
uh, west towards europe.
Now, um, shelly, you've justliterally skipped a whole back.
(25:04):
You've gone back in timeinternational dateline.
Um, so you went over from, fromsoutheast asia over to the
states.
So now, how are you dealingwith that jet lag?
Are you experiencing any jetlag?
Speaker 2 (25:19):
you know, I, I am, I am, usually the first couple
days are the hardest, um, but Iwill tell you the Australia one
you are right, tracy, thatAustralia one really kicks your
butt For some reason, that one'slike the hardest one.
But yeah, I, yes, usually thefirst couple days are like
(25:41):
really the hardest days are likereally the hardest, and what I
tend to do is make sure I'msuper hydrated before the flight
, during the flight, after theflight, because I know it sounds
minor but it's good for fatigue.
You know your mental clarity,all that.
And then I also, then I also,you know, try not to book myself
(26:04):
for anything like the day afterand maybe even two days after,
if I know it's long, becausethen that way it gives my body,
like Melissa was saying.
You know, especially if you're,you know, getting a little bit
older or you're travelingmultiple, multiple flights, you
(26:25):
know your body needs time torecover because you're not going
to enjoy doing what you'redoing, if you're miserable.
And then I try to stay up, so,like when I arrived here, I
arrived here at almost 1am inthe morning and so I had to like
make myself go to sleep, whichI wasn't tired.
(26:47):
But you know, you just try toadjust, but that's yeah that's
the hard part.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
I think that's a good tip, I think getting if you can
.
And I remember in the 80sbecause I was a nanny, you know,
and I worked for a family andthe guy was constantly flying
around the world and I remembersaying to him how do you deal
with all the jet lag and how doyou?
And he said the.
The thing I do is go directlyinto the time of the zone that
I'm arriving to.
So if that means going to thegym to keep myself awake until
(27:13):
10 o'clock and then I'll go tobed, that's what I'll do.
So that's for eating, forsleeping, for doing a lot, just
keeping yourself into exactlywhat you'd expect, even if you
don't feel like it.
And I know I find it easier tosay got europe and I'll just my
mom usually we stay at my mom'sand she just like keeps us awake
, keeps talking to us, and youknow we're probably to the keep
awake, you know.
(27:33):
But I think it's harder when weget back to australia and we're
back in our apartment and we'relike we really struggle.
Um, I've had a friend who'srecently been taking melatonin
and she said that that's helped.
Yeah, that's helped her.
So that's not something I'vetried before.
How do you cope with jet lag,melissa?
Speaker 3 (27:49):
I think you guys have really covered it, like trying
to adjust to the new time zonestraightaway, whether that's
staying awake or trying to go tosleep, yeah, and giving
yourself a bit of space.
I don't know.
I don't tend to find I sufferjet lag when I go somewhere, and
I'm not.
(28:09):
I thought.
I kind of thought that wasbecause I was really excited
about the new place, and thenwhen I come home, I find it
really really tough.
But then everyone says it.
So, like you said, it'sobviously something to do with
coming back to Australia and itmesses with you and I find it
can take me a good week, eventwo weeks sometimes, and I'm
(28:31):
always really surprised,particularly like for
Australians who land inAustralia and have themselves
going to work the next day.
I think that's mental.
Like you definitely need tolike give yourself a couple of
days if it's a long-haul flightanyway, so you have to have a
few.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
So, yeah, and one other thing I will say as well
to avoid doing if you're on along haul flight is please,
please, please, do not get off along haul flight in london.
You throw and hire a car.
Really don't do that anywhere,anywhere that you're driving,
because I just it's, even ifyou've been in business class
and you think you slept, youstill won't know how to put my
night's sleep and I just thinkthat it's just a really
(29:06):
dangerous thing to do if youfeel like, oh, I'm just going to
go.
So we always tell you giveyourself a day, give yourself
some time and when I talk topeople flying into London, give
yourself that to just do a hopon a bus, get picked up at
Heathrow, get taken to yourhotel, chill into your hotel,
chill out.
Don't put stress on yourself tooverfill your first day.
(29:28):
And I know some people havesaid, oh well, I'm so excited, I
want to do everything I said.
To be honest, I feel sometimeslike a zombie on that first day
where I can't I couldn't tellyou half the time I do.
sometimes you like, feel likeyou're floating you're so tired
and you know, and people havesaid that people who work like
night shift have said that'swhat it's like when you do a
night shift and you get intoyour sleeping pattern.
So I think it's important togive yourself that time to
(29:48):
adjust.
Don't put too much pressure onyourself, fill your first day
with stuff and when you get homeafter the trip, don't go back
to work, if you can the next day, especially when you're doing a
long haul flight back toAustralia which is, you know,
we're talking 23 hours.
It's a long, long flight.
So I think those are all kindof important things to think
about.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
I was going to say Tracy, you're absolutely right
about hiring a car, but likewhen I went to Australia, you
know, I did not drive for likethe first week.
I just I mean, I had to go tothe store or whatever.
I took an Uber.
I took because I just I was sowiped out I'm like there is no
(30:33):
way I'm going to get behind thewheel of a car.
So that is like really, reallypertinent information.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
For sure.
Yeah, I think it's important.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
I just had a little tip that someone shared as a
family travel for any of ourfamilies that are listening that
one thing that I got told umand I followed it when my I was
traveling with my daughter whenshe was little is when you're on
the airplane trying to get thekids in in the um time zone.
So, for example, when I wastraveling with Myla, when she
was like a tiny one, like Iwould even, like you know, pull
(31:05):
out her pajamas and put her inher pajamas and, you know, get
out a book and like, like youwould at home, even if it was
like three o'clock in theafternoon in Australia but kind
of say, you know, we're going tosleep now, you know, on the
airplane, because it's one thingfor us when we get to a new
destination to stay awake or goto sleep, but it's a bit much to
expect the tiny kids to be ableto do that.
(31:26):
But I always found that itreally worked pretty well with
her that she was like oh, I'mgoing to sleep now because I'm
in my pajamas and getting a bookread to me.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
So yeah, I was gonna.
I was actually gonna ask youbecause you know, because you've
traveled quite a lot around theworld with Myla, how did she
cope with that jet lag when shegot older?
Did it get more difficult?
Speaker 3 (31:45):
she was always a really good sleeper on an
airplane.
So you know, I don't knowwhether I was just lucky, but
you know, I think when they'relittle it's much easier for for
them to be on a plane.
One thing that I did and Iguess this is a tip for
long-haul flights I've alwayspaid for a seat for Myla.
I've never, ever flown longhaul with her on my lap.
(32:05):
I do not know how parents dothat.
That's crazy, I think.
So I've always paid for her tohave her own seat.
And you know what the goodthing is?
They're so tiny, they take upso much little space, so you get
a bit of extra space as well.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
That's a good one.
That's a good thing.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
I know you might be like oh, but I can save money,
but honestly I think it's crazyto think that you're going to
have a kid on your lap for 17hours, or whatever it is.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
No, no, definitely not.
I couldn't imagine that.
I think the first time I tookDominique Longhaw, she was five
and I took her to South Africaand she had her own seat.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
There's no way.
It's like no, should, I don'tknow.
Is there an age limit on okay?
Yeah, well, at least most, Imean my daughter's um 14 now, so
it's been a while, but at leastit used to be two yeah, no, I
couldn't imagine like evenhaving a wriggling toddler
trying to really reallydifficult, really difficult.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
Okay, so let's, let's end the podcast.
We've been talking for 30-oddminutes already, which is I mean
we can talk forever, I know wecan and talking about flying,
because it's something we do allthe time.
I think it's really important.
Now, have you got one tip thatyou would share for surviving
long haul?
And I'm going to start withsaying, if you can avoid it,
(33:29):
that's my tip.
I enjoy doing this in australiathough.
Well, and we've got a long.
We've got a few long hauls atthe end of the year because
we've got a south american andtalk to carmen.
So we've got.
We've got long hauls coming up,which I've already started to
talk, to talk about stressingand going oh my goodness, um,
but I'll be with you.
I don't like flying on my ownas well, so if I can fly with
five, with a friend, long haulthat's mine.
What about you, melissa?
Have you got any particular tip?
Speaker 3 (33:49):
oh, save up for those points and fly.
Business class or, like umShelly said, at least the middle
one, premium economy is tendsto what we call it here in
Australia.
But yeah, save up those pointsand don't fly economy yeah,
that's a good one, and shelly umcould I do two okay, so so one
(34:13):
for long-haul flights.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
I know this may sound a little bit frivolous, but
like I'm a vegetarian, so I makesure that before, when I'm
booking my flight, that my mealsare pre-ordered before I go,
because there's nothing worsethan getting on a flight and
then you have no food.
(34:35):
That's going to cause more jetlag, that's going to cause this,
that's going to cause a bunchof things.
That's one thing.
The airlines don't chargeanymore for that.
You might as well get what youwant to get.
And then the other thing Iwould say for a long haul flight
is again, try to book it atleast like a couple weeks or
(34:59):
three weeks in advance.
And again, I use my VPN becausesometimes, if you are looking
for flights on search engines,you can purchase the ticket in
that country's currency, andthat could save you a lot of
money.
If you like myself, I'm US andlet's say I buy a ticket in, you
(35:23):
know, asia, and let's say I buya ticket in Asia, the currency
exchange.
So keep that in mind whenyou're searching your flights.
Speaker 1 (35:33):
It's worth a look.
Those are really good tips.
Well as always, it's really goodto catch up with both of you.
Next month we've got a greattopic because we're going to be
talking about kind of lost intranslation.
So we're going to be talking inlanguage because there's been
some really interesting TikToksbeen shared by Shelley which
have gone down a storm with you.
(35:54):
Know, we might all speakEnglish, but Australian English,
british English and AmericanEnglish very different and there
are, as often, lots of thingslost in translation.
So we're going to be talkingabout that next month.
Um, but it's been greatchatting to you about um flights
and about long haul travel.
I do want to do a big shout outfrom all of us to laura, who I
(36:16):
think is probably one of ourbiggest fans, and, yes, thank
you.
Every week, laura's leaving usa message on speakpipe, which is
wonderful, and we lovelistening to your tips and your
thoughts as well, laura.
So please continue to do that.
It's very special and we lookforward to that.
So thanks very much and anybodyelse listening, if you want to
leave us a message, get in touchwith us via SpeakPipe, like
(36:38):
Laura does.
We'll get back to you and we'llgive you a shout out on the
podcast, because we we love to.
We want to get to know you guysas well.
What is it that you want fromus?
What information can we sharefrom our experience and our tips
?
What do you want to know?
That'd be great, so let us know.
But, um, great to catch up withyou guys.
I'm going to be seeing you soon, melissa.
I'm not sure it's jelly whenwe're going to catch up, but we
(36:59):
will make gonna.
We'll make a date for the nextpodcast for the end of next
month, but great chatting to youguys.
So thanks very much, as always,for joining me this month.
And I'm just going to say youcan find all the links to
anything we talked about in theshow notes at
globaltravelplanningcom forwardslash, episode 56.
And there will be links toMelissa's website and Shelley's
(37:20):
website, tiktok, all socialmedia, so you can follow all of
us on that.
But that leaves me to say untilnext week's episode, happy
global travel planning.
Bye.
Thank you for joining us onthis episode of the global
travel planning podcast.
For more details and links toeverything we discussed today,
check out the show notes atglobaltravelplanningcom.
(37:42):
Remember if you, if you enjoyedthe show, please consider
leaving us a review on yourfavorite podcast app, because
your feedback helps us reachmore travel enthusiasts, just
like you.
Anyway, that leaves me to say,as always, happy global travel
planning, thank you.
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Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
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