Flight attendant reveals why you should NOT eat on a long-haul flight (and why you should carry a travel pillow)

A flight attendant has shared her surprising top tips for surviving a long-haul flight, including skipping in-flight meals and bringing a travel pillow.

For many, the prospect of a long-haul flight is exciting – the start of a journey to a long-awaited vacation in a warm and sunny place.

But for others, the idea of ​​spending several hours with strangers, crying children and struggling to sleep can be terrifying.

Kris Major has been a flight attendant for 24 years. After spending many hours in the air, he shared his best advice for a peaceful flight with CNN.

The first helpful piece of advice from Kris is not to eat meals on board.

Instead, he recommends using the time you normally spend eating to get some rest so you can reach your goal with as much energy as possible.

Brushing your teeth after getting off the plane can also help you feel refreshed after a long and sleepy flight.

Kris recommends eating before boarding, but packing snacks in case you get hungry.

Most airplanes these days should provide you with a comfortable seat and pillow for your flight.

But it’s always better to be prepared in case you have to make a 12-hour trip without a pillow.

Kris says it’s a good idea to bring an eye mask, travel pillow and blanket to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible on your trip.

He told CNN, “I would say take care of your own comfort and needs as best you can.”

The flight expert believes that on-board comfort is crucial to customer satisfaction.

He therefore advises people not to worry if they can’t sleep, to take off their shoes if they don’t feel well and to exercise regularly to get the blood pumping.

Seat selection is also important, but where it goes depends on the requirements of the individual passenger.

For those who suffer from motion sickness or hate turbulence, the best seat is in the front to minimize movement.

But if getting a full eight hours of sleep is your top priority, it might be worth considering booking a window seat.

And if you’re tall and often cramp your legs in the small seats, you can book the junk seat for extra legroom.

Flight attendant and vlogger Jamila Hardwick has also previously shared her top flying tips.

Like Kris, she recommends bringing your own blanket and pillow.

For travelers concerned about hygiene on board, she says, peace of mind is given by wiping the trays with wet wipes and not ordering tea or coffee, as the pipes are rarely cleaned.