“4 body facts you need to know when flying long haul international flights and how to avoid or reduce them.

So brace yourself we are talking about bad hair, bloating, bowels, water retention and hot and cold flushes.

But rather than let these topics put you off that long-dreamed-of trip now that you're 50 plus instead...

Embrace them as part of your experience knowing you can reduce or avoid them!

My first flight was at the age of 17 a short 1-hour domestic flight and then a 13-hour long-haul international flight followed by another 5 hours flight...

Over 24 hours of flying and layovers.

Nobody prepared me for what would happen to my body at 30,000 ft let alone how those body things would become more pronounced as I grew older.

Thank goodness I have enough flight miles under my belt now to practice some habits that make flying a much more comfortable experience.

No. 1 Dry Air

Let’s start with how freaking dry the air is onboard a flight.

I swear I feel as though I’ve been vacuum-sealed as soon as they shut the doors to the cabin of the plane...

Dry air is going to have an impact on your hair, nose, skin and eyes.

And would you agree ladies?

Our hair is everything, if our hair is looking great, then we feel great as a result, right ladies?

I have fine, straight hair and not a lot of follicles.

You can call me “hair challenged”. So, I’m at a disadvantage before I even board my flight!

My hair goes as flat as a pancake during the flight.

Compounded by sleeping with my head smushed up again a pillow or headrest.

And finally, thanks to all that dry hair my hair is going to fill up with static. 

Seriously on some flights I look like someone plugged me into a socket ;-)

And wearing the wrong clothes like spandex is only going to attract not only dry air but loads of static.

Which results in unpleasant crazy itching and shedding your skin like an alligator.

But it’s not all doom and gloom.

Here is what you can do to combat the worst affects…

• Do use a leave in conditioner with bit of coconut oil. The oil provides a bit of moisture and control to dealing with that dryness and static.

• Do pack a hat or head scarf in your carry on. My trustee baseball cap is always in my carry on so if after a 14-hour flight if my hair is a total disaster I can always pull that cap on.

• Do wear cotton/linen clothing to reduce static

• Don’t or at least avoid wearing synthetic clothes

• Do lots of water

No. 2 Belly Bloat

I know ladies, it's an uncomfortable topic but we have the whole burping and flatulence. 

There is no way you can sit or even lie down in business class pods for 14 hours on a long-haul international flight and be comfortable holding in all that air.

So why do we bloat on a flight?

It's all about cabin air pressure...

Think about that bag of potato chips in your carry on. Notice how it expands like its ready to pop?

Well... the same thing happens to our bodies.

That gas is trapped and expands under the cabin pressure at altitude and makes us feel very uncomfortable.

The good news is there are some do’s and don’ts that can help minimize and alleviate the discomfort. 

Now fair warning for those of you (like myself) who fly business/first class you are not going to like the very first "Don’t"…

🥂🍾 I know you’re excited to board, maybe its your first time in business/first class and even before take-off the flight attendant is going to welcome you with the offer of a lovely glass of champagne.

No matter how tempted you are DO NOT, DO NOT accept the offer of champagne🍾🥂!!!

I know I can see you giving me the hairy eyeball as you read this…

But Raewyn, come on its business/first class and its free! You’re killing me before my dream trip of a lifetime gets off the ground!

DO NOT again DO NOT succumb to the temptation of drinking champagne.

Drinking champagne filled with all those wonderful bubbles at altitude will only accelerate and acerbate bloating.

And here’s the other kicker, drinking alcohol at altitude can lead to you getting drunk faster and having a nasty hangover even before you land.

🔥🔥🔥Hot Tip Treat Yourself To Duty Free🔥🔥🔥

Instead of drinking in flight, treat yourself to some duty-free champagne and save it for when you land tucked up in your hotel pinching yourself that you’ve reached your destination that you’ve always dreamed of.

And not only don’t drink champagne or any alcohol DON'T drink any soda/pop. 

Bottom line anything with gas in it is going to give you gas, you know what I’m saying;-)

Do wear loose clothing around your waist. I thought I would never see the day of wearing elasticized pants, but I welcome them with open arms.

I wear loose fitting pants and tops and yes you can still look stylish stepping into that business/first class cabin!

Your alternative is to wear smart looking athletic leisure / yoga pants...

but stick to natural fibre fabrics or you will be a magnet for static.

And finally, let’s not be shy you will need to relieve that gas.

So take those bathroom breaks whether the gas is going up or down do not sit on it!

So, recapping…

• Don’t drink any carbonated drinks including champagne!

• Don’t drink alcohol 

• Do wear loose clothing natural fibre clothing

• Do relieve that gas

No. 3 Bowels

Oh, my goodness we are getting up close and personal aren't we?

But seriously ladies, there is so much information on packing for your flight etc. but a notable avoidance talking about an uncomfortable topic like our bowels and constipation.

I want you to enjoy your flight and land feeling ready and rearing to go.

So, let’s talk bowel motions or not…

Did you know that flying can cause constipation? Why is that...?

It's back to No. 2 and all that cabin air pressure and dry air causing dehydration.

Bowel routines can be really disrupted when traveling...

You might be someone who remains very regular or someone whose routine becomes the complete opposite of what it is at home.

Either way planning for what might happen can save a you discomfort and anxiety.

🔥🔥🔥Hot Tip On In Flight Meals🔥🔥🔥

If you are flying international long haul, you will typically receive two meals.

The first meal is served shortly after take-off and the second about 90 minutes before landing.

In between snacks are normally made available to help yourself to.

You can also ask your flight attendants to hold bringing your meal when they serve the rest of the cabin and bring your meal at a set time. 

Knowing this ahead of time can help you plan so that you can have the best flight possible.

I know your mind is racing and starting to think but "what if I need to go inflight or at the airport"?

And the cringe factor is kicking with the thought of "public" bathrooms...

and sharing with total strangers including men.

But if you have to go you have to go. 

So give yourself grace this is just all part of the travel experience.

• Do drink a lot as in a lot of water (hmmm familiar theme here)

• Do manage your food intake 12-24 hours before and during the flight that best matches your body rhythm 

• Do be aware of what foods and drinks trigger a bowel motion or constipation

• Do pack a gentle laxative if you are prone to constipation

• Do go to the bathroom if you’ve got to go

• Do avoid stress, this is known to contribute to constipation

• Be conscious of anything else that can affect your bowels i.e., medications, being celiac etc.

🔥🔥🔥Hot Tip On In Airport Bathrooms🔥🔥🔥

If you have business class lounge access chances are the bathrooms are cleaner.

If you have to use a public bathroom in the airport, go to the last stall.

People are lazy and tend to use the first stalls. This means the last stalls are less used and potentially cleaner.

No. 4 Water Retention And Body Swelling

And the joys of flying just keep coming but hang in there...

In all seriousness knowledge is power. Water retention and swelling can not only be uncomfortable both during flying and even for a few days after landing.

So why do we retain fluid when we fly?

• Cabin pressure and dehydration... again!

• Sitting for a long period of time

• Airline snacks and meals can be high in salt

• Genetics, I'm prone to water retention at the best of times

• Good grief even menopause can be a factor and add to water retention

All the above is going to increase the likelihood of swelling of the feet and ankles and water retention.

After all our bodies are holding on for dear life any hydration it has and where better than our feet and ankles - wonderful hmmm!

But with everything if we can anticipate the potential problem we can plan and reduce the impacts.

So...

• Do drink loads and loads and even more loads of water

• Avoid salt like those salty snacks handed out with the drinks

• Do wiggle and jiggle those feet often, get up and move about the cabin

• If you’re in a pod in business class put that footrest up or lie down to elevate your feet

• Don’t drink alcohol or caffeinated drinks

• Do manage any medications that may a diuretic

• Do wear compression socks

🔥🔥🔥Hot Tip On The Benefits of Drinking All That Water🔥🔥🔥

Drinking all that water not only keeps you hydrated and that swelling at bay...

But it also means you will have to go to the bathroom a lot!

You're flushing all those toxins, keeping your circulation moving and helps distribute some of the swelling rather than just sitting 😊

No. 4 Body Temperature

One of the most unpredictable aspects of flying I find is the cabin temperature.

We are at the mercy of the captain.

And hey, I get it they are sitting up front getting us safely to our destination and during the day they have the light and sun beating down in them in that cockpit.

But… that doesn’t help us who are either freezing to death or melting into our seats!

And before you go there...

Asking the flight attendant have the captain turn the temperature up or down is probably not going to be a sure thing.

Unless icicles are forming on every passenger or everyone’s ripping the clothes off because they are steaming hot it’s going to be on you to manage your body temperature

And if you're like me where I tend to run cold at the best of times so I'm typically always going to feel cold on a flight.

Add to that maybe your in perimenopause, menopause or post menopause where the hot flashes are in full flight, pun intended ;-)

But don’t panic because here some solutions for heating yourself up or cooling yourself down in flight.

• Do layer the clothes your plan on flying in

• Do wear natural fibres like cotton, linen, wool etc. because they breath and that helps heat or cool your body temperature

• Do bring socks or wear shoes that can keep your feet warm if you naturally run cold

• Do take advantage if you are in business/first class in a pod because you will have a blanket available to use.

• Do pack a pashmina. This is in my top 10 things that are in my carry on every flight. You can use it as a shawl or blanket and even to give a bit more boost to your pillow.

🔥🔥🔥Hot Tip - Clothes To Fly In🔥🔥🔥

Wearing clothes on your flight that layer not only allow you to warm up or cool down but...

They have the added bonus of freeing up a bit of luggage space by taking a sweater or jacket onboard.

If you are in business/class you will likely receive a kit with socks in it but I always carry a pair just in case.

I also happen to be a fan of Allbird shoes because they are natural and made of wool (depending on the style you pick).

Oh, and bonus, they are comfortable, look good and versatile for wearing when you reach your destination.

I’ve worn these in the tropics and fall/winter as well when traveling. Here’s the link if you want to take a look INSERT LINK HERE

Well, there you have it, our very up front and personal conversation about our bodies when it comes to flying.

So cheers to not ony to making that dream trip happen but making it in comfort.

If you found this blog valuable head on over to my YouTube channel, here's the link👇:

Female Travelers Over 50 By Raewyn Crist: @FemaleTravelers50Plus