10 Long Flight Essentials I’m Packing for My Trip to Japan (First Class & Delta One Ready)
Chris and I have our 20th wedding anniversary coming up, so we decided to take a big cruise around Japan. Chris minored in Asian studies and took Japanese at Furman University but never had the chance to visit any of the counties in Southeast Asia, let alone Japan, so we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to check those boxes on our travel bucket list. Since we had previously only taken the long plane ride to Frankfurt, Germany over 16 years ago and then more recently the longer flights from Atlanta to Alaska, this is really our first big long flight so I wanted to be ready.
Fortunately, for these two flights there and back we are in a position to sit in the more comfortable seats. We will fly out to South Korea (our cruise departs from Icheon) in First Class and we will fly back from Tokyo in the fancy Delta One seats. So, we definitely should be on the more comfortable side but, all the same, I wanted to make sure that we had everything that we need to have a successful long flight. After much research, I have come up with what I think is the best, most comprehensive list (let’s go head to toe):
1)Noise Cancelling Headphones: For a flight of any length, noise cancelling headphones are a must. Both Chris and I already own AirPods Max and, while they are expensive (over $500), we have no regrets about the cost. There are, however, more economical brands available on Amazon. Beats has a really good competitor to Apple with their On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones priced at $130-175. Soundcore has decent over the ear headphones with decent noise cancelation for around $50.
2)Sleep Mask: Depending on the airline or the status of your tickets, you might receive a Sleep Mask at your seat. But, you might want to go ahead and grab a nicer pair for your trip and for you to use later in the hotel or cruise ship stateroom. Priced at between $15-20, it is easy to find an affordable sleep mask.
3)Neck Pillow: In scouring the internet and Amazon, I discovered that the style and price of an airplane neck pillow can vary wildly. I decided to go with one by Napfun (who doesn’t like to nap) that has an appropriate amount of stiffness, becomes relatively compact and is priced at only $16 on Amazon. Other highly rated ones cost closer to $60, and so since I wasn’t sure how much I would like it or use it, I decided to go with the cheaper one.
4)Plane Ride Outfit- As soon as I started doing my research for our trip, my Facebook feed was filled with adds for airplane outfits. Many of these were sweatsuit sets of varying materials, colors, and prices. Some could be as much as $100 or more. I decided to settle for a $50 version by Anrabess that I found on Amazon. It is comfortable and I like the color, so I would say that it will do the job.
5)No-Wire Bra or Sports Bra- It was highly recommended that women pay attention to their underwear as they will be trying to sleep in it and will be wearing it for a considerable about of time. Sports bras or No wire-bras are very affordable on Amazon and wash much more easily than a wired bra. I definitely plan on wearing one of my no-wire bras during our flights.
6)Shoulder Bag or Daypack- this is an item that I already had in my possession and use regularly. While for Caribbean cruises I take my beach bag on the plane and to the cruise, I plan on having my daypack for the longer plane ride and because it will serve a better purpose while we are visiting the many sights of South Korea and Japan. At around $25, the shoulder pack that I found on Amazon and have been using for years has been well worth it.
7)Collapsible Water Bottle- While you can’t take a bottle of water through security, as soon as you get through you can find a water bottle filler. With your handy collapsible water bottle, it becomes really easy to keep your thirst quenched. And, you will likely get thirsty up in the dry air, especially on a 10+ hour flight. We have a couple that we like to use. Some are easier to clean than others so I highly recommend the ones from Amazon with fewer ridges.
8)Compression Socks- Similarly to the sleep mask, some cruise lines will provide compression sock on their longer flights. Regardless, I highly recommend that you find your own pair of fashionable socks not just for your flight but for the long tour bus rides you might be on while traveling. Compression socks help to maintain blood flow in your legs preventing blood clots, swelling and leg fatigue. Amazon has some great, inexpensive options.
9)Slip-on Sneakers- I knew that I would want slip-on sneakers not just for the plane ride and getting more easily through airport security, but also for making my way in and out of various places throughout South Korea and Japan where it is customary to remove your shoes. I found some great Skechers brand slip-ons that are reasonably priced and come highly recommended. I made sure to put them on and break in before our trip to reduce the risk of blisters after walking around all day.
10)Travel-sized Lotion: Finally, I was warned that since there is zero moisture up in an airplane at 35,000 feet, that I might want to carry with me a travel-sized bottle of moisturizer. I needed to upgrade my compact toiletries kit, so I grabbed a cute set from Amazon and plan on using it for all of my travels going forward.
So, I think that we are ready for our trip and I am very much looking forward to trying out and comparing First class and Delta One. I should have my review of the experiences out shortly after we return.
If you are looking to go on that fabulous bucket list style trip, I would love to help you plan it. Please let me know how I can help to check off some of the items on your bucket list.
