Episode 419
Creating Your Ultimate In-Flight Comfort Kit
In this episode of "The Traveling Introvert," the host discusses the concept of a "comfort bag" for long-haul flights, which involve flights lasting from 8 to 20 hours. The idea is to have a bag with essential items to keep comfortable during the flight, especially considering limited space and movement. Important items for a comfort bag include noise-canceling headphones, compression socks, travel sickness tablets, and hydration aids like Liquid I.V. The host also suggests bringing a Kindle, sudoku book, lip balm, and antibacterial wipes and gel. Personal preferences like LEGO sets, earplugs for sinus issues, and a foot hammock for short people are also discussed. The episode emphasizes the importance of customizing the comfort bag based on individual needs for optimal comfort during long-haul travel.
Transcript
Hello, and welcome to the travelling introvert. So today we're gonna have some travel content. I have some travel coming up, and it's been a long time since I've done a really long flight. So I've been binge watching YouTube videos on packing and packing and other ideas around packing and gadgets and thingamabobs. And one thing that I've realized is a trend of something called the comfort bag. And this is a bag that you have with you to keep you comfortable during long haul flights. I mean some people use it for short haul flights but I'm specifically looking for when I say long haul I mean an eight to seventeen hour twenty hour flight, And I found this idea really interesting because putting stuff under your seat is great, but it can be hard to get to. You might want that extra space for your feet, you can put it behind your legs, I know that's another trick that people are using to give yourself more leg room, still means bending over a lot, which depending on on the airline you're with can be tight, there isn't necessarily a lot of room to be doing that, and what if you want something but the tray tables out because food service is happening and you maybe you've already finished your food but they haven't collected your tray yet, it can be a little awkward.
Janice Chaka [:And so people have been coming up with these ideas of bags that they can use to maybe put in the seat back pocket or next to them in the seat, or use as lower lumbar support so they have the comforts that they might need on their flight with them. And so another reason is to not put it in the seat but pack seat back pocket, is because it's filthy and it doesn't get cleaned and so having stuff within a bag that then goes in the back seat pocket is a thing. And so this got me thinking about what would be the ideal things to have in my comfort bag. We're not going to think about the size of the comfort bag at this point, for my flight things that I would want and I'm sure other introverts want these things too. So, first things first is noise cancelling headphones. I love my boys' headphones. I got them from a client, a few years ago, and they are still going strong. I had to change out the the cups.
Janice Chaka [:But apart from that they are wonderful. I traveled once without my noise cancelling headphones because I was like, oh, they're too big and bulky. I probably shouldn't take them. Never again. So, noise cancelling headphones. I would definitely say, socks, compression socks are a must and, I would set an alarm on my phone to make sure that I get up at least every two hours just to move around and wiggle my feet. Some people are into travel blankets and pillows, me not so much. I can sleep almost anywhere, but also I find the extra weight of a pillow, yes, you can get ones that blow up, it's just not something that I'm into.
Janice Chaka [:I have traveled with a hammock before, a foot hammock, because I am short and so being able to rest my legs not have them dangle for the entire flight was really crucial for my well-being. Some airlines like them, some airlines don't, it kind of depends what's going on with that. But something that I saw that I think I'm gonna get, because I have a really long flight is LEGO, a small little LEGO set that I could build and that will while away a couple of hours. I will have a my Kindle loaded up with some books. I found some, the start of some series that I want to read instead of going and blasting through all the series I've stopped and then I will read them on the plane. Sudoku book, lip balm, something for inside my nose to stop it getting dry, cream for my skin, my hands, my face, again, to stop it getting dry. Liquid ivy, just keep myself hydrated. I would also keep, gum, anything for I get travel sick, so travel sickness tablets.
Janice Chaka [:I would keep mints. I have these earplugs. They're like airplanes, basically, specifically because I've had some sinus issues, so that's a really good thing to have. I'm sure there are many others. I'm in the process of making a list now and then refining the list and refining the list of things that I would want on me. Anti back, wipes and gel just for my hands and also to wipe down everything, around me. A notebook, a deck of cards so I could play cards with somebody if necessary. I have stopped listening to some of my podcasts so I can load them up to listen to when I am flying and so I'm not behind.
Janice Chaka [:Wow. This is actually gonna be a longer episode than I thought. So this is part one of comfort items for long haul flights. I'm sure they're I'm gonna do one more on like tips. But, yeah, keep posted. This is Janice at the Career Introvert, helping you build your brand out and get hired. Looking forward to creating more travel content.
