<p>I typically fly out the country at least once/month, so here are some tips:</p>
<ol>
<li>If you tend to be hot, wear shorts & tank top or at least a breathable s/s tech shirt. I find long haul flights often don’t have good temp control, so it can be too hot/too cold in the same hour.<br></li>
<li>bring cardigan sweater. I love the silk/cashmere blend from Brooks Brothers.<br></li>
<li>I hate eye shades, so I have a large silk scarf that I loosely wrap/place over my eyes.</li>
<li>Silicone ear plugs - keep sound out better than foam ones. (available at drugstore. I got mine at CVS)</li>
<li>If you are in coach, use those microbead pillows that snap around your neck. </li>
<li>wear loose socks - not the ones you wore onto the plane. your feet will have sweat in your shoes. (I sometimes put my flipflops in my ‘flight’ bag).<br></li>
<li>Echoing prior comment - set your watch to your destination time as soon as you get on the plane.<br></li>
<li> If you plan to sleep within a few hours of boarding, have a few drinks before the flight, one with dinner and take a benadryl. (probably not a great idea if you need to be alert for the teens, but you can sleep. I have never taken Ambien, but it knocks my colleagues out for 12+ hours, which scares me in the event of an emergency. If you want to take it, try it at home first to know how you will react).</li>
<li>Drink LOTS of water. Take your own water bottle on the flight (you can take an empty one through security) and don’t be shy asking the flight attendents to fill it for you.</li>
<li>When you arrive, try to stay in the daylight for at least an hour to acclimate. When I get to Sydney, I try to go for a 15-20 minute run to loosen up the body & mind.</li>
</ol>