10 Actually Useful Flying Hacks Noone Seems to Be Talking About

Even though I only started properly travelling in my twenties (for obvious financial reasons, and also there isn’t much independence you can gain as a daughter raised in a stereotypical strict Asian household until you actually leave home to live abroad for the first time), I’ve been extremely fortunate to have been on probably countless flights since. In my first few trips, I would collect as many travel and flying hacks from various sources to try to make each trip as smooth as possible. However, as I went on with more travels, I started gathering some on my own as well, including those that, to my surprise, barely anyone seems to be talking about – even though they are absolutely worth doing! Lucky for you, I am no gatekeeper for all things nice, so I will be listing below some of my favourite ones that I would not skip on any trip.

Whether you are a novice or a seasoned traveller, I believe you’ll find these tips relevant – and maybe a little life-changing, if I may be so bold. So maybe keep reading?

(Disclaimer: While not sponsored, this post does contain affiliated links.)

1. Bring a thin foldable chair to use as a footrest.

This honestly upgrades all my long-haul flight experiences instantly. I do not know why I haven’t done it sooner. As a loyal economy flyer like most of us are, the legs often suffer the most during flights that last more than 4 hours. I would be awake in the middle of a good sleep just because my legs feel sore from lying in an awkward position for hours. Not all aircraft come with installed footrests as well, so my best option was to change position every few hours – which does not sound ideal if I wish to sleep throughout my 13-hour flight from Paris to Singapore.

But this IDR 20,000 foldable chair is so thin when flattened it would fit in your handbag, and barely weighs anything. It serves as a proper footrest, and you can also use it as a makeshift stand for when you use public restrooms that may not have enough space to place or hang your bags.

2. Bring a tiny pouch with a handle that you could put on your lap or hang on the front seat’s hook, so the legroom remains spacious.

For me, this pleats bag is perfect – it screams fashion, it’s foldable, very thin when not used, can fit anything that you might need for your 16-hour flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam, and you can hang it on the jacket hook if the headrest in front of you has one. (Plus, the dupes actually start from IDR 75K only.)

I usually put my passport, boarding pass, phone, wallet, AirPods, hand sanitiser, hand cream, eye mask, ear plugs, chargers, Kindle, business cards (more about it below), disposable feminine undergarment, and portable bidet in it. The rest can go in the overhead as I am unlikely to use them during the flights.

3. Always order a diet-specific meal during online check-in because it comes earliest and often tastes better than the standard meals.

Even if you don’t have dietary restrictions, I would suggest doing it anyway!

Halal meals are also often offered in “fancier” kinds of meat compared to regular meals. On my last Air France flight, I had a lamb curry while others were served plain chicken macaroni and some even had to settle with the vegetarian options as the flight crew ran out of the standard options.

4. Bring a pair of thin slippers to be used throughout the flight.

I frequently travel with only one pair of shoes to save space, and normally it would be my bulky Blundstone boots that are best for walking for miles and miles. However, the downside is that it is not the most comfortable footwear to be worn in a sitting position for hours, as the stiff back would press against the back of your ankle when you’re not in a standing position. Truly a distraction for a good night sleep.

Assuming that you do want to stay hygienic and be respectful and considerate to your fellow passengers, thus avoid going barefoot altogether, a pair of hotel-style, very thin slippers would be perfect to carry since they barely take up any space. This cheap yet pretty pair has been my companion for a while.

P.S.: If you fly Turkish Airlines, they do give you free slippers that come in beautiful pouches!

5. Consider bringing a cabin suitcase even if it’s empty, to be used as a stroller at the airport.

I hate rucksacks – especially when I am on a business trip and have to carry my Dell Precision workstation on my back while rushing to get to the departure gate with the schedule board saying “Last Call.” I still bring one, but folded in my cabin luggage instead. Having this cabin suitcase means I don’t have to carry my handbag on my shoulder, as it can sit on top of the luggage as I drag them around easily like a stroller. It allows me to get around faster as well.

Even if you already have two medium to large suitcases checked in, it is still very much doable to hold a third cabin-sized luggage.

6. Bring a bag that would sit perfectly on top of your cabin luggage.

Whether it’s a handbag, a duffle bag, or a rucksack – as long as they sit stable on top of your luggage when you move around, they are perfect. My combination for years has been this pink American Tourister suitcase and its incidentally matching pink Longchamp handbag that is both spacious and sturdy.

Bonus tip #1: Bring another bag inside your handbag! This Bimba Y Lola crossbody bag in black fits perfectly inside my large Longchamp Le Pliage City and has a completely different style with one another. Therefore, depending on my outfit – whether it’s more on the feminine or neutral side – I could switch between these two for daily use.

Bonus tip #2: If you already have a handbag and cabin luggage with you, consider bringing a foldable rucksack as well. It’s useful to store your last-minute souvenir shopping from the transit area so you don’t need to carry around those plastic bags and risk accidentally leaving them in the overhead baggage (like I once did to all my snacks haul from Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport). Storing them in a bag that looks most familiar to you should reduce that risk.

7. Carry your spare business cards with you at all times.

I’ve had quite a lot of encounters with the nicest strangers during my days on the road. Whether it’s at the long immigration queue that went on for hours so you might as well talk to someone, during transit tours, during the actual travel days, and so on. The conversations would flow for hours, sometimes you both even forgot to ask each other’s names. Plus, isn’t it a little awkward to ask for a contact at the end?

Offering them your business card suggests a gesture that it isn’t as personal or intimate as asking for their number or social media account (which my shy *ss would never dare to do! Unless they ask first and I consent to exchange with mine), while also giving them the option whether they want to keep in touch or not. The ball is in their court now, and you are freed from the regret of possible what-ifs. 🙂

Also, you truly never know when and where your next opportunities for business or any professional life might come from. Maybe a friendly stranger sitting next to you on your next flight is working at the employer of your dreams. Now you have a few hours to impress them since you both are stuck with each other and don’t have many options for other things to do anyway.

8. For women: use the airport’s mother’s room for quick naps or for prayer space. (But only during off-peak hours!)

I first figured this hack as I was stranded in Singapore’s Changi airport over the night, due to a last-minute cancellation from my hostel. It was midnight, so the airport was quiet and it wasn’t like a lot of mothers would use those rooms anyway. Plus, there were plenty on each floor.

Sometimes, the cleaning staff will knock on the door if they notice you have been inside for too long – but if you just need a quick nap, it’s all yours. Don’t forget to turn on your alarm and be considerate to other people who might need the room too!

9. Keep a pen handy.

Some airports, including London’s Heathrow International Airport, still require you to fill out a physical form before immigration desks. This is where pens might become a scarcity as the staff usually only has a few of them while there are hundreds of travellers that need one.

You might also help fellow travellers who would be thankful that you lend one for them – meaning another chance to make small talk and make friends, if you are up for it.

10. Aisle seats for the win.

I’ve moved on past my window seat era from my early twenties, and am now looking exclusively at aisles only (except for daylight flights that are less than three hours and where the views aren’t just seas or oceans). Some aircraft actually do have slightly narrower legroom in the window seat due to the curvy wall side, not to mention the awkward standing base of the seat in front of you which means even narrower space for your legs.

While middle seats do not suffer from these, the armrest dilemma can get a little awkward, if the passengers next to you don’t share the common courtesy to only use one.

With aisle seats, you are guaranteed an armrest, as well as have the “bigger” leg space as you can obviously use the lane as well if the lights are already dimmed, food and drinks are already served, and you know no more carts are going to be mobilized. Plus, if you have a short bladder or simply would like to try to maintain that 1-to-5-minute standing time per hour, it’s an obvious choice.

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There goes a few of my favourite travel tips I gathered based on my own experiences throughout the years. Which ones would you try on your next flight, or have you also done some? Let me know!