Two summers ago, I spent 13 hours on a plane flying from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand.
Before, during, and after the flight, I did things that increased exhaustion, jet lag, and discomfort.
Between forgetting my toothbrush and eating sugary snacks, I made mistakes I won't make again.
New Zealand is known for its incredibly stunning scenery — and an incredibly long flight if you live in the US like me.
I set out to see those views in June 2022 and embarked on a 24-hour journey to the country.
I boarded a flight in Denver heading to Los Angeles and arrived at my final destination — Auckland, New Zealand — two days later.
Between time-zone changes, a 13-hour flight, a 2.5-hour flight, and layovers, I spent nearly 24 consecutive hours in airports, airport lounges, and airplanes.
Business Insider received a press rate for the round-trip flight from Air New Zealand.
I didn't spend long enough in the airport lounge.
Before heading to New Zealand, I had a 10-hour layover in Los Angeles. I took advantage of my business-class perks and spent most of the time between flights in the airport's Star Alliance Lounge.
It was my first time in an airport lounge, so I naturally passed the time by sipping prosecco, slurping ramen, and relaxing on the outside patio.
While I took advantage of the space, I didn't realize a representative for each airline was stationed in the lounge. That rep announced upcoming flights and let passengers know when each flight began its boarding process.
I was on Air New Zealand's only flight out of Los Angeles for the day, and since I tend to be a nervous flyer, I walked over to my gate more than an hour before boarding started.
It was a waste of time. I should've stayed in the lounge until the very last second when the Air New Zealand representative announced my flight was boarding.
I didn't walk and stretch enough before and during the flight.
While I did a little stretching before my 13-hour flight, it wasn't enough. With such a long layover, I should've spent more time walking around the airport and exhausting myself for the upcoming flight.
Looking back, I also wasn't active enough during the flight. The only times I left my business-class seat were for a few bathroom breaks, unlike some of my fellow passengers who were smart enough to take a few laps around the cabin.
This left me with avoidable achy legs and restlessness throughout the flight and into my first day in Auckland.
My toothbrush and toothpaste were inaccessible from my business-class seat.
I forgot to pack chocolate, which is a mistake I guarantee will never happen again.
For most trips, I pack a few bars of chocolate since there will always be a time when I'm craving something sweet.
I considered packing chocolate for my flight to Auckland, but I knew I wanted to try the country's beloved Whittaker chocolates and Cadbury Twirls. So I intentionally left chocolate off my packing list.
It was a mistake, and after dinner on the flight, I had a craving for my favorite sweet. I won't make that mistake again, and as I packed my bags to head home, a few of my favorite New Zealand chocolates were squeezed into my carry-on.
I'll pass on cinnamon-sugar pretzels next time and opt for an apple or banana.
No matter how nice the plane cabin is, I find it nearly impossible to disembark from a long-haul flight feeling refreshed or energized. Unfortunately, the cinnamon-sugar pretzel I devoured at the beginning of the flight didn't help.
Sure, the bottle was empty by the end of the plane ride, but it wasn't nearly enough to keep me from feeling sluggish and dehydrated.
According to The Aerospace Medical Association, travelers should consume 8 ounces of water for every hour they're in the air. While 104 ounces is a lot to drink in 13 hours, I won't make the mistake of drinking too little next time.
A quick nap after arriving in New Zealand had major consequences.
I made an error and took a nap when I landed at 6 a.m. local time in Auckland.
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