There’s nothing better than settling in for a long-haul flight knowing you’re going somewhere super exciting.
You’ve got your snacks, a few Netflix shows downloaded and, crucially, an eye mask, ready to settle in for the coming hours.
But when it comes to flying, safety is paramount: the pressure can increase the risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis (AKA, a blood clot in a vein), particularly on flights that are longer than four hours.
So, the next time you jet off, consider building the ‘alphabet’ hack into your routine to prevent clotting and keep your mind at ease. It’s easy to remember (and if you forget, you can sing along the alphabet song as you practise it).
‘To prevent blood clots during long flights, consider incorporating a few simple strategies,’ TikToker @ciciinthesky, who is a flight attendant and often shares travel tips and inspiration to her account, explains.
‘First, remember the alphabet exercise – trace each letter with your foot to promote circulation,’ CiCi outlines in one video.
‘Second, wear compression socks, which help maintain blood flow and reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
‘Finally, make it a point to stand up and walk around every hour or so if possible. This helps activate your leg muscles, encouraging blood to flow more freely.
‘Combining these techniques not only enhances your comfort but also significantly lowers the risk of developing blood clots during extended periods of inactivity.’
This is why we always board flights to the left side of the plane
When boarding a plane, you’ll always enter on the left side of the aircraft, regardless of the carrier, whether you take stairs or a jet bridge, or whether you’re in economy, business or first class.
There’s an interesting reason behind it too. Commercial aeroplanes were initally build with their passenger doors on the left because of historical traditions, before it became a matter of efficiency.
Michael Oakley, managing editor of The Aviation Historian, explained to Afar: ‘Much of aviation terminology had its origins in maritime lore (rudder, cockpit, cabin, bulkhead, knots, etc), and similarly, the aeronautical ways of doing things owe a lot to sailing.
‘Just as boats and ships have a port side – the side of the vessel conventionally adjacent to the dock when in port – aircraft are the same. Sensibly, people decided to continue to board on the port (or left) side.’
So, when it comes to compression socks, which ones should you go for?
You can pick them up for a relatively low price in Boots, at £13.68, whether you buy ahead of your flight or leave it to the last minute at the in-airport shop. Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Heathrow all have a Boots store, ready and waiting for those ‘oops, I forgot’ moments ahead of boarding.
If you want to plan ahead and save a little bit of money, though, you can buy them on Amazon for as little as £7.99.
There’s also the option of having fun, colourful socks, too: autism and sensory-friendly, there are an array of options available through Not Your Grandma’s, including a fun space print, dinosaurs or even unicorns, for £15 a pop.
‘Wearing compression socks reduces pain and swelling but they don’t fit in with your style. Until now,’ the website reads, reminding us that it’s actually very fun and chic to wear compression socks, no matter your age.
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