How to Survive Travel Days With Long Flights and Multiple Layovers

I arrived at the Guam International Airport around 5:45 a.m. for my 7:40 a.m. United Airlines flight to Honolulu, but I began preparing for my journey the night before.

That first flight was about eight hours long, and I’d learned from previous trips that United’s in-flight entertainment sometimes doesn’t work for hours at a time. So I downloaded books, movies, and entire seasons of TV shows on my iPad to make it feel like time was going by faster.

Although the airport was small, long-haul journeys make me anxious, so arriving early eased some of my stress. It also allowed me to spend a final few minutes with some of my Guam-resident family members who met me at the airport to say goodbye.

I dropped an additional $20 for Premier Access for the first leg of the trip, which gives United passengers access to a shorter check-in line and, in some airports, a shorter security line and priority boarding as well, according to the airline.

There was hardly a line for United’s Premier Access travelers on this particular January morning.

About an hour into my flight to Hawaii, I decided it was time for a bathroom break and to stretch my legs. I reluctantly bugged the sleepers to my right so I could get up and found an ample open space by the bathrooms to stretch.

During the next flight, I was in a window seat with two sleeping passengers beside me, so I did some seated yoga poses in my chair.

I left the bathroom feeling refreshed from the lotion and face mist provided by the airline. This was the only leg of my trip that offered these amenities, but I suggest always checking when you’re on a long flight.

When I returned to my seat, I watched television on my iPad until I noticed the sun was setting. At around the same time, Hawaii’s islands came into view. I just sat and enjoyed the view.

It got darker as we approached the airport, and I was glad I was in the air for the entire sunset.

So I recommend booking a window seat if you know your flight will have stunning views.

When I got to Hawaii, I had to go through customs and then back through security, which took less than an hour.

My entire layover was almost three hours, so I had some time to kill. I decided to spend it on my feet since I was about to sit for hours.

I spent some time admiring the Cultural Gardens, which merge Chinese, Japanese, and Hawaiian cultures, according to the Official State of Hawaii.

Next, I browsed some of the airport stores and found a huge selection of souvenirs and fresh leis made from Hawaiian flowers.

I let most passengers board before me since I was in no rush to get on the plane I was about to spend seven and a half hours on.

While I was waiting, I stretched my legs one last time.

I had a two-hour layover in Houston. After taking a long walk around the airport to get my blood flowing, I realized how absolutely exhausted I was from a whole day of traveling. I’d always dreamed of sleeping all the way through a flight so it feels like you arrived in the blink of an eye.

After boarding, I got cozy, closed my eyes, and hoped for the best. I woke up in New York three hours later, though it felt like just a few minutes. What a perfect way to end my trip.

So next time I’m dreading the 24-hour journey to Guam, I’ll remember that sleep gets easier by the last leg.