The Ultimate Inflight Survival Kit

Your trip is planned, the e-tickets have been printed out and you're getting in the mood to start packing. But perhaps there's a teeny bit of dread about that along haul flight - hours cooped up in a plane with recycled air, and little room for manoeuvre? Well there are some things we won't travel long haul without to ensure you arrive in good shape ready for your holiday. Here's our top 14 essentials:

Bliss Softening Socks And Free Stress Squeezer

RRP $49.90, from Woolworths.

Not only do these socks look cool, they'll also help to soften and heal hardened heels and tough toes. They're self-activating with a polymer gel lining, which releases heat and essential skin care ingredients including jojoba oil, olive oil and vitamin E, literally force-feeding your feet with moisture to relieve dryness. Better still, they refresh tired feet in just 20 minutes, and can be re-used up to 50 times, not only inflight but at home.

Body Bolster 

RRP $79.95, from www.bodybolster.com (special offer, buy now to save 20 per cent off using the discount code "PAINFREE" - limited time only).

First launched in 2003, as a device to support the back and promote movement, this is good for your body inflight, and can also be used as a pillow. It's inflatable, and adjustable thanks to a valve at one end. If you're sitting on a plane you can use it behind your lower back for support, or for some inflight exercises for stretching, increasing mobility in your seat, and helping your circulation to reduce the risk of DVT, something which can affect people who fly.

Fess Frequent Flyer Nasal Spray

RRP $11.95, from various outlets including pharmacies, www.fess.com.au.

If you're on a long haul flight, it doesn't hurt to boost your immune system, even more so if you're next to a flu-y passenger on a flight. Instead of thinking "will I catch what he has?", one way to help fend off any lurgies is to regularly use a non-addictive, non-medicated nasal spray such as the Fess Frequent Flyer. A saline nasal spray, it helps your nose to function normally, prevents your nasal passages from drying out, and guards agains airborne bacteria, thanks to key ingredients including tea tree oil and Xylitol.

First Aid Beauty Fab Essentials Kit and Ultra Repair Lip Therapy Balm

RRP $18.95 and $12.95, available from Woolworths.

This nifty kit has four body and face beauty essentials in handy travel sizes, three of which you can use inflight. For the face, there's Face Cleanser, a mild, luxurious face cleanser which will wipe off makeup and gently cleanse your skin, and Daily Face Cream, a light-weight non-comedogenic moisturiser ideal for long haul flights. For the body there's a rich Body Moisturiser which you can use on hands, arms, and feet mid-flight, and Gentle Body Wash, an irritant-free daily cleanser which you can use to spruce yourself up on arrival. Affordable, small enough for travelling, and they do what they promise.

Frequent Flyer Health Boost

RRP $10.95, from various outlets including pharmacies, www.fess.com.au.

Another thing you can do to boost your immune system either before, or during a long flight, is to pop a Frequent Flyer Health Boost; this will ensure you have all the vitamins and minerals you need to stay well in the air. These pleasant-tasting tablets dissolve in a glass of water, and contain 1000mg of vitamin C, echinacea, herbs and other essential vitamins and minerals. 

Hedgren Inner City Silvia Travel Bag

RRP $189, from various luggage and bag retailers, and www.hedgren.com.

Made from Hedgren’s signature soft nylon fabric, and featuring a smart sleeve, shoulder strap, iPad sleeve, and lots of room for all your travel necessities, the Silvia Travel Bag is not only practical, but super stylish. It's the ideal companion for a long haul flight. The smart sleeve easily slips over a duffle or trolley handle allowing you to manage your carry-on luggage, while the iPad sleeve provides cushioned protection for a tablet or e-reader. Light, and with dimensions of 36 x 15 x 48 cms, it's spacious enough without being too big or bulky to carry, and comes with an adjustable and removable shoulder strap.

Ice Gel Water Bottle

RRP $23.40, from www.platinumboutique.com.au.

This is a  terrific product for a long haul flight - just remember you can't fill it up until you get onboard. If you're a big water drinker in the air, or just planning to sleep a lot and don't want to be disturbed but like to have water on hand, this bottle is ideal. You freeze it initially to keep it cool - a double wall contains ice gel for a lasting chill - and it has a silicon screw top, with a pop out drinking spout so you can hydrate without the worry of spilling water (or anything else) on your clothes. It will also be a godsend on arrival, especially if you are travelling somewhere hot.

Jet Lag Spritz

RRP $29.95 for 100mls, from www.spafreshblends.com.

One way to combat jet lag is using a zesty spritz, such as this one from Spa Fresh Blends. It's designed to stave off fatigue, alleviate anxiety and stress, and is made of a variety of specially chosen, and deliciously aromatic, 100 per cent pure essential oils; peppermint to refresh, geranium to balance and calm, and revitalising lime oil. You use this spritz during, and after, your flight. In the air, every few hours, just shake the bottle gently, spray the mist into the air in front of your face and inhale some through your nose to feel instantly uplifted. Then continue spritzing every few hours after your arrival; it's the perfect pick-me-up if you feel your energy or concentration starting to lag. 

Macks Dreamweaver Sleep Mask

RRP $20, from www.sleepsolutions.com.au.

For many people, regardless which class they travel in when flying, blocking out vision can be just as important as blocking out sound. Although the eye masks that airlines have in amenity kits are useful, they're not always comfortable or a good fit. These ones, however, are, and they're suitable for both men and women, with the bonus of a pair of earplugs should you forget your favourite pair! They're soft, comfortable and most importantly, they block out all light due to their carefully designed contours.

Murine Revital Eyes

RRP $9.95, from pharmacies and various outlets.

Long distance travel and air-conditioned environments can both leave you with tired and dry eyes. And if you wear contact lenses, or you're a mature traveller or undergoing hormonal changes such as menopause, dry eyes happen more frequently. One solution is soothing eye drops like these. The gentle solution is specially formatted to match the natural fluid of the eye, and helps to lubricate eyes that feel dry or irritated. To use, just gently squeeze one or two drops into each eye, taking care to avoid touching the dropper tip to any surface, up to four times in a day - that could mean several times during a long flight. 

Platino Twine Folding Ballet Slippers

RRP $29.95, from www.shoeempire.com.au.

Once you've refreshed and softened your feet with the Bliss socks, why not treat them to some additional comfort by slipping on a pair of these? The Twine black quilted fold up ballet flat is not only a wardrobe essential, but the perfect ballet flat for the girl who loves to combine comfort with style. The quilted black upper adds style, and the patent toe and bow trim gives it a twist of difference. It also has a soft brushed lining and elasticated upper so the fit is made to measure. On a flight, you can feel free to cast off your shoes, and slip on your ballet flats; on arrival, simply fold them up, and pack them away into your carry on bag.

Qi Detox And Wellness Tea

RRP $4.99 for 25 teabags, from Woolworths, IGA, other supermarkets and specialty stores nationally. 

It's not just your skin which can suffer on a flight - your digestive system can come under attack too. While water is a given for long flights, it can be also handy to carry herbal teas in a snap lock bag, to give yourself a little pep. Qi Organic Green Tea has five varieties blended with different herbs and fruits including Detox, Relax, Clarity, Energy and Wellness. Detox or Wellness are both useful for keeping you healthy mid-air, and besides hydrating your body and being good for you, they also taste delicious.

Skinstitut Multi-Active Mist

RRP $45 for 100ml, from www.skinstitut.com.

Skinstitut has recently launched Multi-Active Mist, which is not only ideal for ageing skin, but also works a treat if your skin is sensitive or dehydrated, which happens all too often in mid-flight. This lovely mist deeply hydrates the skin, as well a reduces irritation, thanks to key ingredients such as vitamin B3, ginseng, green tea, and liquorice root. To use it, just close your eyes, and spritz your face with this several times during the flight to see what a difference it makes. 

Sleepsoft Ear plugs

RRP $24.95, from www.sleepsolutions.com.au.

If you're sitting in economy, these can be a godsend. Even if you're in business class or higher, and you're a light sleeper, blocking out peripheral noise can really make a difference and help you to rest; wearing properly designed ear plugs are also more comfortable than wearing bud-style earphones. These are among the best on the market; they're comfortable, reusable sleeping ear plugs which block out noise almost entirely thanks to a special filter; even your significant other's snoring too if that's an issue.

We're giving away all of the above products in a competition. For more info or to enter, click here.