Skip to main content

Here’s What Happens to Your Body on a Long-Haul Flight

airplane flight aisle passengers
Gerrie van der Walt

You don’t need anyone to tell you how awful it feels to be cramped, tired, hungry, and uncomfortable on a plane. But why is it so distressing? Here’s what happens to your body on a long-haul flight (and any flight) and why you really should (but probably won’t) skip that third Bloody Mary en route.

Your Sense of Taste is Diminished

No one is going to argue that airplane food isn’t awful. However, airlines aren’t entirely to blame. A study by Lufthansa found that cabin pressurization and bone-dry, in-flight air evaporates nasal mucus, causing our sinus membranes to swell. Combined, this makes it more difficult to discern the subtle scents that are critical to our sense of taste. In particular, our sense of salty and sweet dulls by up to 30 percent at altitude. This makes the job of airline chefs (yes, that job actually exists) particularly challenging, which is why they frequently taste-test their meals in simulated high-pressure environments or on real-world flights. It’s also the reason why big, bold spices are often used to punch-up the flavor profiles of airline food.

Recommended Videos

Oxygen Deprivation Makes You Sleepy

Modern airplane cabins are designed to simulate an elevation of 6,000-8,000 feet. As any climber or mountaineer can attest, this can result in dizziness, sleepiness (or sleeplessness in some individuals), and an overall dulling of mental acuity.

airplane flight window nap
Izzy Gerosa

The lack of movement, especially on long-haul flights, only exacerbates the effect by slowing the flow of blood (and therefore oxygen) throughout your body. This is all the more reason why it’s critical to get up and walk around every hour or so while airborne.

Your Skin Takes a Real Beating

That same recirculated air that dries out your nasal cavity is brutal on your skin too. Thankfully, over-the-counter body lotions and balms can combat this. It’s also why airline employees who fly frequently double-down on their water consumption while on the job. However, an especially nasty side effect for those same employees — and frequent flyers — is that many are twice as likely to develop melanoma. This is believed to be due to the insufficient ability of airplane windows to block out harmful UV rays.

You Get Very, Very Gassy

The forces in a pressurized airplane cabin will cause intestinal gas to expand. This can leave you feeling bloated, full, and cramped, and can be made worse with certain foods. Doctors agree that the best thing you can do is … let it out. Holding it in can lead to severe pain and intense bloating. That same gas can also expand and cause pain in your ears, which aren’t always able to pressurize fast enough. Other bodily cavities are susceptible as well, including the space between your teeth and gums and your sinuses. For allergy sufferers, the latter can be especially painful.

There’s not much you can do to avoid these effects, but your experience can be made a little easier by stocking up on the right travel accessories. If you find yourself stuck overnight at an airport instead of a plane, here’s the best way to snag some shut-eye.

Article originally published August 11, 2017.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Make the most of your vacation budget: This is the best time to book a flight
When is the best time to book a flight? Tips and tricks
A view outside the airplane during sunset.

Most people will, at some point in their lives, need to book a flight. Whether for business or pleasure, booking a flight can be straightforward or a little more complicated depending on certain factors.

If a flight is urgent, then the luxury of booking in advance and saving money is often lost, whereas booking a holiday flight months in advance gives you ample room to shop around for the best deals available at that particular point in time. Other factors that affect pricing include the destination, the time of year of travel, and how far in advance you are allowed to book certain flight tickets. If it is limited to a couple of weeks, then you can expect to pay more, but if you are allowed to book months in advance, then this is where the most significant savings can be found.

Read more
This Asian airline was just named best in the world
Korean Air named best airline in the world
Korean Air Boeing 787-9

Korean Air earned the “Airline of the Year 2025” title in AirlineRatings.com annual round-up. The outlet, based in Australia, pointed to the Asian airline’s focus on “passenger comfort” which included roomy economy seating. That results from the carrier retaining its original seating configuration and not adding a 10th row.
Korean Air also won for Best Economy Class
Korean Air Boeing 787-9 cabin David McKelvey on Flickr

AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen said: “While many airlines have added a 10th seat per row on 777 aircraft and reduced seat pitch in economy to 31 to 32 inches (down from the previous 32 to 33 inches), Korean Air has chosen not to follow this trend.” She added: “These awards are not a popularity contest or a people’s choice award. As airline experts, we conduct a meticulous assessment of each category to help travelers identify the best airlines for quality, value, and safety.” The award follows Korean Air’s recent merger with Asiana Airlines, which was the most significant in the history of Asian aviation. 

Read more
Travel light with this minimalist packing list for a beach vacation
Essentials to help you travel light and stay relaxed
Belize beach scene on Caye Caulker

Packing for a beach vacation has always been a bit of a challenge for me. On my last beach trip, I found myself in a familiar situation (overthinking what to pack and inevitably ending up with a stuffed suitcase that I could barely close). But I'm heading to Hawaii soon, and the goal this time is to travel light, pack only what’s essential, and still have everything I need to feel comfortable and relaxed. After some trial and error, I came up with this minimalist packing list for a beach vacation that will help me keep my luggage light while covering all the bases. If you’re looking to do the same, this guide should be right up your alley.
Minimalist beach vacation packing list 

I know you're tempted to overstuff your suitcase, but trust me on this one, follow this list.
1. Clothing essentials

Read more