Hydrate before you get on the plane, then drink lots of water throughout your flight. Dehydration also dries out the body’s mucous membranes, making it harder for them to prevent bacterial or viral infections. But less sinister effects, including irritability, fatigue, and attention deficit, are pretty much par for the course. That’s pretty unlikely, even on an ultra-long-haul flight.

In worst-case scenarios, dehydration can cause death. In a 10-hour flight, the average woman might lose 1.6 liters of water (just under half a gallon), with men losing about 25% more. Once you get into long-haul territory, however, serious fluid loss begins to set in. On short flights of three or four hours, most people don’t suffer too much. Sipping on coffee or alcoholic beverages, which are diuretics, exacerbate the problem. Super-dry air, with reduced oxygen, makes it all too easy for dehydration to set in. If approved, these will be the longest flights in the world, outstripping Singapore Airlines’ current 17-hour Singapore to New York schlep.īut what are the risks of ultra-long-haul flights, and are there things passengers can do to prevent them? DehydrationĬabin-air humidity is usually less than 20%-on a par with the Mojave Desert in California and dryer than the Sahara. After hitting the tarmac, other test subjects will undergo a variety of medical checks and assessments. For crew, it’s about using scientific research to determine the best opportunities to promote alertness when they are on duty and maximize rest during their down time on these flights.” Electroencephalogram (EEG) devices will track pilots’ brainwave patterns and monitor alertness. It’s a question of the comfort and wellbeing of passengers and crew, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said in an airline statement: “For customers, the key will be minimizing jet lag and creating an environment where they are looking forward to a restful, enjoyable flight.

Qantas, the Australian national airline, is trialing “ghost flights” with 40 passengers and crew. If all goes to plan, you might be able to make an uninterrupted, 20-hour flight from London or New York to Sydney as soon as October.

21 pilots ride 10 hours