During Your Flight
There are a number of ways make your flight to Hawaii more enjoyable. Here are the tips most commonly provided by the airlines:

To enhance your physical comfort:
• Chew gum, yawn, or suck on hard candies to help relieve the pressure that builds in your ears when the airplane ascends and descends.

• Drink plenty of water while onboard the aircraft to avoid dehydration during the flight.

• Do light stretching exercises in your seat and walk through the cabin frequently (when safe to do so).

• Consult your physician if you suffer from airsickness. He or she may be able to prescribe medication for this.

• The relatively low humidity in the cabin can increase allergy or asthma symptoms. Take preventative measures as necessary.

To combat jet lag:
• Reset your watch to the destination's time as soon as you get on the plane. If it's daytime at your destination, try to stay awake during the flight. Walking around the cabin may help keep you alert. If it's nighttime, try to sleep. You may find it helpful to use earplugs and a sleeping mask to block out distractions on the plane.

• Eat before you get on the plane so that hunger does not prevent you from sleeping during the flight. Inform the flight attendant that you will not be eating so that you are not awakened for a meal.

• If you're using a blanket, buckle your seat belt over the blanket. That way, a flight attendant checking seat belts won’t awaken you.

• If it's daytime when you arrive but nighttime at home, don't sleep. Instead, try doing some light exercise, like walking, to help revive your body and stop it from producing sleep-inducing hormones.

Flying during pregnancy
It is generally recommended that women not fly at all during their last six weeks of pregnancy. Some airlines require that pregnant passengers traveling within 30 days of their expected delivery date must provide a doctor's statement dated within 72 hours of departure. Pregnant women should always consult their obstetricians before traveling.

Here are some additional tips for staying comfortable on your flight:
• Reserve an aisle seat so that you can easily access the bathroom and move about the cabin.

• Getting up and walking regularly will help combat swelling and discomfort.

• Bring a copy of your medical records and ask your doctor for a referral in case of an emergency while you are away.

• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and flat shoes. Wear layers if you are prone to body-temperature fluctuations.

• Keep your seatbelt low around your hips, not around your abdomen.

• Get a small pillow from the flight attendant and place it under your lower back to avoid back strain.

• Drink plenty of water—at least one liter for every two hours in flight.

Avoiding Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when blood clots form in the veins, most typically in the legs, and then break off and pass into the lungs causing a pulmonary embolism, or to the heart. To help prevent DVT during flight, do some light exercises:

• Get up and walk around the cabin every 30 minutes or so.
• Flex your toes, ankles, and calf muscles while seated.
• If there’s room, elevate your feet a bit.