Travel secrets of the world’s most frequent fliers

“As soon as they close the door on the plane, I set my watch for where we’re flying to,” he tells me, describing the ways in which he combats sleep deprivation. And while getting some shut-eye can be useful, just shutting your eyes can bring benefits in its own right.

“Closing your eyes for 10 minutes or so every hour should stop them from getting dry and dehydrated,” he says. After that, it’s down to things like in-seat exercises (for which there are dozens of videos on YouTube) and managing your fluid intake in order to keep the lethargy at bay.

Jet-setting former Google executive Alon Chen (now founder of the AI-powered food app Tastewise) agrees that hydration is the secret to travelling comfortably. “Always make sure you bring a refillable water bottle, as the ones they provide on the flight will always be too small,” he says.

Picking the best time to fly can be a decisive factor when it comes to avoiding exhaustion the next day. Crack-of-dawn Ryanair flights might be cheaper, but are they really worth sacrificing sleep for? Meanwhile, transatlantic travellers should look at BA’s daytime flights from New York and Boston, which allow you to avoid flying overnight entirely.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Frequent flyers have years of wisdom when it comes to picking the best seats. “If I’m sitting in economy or premium economy, I would always opt for an aisle seat if possible,” says the travel influencer and YouTuber Charlie Pauly. “That way you don’t have to nudge anyone when you want to get up for the bathroom.”