Even the most romantic trip can be derailed… Sometimes it happens before you even land at your destination! But no one has to end up in the doghouse as soon as you check in. After 12 years of flight attendants and fellow travelers asking if we’re on our honeymoon, here are the best ways we’ve found to keep the romance alive, even on the longest, most grueling of travel days. 

Watch a movie together

We love this one. If our aircraft has seat back entertainment, my husband Steve and I will pick a movie to watch “together,” and tap the play button at the same time. Bring some movie-style snacks (popcorn, gummies, a favorite candy bar), or plan to do this during your inflight meal for dinner and a movie date night in the air! 

Read next: How to Practice Self Care on Travel

Share a pair of earbuds

Airplanes are loud, so having a conversation isn’t always easy. But you can still enjoy time doing something together if you’re willing to share one of your bluetooth earbuds. Download (in advance) your favorite TV series for a little binge watching at 35,000 feet. Make a special romantic playlist for the flight. Or, save a couple of episodes of your favorite podcasts for your listening pleasure. 

Relatable: Why Everyone Needs an Island Getaway

Share your in-flight meal

Airplane food does not have a reputation for fine dining, especially in economy—if you get a meal at all! But you can get creative, or just pretend. That meal is costing you a few hundred dollars, you know. If there are two meal choices, get one of each and share. Or if there’s a particular airport meal you love, pick that up instead while you wait for boarding (and then you can eat what and when you want). Only taking a short flight or not into a full meal onboard? Pick up a dessert item for takeaway instead!

Keep reading: The Ultimate List of 30 Trips to Take in Your 30s

Bring a card

Is your or your loved one’s love language “Words of Affirmation?” My husband’s is! I’ve been known to bring a love card for him and write in it while he’s sleeping on a long-haul flight. It’s nice to wake up to! And don’t worry, Steve does that for me, too, especially if we happen to be traveling for Valentine’s Day or my birthday!

Also helpful: How to Plan the Perfect Valentine’s Day Getaway

Hold hands

My love language is physical touch, so I really like to hold hands. Thank goodness Steve doesn’t mind! We’re definitely that couple holding hands through the airport (one reason we like to travel with carry-on backpacks instead of rollers). We’re also that couple holding hands on the plane. You’ll know us when you see us! And if you like a little PDA, you, too, should be holding hands all the time. People will think you’re on your honeymoon. 

More here: The World’s Most Perfect Honeymoons

Sit together

This isn’t always possible for one reason or another, but usually you can find two seats together when choosing your flights. If you do get separated (forgot to choose your own seats, upgraded separately, etc.), you can always ask to switch with someone and explain that the two of you are together. 

Remember that the person you’re asking has the right to say no (nothing ruins the romantic mood like a scene on an airplane, y’all), but it’s worth asking! Tip: offer up the better seat when asking to switch with a stranger. Someone in a middle seat is much more likely to want to switch for an aisle or window, and if one of you is seven rows ahead of the other, the person changing seats with you will prefer the seat closer to the front. 

Read next: The Ultimate Travel Couple Bucket List

Upgrade yourselves

Is this a really special trip like an anniversary, Valentine’s, or first trip away without the kids? Consider buying into business class, or use points or miles to score that upgraded seat! It’s not that uncommon for the difference between economy and business to be less than you think. It may be worth an extra $100-$200 each to make your traveling loved one feel loved and special!

More here: How to Choose the Ultimate Anniversary Getaway

Head to the lounge

Lounge access is so nice. It’s way less chaotic, noisy, and stressful than hanging out at the terminal, and there is always food, coffee, and other beverages available and included at no extra charge. You can also enjoy charging stations, comfortable seats, and some lounges have really upped their game recently with massage services and relaxation rooms! Look up what lounges are available in the airports you’ll be transiting (including layovers), and find out what it takes to get in. 

Related: The Top 10 Most Romantic Travel Experiences

Bring playing cards or other travel game

Maybe you have a favorite card game to play together, but you haven’t had the time to play in a while. Maybe you love a certain game that comes in a travel-friendly size. Or maybe you just want to go through a list of conversation starters to see what comes up. Whatever you choose, these can all be fun ways to reconnect and do something that doesn’t involve a screen. You’ve got your loved one as a captive audience in a metal tube for several hours. Take advantage of that! 

Read on: The Secret to Happy Couple Travels

Pull up the armrest if possible

Did you know the armrests in Economy on many aircrafts can be pulled up and tucked between the back of the seats? This is a great way to get a little closer! My husband and I always do this on our flights. We like to sit together—very together, not just beside each other! So go ahead, sit closer, hold hands, or put your arm around your favorite travel partner. It’s adorable. 

Keep reading: The World’s Best Hotels for Couples

Offer to help each other

I’ve saved the best for last. This one is important, and it can apply to both travel and real life. Help each other. Use team work. Divide and conquer—together. My husband and I read in a book before we got married that if you love someone, you want to help them, and if you’re both looking out for each other, your love and appreciation for one another will grow. Travel days, especially the long ones, offer plenty of opportunities to serve each other. 

Ask if you can lift your travel mate’s luggage into the overhead bin, or offer to carry a bag through the airport for them. Need to grab a coffee? Ask if your travel mate wants one, too. You know your loved one wants to get up and move around instead of sit with the carry-ons on your layover? Take one for the team and offer to do the luggage watching while they go see what’s in the airport shops. The options are many to show your love and thoughtfulness to each other!

More here: Where to Travel According to Your Love Language

Want more? Get all my couple travel tips and recommendations on my Travel Tips Page!

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