I took a 13-hour flight to New Zealand from LA. Here are 8 mistakes I made.

• Two summers ago, I spent 13 hours on a plane flying from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand.
• Before, during, and after the flight, I did things that increased exhaustion, jet lag, and discomfort.
• Between forgetting my toothbrush and eating sugary snacks, I made mistakes I won’t make again.

New Zealand is known for its incredibly stunning scenery — and an incredibly long flight if you live in the US like me.

I set out to see those views in June 2022 and embarked on a 24-hour journey to the country.

I boarded a flight in Denver heading to Los Angeles and arrived at my final destination — Auckland, New Zealand — two days later…

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