Why headphones are number three
Active noise cancelling (ANC) uses microphones to listen to the room and plays an opposing wave to cancel it. It works best on steady low sounds: engine hum, air conditioning, rolling suitcases. It is weaker against sudden or high sounds such as voices, announcements and an unhappy toddler. Expect a calmer room, not a silent one.
Over-ear or in-ear
Over-ear headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM line or the Bose QuietComfort range isolate best and last through a long day. Battery claims for this class commonly sit between 25 and 30 hours. In-ear buds such as Apple AirPods Pro are smaller and easier to sleep in, but each charge is shorter and the case does the topping up.
Pick over-ear if you want quiet for twelve hours, in-ear if pocket space rules. Whichever you choose, pack the wired cable if one came in the box. Seatback screens and some adapters still love a jack. Learn the transparency mode too, so you hear your name at the gate.
The refresh kit
A small pouch beats a big bag. Toothbrush, travel toothpaste (under 100 ml, in a clear bag for security), face wipes, lip balm, hand cream, a spare t-shirt and clean socks. Terminals dry out skin and a fresh shirt resets your head.
Carry an empty collapsible bottle through security and fill it at a fountain on the other side. Many hubs also offer showers, some free to transit passengers and others paid; ask at an information desk.
Entertainment that works offline
Download before you leave: shows, podcasts, maps and boarding passes. An e-reader such as a Kindle runs for weeks on a charge and does not compete for sockets. Airport Wi-Fi is handy but public, so avoid banking on open networks and use mobile data or a VPN for anything sensitive.
Eat and drink like an adult
Eat a proper meal in the first hour. Drink water. If you plan to sleep, ease off the coffee after the halfway mark of your wait. Fruit and nuts from a shop beat a bag of crisps at hour six, and your future self will agree.
Build a base
Find a spot with a wall at your back, a socket within reach and a clear view of the departure screens. Keep your bag in front of you. If the airport has a quiet zone, a library corner or a garden, use it. Hamad International in Doha has an indoor garden, for instance, and Changi's Jewel has a forest valley, though what is open depends on the hour and the terminal.