What can I do to make a long-haul flight more comfortable?

Question

I'm flying from London to New York. I'm wondering about deep vein thrombosis, changing air pressures (are boiled sweets any use?), cushions etc...

Answer 1

I fly to New York every two months and it is a very easy flight to do, if you follow these tips;

Before even getting to the airport, choose the right seat by checking in online, msot airlines you can choose your seat some weeks in advance, dont get one near the toilets or galley as it can be noisy.

Once you have gone though security, goto Boots and purchase Bach escue Remedy, a mix of plant extracts to help you rest and sleep, you need to buy this airside, as it is a liquid and a couple of drops on your tongue will help you rest. I never have a flight without it!!

If you are flying BA and Virgin, you will get a pack, which includes an eye mask, travel socks, which assist in the pevention of DVT, even though I think it has been thrown out of all proportion and a toothbrush and toothpaste. You might want to buy some earplugs as the economy / coach class packs do not have these. On all airlines you will get cusions and blankets but you might want to take an inflatable neck pillow but I find the pillows quite ok from the airline. Most seats have head support, when you sit down play around the seat in the head area and seet what it can do, you will normally find it raises and there are like wings that come down to support your head, often overlooked by airline passngers.

Dont drink alcohol, if you are fyling with an American airline, you will have to pay extra anyway, so that is a good way of not doing it on BA and Virgin you will be offered alcohol both prior and during your meal. Just drink plenty of water to re-hydrate the body because of the air con.

Keep away from caffine, not many passengers realise that airlines carry decaf coffee, I always want to get as much sleep as possible on a flight, so no caffine.

Just go to sleep, you can watch movies in the cinema or movie theatre, do you really need to watch them on a plane, again American airlines are pretty poor at inflight entertainment, so it is best to go to sleep.

Most flights the goto New York fly in the evening, so try and get a flight about 4pm - 6pm so you can have your first night out in New York or just sleep when you get there, as you will wake up raring to go the next day.

You will want to make the most of your trip to New York and not have jet lag, if you follow my tips and gt plenty of rest on your flight then you will not suffer jetlag when you arrive and when you are there forget about UK time, dont go it is 2am in the UK, you are in America now and it is 9pm... mind over matter.

Have fun in New York!!

Answer 2

Don't take a lot of carry-on things so the area around your feet are clear.

Carry a pillow or an inflatable pillow to support your head. Wear loose fitting shoes and wear loose layered clothing in case you get cold. If you are flying during the colder season you don't have to worry. If it is summer time, then put the extra clothing in your carry on.

I use ear plugs to muffle the sound and it helps you to sleep if you are able to sleep on a plane. You can still hear the movie on the headphones with the ear plugs in. You can buy the spongy kind, they work very well.

Put the pillow the airline provides along the lumbar, lower back, to provide extra support. Pack a bottle of water just in case your throat gets dry and a flight attendant is no where to be found. Walk around every few hours and stretch out your legs and back. Or you can stretch some in your seat. Wiggle your feet around and stretch your muscles.

Don't drink alcohol, drink juices or water. This is to stay hydrated. Eat lightly just enough that you are full but, not stuffed. If you have a choice on the flight choose the seafood or low salt or low cholesterol meals. This helps in not being constipated after the flight. Sometimes you can pick before you as you make the reservation. This way you are served first too.

Carry some mints to mask your breath and it helps with dry mouth. If you can carry a tooth brush and tooth paste, that way you can cleanse your mouth just before you arrive.

If you really want to sleep buy a mask or blind to cover your eyes. Personally I have one but, I don't like something on my eyes when I sleep.

If your ears plug up, hold your nose, and blow lightly this should clear it up. If you have a cold, the muscles just behind your ear lobe down along your neck, rub it and it should open your ear passages. or yawn.

I have been flying alot from Los Angeles to Asia, Bangkok, and Hong Kong. That's what I have learned to do. That's a 10-13 hour flight in one leg

Have a good trip.

Answer 3

Chew gum when taking off to help with the ears popping. Take a dramamine (or is it sturgoset over there? the travel sickness medicine) before your flight to help with any motion sickness and to make you that extra bit drowsy if you want to sleep. Take your own pillow or cushion because the plane pillows are kind of small. And if you have a portable DVD player, or can rent one, then take some of your favorite movies to watch on the plane. Also take a book if you like reading.

Answer 4

I travel extensively. the airline I travel on provides magazines and shows films and provides music. Take your own i pod in case you dont like theirs. Take a good magazine and do some crosswords. Take something warm for when they fly at a higher altitude. they have blankets but sometimes you feel more comfortable with your own clothes. Be careful with the slippers though because feet can swell and you may not be able to put your shoes back on again after.

Answer 5

the expanding type ear plugs are key. small tube of moisturizer. take out your contact lenses if applicable. comfortable shoes, or just take off your shoes when you're sitting.

DVT in a healthy person flying in an aircraft is pretty rare. if you're a truck driver who sits 14+hours a day, everyday for the last 10 years, then i'd be worried... hospital patients can get DVT, but that's usually because they also have other risk factors (vascular diseases, diabetes, etc.)

Answer 6

Support stockings for the deep vein thrombosis--my aunt swears by them, although I haven't tried it myself.

If necessary or possible, drop any excess weight you can. It will make it easier to move around in your seat to find a comfortable position--or if you're hippy like me, to FIT in the seat.

If you're bringing along a music player (highly advised) remember that the airplane noise will make it heard to hear with most normal headphones. I really like IEMs with foamie tips (just flew cross-country (US) myself the other day, my mp3 player was a life-saver).


EDIT: oh yeah, and check out http://www.seatguru.com to help select the best available seat.

Answer 7

Be sure to put your carry-on in the over head compartment so that you can stretch your legs. Do similar exercises that are recommended for pregnant office workers - focus on tightening and releasing each muscle in your legs, rotate your ankles, flex and point your toes, get up and walk to the bathroom when the seatbelt light is off.

Answer 8

I dont know but please let me know when you find out because im going on an 11 hour flight in 2 months!! london to new york is like 6 hrs right? Just relax. take a sedetive maybe. or just a tylenol pm. bring a comfy pillow and some music to listen to in your headphones.

Answer 9

Your feet will swell up in the cabin so wear comfortable shoes. Slipons are the best. You can also bring soft socks for walking around on the plan.

Answer 10

Get up and walk every hour. Drink at least 12 ounces of nonalcoholic beverages hourly. Get a good seat mate - helps a lot.