How to Be Comfortable on a Long Airplane Trip?

Answer 1

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How to Be Comfortable on a Long Airplane Trip

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Steps

1. Begin by reserving a good seat. Even within the same class and fare, some seats are far superior to others. Consider an aisle or exit row seat for leg room, or a window if you want to sleep. Try seatguru.com for aircraft-specific information on individual seat comfort and amenities.
2. Bring something to entertain yourself. Usually, movies don't start for some time, and the built-in music selection can be quite poor.
3. If possible, go with an airline that offers AVOD (Audio Video on demand), which are TV screen in front of your seat which lets you choose what you want to watch, play or listen to.
4. Bring your own headphones. The headphones for purchase on the plane are quite poor quality and bad for your hearing. Noise-canceling headphones and in-ear headphones are great if you have them, but even standard headphones or earbuds will be a big improvement.
5. Minimize your carry-on luggage. One backpack is fine for the plane.
6. Bring a toothbrush, and anything else which isn't a liquid or a gel, that you need to help freshen up before meeting your loved ones at the end of your long flight. They, and your neighbors in-flight, will be glad you did. Avoid using the potable water in the washroom to brush your teeth. Instead use the provided bottled drinking water. A water mist is also a good idea. Just spray the mist on your face a few minutes before landing to wake yourself up and freshen-up for your loved ones.
7. Consider bringing your own food on board if you care about taste or health. On some airlines, plane food is quite poor. Check Airlinemeals.net before and look through the reviews and decide if you should buy food before the flight.
8. Contact your airline in advance to find out if they still offer free meals and potentially request a special meal. Many airlines offer Vegetarian, Kosher, Halal and other "special meals" if you order two days in advance. And because the airlines have to specially prepare your meal, it is usually better than the standard food fare. If your airline doesn't offer a free meal, be sure to bring your own or buy one at the airport.
9. Move around. This is especially important on longer flights, to prevent your body from aching due to low circulation. Some airlines provide guidance on in-seat exercises you can do (such as circling ankles and stretching arms). The long mid-flight stretch on overnight flights is an excellent time to take a stroll up and down the aisle a few times. There is usually room to do some back stretches at the back of some of the cabins.
10. If you don't mind the extra noise produced by the engines, opt to sit near the back of the aircraft for long haul routes. Certain aircraft, such as the Boeing 747 series, have a large area behind the last row of seat in the back of the aircraft that give you plenty of space to stretch. However, do not sit in the absolute rear of the plane as there will be noises and smells from people using the bathrooms and other areas in the plane's rear.
11. If you are flying trans-oceanic or trans-continental, long naps are the best way to break up the tedium, so you'll want to stretch out--right? With a little luck and a lot of vigilance, you may be able to stretch out and nap. Keep your eyes on both the boarding passengers and the availability of empty, middle rows (in a pinch two empty seats in the aisles will make do). When the number of boarding passengers thins out to a sparse trickle, get ready. Once you see the flight attendants close the hatch, bolt for that empty row you've been nervously eyeballing.
12. If the airline shows an in-flight exercise video, participate in the exercise. These are designed to help with body circulation and reduce fatigue.
13. Take steps to protect yourself from the dry air on board the plane. The air in a plane is much drier than desert air, and will dehydrate your system. Drink plenty of water and use eye drops (yes, you can bring these now; see Things You'll Need, below) to moisten your eyes. Request plenty of water from your endlessly accommodating flight attendant. Or better yet, take your own (empty) water bottle on the flight and fill it up regularly.
14. Bring lip balm or other gel in a 3 oz or smaller container and use it to protect both your lips and your nose from becoming painfully dry. You can put it on a cotton swab and coat the inner 1/2 inch of your nasal passages. It may seem gross, but it really works for preventing your nose from painfully drying out.


Tips

* Long flights can get quite cold at times. Bring an extra layer of clothing for warmth.
* If you have a cold, bring a decongestant like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and chewing gum to help relieve pressure in your ears during takeoff and landing. Also, opening your mouth wide can help this, even if you don't have a cold.
* If you intend to sleep on the flight, bring earplugs, eye shades, and sleeping pills. Also, try and get a seat in the 'frequent flyer' section, which is less likely to have chatty vacationers. Be aware that "bulkhead" can equal "babies", although the one behind business/first class may be fine.
* Don't worry about getting up to use the restroom often; the walking about will be good for the blood flow in your legs.
* High quality noise-isolating (different from noise cancelling) headphones (such as ER-6 by Etymotic or Shure E3c) usually work best and can make a world of difference by reducing the plane noise to a mere background hum and allowing you to fall asleep to your music in a quiet environment. However, this type of headphone takes a while to get used to - do not purchase them specifically for the trip.
* Seats next to emergency exits generally have more leg room, but usually no recline. If you are up for the task of helping evacuate others in an emergency, try to request that you get a seat in the emergency exit aisle, unless you are travelling with children, who are not allowed to sit there.
* If you have a strong fear of flying, you could ask your doctor for a benzodiazepine (valium/xanax). These will lower your anxiety levels.
* If you tend to get airsick, drink a small bottle of Ginger Ale before boarding and carry a newspaper in your backpack. The ginger will help calm your stomach and so will the smell of the newspaper.
* The best way to endure a flight is by sleeping through it entirely. If you can, take an early morning flight, and either get up absurdly early or stay up very late and try to board the plane very tired. You might wake up for snacks, but if you time it right, you'll awaken upon touch-down at your destination!
* Many airlines offer "sleeper service" in parts of the aircraft. In the "sleeper service" cabins, lights are extinguished after reaching cruise level. Call your airline and see if they offer that on your flight.
* To relieve pressure in your ears, research the Valsalva maneuver (holding your nose and blowing) beforehand and know how to perform it correctly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valsalva_maneuver).
* When you board the plane, change your watch to the destination's time. If when you board it is night at your destination, try to sleep. Then force yourself to stay awake in flight during your destination's daylight hours. Upon arrival try to be outside to see the next sunset or dawn. Each of these things accelerates your acclimation to the new time zone. Light exercise also helps.
* Bring some sort of foot elevator or use your carry-on. Airline seats are way too long in the thigh for short passengers, and you either end up hurting your back slouching to touch the ground or suffering from leg cramps because your feet are dangling in mid-air. Travel supply companies (like Travelsmith or Magellan) usually sell some kind of compact folding contraption for this.
* Bring a travel pillow, because the armrests aren't in the right place either. Put the pillow in your lap and rest your arms on that instead. A stuffed animal might work well too, and it's smaller. Most Boeing planes have little wings where you put you head that you can bend forward. You can use one of those blow-up neck pillows to support your head while you sleep.
* Use your blanket to 'swaddle' your upper body and create a 'cradle' that pins your arms to your body, keeping them from flopping out and hitting others next to you or in the aisle. Holding one end of the blanket in one hand, tuck it under the opposite arm, then use the other hand to pull the blanket across your body and tuck in on the other side. It sounds strange, but this technique has helped on numerous transoceanic crossings.
* If first (or business) class isn't completely sold out, boarding crews occasionally invite some coach class customers to move up - your chances of this happening are best if you are dressed appropriately - this means no jeans or sweatshirts, no open-toed sandals, and no backpack or other unwieldy carry-on luggage.
* Consider prescription relaxation pills such as Temazepam to induce natural sleep. They work better and do not have the side effects of sleeping pills or alcohol.
* Don't waste your money on those cheap foam ear plugs. For around $50 you can have a set of custom made ear plugs molded for your ear canals. These will eliminate 2 to 3 times as much sound as the best over-the-counter ear plugs you can buy. Also, once you get them made, you can use them over and over again for years. Just clean them before each use. They also come in very handy once you reach your destination and need a good night's sleep in a noisy hotel room.
* If you don't want to get custom ear plugs, then get the wax moldable over-the-counter type. They work better than the cheap foam ones.
* Try to sit forward of the engines. It is quieter.
* WetOnes are of the best inventions ever. A self contained bath. They are pre-moistened anti-bacterial towelettes. They sell a small pack about the size of your palm for a couple of bucks.
* Get a NadaChair S'portBacker. It allows you to sleep sitting upright. It prevents slouching, which strains the lower back. Put this on, raise your seat almost upright, put the seatbelt snug across your lap, and you can sleep for hours with no discomfort. It folds up into a self contained bag about the size of a paperback book. (NadaChair's BackUp, not as compact, is recommended for larger frames.)
* If you are flying across several time zones, consider using "No Jet Lag" pills. Many experienced travelers use these to neutralize your internal time clock. They are helpful to get you into the new time zone without feeling effects of jet lag.
* Seedless grapes and trail mix make great carry-on snacks for flights.


Warnings

* If you take sleeping pills, be sure to use something that makes you drowsy but not "out". In case of emergency, the flight crew needs to be able to wake you quickly. Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) is a good option. Benadryl can cause excessive sleepiness in some people. Know how the medication will affect you before taking it for the plane ride. Excedrin PM also works well and doesn't leave you drowsy.
* Also, if you decide to take sleeping pills during the flight, it is a good idea to stay away from alcohol; they produce similar effects in the nervous system, and death may result in certain cases. In fact, about half of the accidental suicides yearly are caused by tranquillizer/barbiturate (sleeping pills can go under the heading of either)-alcohol combinations
* Small items left on the floor can slide forward or backward when the plane changes altitude and be lost. If you take off your shoes, put them in your bag.
* Due to the latest security concerns, be prepared to put pretty much everything you might have wanted to carry-on, into your checked luggage. You may want to pack a cloth shopping bag into your carry-on. If for some reason you are forced to check your carry-on you can pull out the cloth bag and put in absolute essentials to take into the cabin. For the latest updates to policy, check the Transportation Safety Administration's Web Site and/or the transportation authority of the country you are visiting
* The selection of entertainment is poor, so pack your toothpaste and brush up.


Things You'll Need

* Headphones
* Sweater, sweatshirt or other warm layer
* Earplugs
* Take-out meal, no beverages
* Eyedrops (no longer restricted for US air travel if containers are 3 oz or smaller - keep all liquids/gels in a single quart ziplock bag for security check)
* Lip balm or other protective gel (same note as eyedrops, above)
* Book (suggestion)
* Sudoku (suggestion)
* Computer (suggestion, unless required for business trips)
* Toothbrush (get a travel-size container of toothpaste that will be 3 oz or less), floss
* Handkerchief
* Eyeshades
* Inflatable Neck Pillow
* WetOnes
* A clean pair of underwear, a clean pair of socks, and a clean shirt
* Mini travel towel
* Listerine Pocket Pack
* Jet Lag pills

Answer 2

Proper rest before flight. Make sure your seat is not the one that can't recline (usually the last rows of each cabin). Bring along a good book to read. Ask crew for a pair of airlines socks (very comfortable) remove your shoes and change into socks. Ask also for a blanket & pillow from crew. Strap the seat-belt outside the blanket, in case you fall asleep and there's a turbulence, the crew won't have to wake you up.

Answer 3

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