Starting a trip, be it for work or fun, is super exciting. But dealing with the ups and downs of air travel can be a bit of a buzzkill. No worries! In this blog post, we’ve got your back with loads of useful tips and tricks to make sure your flight isn’t just okay, but actually awesome and stress-free from start to finish. So buckle up and get ready for some down-to-earth advice on making the most of your flight.
Before the flight
- Regardless of the flight duration, it’s preferable to rest well before flying. We tend to sleep very little beforehand, always finding something to do at the last minute, thinking we’ll sleep on the plane. The significant pressure difference during takeoff and landing puts a strain on the body, the hours before and after the flight involve considerable energy consumption. And we don’t want to start our vacation feeling exhausted.
- Pre-download songs, podcasts, movies, or bring a book/books with you. It’s much more soothing for the body/brain to have something to do on the plane.
- Dress in layers to be prepared for both cold and warm temperatures. There are specific temperature policies, during takeoff, landing, if it’s night, it’s colder to help people fall asleep, etc. You can use blankets (if available) or scarves (a plus for the ladies).
- Wear comfortable clothes. Long pants and long sleeves are preferable. For comfort and hygiene, avoid heels.
- I prefer a hoodie for extra comfort. Sometimes people turn on the air conditioning, and I might not want it, so it comes in handy.
- For long and very long flights, it’s good to have spare clothes with you.
- It’s good to have your sinuses cleared.
- If you’re afraid of turbulence, choose a morning flight. Turbulence often occurs due to temperature differences, but in the morning, it’s cooler, so the differences are smaller.
- You might prefer to select an exit seat. Paying extra, you’ll find ample space, often without anyone next to you (as many avoid the extra fee). Note that some airlines restrict reclining or lifting the handle for these seats.
- There are also seats with extra legroom at the front, but I usually avoid them because they’re usually prioritized for small children. I love children, I have some myself, but they’re more energetic during the flight, they cry more, so I try to have as much comfort as possible.
- When going through security, statistically, more people go to the right. If you want to avoid queuing, go to the left.
- At document control, if the queues are equal, choose the one with fewer elderly people (often unaware of the rules) or children (they undergo additional security checks, and additional documents are often required). Schengen vs. Non-Schengen. For Non-Schengen, prioritize people who need additional documents, visas, residence permits, etc.
- Since the phone is almost indispensable today, don’t forget to have an external battery. But if you’ve forgotten it, look for outlets, USB spots at the airports. If you can’t find them, look for TVs, nowadays most of them have USB ports, and you can charge your phone there.
During the flight:
- It’s preferable to have headphones with you. I prefer the ones with Noise Cancelling. There are studies on this topic regarding the stress on the body. If you can’t afford them, earplugs are also very useful.
- Neck pillows also help with comfort.
- Chew gum, especially during takeoff and landing. It helps equalize the pressure difference in the head (especially for those with sinus problems).
- Pay extra attention to hydration. It’s recommended to drink at least one glass of water per hour of flight.
- You may notice swelling in your legs during the flight. Two reasons: pressure and sitting for long periods. It’s recommended to get up from your seat every hour for a short walk/stretching. A short leg massage helps. Where space allows, it’s also useful to elevate your legs for a few minutes.
- Try to avoid carbonated or cold/iced drinks during the flight. These, combined with the pressure difference and fatigue, can cause significant discomfort.
- For the germophobes, it’s useful to turn on the air to create a barrier against viruses and to have antibacterial wipes with you at all times.
