Complete and Creative

How to Have a Comfortable Flight (1/2)

Fly first-class.

But that isn’t a viable option for many of us, so here are some things I do when I’m on a long flight to keep myself not only sane but also in top-notch shape to make the most of my time once I arrive at my destination. By “long flight,” I generally mean a trans-Pacific or trans-Atlantic journey. If your flights usually aren’t this long…well, lucky you.

No…not that kind of flight.

Feel free to figure out your own methods to have the most comfortable flight possible for you. The following has worked for me on numerous flights.

What to Wear?

Wear clothes in which you’d feel comfortable sleeping. Yes, you want to look good even while on the plane. I totally understand. Now go dig something up from your wardrobe.

You can also bring a change of pajamas in your carry-on, but chances are that your bag is packed to the brim anyway.

What about shoes? I recommend tennis shoes over sandals or flip-flops (although they are hands-down more comfortable) for two reasons: tennis shoes would take up a lot of space in your luggage, so wearing them in-flight would free up quite a bit of room; and they are better for the improbable chance that there’s an emergency onboard and you, along with everyone else, need to run for your life.

Obviously, you’re not going to be wearing your tennis shoes the entire flight. You’re going to take them off to get comfortable. Just make sure to put them back on when you’re walking around the cabin. Wet socks aren’t fun. Especially if you naturally didn’t bring spares.

And hats? What about an eyemask? Bring either or both if they help you sleep. Many airlines provide eyemasks now.

How to Sit?

I really like the title of this subsection. This is one instance in which I don’t think you should be too considerate. Just lean the chair as far back as possible unless you’re more comfortable with the chair at a different angle. If the person behind you really has a problem with it, well, you can take it from there. You can’t please everyone.

Where to sit depends on how much you like looking out the window. If you don’t particularly get a kick out of staring at clouds or city lights as the plane is about to land, then I recommend sitting in an aisle seat in the middle row (you know, the row that only exists when you’re in one of the bigger planes for longer flights), which should minimize the amount of trouble you will encounter if you or anyone else needs to get out of their seat.

If you’ve got a sensitive neck or back, buy one of those special pillows that curls around your neck. For your back, just ask one of the flight attendants for an extra pillow to slip beneath your back.

How to Entertain Yourself?

Oh, the possibilities. All I can say here is do not watch movies the entire flight, whether it’s in-flight movies or the personal stash on your laptop or iPod. I don’t know about you, but movies start getting old after the first half a dozen hours. Read one of the magazines for a while or, God forbid, talk to the passenger next to you. Bring a book or two. Get acquainted with your destination country last-minute with that travel guide you haven’t bothered to crack open yet. Variety is key to continuous entertainment and maintenance of insanity when enclosed in a tight space.

to be continued…