Taking a plane is the way most people travel. So, despite setbacks, security, and hours spent at airports on layovers, flying is the faster option, so let’s take a look at some airline travel tips. These are general tips. If you are a senior citizen, traveling with children, etc. you may need to adjust these tips to fit your needs:
Tips for a comfortable flight.
Before you actually board the plane:
Be sure your immunizations are current. This is especially important if you are flying overseas. You could be highly uncomfortable if you catch something you should have been immunized for.
If you are feeling ill, call your airline and see if you can change your flight. Most airlines will allow you to change your flight, but you will probably need a doctor note, and will have to fill out paperwork.
Reserve a seat by a window if you get air sick. Being able to get a non-moving point of reference helps, so book early and reserve a window seat if this is a problem you know you suffer from.
Talk to your doctor before travel if you have any specific concerns. Basically your doctor will know whether or not your conditions will need any special treatment on a plane.
Make sure you get to the airport with enough time to check in and get to your gate, the last thing you want is to be in a huge rush, or miss your flight.
Wear lose fitting, comfortable clothing, and be sure you wear shoes that are easy to get on and off, and that you have worn before. New shoes are not a good idea when you are going to be flying.
Rest well before the flight. Flights in general are exhausting, even short ones, due to the air being breathed, and the toll on the body moving that far and fast. So, be well rested for a better flight.
Pack something to do while waiting in the terminal. Delays are becoming more and more common for flights. So as a traveler you should anticipate them and prepare accordingly. Pack something in your briefcase, carry-on, or purse that will keep you occupied if your flight is late. A book, crossword puzzles, a cell phone, hand held games, MP3player/iPod, etc. are all good choices.
Be sure to have a snack or two handy so you can avoid long lines and high prices. This is also useful if you end up being delayed, or if it takes a while for the airline attendants to serve snacks.
If you are tall, book your ticket in advance so you can get a seat with plenty of leg room. You may want an aisle seat, which will give you a chance to stretch your legs into the aisle from time to time. Even better is to get a “bulkhead seat”: there is usually more legroom in those positions. But these seats go fast, so book ahead.
If you get motion sick easily take some sort of motion sickness drug before you fly. Your doctor can prescribe you something, or you can take an over the counter medicine, just check the side-effects before taking.
If your immune system is compromised in any way, you may want to wrap your face in a scarf or wear a surgical mask. Airplane tickets are expensive, and it takes a lot of effort to plan and make a trip, so people will fly sick, and their germs will circulate through the air system in planes, so take precautions.
In flight:
When you are on the flight, be sure to eat light. Your body needs a break.
Stay well hydrated while on the flight. Drink water and fruit juices in flight and minimize alcoholic beverages. Consider using caffeinated beverages strategically during the day to mask fatigue, but avoid use within 4-6 hours of bedtime when the effect may make sleep onset more difficult. You need to do this because the air in the cabin is very dry. This can lead to dehydration, which will make you feel lousy.
Make sure you have plenty of room to stretch your legs, put things in overhead bins, not under the seat in front of you, this way you can stretch your legs.
Get up on occasion, and walk around the cabin of the plane. Even if it is for no reason, stand and stretch your body periodically.
Relax, bring something to read, watch, or listen to so your flight will be more enjoyable.
Avoid napping during the descent. You may not keep pace with pressure changes, and could end up with a temporary blockage of the Eustachian tubes. Stay awake and yawn or chew gum to help avoid earaches. If you are traveling with a child or infant make sure they are sucking or chewing at the time of descent so that they do not suffer from earaches.
If you start feeling motion sickness it may help to close your eyes a moment then reorient yourself with where you are and how you are moving.
If you start to feel sick, an easy way to feel better is to empty your stomach. “Barf bags” are usually located in the pouch on the back of the seat in front of you. Often, using them reduces or eliminates any discomfort you are feeling.
Wear a jacket in case the plane is cold, earplugs in case it is loud, and bring a snack of your own in case you do not like what is provided, or if it takes forever to serve the snack due to turbulence, etc..
After you arrive:
Change your watch and other devices to the new time if there is a new time. This will help you get oriented faster.
Schedule outdoor activities on the first few days of travel at the new destination, as this will help your body adjust to the time and to the environment better.
After arrival, adjust to destination time as soon as possible. Do not stay up later than you would normally, etc. for the first day.
Limit naps to a single nap of 30-40 minutes or less. Go to bed and awaken at the appropriate time for the new time zone.
Help your body recover from jet lag by taking about one day per hour of time shift to totally get over jet lag. This means do not try and jump right into the time zone, but adjust according to what you are used to.
Dealing with problems:
If you have any kind of problem on a flight, report it to flight attendants, counter staff, and other front line personnel. However, do not stop there. Usually the results will be minimal or non-existent. Instead, contact the airline’s toll-free number or e-mail, and follow up by mailing copies of documentation to their postal address. Be specific with dates and times, and offer a realistic problem solution that will settle everything to your satisfaction.
If you lose your ticket, report it right away. Contact the airline immediately and arrange for the appropriate paperwork. You might have to buy a new ticket and get the lost ticket refunded. You may have to wait as long as six months for a refund. Refunds may have a handling fee deducted from the total.
Pack food, and have a plan so that if you get stuck overnight because of a problem you are prepared. The fact is that if you are stuck somewhere overnight because of something that was the fault of the airline, they will usually furnish you with a hotel room, breakfast, and the first flight out in the morning. If you are stuck somewhere because of the weather, that’s your own problem.
Do your best not to miss your flight, check the time and re-check it, do not chat too long, get to their airport early, plan for traffic, etc. Depending on your carrier, you might get some help, be booked on another flight etc. However, if you are flying with a discount carrier, you might be out of luck. So plan well.
If you are waiting to board a flight and it is suddenly cancelled, there will be a race to the next airline counter to try to get on the next flight. Instead of doing this, pick up the phone and phone the airline reservations system. You get the same result without standing in line.
Air travel can be very enjoyable if you plan ahead and take the proper precautions. It is important to know the various security regulations so you only bring the right things on board the plane, and do not have to throw out your lunch. It is also important to remember to wear clothes that are easy to get through security in. Shoes that slip off and on easily, easy to remove belts, not too much stuff in your pockets, etc.