It used to be that flying was a special occasion. People got dressed up, the food was good, and it was something to be enjoyed. As the price point dropped, the riffraff started to travel, and airlines started to lower the quality of the travel to lower cost and improve their profits. Now you see people dressed like slobs, acting like the plane is their living room, with no regard for the people around them. There are even websites dedicated to these people. Any schmuck with a credit card can fly.
While we can’t control what everyone does around us, there are things that we can do to try to make our own flights a little less painful. Here are a couple of tricks that I’ve been using for years on longer flights to help make them easier and more comfortable.
- Only take a carry-on if at all possible. I’ve spent a week in Italy and a week in Germany, each with just a backpack, both times with plenty of room to spare. Yes, I recycled some of my clothes. But if you don’t have to worry about checked luggage, you don’t have to worry about whether it made the connection, whether it gets to your destination on time or not, whether our friends at the TSA screwed with your bag, and you can move quickly from the flight through the airport to your destination city without waiting by the luggage carousel, watching the suitcase merry-go-round. It’s nice to walk past the checked-baggage crowd to get to customs and get your vacation started faster.
- Wear comfortable pants. When I’m in my hometown, I usually wear jeans. I like them and they’re easy. I used to travel in jeans; I figured I’d wear them while I was in my destination country, so why not save space in my bag? As it turns out, jeans aren’t that comfortable after being seated for 6 hours, and they start to get a little funky. Try sweatpants, track pants, or travel pants like these. They’re baggy and comfortable, and usually breathe a lot better than jeans do. This pair also has zip off legs, so you can be comfortable in almost any environment.
- While we’re on the topic of clothing, wear layers. I usually wear a t-shirt and a long-sleeve button down. If it’s cold, I’m good. If it’s hot, I can take the outer layer off.
- If you’re wearing baggy pants, you’re not going to want a bunch of stuff in your pockets. It’s more likely to fall out and it could be uncomfortable. Why not throw all of your stuff into a fanny pack? Sure, you’ll look like a tourist with bad taste, but it’s only for the flight, and it’s far more comfortable. In my fanny pack, I carry my passport, wallet, iPod and headphones (you can use them for the in-flight movie), a pen for filling out customs forms (don’t take a fancy pen, since you may lend it to someone and it could get lost, or it could explode due to the difference in air pressure in the cabin), spare cash, a small notepad, and any travel documents that I may need. If the absolute worst happens, I have enough in my fanny pack to help me get to a hotel or to the embassy.
- Some people bring noise canceling headphones, eye masks, or earplugs. I’m not a fan of these things, but you may like them.
- I always take a few magazines on the flight. When I’m done, I can leave them on the plane for the next passenger or I can throw them away, and I don’t have to worry about carrying the weight back like I would with a book that I wanted to keep. Lately, I’ve taken my Nook on flights. It’s handy to have several dozen books at your fingertips; you can read whatever you happen to be in the mood for. But if you bring an e-reader, don’t forget the charging cable.
- Speaking of which, some newer planes have charging stations at the seats, so packing a charging cable for your electronics might not be a bad idea.
- A watch set to the destination city’s local time. Your itinerary will tell you what time you’re going to land, so you’ll always know how much longer you have to sit there, staring blankly at the seat in front of you.
- Comfortable slip-on shoes. It makes getting through the screening process easier, and you can slip them off while you’re in your seat. But please wear socks. You can get socks designed for travel that are quick-dry and comfortable. Wash them in the sink at the hotel, and you can wear them a few times on the trip.
- Something to snack on. Most flights will have something to eat, but you’ll have to pay ridiculous prices for crappy food. The prices are worse than those at a sporting event. If you throw some beef jerky in your bag, it’ll sate your hunger and keep you going until you can get some decent food later. If you’re vegetarian, pack beef jerky and pretend that it’s tofu.
- A collapsible water bottle. Fill it with water from the water fountain at the airport and you’re good to go for the flight. Or fill it with booze from the airport bar. I don’t judge. Airplane air is recycled and dry, so staying hydrated will help reduce jetlag symptoms.
There’s probably a lot of other great tips and tricks. These are the ones that have worked for me for a few years, but I’m sure I haven’t thought of everything. Post your ideas in the comments!
