I’ve traveled a lot and as such have taken more than my fair share of aeroplane rides. There are tons of these guides out on the Internet, but here is me throwing my hat into the ring and sharing my own tips and experiences.
1) Keep hydrated.
This is something that is often overlooked by many travelers. The air on the plane is dry – very dry – you out
In terms of drinks, you probably hear this all the time, but it’s true – avoid coffee or tea on the plane. The caffeine in the former will just make it harder for you to relax. Consider drinking water (probably the best option) fruit juice and/or green tea.
2) Work if you can, but don’t expect to do too much.
I wouldn’t push myself to do more than 1-2 hours of work, maybe 3-4 max. Let’s face it – being on a aeroplane is just not the most conducive of working environments. Even if you have your laptop fully charged and your mind all primed and ready to go, the recycled air is going to get to you.
So do what you can, and if you get some done, great, but if not, sleep is always a good thing!
Which brings me to 3) below…
3) Try to sleep, but if you can’t, don’t beat yourself up about it.
Some people can sleep on planes, some can’t. If you are one of the former, rejoice in your good fortune and doze off. If you are one of the latter, well, don’t sweat it too much.
As we all know, the worst way to get to sleep is to obsess about it. So if you can’t, then spend your time watching movies or playing games, reading books or doing something to take your mind off it.
Medication is always an option. As long as you don’t overuse them, one sleeping pill now and then won’t kill you. Take them in moderation.
3) Move about a bit.
What I like to do is go to the toilet and stretch out a bit there. It’s not exactly the best place in the world for gymnastics, being generally rather cramped, but it will suffice.
4) Invest in a pair of earplugs and/or noise-cancelling headphones.
Trust me, they are lifesavers. There is bound to be a lot of ambient noise on any flight, from the roar of the jet engines to passengers getting up and of course…noisy and rowdy kids. Cutting out or down on noise goes a ways to ensuring you get whatever sleep and rest you’re able to.
If you can, also try not to get angry at any toddlers or wailing children on the flight. Sure they can be really annoying, but keep in mind that children are by nature sensitive and whatever discomfort you are experiencing in terms of air pressure they are probably experiencing many times over.
5) Select a good seat, preferably way ahead of time.
Make the best use of services like SeatGuru and the like to get seats that really fit you. If you like to look out the window and not be disturbed, get a window seat. If you foresee yourself going to the toilet a lot, then a seat near the aisle would make a lot more sense. If you are drinking a lot to keep hydrated, then that also means that correspondingly, you may need to use the lavatory a lot more.
If sleep is a priority, then try to select a row of empty seats that will allow you to stretch out and get as much shuteye as possible. There’s a lot you can do with advance planning!
6) Take care of your food and beverage choices.
Many people suggest not eating too many carbs or heavy foods on the plane because they will make you woozy and sluggish, and I concur. As a general rule I would say to eat just as much as you can to get full and not more than that. After all you can always request for snacks or something similar on the plane if you get hungry later.
Try not to drink. I know it’s tempting to avail yourself of the free booze on the plane, but really, it’s not that good of an idea. You’ll get groggy and disoriented and while you think that MIGHT help you sleep it most probably will have the reverse effect.
If you have any dietary restrictions, it’s best to let the airline know ahead of time. If you forget, then at least let the staff know when they serve the meals.
7) Wear comfy but warm clothes.
It gets cold up there in the air. You want clothes that are comfortable because you’re going to be stuck in them for some time. Cotton is a good bet because it keeps you warm and wicks away sweat. A trick I like to do is wear more than one T-shirt…that way you can take it off when it’s too hot and not get strange looks.
8) Socks!
Wear them. Replace them. Love them.
8) Don’t skimp on your flight if it’s a long-haul one.
I know you want to use up those frequent flyer miles, but this is especially true if you are taking a vacation or have an important business meeting – you want to arrive there fresh and ready for action, not having to head to the nearest hotel to get caught up on Z’s. This means that you can consider spending more $ if the flight is worth it – a good airline with good service makes a big difference.
Ultimately, only you can decide which perks make or break the flight, but it’s something to consider.
9) Make sure you can charge your devices.
One thing that people often forget on a flight (I’ve made this mistake more often than once) – bring a suitable adaptor, especially if you’re going from the East to West or vice versa. Power supplies are not universal even in the 21th century.
10) Don’t bring too much carry-on luggage if you can avoid it.
It’s unwieldly, bulky and makes it hard to stow away. Whatever can fit in one bag that can fit under your seat is good. If not, you’ll be stuck getting dirty looks from everyone around you.
11) Bring a travel bag.
A Baggu or something similar works wonders. You can stuff everything that you need in there beforehand and minimize the problems with luggage (see above)
In short, prepare the most you can before the flight, but when you’re actually in the air, just try your best to relax. If you’ve forgotten something or something doesn’t work out right, take it as a learning experience and do better next time. You’ve already paid the money, so enjoy!