Flying can be efficient but stressful if you don't take
proper steps to prepare. Flying can be a quick and
efficient way to travel. With airlines scaling back on
services, increased security measures in place, and the
consequential decreased courtesy of unhappy passengers, a
flight can quickly turn into a nightmare of an experience.
Keep reading for ways to anticipate the negative and to
learn how you might be able to make the best of a difficult
flying situation.
!! Steps !!
Anticipate your flying comfort when booking your flight. Make your
seat selection as soon as possible; an aisle seat is the most
popular but you might find that a window seat is more suitable for
sleeping. Many airlines with online booking will show the seat
arrangements of different planes and will allow you to book them in
advance.
* If you want to stretch out and relax, you may want to avoid
emergency rows or the front or back row because some seats on rows
before an emergency row do not recline. Remember, if you are
seated in an exit row, you must be willing and physically able to
assist in an emergency. This is mandated by federal and
international laws. This means that if you're traveling with
children, you won't be able to use these seats.
* If you have an overactive bladder, choose the first row before the
bulkhead doors since it easy to get in and out and close to the
lavatories.
* When booking connections, take care with short connection times.
Give yourself plenty of time to connect with flights, especially
in larger airports where you have to catch internal transport to
get to another part of the airport. Never underestimate how long
this will take you, or you might miss your connection.
* Also anticipate delays when you're booking. Trying to catch the
last flight out can often leave you stranded overnight at the
layover airport.
Arrive early and take some time to relax in a cafe by the gate. By
arriving a little earlier than everyone else, you may be able to
avoid the mad rush at the security line. Arrive early and avoid many
hassles. Arriving early will ensure that you make your flight and
that you're not delayed by long queues or prevented from boarding by
gate or baggage closures. Many airports are interesting enough places
to roam around and pass time in, or you can take the opportunity to
catch up on some reading while enjoying some food and beverages.
* Expect airport prices. The cost of running stores and food outlets
is higher in airports and that cost is passed on to you. It's not
like you're there every day, so accept this reality for what it
is.
* Go through security at a good pace so that you don't feel rushed
and flustered by the procedures. Security checks can upset some
passengers due to long waits in line, having to undo all
belongings, and remove articles of clothing, etc. Knowing that you
have plenty of time to do this will ease your sense of panic and
frustration.
* Don't be afraid to let security attendants know if you're feeling
faint or ill. They can assist you and would prefer your honesty
over a mouthful of angry invective when you can't take a moment
more of waiting or feeling crowded in.
It's not quite this bad... yet Become familiar with the security
rules, baggage requirements, pet travel and anything else that will
impact your trip. The security measures can try even the most patient
travelers at times but understanding what's involved can minimize the
stress. Don't make assumptions and don't assume your traveler friend
has the right advice. If in doubt after reading the airline's or
government websites (for example, the TSA website in the USA), call
and ask any questions you have. If you have a special need, call
ahead and let them know; it's always better to deal with it
beforehand than in the airport when your plane is boarding.
* Remember that rules may vary between different airlines or the
policy may have changed since you last traveled.
* Everyone knows the mantra about not joking about bombs or
terrorism at the airport. Just don't. There are plenty of more
amusing ways to use humor to defuse the tension without resorting
to bomb jokes.
* Read Know what you can and can't carry on board an aircraft for
more details.
* Read Prepare for a TSA body scan or pat down if you're traveling
in the United States.
Pack supplies. Airlines are becoming more bare bones in what they
provide you as a matter of competitiveness and price reductions and
this can leave you feeling the flight is more than unpleasant.
Expect this in advance and pack accordingly rather than being left
there raging inside about the "lack of service".
* Bring a jacket. You can't always be guaranteed to get a blanket
and if you feel the cold, you'll really feel it on the plane.
Consider wearing pants, a shirt and carrying a light jacket for
traveling in the summer. Add more layers if you're traveling in
the winter. Pashminas are a great option too, as they're light,
warm, and give excellent coverage when seated.
* Have your own inflatable pillow if you know you'll need neck
support. Don't rely on the availability of on-flight pillows -
these tend to be reserved for long-haul flights only and even
then, there may not be enough to go around. Consider also bringing
an empty pillow case - you can stuff clothing in it to make a
pillow, or you can cover provided pillows if you're germ-phobic.
* Bring small amounts of change to pay for food and beverages.
* Pack snacks. Snacks are important for a number of reasons - if you
have a special diet (vegetarians, diabetics, etc.) and they've
stuffed up the order (commonplace), then you can resort to your
own snacks. If there are delays, you can munch on food rather than
feeling as if you're starving. And if you have kids, snacks are a
lifesaver for keeping them happy. Pack some of your favorite teas
and brew your own on the flight. Chamomile promotes relaxation and
helps to reduce stress. They will likely offer hot water at no
charge, so you may even save some money.
* Bring a water bottle. Fill it with water once you have gone
_through_ security. Use the bathrooms or drinking fountains on the
secure side of the security process. Having water will allow you
to sip throughout the flight and avoid dehydration or panic when
your flight attendant can't bring you water as fast as you'd like.
* Pack some gum or boiled sweets if you experience ear problems.
Chewing or sucking can alleviate pain. If you suffer from severe
pain, speak to your doctor in advance about what to do. Ginger gum
is a great choice as ginger calms queasiness and nausea. With hard
boiled sweets, suck one before take-off, and one when landing.
* In addition, if you're an anxious flyer, speak to your doctor well
in advance of flying to obtain the necessary medications that
might help ease your flight experience.
* Pack some ear plugs. These are useful for sleeping, especially if
your seat is behind the jet engines. And if you're really keen,
bring some noise-canceling headsets if you want to hear the
movies. Also bring a sleep-mask in case you're stuck in front of
the movie screen and cannot tolerate the bright lights.
* Consider bringing pain relief if you're susceptible to headaches
or digestive problems. Pack a few pain relievers, some sinus pills
and a few Pepto-Bismol caplets at the very least. These can be
stashed in your carry on or briefcase. When you need it, you
really need it. A small headache can make a bad situation worse.
* Bring things to do. Delays happen and if you're prepared, you can
make the most of the time rather than fuming stuck inside a metal
can. Bring reading material, crafts, puzzles, work, pen and paper,
etc. to while away the time. Bring more than one thing to kill
time and keep your mind occupied. Consider a mix of music,
knitting or lap crafts, art, magazines, books or journaling. Music
is also another excellent option to take your mind off flying and
delays, as well as providing you an excuse to check out mentally
if you're feeling unhappy with your fellow passengers behavior or
noise. Be sure to charge it fully before traveling.
* Bring your own treats. Unless you're in business or first class,
the days of extra goodies are thin on the ground. Pamper yourself
by buying some goodies "to be opened on the plane only". Puzzles,
chocolate, new MP3 player, fuzzy warm socks, etc. are all nice
treat ideas.
Make yourself comfortable in the plane. Do what you can within
reason, and while still being considerate of fellow passengers, to
make yourself comfortable.
* Loosen your shoes since your feet will swell due to the lower
cabin pressure (approx 2700m ASL).
* Have your reading materials and activities easily accessible,
either in the pocket in front of you, or under the seat at your
feet.
Be prepared if you have kids. Flying with kids is an art form that
requires fantastic skills of organization, incredible forbearance at
the varying levels of rudeness of fellow passengers, and the
patience only a parent can muster to keep kids entertained and
happy. Flying with kids is a topic in its own right but some things
you can do to make the flight more tolerable include:
* Have them use the bathroom before boarding if possible. Sure,
they'll still need to go but you can at least buy a little time
before they ask to go again.
* Deal with health issues in advance. Explain to the kids that
ear-popping can happen and that if it hurts, to let you know
straight away. Talk to your doctor if there are known ear issues
concerning your children to get advice and possible medication. Be
aware that a fear of flying can take hold of a child who has to
fly when his or her ears or head are clogged by sinus or ear
infections. And a child who looks ill will require you to carry a
medical certificate stating that he or she can fly without being
contagious; for example, obvious signs of chicken pox. You can
show the doctor's note to airline staff to reassure everyone.
Talking about expectations beforehand can sometimes help Talk to
them beforehand about how to behave on the flight. Ask them to think
about other people on the flight and to understand that it's a small
place for a lot of people to be seated together. Explain that
yelling, bouncing, jumping, and running about are things that can
upset other people and make them grumpy.
* Involve them in making plans for the flight. If you can turn this
into an adventurous time filled with puzzles, reading,
game-playing, and imaginative pursuits, they'll be very excited
and distracted for most of the flight. Try to match some of the
games with things that relate to the plane travel itself, such as
cloud-spotting, plane features or specs, and calculating distances
traveled, etc. And bring paper, drawing things, and coloring
books. Older kids can bring their electronic devices, pre-charged.
* Have snacks ready. You or they may not like what is offered on the
flight. And you can dole out snacks as they are needed rather than
having to wait for the flight attendant. Bring sippy cups or
bottles if needed. Verify with the airline what restrictions they
have for bringing containers or jars of baby food and formula for
smaller children. Call or research this _several days_ before you
leave so you have time to find suitable replacements. Each airline
and country may have differing policies so investigate before you
make plans that must be changed.
Practice acceptance. Flying is not always going to be as breezy as
the air the plane travels in. Confining a lot of people into a small
space who carry their own emotional issues or exhaustion, reasons
for flying, and worries about getting somewhere on time provides the
backdrop for at least a few negative encounters. There are ways to
deal with this, but the main one is to accept that flying can be
trying, especially so when it's during busy times (such as holiday
seasons), when it's long haul, and when there are a lot of people
both in the airport and on the plane. This isn't even mentioning the
many people who manage to just make the plane in time, or who are
struggling with kids in tow.
* Keep your sense of perspective. A lot of your fellow travelers are
tired, as may you be too. And tired people are never as polite to
one another as they'd be when they've had enough rest.
* Complaining about things that are out of your control might feel
good initially but it does little to change them. And people
sitting near someone complaining tend to feel a sense of
increasing outrage proportionate to the amount of complaining;
after all, it's bad enough knowing that a plane is delayed on the
tarmac without having some wise guy confirming it as if he or she
is deserving of royal treatment over everyone else sitting there
patiently. Remember too that employees are finding it as
frustrating as you; their schedules also get mucked around.
* Babies cry and toddlers wriggle and cry. And their parents have
perfectly legitimate reasons for traveling with their babies and
toddlers, just as you have a perfectly legitimate reason for
traveling too. Take earplugs or an MP3 player; being proactive is
a lot better than being bothered.
* Teenagers are exuberant. Again, that's life. You were probably
that excited about flying once too. Either seek to engage them in
conversation about how amazing their taste in baggage is, or stick
your MP3 player on and grin at them.
* Sometimes people eat things next to you that can freak you out.
This calls for "operation odor cover". Always bring along a
refresher towelette that is delightfully scented. Remove it from
its packet and hold it against your nose until the offending smell
has gone. Or get up and go for a walk around the plane, or shift
to a spare seat. Find constructive ways out - even going to the
bathroom and wetting some tissues with the soap and holding that
against your nose is better than nothing!
Flights offer minimal food service. Pack a variety of snacks or pick
up food in the terminal. You may have a delay and miss a meal or be
stuck for hours without food or beverage service. Anticipate the
chance that things will go wrong. Pack enough in your carry-on to get
you through a delay or your plane sitting on the ground. If the
weather is bad, pick up some snacks in the airport and have them
handy in case you're stuck on the tarmac for hours and they aren't
offering food or beverage services.
* Wear flat shoes. They are a lot more comfortable than high heels
and choose ones that are easy to remove and slip back on. If
something does go really, really wrong, and the plane crash lands,
your high heels will be a liability whereas your flats can be worn
safely without puncturing the emergency slide. Always look for the
bright side in these things!
* Avoid drinking too much alcohol on board. You're responsible for
your own actions, and that includes knowing when to stop imbibing.
One to two glasses is more than enough at that elevation. In this
way, you can avoid being a source of causing things to go wrong.
Be friendly Be of service. The more irritated you become about
something, the better placed you are to deal with it. So, instead of
allowing yourself to get horribly wound up about the crying baby, hop
over to the harried mother and offer to walk the baby around a
little, rocking it back to sleep. That really tired person who keeps
using you as a pillow and drooling on you? Kindly shake them awake
and point out where you saw three free seats where they can stretch
out.
* Even if you aren't good with kids, you can offer to give your
magazine to a toddler to flip through. If you are good with kids
and you see a struggling parent, you can offer to help. Offer to
read a book or play a game.
* Even being nice to a parent can reduce their stress levels which
can be triggering the bad behavior in the children.
* Smile. Smiling is contagious and creates solidarity between you
and anyone seeking to help you. When things go wrong on board,
wear a grin as it's getting sorted out. It ensures that flight
attendants will perceive you as approachable and likeable. And if
you're really lucky, you'll be rewarded with something like a
bottle of wine for your forbearance.
Flying unwell can make you feel terrible If possible avoid
traveling when you're sick and never travel if you're contagious. You
won't be in the best mood if you're ill and the flight could make you
feel worse. The chicken pox, mono, common cold and flu are contagious
and you could contaminate other passengers. Remember that some
sicknesses could cause life threatening complications to the elderly
or very young.
* Verify with your doctor if you could be contagious before
traveling. If your doctor gives you permission to fly but you're
still symptomatic, carry a medical note.
* Many airlines can prevent an obviously sick person from boarding.
Anthrax infection and many other lethal diseases present with flu
like symptoms. Security measures could prevent a person with a
cold or flu from flying.
* Even if you are allowed on the first leg of the flight you could
be stopped at a layover airport when you change planes. The
objective of the airline is to protect the other passengers even
if it means denying your access. Being stuck in an airport when
you are sick with no way to get home will certainly ruin your
trip.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Travel with a friend or family member who is easygoing and a
pleasure to travel with. If you travel with drama queens you'll
likely see more drama.
* Avoid soda and drink plenty of water. Flights can leave you
dehydrated and feeling tired. Not feeling your best can make an
unpleasant flight even more miserable.
* Get plenty of rest the night before your flight. Being tired and
cranky can make for a grouchy traveler.
* Don't ask to switch seats on a full flight unless you absolutely
must. If someone is being offensive, sexually forward or you feel
threatened, certainly let the airline staff know but asking to
swap because you didn't plan ahead isn't helpful. No one wants to
sit next to the bathroom.
* Many people forget how useful a single cellphone can be. You are
allowed to turn it on during a flight, provided it's in Flight
mode (which most modern day cells have). Many phones nowadays can
play music, take photos, and even play movies. The playback time
is surprisingly large, too.
* If you're bringing drink mixes or snacks for your kids, let them
sample the item before your trip. There's nothing worse than a
starving kid who doesn't like the food you've packed.
* By checking with the airline a week or two before the trip, you
can verify you will be able to board with certain baby foods and
formulas. If your usual brand or packaging isn't allowed you will
have a few days to find a replacement that will work. Remember to
make sure the child likes what you're packing and the new option
agrees with his or her stomach.
* More airports are now offering a "Family" Security/Check-In line.
These lines are for people who need extra time getting shoes on
and off smaller children or those traveling with formulas, the
elderly, etc. These lines move at a much slower pace and you'll
find those behind you aren't the hostile avid travelers. Look for
these lines if your security check in may take longer than the
average person. Keep in mind that these lines move more slowly, so
you'll need to plan to arrive even earlier than usual.
* Take advantage of any opportunity to board the flight early. They
often allow frequent-flyers (for example, United Premier), or
those traveling with small children or the elderly to board just
before the general passengers. This gives you a chance to get to
your seat, find your comfort items, stow your luggage neatly, and
get your children situated before all of the other passengers are
on board. To be safe, mention to the gate attendant that you're
traveling with children and may need help or an extra set of
hands. Talk to them as soon as you arrive at the gate. He or she
can keep an eye out for you and perhaps find you a helping hand.
* Some discount airlines offer super cheap seats but you may find
you don't have assigned seats when you arrive to the flight. If
you have specific needs or comfort request you may be better off
paying a little more for the comforts offered by a full service
airline.
!! Warnings !!
* Delays happen! Anticipate them. Realize in advance what
sets off your triggers and learn how to manage them rather than
unleashing your frustrations on staff and fellow passengers.
* Do your research and know the security dos and don'ts before you
pack.
* Don't fly with a hangover. You may want to party your last night
in town but it will make for a horrible travel day.
* Use caution before taking benadryl or other anti-histamines as a
sleep aid. These are very drying to oral and nasal membranes and
can lead to dehydration. Instead, ask your physician for something
to help you sleep or relax that isn't as long acting or as drying.
If you must take an anti-histamine, you should increase your fluid
intake the day of your travel to avoid dehydration. If you have
severe allergies, it is wise to keep an anti-histamine with you in
your travel bag at all times.
* Instead of taking your normal sleeping pill on a long flight,
discuss the sedating effects with your doctor. Flying while
medicated can be dangerous in the event of an emergency. Ask you
doctor to recommend something less sedating. Driving home from the
airport with sedatives in your system is also extremely dangerous.
* Switch off all digital devices such as laptops and netbooks while
the flight is on a take-off or landing. The flight attendants will
be checking to ensure that you have done so.
!! Things You'll Need !!
* Travel activity items
* Snacks
* Carry-on bag that meets carry-on limits
* Weighed baggage (avoid turning up with cargo that's over the
limit)
* Warm clothing layers
* Inflatable pillow
* Medication
* Gum or boiled sweets for ears
* Children's activities where relevant
* MP3 player, video game console
* Briefcase of work to read or scrutinize
* Refresher towelettes
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Travel With Your Pets
* How to Travel by Air
* How to Travel With One Bag
* How to Be Calm in a Stressful Situation
* How to Deal With Stress
* How to Stay Healthy when Traveling by Plane
* How to Be on Time, Avoid Headaches, and Save Money when Flying the
Airlines
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
*
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