A long domestic or international flight can often sour what should be a pleasant holiday or business venture. These guidelines can help your necessary travel time be as comfortable and painless as possible -- for you, and for your fellow travelers.
- Reserve a good seat. Even within the same class and fare, some seats are far superior to others. Consider an aisle or exit row seat for leg room, or a window if you want to sleep
- Bring something to entertain yourself. Usually, movies don't start for some time, and the built-in music selection can be quite poor, so bring an iPod, iPad, Nintendo DS, or CD player. You could also bring a new book or portable game.
- Minimize your carry-on luggage. One backpack is fine for the plane, and it is easier to find a place in the overhead bins or under the seat for a small backpack than for a larger roller bag.
- Bring a toothbrush, and anything else that isn't a liquid or a gel, that you need to help freshen up before meeting your loved ones at the end of your long flight
- Consider bringing your own food on board if you care about taste or health
- Contact your airline in advance to find out if they still offer free meals and potentially request a special meal
- Opt to sit near the back of the aircraft for long haul routes, if you don't mind the extra noise produced by the engines.
- Drink plenty of water Although you can request water from your flight attendants, it is a good idea to bring plenty of water on board with you.
- Use eye drops (eye drops may now be carried through security) whenever your eyes feel dry.
- Consider saline nasal gel if your nostrils feel uncomfortable breathing dry air. Saline nasal gel, which can usually be found near the saline nasal wash at a drugstore, can help keep the inside of your nose moist and make breathing more comfortable.
- Bring lip balm in a smaller container and use it to protect your lips from becoming painfully dry.
- Always have a couple of recent magazines with you.
- Take some sweets or other snacks with you. Protein bars are particularly helpful if on a long-flight.
