No traveler looks forward to a long flight in coach, but it's nothing to dread, either. With a few simple preparations and some patience, you can be comfortable on your flight and get on with the rest of your travel plans.
Flying at Night
Sleeping in coach never sounds appealing, but if you're able to do it, it is a way to pass the time more quickly. Booking a red-eye flight can make the difference between arriving more or less refreshed in the morning, or dragging in at night after an exhausting long day of travel. Know your limits, though. If you think a neck pillow and a reclining seat won't be enough to get you through the night in peace, don't risk it.
Choosing a Seat
The most common complaint about flying coach is the tight space, and there's not much that passengers can do about that. There are a couple of long-shot possibilities you can consider, though. Requesting a seat in the bulkhead row will actually leave you with less foot space, but more leg and knee room, so for tall passengers who usually feel cramped it could be a good bet.
Passengers traveling in pairs can request an aisle seat and a window seat with an empty seat between them, which decreases the chance of another traveler choosing the extra seat.
Making Food Choices
A packed lunch or dinner is not going to be the highlight of your trip, but it might be preferable to the airline food in coach. A meal may not even be offered onboard, and if it is, you can always change your mind if you want to try it. If you know a meal will be served on your flight, consider requesting one of the special diet options ahead of time.
Even if you're not a vegetarian, for example, the vegetarian meal may be fresher and more appealing than the standard version.
Getting Comfortable
Once you've got the basics down, plan as much as you can for your comfort and distraction. Wear layers of light clothing, since airplane temperatures can be unpredictable. Bring a neck pillow or other travel pillow, some gum to help with ear pressure during takeoff and landing and anything that can keep you distracted for hours. Music players with headphones can be calming as well as entertaining and also provide you with some privacy among other passengers. A laptop or phone is great for work, games or videos, but keep in mind that it will have to be turned off at certain points of the flight. Overall, it's hard to beat a book. For extremely long flights, bring two.
Flying at Night
Sleeping in coach never sounds appealing, but if you're able to do it, it is a way to pass the time more quickly. Booking a red-eye flight can make the difference between arriving more or less refreshed in the morning, or dragging in at night after an exhausting long day of travel. Know your limits, though. If you think a neck pillow and a reclining seat won't be enough to get you through the night in peace, don't risk it.
Choosing a Seat
The most common complaint about flying coach is the tight space, and there's not much that passengers can do about that. There are a couple of long-shot possibilities you can consider, though. Requesting a seat in the bulkhead row will actually leave you with less foot space, but more leg and knee room, so for tall passengers who usually feel cramped it could be a good bet.
Passengers traveling in pairs can request an aisle seat and a window seat with an empty seat between them, which decreases the chance of another traveler choosing the extra seat.
Making Food Choices
A packed lunch or dinner is not going to be the highlight of your trip, but it might be preferable to the airline food in coach. A meal may not even be offered onboard, and if it is, you can always change your mind if you want to try it. If you know a meal will be served on your flight, consider requesting one of the special diet options ahead of time.
Even if you're not a vegetarian, for example, the vegetarian meal may be fresher and more appealing than the standard version.
Once you've got the basics down, plan as much as you can for your comfort and distraction. Wear layers of light clothing, since airplane temperatures can be unpredictable. Bring a neck pillow or other travel pillow, some gum to help with ear pressure during takeoff and landing and anything that can keep you distracted for hours. Music players with headphones can be calming as well as entertaining and also provide you with some privacy among other passengers. A laptop or phone is great for work, games or videos, but keep in mind that it will have to be turned off at certain points of the flight. Overall, it's hard to beat a book. For extremely long flights, bring two.
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