Air travel tips for surviving long-haul flights.

New security measures are making air travel even less comfortable for passengers.  After the disturbance on the Northwest flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, British Airways discontinued their in-flight entertainment.  And Homeland Security began requiring all passengers to remain in their seats an hour before landing – with nothing on their laps.

Carry-on bags can no longer be under the seat in front of you.  They must be stowed in the overhead compartment.  And security pat downs are business as usual.

At the same time, airlines are relentlessly struggling to cut costs.   So amenities that used to be commonplace – meals, pillows, blankets – have gone the way of the dodo.   Checked baggage, advanced seat assignments, headphones, and other services that used to be free aren’t any more. 

Most airlines have reduced the size of their fleet.  So chances are pretty good that your flight will be packed.

It’s enough to make you stay home, or drive to your destination.

But there are several things you can do make air travel less arduous.  Here are some great ways to make a long-haul flight more pleasant:

1)    Fly nonstop.  When you fly nonstop, you improve your odds of getting to your destination a lot.  Since there’s no connecting flight, you can’t miss it or run into bad weather or delays at the other airport.  And since your bags aren’t going from one flight to another, the probably want get lost either.

2)    Fly early in the morning.  Delays have a way on compounding as time passes.  If you’re on the first flight of the day, it’s unlikely that your flight crew will be late.  And if the delay is due to weather, you’ll be first in line when the weather clears.

3)    Pick the best connection.  If there’s no nonstop flight, look at all the cities you can connect in and choose the one that’s least likely to have delays.  Chicago and Denver often have snowstorms in winter.  St. Louis has thunderstorms in summer.  And Atlanta and JFK operate beyond the capacity they were designed for.

4)    Take a wide-body.  As a rule, bigger planes are more comfortable than smaller ones.  A plane with two aisles has twice the number of aisle seats, more storage space, and often more pitch – the distance between seats.  Travel websites like seatguru.com or seatexpert.com can show you the seating chart for your flight.  Flights with 2-4-2 seating are the most comfortable.  The 2-seat section is the next best thing to business class.   British Airways recently started charging for some seat assignments, so be prepared to pay more for a better seat.

5)    Don’t check baggage – carry it on. These days, checking baggage is just asking for trouble – and added expense.  The lighter you pack, the happier you’ll be.  And the less time you’ll spend at airline counters and baggage carousels.   Be aware that many bags that are sold here as carry-ons don’t meet international airlines’ requirements.  So before deciding which bag to take, check the airlines’ web site for specific information.  Otherwise, you may be forced to check your bag at the last minute.

6)    Share suitcases.  Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.  Put some of your traveling companion’s clothes in your bag and vice versa.  If one of your bags goes missing, you’ll have clothes to wear until it catches up to you.

7)    Eat sensibly.  Something about changing your schedule, taking off and landing, and sitting in a pressurized cabin can take its toll on even the hardiest stomach.  Don’t press your luck.  The night before your flight, have an easily digestible dinner.

8)    Dress for cold weather.  Dress for warm weather.  Who know what the temperature will be like on the place.  Sometimes, you can see your breath, and sometimes, it’s sweltering.  Wear several layers that you can take on and off to stay comfortable.

9)    Wear comfortable clothes.  Fabrics that stretch should make up the bulk of your travel wardrobe.  The only thing worse than 12 hours in a coach class seat is doing it in tight jeans.  Choose a loose-fitting outfit that will give you plenty of flexibility and look good even when it’s wrinkled.   And good walking shoes are absolutely essential.  Wearing your biggest pair on the flight will free up some room in your suitcase.

10)   Bring food.  Most airlines aren’t serving meals any more.  Some have boxes you can purchase.  But they aren’t very good.  And they’re usually not very healthy.  You’ll be better off making yourself a sandwich and bringing it along with you.  If you freeze it the night before, you won’t have to worry about it not being refrigerated.

11)   Bring water.  You can buy it after you go through security.  But don’t open it until you get on the place.  Some airports will make you throw it out it if it’s not sealed.   Staying well hydrated will help you feel your best during and after your flight.

12)   Get as much exercise as you can.  Who knows how much you’ll be able to move around the cabin, but get up and stretch every couple of hours if you can.  And if you can’t, stretch in your seat as much as possible.

13)   Get some shut eye.  Once they turn out the cabin lights, it’s time to turn in.  Bring a neck pillow, eye mask, and ear plugs to reduce the noise and light.  Then put your seat back, think about where you’re going, and let yourself nod off.