There are two types of travelers: those who are constantly in the air and others who take occasional trips. People who fly a lot appear to have it down (kind of) to a system.
Much depends on whether or not you’re flying coach or in the front of the plane. Are you flying more or less than three hours? This will dictate some of the preparations you’ll need to make — but fewer than you think. Travelers should always be prepared for delays and what’s supposed to be a short trip may end up being anything but.
Here area a baker’s-dozen tips that I follow whenever I jet off into the skies.
Wear really comfortable clothes so not to feel confined if you’re stuck sitting for hours. This doesn’t mean sloppy but they should be loose. Shoes should be the slip off type. I always wear (or pack) a pair of really comfortable socks.
Dress in layers. Some flights tend to get very cold and there’s no joy in freezing while flying from one coast or continent to another
Pack a blanket and pillow if you’re flying long haul. It can be a neck roll or another type that helps you catch a few winks. Your own blanket can be a godsend and you know whether or not it’s clean. If it’s not as clean as it should be, you’re the only person who’s used it.
Bring a small package of baby-wipes. They can come in very handy and negate your having to go to the WC if all you want to do is wipe your hands or face.
Don’t forget a package of tissues. Be germ conscious and careful how you blow your nose. Immediately dispose of the tissue in the sack supplied in case of airsickness.
Use headsets and ear plugs. Most ‘road warriors’ have a set of noise canceling earphones and wear them throughout the flight. Bring a pair of foam earplugs in the event you’re seated next to screaming babies or party animals.
Heavily padded eye shades are godsends if you want to sleep.
Power adapters help. If you’re traveling with a computer and want to work, buy a charger that’s specifically configured for plane outlets. It will keep you from playing beat the clock. Plus, if you want to watch a CD on your laptop, you won’t need to worry about the battery’s life.
Don’t forget reading materials. Take books and magazines you’ve wanted to read. An increasing number of people will probably be traveling with “Kindles.” iPods seem to be the fashion of the day so you can listen to books and/or music you’ve downloaded.
Bring a notebook and a pen. You never know when you might get creative or need to make some notes. If you’re traveling internationally, you’ll need a pen to fill out the immigration forms. Flight attendants are the first to admit they’re at a premium because of cost cuts.
Don’t forget to pack your medications (and copies of the prescriptions) and enough of them in the event your trip is delayed, you won’t panic. Some people I know wouldn’t fly without Airborne or a cold remedy.
Pack some snacks, even if you’re traveling first or business class, in case you’re stuck sitting on the plane waiting for it to take off. When you’re traveling coach, you may want to pack a meal brought from home rather than buying something at the airport where they tend to be expensive and not necessarily what you’d prefer to eat.
Bring an empty plastic bottle and fill it up with water after you clear security.
These are some obvious tricks and tips. My next article will include carry-on packing ideas, clearing security, airline clubs, how to select seats and anything else you’d like to have me research.
In the meantime, please add your travel tips.
Karen Fawcett is president of BonjourParis.
Karen Fawcett loves to travel anywhere. Karen was a founder & president BonjourParis.com while living in Paris for more than 25 years. She has traveled across Europe and the rest of the world. She is now based in Washington, DC.
knowledge is power: always check the arrivals board for your incoming airplane to see when it will arrive. Then, log onto http://www.flightaware.com – input the inbound airline and flight number and see where the inbound is in the air traffic system if there is no airplane at the gate. You will know instantly if the arrival time is reasonable.
If your inbound airplane is due in 45 min late – and you know it takes ANY airline 45 to turn an airplane, will you make your connection? Having that Flightaware info means you can go to a gate agent and get protected or changed to a different flight waaaaay ahead of anyone else who misconnects.
You forgot the best tip of all for making travel pleasant: Choose a destination that doesn’t require flying!
Make sure all of your chargers (phone, laptop, ipod, etc) are in your carry-on. Who knows what can happen to your bags, or if you have a delay between flights. I always recharge my batteries while in the terminal, even if they are already good to go.
For the water bottle: I use a Nalgene hard plastic bottle. It is a wide-mouth bottle to make it easy to fill at a water fountain, but has a removable adapter to make it a “small mouth” bottle so I don’t get a shower while drinking during turbulence.
For long trips, I use the 32 oz bottle–for more water–and it makes a great lumbar support in coach class.
And since I did not know about flightaware.com, this is what I do: if there is no plane at my departure gate, I find an arrivals screen and look for planes to that are to arrive at my departure gate; the one landing just before/near my departure time is the plane I will be using, so I can then watch any delays for my flight as well as the flight that is bringing my plane in.
Those are great tips…
Now, for the two big questions in my mind:
1. What to do when you find yourself sitting next to a person who hasn’t taken a bath in a while….and smells!
2. What to do if you find yourself seated next to an obese person who is, as a result, also taking up half of your seat?
Karen has great tips. My tip is if you are traveling with your dog or cat use the COMFORT ANIMAL rule (see “Harold Goes to Provence” on Bonjour Paris). Airlines must abide by medical recommendations and if you have any anxiety while flying (who doesn’t) and if you are flying with your pet (increasing your anxiety), with a doctor’s note saying that you have 1. flight anxiety and 2. you must be accompanied by your Comfort Animal (and his/her name) , your animal companion can come on board with you, no cage required. It’s an international aviation rule which I head about through a pilot. Clearly don’t abuse it, but conversations with flight attendants speak of pitch black hole conditions where the pets are sutffed in with the crew luggage. And my own experience was of seeing my two hounds coming down howling on the baggage ramp on a transfer Air France flight from Paris to Marseille.
Andy: Your questions are difficult ones but certainly not out of the question. First, you hope there’s an empty seat and move there ASAP.
I always use an ointment in my nostrils to keep them moist and it also protects me from catching whatever germs that may be circulating in the cabin. It has a slightly methol scent so I smell it rather than other people …..
As for sitting next to someone with a weight problem, you might consider taking a sleeping pill or assuming a Zen like state. Just trying.
Andy – for your first concern, follow A. Frank Steward’s tip: get some lavender-scented lotion and put a little bit of that on your philtrum (the area between your upper lip and the bottom of your nose).
Frank is a flight attendant and he and his fellow attendants have discovered this and use it.
Some of mine…
Carry a small tube of something that smells nice. I like the Olbas oil. I put it on a handkerchief or the collar of my shirt. It tends to mask the bodily smells of those around me who can’t hold their emissions as the plane pressurizes.
I have a 3-way adapter that I plug into the wall in the airport to charge things. If a fellow passenger needs some juice, I can share.
I’ve recently purchased a lightweight netbook from ASUS. For email, surfing, and lightweight work, it saves 6 pounds over my full-sized laptop.
If you have a long layover at a major hub, it may be worth the money to buy a one-day pass to the Admirals/Red-Carpet club. If you don’t travel a lot, they aren’t worth a yearly membership, but getting a shower after an international flight during a 3-hour layover can change your outlook on life.
-E (heading to Paris next month)