Traveling by way of an airplane can be pretty exciting, but it can also be undeniably annoying and exhausting. If you don’t fly much, then you’re really not prepared as well as you should be. There are secret tips of the trade that only flight attendants and frequent fliers are aware of, but we’ve brought their tidbits of advice together for you today. If you’re planning on taking a flight, then keep reading to learn some great tips to help you have a nice successful trip!It’s not always easy to stay hydrated on an airplane, especially when you factor in the humidity, air pressure, salty snacks, and sugary soda provided on the plane. Not only can dehydration cause headaches, dizziness, and irritability, but it can also affect your respiratory system. Always drink a bottle of water before you get on the plane and while you’re inflight to avoid getting dehydrated before you land.
Your flight staff is largely responsible for your overall flight experience, which is why it’s super important to remain on good terms with them. For example, if you’re nasty to the staff at the counter, then there’s a good chance that there won’t be an available seat when that toddler next to you is throwing their cars at the back of your head. Remain courteous and respectful to the flight staff and everything should go as smooth as silk.
Some people enjoy turning on the air vents on the plane for a bit of fresh air, but most don’t realize that they should have packed some alcohol swabs for the trip. The air vents on a plane can carry airborne germs, so it’s best to wipe them down before you use them. Also, if you really want to avoid getting sick, turn the air vent towards your lap as opposed towards your nose and mouth. The blast of air flow will move the nasty germy air particles away from you.
Staying hydrated is obviously always important, but it’s a bit more important while you’re on a plane. Flight attendants can’t stress enough how necessary it is for people to bring their own water onto the plane with them. You see, the tap water on planes SHOULD be okay for you to drink, but the same can’t be said for the containers that the water is held in. The storage tanks are difficult to thoroughly clean, so more often than not, it means that bacteria can easily build up inside of them. Your best bet is to stay away from the water, the tea, and the coffee on the plane. Don’t worry about the ice, though, because that’s not made on the plane!
It can be a bit tricky at times to find a decent meal at an airport, especially when you’re on a time crunch. Unless you want to risk missing your plane, plan your meal ahead of time. If you know that you only have 45 minutes to board the plane, and your terminal is at the other end of the airport, then you might just want to pack a snack for the trip. Also, it’s a lot harder to find food if your flight is at night, so make sure you plan accordingly. You’ll also save money from not buying expensive airport food.
The seat back pockets aren’t actually there for you to store your items so don’t use them. This is the most common place for people to forget items such as laptops and cells phones. The pockets are also the dirtiest part of the plane and carry nasty bacteria and are the most likely place to have MRSA. You definitely don’t want to put your personal items in there!
Any time you’re on a plane, you should do your best to stay away from the bulkhead row. Unless you’re after the extra legroom, the bulkhead row isn’t for you. Not only will you have to store all of your things in the overhead storage compartment, but the bulkhead row also comes with certain responsibilities in an emergency situation. If you’re looking for a care-free flight, head to the back of the plane to look for seating.
Traveling to a new place is extremely exciting for a person, but it can also be intimidating, especially when you don’t know what you’re doing. Searching the Internet is a great way to learn about where you’re going, but so is talking to flight attendants. Most flight attendants are well-traveled and can be an invaluable source of information.
Jet lag is a major problem for people flying through different time zones, but there are a few tips of the trade that might help you out. First, you could try setting the clock on your phone to the time zone of your destination. Also, get some sun as soon as you arrive, and instead of going right to sleep for a full night’s rest, take a little cat nap when you arrive at your destination!
Airports can be unbelievably confusing, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the airport. It’s easy to miss a flight in a crowded airport, so make sure that you pay attention to the many signs that can be found. Also, if you get into a jam, you can always ask the airport staff for help and they’ll be more than happy to point to you in the right direction.
Sadly, there are a lot of people on that don’t really care if they’re traveling while they’re sick. This is why it’s so important to pack those alcohol wipes into your carry-on bag. Besides the air vents, the tray tables are one of the dirtiest places on the plane. Before you set your food or hands down on the tray, give it a good wipe down to avoid putting your hands on someone else’s nasty germs.
If you’re the type of person that takes advantage of their frequent flier miles, then you should pay close attention to this one. Every time your frequent flier number is scanned, a little file pops up in the corner for the airport staff to read. In that file, there’s a section for notes about the customer. This is the spot where airport staff can see if you’ve been a good customer, or if you’ve tipped in the past. If you’d like good service in the future, make sure you’re always kind to staff members because being rude might come back to bite you later down the line.
There’s really no need to say that airplanes are uncomfortable, that much is obvious. But there are definitely ways for you to feel a bit more relaxed when you’re 30,000 feet in the air. Instead of getting a cramped neck or back, bring a small massager with you on the plane to work out any kinks you get while sitting in the uncomfortable seats on the plane. Also, if you’re planning on taking a long flight, you should learn a few stretches to do while you’re sitting down to avoid blood clots or muscle cramps.
There’s really no need to continue saying that airplanes are chocked full of other people’s germs, but many people don’t realize where the germs are hiding. If you’ve ever been on a long flight then you most likely know that there are sometimes pillows and blankets in the overhead compartment. People tend to drool or sweat while they’re sleeping, so unless your blankets and pillows come in plastic, leave them right where they are because there’s a good chance that another passenger just folded them back up when they were finished. A report released in The Wall Street Journal revealed that most airlines only wash their blankets every 5 to 30 days.
Packing for a trip can be an extremely chaotic time, but it doesn’t need to be. A few days before you leave, make a list of all of the things that you need to bring with you. The night before you have to board the plane, double check your list to make sure you have it all, and then put your bags right by the front door. It would also be helpful to add a colorful tag or strap to your carry-on bag and other checked bags so that no one accidentally mistakes it as their own.
Figuring out what you’re going to wear to the airport can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re not just dressing for comfort. Even if you’re preparing for a romantic reunion when you step off the plane, it’s essential that you dress in layers. Airports and planes can be extremely cold, but they can also get unbearably hot if you’re stuck on the tarmac without air conditioning. Remember, when you’re getting dressed to get on the plane, wear things that can easily come off if you’re too hot, or can be put back on if you’re too cold.
If you’re the type of person that wants to get off the plane first, then sitting in the front is the right choice for you. But if you’d like good service from the flight attendants, then you might want to head to the back of the plane. One flight attendant said that they purposely avoid helping people in the front of the plane because “answering one means potentially flaunting whatever item the passenger has requested to everyone else along the way. This can cause a problem since planes often don’t have enough extra vodka, pillows, earplugs, and toothbrushes, or the time on shorter flights to deviate from the service schedule.”
Thanks to advances in technology, people can enjoy watching movies on planes. Unfortunately, just like your electronics at home, on-flight TVs can break as well. Don’t depend on in-flight entertainment to get you through your flight, instead, bring a book, magazine or some crossword puzzles to keep your mind occupied during your trip.
Instead of sitting cramped in your seat the entire time, you could also take a stroll up and down the aisle of the cabin. Blood clots are a very real danger for people taking long flights, so make sure you’re getting up and stretching as much as you possibly can. Wearing compression socks for flights can also help to increase circulation and will reduce the risk of swelling or developing blood clots.
After spending several hours on a plane most people tend to get a bit grumpy, but luckily, there’s a painless solution to get back into a good mood. As soon as you can, get some sunshine into your life. Planes can drag all of the energy out of a person, so as soon as you leave the airport, head to a sunny patch of grass to stock up on some of that vitamin D and you’ll feel better in no time!
