How to Make Your Long Plane Rides Easy
Posted by Margaret on: 2005-08-23 23:19:21
1. Order a special meal. You can do this through your travel agent, the Internet, or if you are a member of a frequent flyer program, you can permanently register your request online. Special meals come in a wide variety and are often better than the standard meal.
Special meals are served first. No matter where you sit in the aircraft, you can eat without doing the elbow thing with your neighbour. As they receive their meal, you are sipping coffee and watching the movie.
2. Seats are generally allocated windows and aisles first. Once these seats are full, they start at the front and fill all the middle seats. If you can get a window or aisle at the back, there is less chance the middle seat will be filled. The downside is, you are last off the aircraft (but you generally have to wait for checked luggage anyway) and the tail experiences the most turbulence if you hit a rough patch. If you go for an isle seat at the back of large aircraft (747, 767) in the middle section (usually 4 seats in the middle), you often get one or two spare seats beside you. Great for a sleep so you arrive rested.
3. If you want more leg room, ask for the exit aisle which has much more room. These seats are popular so you need to check in early. You will usually have someone in the middle seats.
4. Pay attention to the flight attendant while he or she is going through the standard explanations of how to fasten your seat belts and emergency procedures. Yes, youve heard it all before, but flight attendants watch who is paying attention and give them better service. Being nice to flight attendants helps too.
5. The movie usually starts as everyone is eating their meals. So, after about 2 hours of movie, everyone heads to the washroom during the movie credits. If you are keen to relieve yourself, sacrifice the end of the movie or go mid way. The line can go forever. Of course, if you took a seat at the back, you are much closer to the washrooms.
6. Here are other things you can do for your extra comfort. Take ear plugs, great for blocking out aircraft noise. Take inflatable neck cushions and eye covers. Some aircraft companies supply ear plugs and eye covers but you can't count on it.
Enjoy your ride!
Mama Margaret
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