Tips On How to Prepare for a Long Plane Ride

Long haul flights require more preparation than short flights, especially if you're leaving for a while or going overseas. Preparation is the key to enjoying both a comfortable flying experience and to ensuring that you arrive at your destination with everything needed, as well as knowing you've left your life back home in good hands. Along with a good sense of humor and some stamina, not only will good preparation help you to ease into a rhythm from the moment you leave your house to getting through airport lines and enduring the long flight, but the more ways you have prepared to occupy yourself, the better!

1. Pack medications in carry-on luggage.
2. Pack several days worth of beauty and sanitary supplies in carry-on luggage. One spare pair of underwear is a good idea too in case bags get lost.
3. It is crucial that someone picks up your mail. A mailbox full of social security numbers, credit card numbers, and other personal info is an identity theft dream. However, it is possible for the post office to hold your mail if you make a request.
4. Bring chargers for electronics. Don't assume that charging all of the electronics beforehand will work, because your DVD player probably doesn't have enough battery for a 6 hour plane ride, a week-long vacation, and another 6 hour plane ride.
5. Invest in electrical converters and/or adapters for foreign destinations.
6. Some good entertainment items are portable video games (DS, PSP), iPods and MP3 players, magnetic "travel" board games, crossword puzzle or Sudoku books, a good novel, magazines that interest you, and a cell phone.
7. If you don't have a cell phone and are 7+ years of age you can always use your parent's phone.
8. Be courteous to flight attendants and all airline personnel. You never know when they might upgrade you because they liked your smile or seated you next to the toilets at the back of the plane even though you asked precisely to avoid that, all because you irritated them.
9. Make sure to buy a meal in the airport if they do not serve one during your flight. Most airports have tiny food courts with familiar restaurants like McDonald's or Taco Bell.
10. Realistically, you won't be listening to your iPod for the entirety of a ten-hour flight, so pack more than one source of entertainment.
11. Read the airline's magazine (usually in the back pocket of the seat in front of you) for things you can't use during flight. You don't want your flashy new iPhone confiscated from you.
12. Pack gum to chew so you don't get the ear pain that may occur with the plane's landing.
13. Check with your medical care giver about giving a bottle to a baby during take-off and landing to help prevent ear discomfort.
14. Arrive at the airport 2 1/2 hours early before the plane's scheduled departure. This will allow time to have a bite to eat, buy a book to read during the plane flight, or use the bathroom. Otherwise, you will have to rush through everything in the airport and have an uncomfortable flight. Remember that due to new security screening measures it might take awhile to have your bags cleared.
15. If you have a problem with air pressure in your ears, such as tinnitus, pack some plane earplugs in your carry-on luggage so you can wear them. The airplane's air pressure may be constant, and they have air conditioning, so you may not need them. Ear plugs and eye shades will also help drown out unwanted noise and light when you want to sleep on board the plane.
    

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Tips On How to Be Comfortable on a Long Airplane Trip

A long domestic or international flight can often sour what should be a pleasant holiday or business venture. These guidelines can help your necessary travel time be as comfortable and painless as possible - for you, and for your fellow travelers.

1. Go to the bathroom/toilet RIGHT before you leave. This will decrease your chances you will have to go on the plane. The bathrooms on an airplane are small, and they don't have the most pleasant smell.
2. (Sudafed) to help relieve pressure in your ears during takeoff and landing. Please note, however, that if you fly to Japan or New Zealand, Sudafed and other cold cures that contain pseudoephedrine are considered controlled substances and are illegal to bring into the country. Pseudoephedrine is also an "upper", and may prevent you from napping.
3. Alternative solutions to the ear pressure problem (whether or not you have a cold) include chewing gum and opening your mouth.
4. Pressure relieving earplugs (a brand name is EarPlanes) also help to relieve air pressure changes during flights.
5. Don't worry about getting up to use the restroom often; the walking about will be good for the blood flow in your legs.
6. If you have a strong fear of flying or have troubles falling asleep during the flight, you could ask your doctor for a benzodiazepine medication [Valium/Xanax/Restoril(c)]. These will lower your anxiety levels and are sedating. Do not use alcohol to sleep.
7. Alaska Air usually has "Digiplayers" that are very similar to AVOD on cross-country flights. For $10 you get about six movies, four TV shows, and a bunch of music videos.
8. To relieve pressure in your ears, research the Valsalva maneuver (holding your nose and blowing) beforehand and know how to perform it correctly.
9. If first (or business) class isn't completely sold out, boarding crews occasionally invite some coach class customers to move up. Your chances of this happening are best if you are dressed appropriately—this means no jeans or sweatshirts, no open-toed sandals, and no backpack or other unwieldy carry-on luggage.
10. Get the wax moldable over-the-counter ear plugs. They work better than the cheap foam ones and are less expensive than the custom made ones. If you are concerned about noise, try to sit forward of the engines.
11. WetOnes are one of the best inventions ever: a self contained bath. They are pre-moistened anti-bacterial towelettes. They sell a small pack about the size of your palm for a couple of bucks.
12. Get a NadaChair S'portBacker. It allows you to sleep sitting upright. It prevents slouching, which strains the lower back. Put this on, raise your seat almost upright, put the seatbelt snug across your lap, and you can sleep for hours with no discomfort. It folds up into a self contained bag about the size of a paperback book. Sitting with better lumbar spine posture, which is what the Nada Chair helps with, can also lower your blood pressure (NadaChair's BackUp, not as compact, is recommended for larger frames.)
13. Try downloading a few podcasts to your MP3 player before you leave. There are loads of them around, and there should be one that suits your interests. If you're traveling alone for a while, a podcast or two should keep you company.
14. Bring something to keep you occupied during the flight. Perhaps a good book or a magazine, a hand held game console (Gameboy, Nintendo DS), iPod Touch, etc.
15. The last row of seats usually do not recline.
16. If you want earplugs but didn't bring any, use tissue.
17. Armrests can be raised (even on the aisle) but some have a hidden release latch. Ask flight crew.
18. Don't be bashful about asking for extra napkins and cups of ice when drinks are offered. You might be given the whole can of a less-popular beverage if you ask. Hydrate! Soda pop is a bad choice because of all the sugar.
19. Some airports have a rental kiosk for portable DVD players and DVD movies (about $10). Just drop it off at your destination airport.
20. Short flights may take longer than driving when you consider airport parking, security lines, waiting for boarding, luggage pickup, car rental, cost, etc.
21. Keep a photocopy (or more) of your main passport page spread out through your luggage. If your passport is lost or stolen, having the copy will make it MUCH easier to straighten out. If your bag is misplaced, it's more likely to be returned to you.
22. Bring a bag of lollipops or fruit.
23. If you get homesick easily, try downloading podcasts from radio stations that you listen to. This will make you feel like you are at home listening to your own language and/or accent.
24. Plan for airport layovers, too. They can take time, but they are also a good opportunity to stretch your legs.
25. Turn off all Wifi/Bluetooth/Cellular communications in your phone. most smartphones have the aptly named airplane mode.
26. If the airline you are traveling with provides blankets, it is a good idea to sleep with the blanket over your head to block out light and also if you like privacy.
27. This may go without saying,but this does happen. DO NOT attempt to shave in a airplane! Do not also brush up on your hygiene in the bathroom. Not only is it disgusting, you will also cut yourself if there is turbulence.
28. If you aren't in a hurry, consider the sleeper carriage of the train. Although the price is similar to a flight, you'll get a HORIZONTAL bed, meals and a shower on board.
29. Try your best to sleep well
30. When you are tired or sleepy, ask the passenger behind you (be careful to ask the parent if it is a child)if you can push your back rest a little bit back and rest it back and go to sleep.
31. Some flights have leg rests son pull up the leg rest and relax.
    

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