How to survive a long flight
Alejandro ROJAS & Luis LOPEZ GALAN
Traveling to distant places, meeting exotic destinations and reach unknown lands is always exciting. However, the process is not always pleasant. Although some think otherwise, a long flight does not have to be torture if certain basic rules, such as those presented here, are followed. These are some of our recommendations to make your trip a positive story.
- Being on time is something basic, avoiding stress and racing within the airport as well as preventing any mishap that may appear.
- When checking your luggage and getting your boarding pass, you should request a seat that fits your needs: if you get up to the bathroom a lot, if you need to stretch your legs often or just prefer not to bother anyone, ask for an aisle seat; if instead you don’t want to be bothered during the flight, your perfect place is next to the window.
- Once with your luggage checked, go to the boarding gates where you will have to cross security checkpoints. To do this, avoid carrying pockets full of coins, paper clips, keys or the gold tooth that your grandmother left you as inheritance. If you have a laptot or personal computer, you must remove it from the luggage, so be sure to keep it handy to avoid hindering the row when doing so.
- Once at the boarding gate it is important to remember that there are always problems with the flights: delays , cancellations, flight undesirable mates, etc. . The key is the willingness and ability to laugh at this kind of mishaps. Here Murphy's Law applies, if something can go wrong... it will go wrong, so do not get overwhelmed.
- Bring in your hand luggage anything that you can use while traveling: iPod, phone, sleep mask, book, notebook or anything that makes the journey more bearable. Make sure you take them with the battery charged or at least get with you the chargers with adapters cables... but prevents looking like a ninja turtle with a 20 kilos hand bag.
- For those who are afraid of flying, it is important to know that the chances of a plane crash are 1 in 20000, so get in the plane, follow the instructions of the crew and relax until you reach your destination. Statistically planes are the safest way of travel.
- Do not be a disruptive passenger and if there are any problems with the flight, leave those who can do something do it, avoid dramas and spread your temper to other passengers, because you will only make things worse.
- A lot of people like to talk, make friends and this way enliven the journey... but, let's be honest, most people DON’T. Be kind to your fellow traveler but do not be annoying, understand the signals given and act according to them.
- When food is served you will get some packaged food stuff. If you do not want it at the time, save them , and thus do not return them and avoid starvation later in the trip.
- If you are traveling with small children... do not travel with small children.
- In all our years traveling we have never gotten a free upgrade, but we will not desist! Always ask for what you want to the airline or the flight attendants , you have nothing to lose and lots of things to win.
- Bring comfortable, practical shoes. Avoid dominatrix boots that you will have to take off during security controls or if you have to use a safety slide. Choose not too hard or adjusted shoes, as during flights is common for feet to swell and finally, avoid wearing Crocs shoes. These latest are not recommended on aircraft or in any other public place. They are very ugly.
- When the plane lands wait for the security lights to turn off, do not jump out of your seat to get your luggage looking like crazy , because nobody will get off the aircraft anyway until it has stopped completely, connected the finger and opened the doors. Relax and wait for your turn to leave.
Now you have reached your final destination and you can enjoy your well deserved holiday or reacquaint yourself with that friend from the past. But before heading out to explore and enjoy , share your opinion and recommendations for globetrotters who, just like you, know how to take the best of each of their trips .
- When checking your luggage and getting your boarding pass, you should request a seat that fits your needs: if you get up to the bathroom a lot, if you need to stretch your legs often or just prefer not to bother anyone, ask for an aisle seat; if instead you don’t want to be bothered during the flight, your perfect place is next to the window.
- Once with your luggage checked, go to the boarding gates where you will have to cross security checkpoints. To do this, avoid carrying pockets full of coins, paper clips, keys or the gold tooth that your grandmother left you as inheritance. If you have a laptot or personal computer, you must remove it from the luggage, so be sure to keep it handy to avoid hindering the row when doing so.
- Once at the boarding gate it is important to remember that there are always problems with the flights: delays , cancellations, flight undesirable mates, etc. . The key is the willingness and ability to laugh at this kind of mishaps. Here Murphy's Law applies, if something can go wrong... it will go wrong, so do not get overwhelmed.
- Bring in your hand luggage anything that you can use while traveling: iPod, phone, sleep mask, book, notebook or anything that makes the journey more bearable. Make sure you take them with the battery charged or at least get with you the chargers with adapters cables... but prevents looking like a ninja turtle with a 20 kilos hand bag.
- For those who are afraid of flying, it is important to know that the chances of a plane crash are 1 in 20000, so get in the plane, follow the instructions of the crew and relax until you reach your destination. Statistically planes are the safest way of travel.
- Do not be a disruptive passenger and if there are any problems with the flight, leave those who can do something do it, avoid dramas and spread your temper to other passengers, because you will only make things worse.
- A lot of people like to talk, make friends and this way enliven the journey... but, let's be honest, most people DON’T. Be kind to your fellow traveler but do not be annoying, understand the signals given and act according to them.
- When food is served you will get some packaged food stuff. If you do not want it at the time, save them , and thus do not return them and avoid starvation later in the trip.
- If you are traveling with small children... do not travel with small children.
- In all our years traveling we have never gotten a free upgrade, but we will not desist! Always ask for what you want to the airline or the flight attendants , you have nothing to lose and lots of things to win.
- Bring comfortable, practical shoes. Avoid dominatrix boots that you will have to take off during security controls or if you have to use a safety slide. Choose not too hard or adjusted shoes, as during flights is common for feet to swell and finally, avoid wearing Crocs shoes. These latest are not recommended on aircraft or in any other public place. They are very ugly.
- When the plane lands wait for the security lights to turn off, do not jump out of your seat to get your luggage looking like crazy , because nobody will get off the aircraft anyway until it has stopped completely, connected the finger and opened the doors. Relax and wait for your turn to leave.
Now you have reached your final destination and you can enjoy your well deserved holiday or reacquaint yourself with that friend from the past. But before heading out to explore and enjoy , share your opinion and recommendations for globetrotters who, just like you, know how to take the best of each of their trips .