Simple Tips for a Comfortable Flight

1. Wear Comfortable Clothes

One of the best and easiest ways to make sure you have a pleasant trip even before the plane has left the gate is by wearing loose-fitting clothes. Wearing your favorite pair of old sweatpants and coziest sweater may not be a way to win any fashion points, but you will be thankful you did.

2. Drinks lots of water

With a variety of drink options available to you onboard your flight, it’s easy to ignore boring old water. Don’t do that. Coffee, alcohol and soda prevent you from being able to sleep and dehydrates your body. This can make for an unpleasant experience, especially if you’re going on a long transatlantic flight - making this one of the most vital tips for a comfortable flight!

3. Choose a good seat

In today’s world of online booking, you have the ability to see the seat arrangements for your flight ahead of time. Take advantage of this by choosing a seat that accommodates all your needs. Do you prefer a window seat so you have a spot to rest your head? Are you tall and require the additional room that an aisle seat provides? By choosing your ideal seat, this puts you in a good position to have a comfortable flight.

4. Tune out all the noise

One of the most sure-fire ways to have a bad flight experience is if you have a loud person sitting next to you or a crying baby who can’t seem to calm down. One of the best ways to tune this out is by bringing noise-cancelling headphones that will block out the noise of your fellow passengers and the sounds of the airplane engine. 

5. Bring a sleeping mask

If you’re on a long flight, a good way to start your trip on the right foot is by getting some shut eye on the plane. One of the best ways to make sure the conditions are just right for sleeping is by bringing a sleeping mask with you. In addition to blocking out the light from the flight, a sleeping mask also helps mentally prepare you for rest.

6. Don’t cut it too close

One way to make sure you have a comfortable flight even before takeoff is by leaving enough buffer time at the airport. A good rule of thumb is to leave 2 hours’ buffer for domestic flights (90 minutes if you have no bags to check in). For international flights, you should arrive at least 3 hours in advance. It’s much better to arrive with some time to spare than to have to run to your gate. It’s much better to save the stress and arrive early. Use that extra time to have a drink at an airport lounge.

7. Plan ahead

While most airlines now offer a variety of in-flight entertainment options, it is still a good idea on longer flights to plan out how you want to spend your time. If you are someone who enjoys movies and TV, then watching your personalized television might be a good way to spend your time. However, if this is something that doesn’t appeal to you, make sure you’ve brought a good book or some work to do. 

8. Bring a good travel pillow

Along the same lines of bringing a sleeping mask, another effective way to make sure you have a comfortable flight is by bringing your own travel pillow. Not only will doing this make it easier to fall asleep, but it will also make for a more enjoyable travel experience overall.

9. BYOB (Bring your own blanket)

Airplanes can often be incredibly chilly places to sit. However, you can’t guarantee that your airline will provide a cozy blanket to warm up. Play it safe by putting a blanket in your carry on. It’s a guaranteed way to make your seatmates jealous. 

10. Wear slippers

Another way to ensure comfort on board a flight is by wearing cozy slippers on board. Take off your dress shoes or even your trusty sneakers and instead put on a pair of slippers or compression socks.