If you live in the United States or Canada and will be taking a trip to Europe, airplane travel is almost unavoidable. You could take a cruise, but wouldn't you rather spend your time exploring the history, art, and architecture of Europe? Here are some ways to make the trip more tolerable.
1. Travel during less turbulent times of the day
Turbulence can make your air travel uncomfortable or even scary. If you are particularly prone to motion sickness or just hate turbulence, it is best to book your flight to take off as early in the morning as you can. Most turbulence occurs in the late afternoon and early evening when storm clouds gather. The sun has been heating up the water all day. As water evaporates into the atmosphere, large storm clouds gather. So, fly early!
2. Use your time wisely - sleep!
You will be stuck on a plane for close to 10 hours. How many in-flight movies do you want to watch? Time goes fastest when you are sleeping. Think about it - you need to sleep anyway, why not do it while you are flying? However, if you are like me, you might have a hard time sleeping on a plane even if you are exhausted. In fact, I used to say, "I don't sleep on planes, but sometimes I pass out." If you get a great pillow, however, you might be able to get some sleep. There have been some great innovations in airplane pillows lately. Check out these on Amazon!
3. Getting the best seat
Nobody likes middle seats on an airplane - especially on a long flight. You can use this to your advantage. If you are a couple, and there is a 3-seat pattern like shown below, you can book the edges. Solo flyers will not book the middle seat unless they have no other options. To be even more strategic, book your seats towards the rear of the plane. Seats tend to book front to back. In the event someone does book the middle seat, they would be more than happy to switch with you getting either the aisle or the window seat for themselves.
If you are traveling alone, simply book the window or aisle in a row where the other seat is already taken by another solo traveler leaving the middle seat empty. Again, book towards the rear of the plane. You may be surprised how often you have extra room.
4. Pick the right area of the plane
Back to turbulence. If you are prone to motion sickness or simply hate turbulence, you should pick your seat with this in mind. Picture the plane as a gigantic seesaw pivoting on the wings. The further away from the wings you are, the more your seat will move. For the smoothest flight pick a row over the wings or as close as possible. If you are a roller coaster enthusiast, maybe you want to be in the last row!
If noise bothers you, pick a row over or in front of the wings. Or you could invest in some noise cancelling headphones.
If you have a connecting flight with very little time, it's also a good idea to get as close to the front as possible since airplanes unload front to back.
5. Wear layers of clothes and simple shoes
Wear as many layers of clothes as you can even if it's 90 degrees outside. Every article of clothing you wear onto your flight is one less article of clothing you need to pack. These leaves you more space in your luggage. Never pack a jacket, you should be wearing it.
Security lines are a hassle, and you never know if you'll be in a hurry, so make sure you are cooperative AND not causing back-ups or delays. One way to do that is to wear shoes that are easy to take off and put back on. It's also a good idea to forego a belt if you can.
Also don't forget the big no-no's of airport security. Do not pack liquids bigger than the little travel size shampoos you get at the drug store. Big electronics, like laptops, should be easily removable.
6. Maximize your space - we're all backpackers now
Most airlines allow each passenger one personal item (purse, fanny pack, backpack, etc.) that can fit under the seat in front of them and one carry-on suitcase that will fit in the overhead bin. If done right, this means you may be able to avoid checking a bag. This will save you time checking in and allow you to skip baggage claim waiting on your bag to appear. It also eliminates the possibility of the airline losing your luggage.
Don't use your purse as a "personal item." Get a backpack, and put your purse in it. You will have lots of extra room for other things. If you get the right-sized backpack to fit under a seat, you can use it as a supplemental bag.
Here are some good backpacks for airplane travel.
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