How to Stay Comfortable on a Long Flight

The worst part of any faraway trip is the dreaded airplane flight. Long flights can be extremely trying both physically and mentally. There are steps you can take to make air travel more comfortable.

Things You'll Need

• Entertainment
• Comfortable clothes
• Neck pillow
• Bottled water
• Slip on shoes
• Chewing gum

Instructions

1. Choose an airline and airplane that will give you the most leg room (see Resources below).

2. Select a comfortable seat. Emergency exit rows have the most leg room, and window seats are good for sleeping because you can rest your head.

3. Bring a neck pillow. A neck pillow will provide firm neck support and keep your head from tilting while napping.

4. Wear loose clothes and slip-on shoes. If you want to take your shoes off during a flight, shoes that tie can be difficult to put back on.

5. Walk around every 60 to 90 minutes to stretch your legs. This will keep your blood flowing and help prevent a blood clot.

6. Bring items to keep you entertained like a DVD player, MP3 player or a book. Airplane movies usually take a while to start.

7. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not sit by the bathroom. It is usually a noisy and chaotic section of the airplane.

• Chew gum to relieve pressure in your ears.

• Seats in front of the engine are usually less noisy.

• Avoid alcoholic beverages. They can dehydrate you.

• Do not overpack your carry-on bag. If the overhead bins are full, you may have to hold your carry-on.