How to Make Air Travel More Enjoyable

Between being scrunched into a slim seat, mediocre food that you’ll typically be overcharged for these days, and frequent flight delays, air travel can be a drag for even the heartiest of us. There are steps you can take to enhance the experience and make the time fly by, however.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Ear plugs
• A good paperback
• Comfortable clothes

1. When booking a flight, remember to inquire about your preferred seating—be it by the aisle or window. You can also request a special meal, such as kosher or vegetarian, if you’ll be dining during the flight.
2. Aim for a non-stop, direct flight when possible, to shorten your trip and avoid possible mishaps when transferring between flights. Read the itinerary details carefully before booking, as some supposed "direct flights" will have one or two stopovers.
3. If you’re one of the many travelers who can’t stand standard airline food, think about putting together your own meal at home. The best choice is foods such as sandwiches that are good cold and can be eaten easily by hand.
4. Unless you have to look spiffy for business or social reasons, dress comfortably in casual garb such as sweatpants and sneakers. Airplane flights can feel restrictive enough without exacerbating the situation with business wear.
5. Bring along a real "page-turner" of a book to make the time pass quicker, preferably a mass-market paperback that can be easily carried in a jacket pocket or purse. Authors like Stephen King and Dennis Lehane can be your best friend on a long flight.
6. Arrive well before takeoff and make sure you’re booked okay to avoid being bumped. It’s also much less stressful arriving early, particularly with security lines that can take a good deal of time.
7. If you haven’t brought your own meal or snacks, most airports today offer a decent choice of edibles ranging from salads to hamburgers that can easily be brought aboard. Then you won’t be at the mercy of the airline should the meal choice be between liver with onions and cauliflower casserole.
8. Pick up some earplugs at an airport convenience store just in case. There’s nothing like a crying baby—or a snoring adult—to make a five-hour flight a never-ending nightmare.
9. Unless you’re desperate for entertainment, skip the in-flight flick. A tiny airplane viewing screen can pretty much ruin a decent movie.

Tips & Warnings

• Travel light when possible, ideally with one bag small enough to carry on; it’s nice to be able to skip the baggage carousel, and lost luggage can wreak havoc on a vacation or business trip.
• Bring some antinausea medication along if you suffer from airsickness.