Originally published: 9/27/2016 | 3:12pm
So, as you may already know, I love everything about flying! If you didn't know this already, you can see what I mean by looking at my blog posts from May 3, 2016 and May 16, 2016. First, I told you about why I think airports hold a special place in my heart, and then I gave you a few tips to help you navigate airports with success. Now, it is time to talk about what happens once you board the plane. Here are some tips to help you have the best possible flight:
#1 Know Where You Are Sitting or Want to Sit
If you are assigned a particular seat, sit there. Adjustments can be made as necessary, but in an effort to not irritate the other passengers it is best to go to your assigned seat (especially if the flight is full). Some airlines (like Southwest) do not have assigned seating. In the case of a free for all, determine where you would be most comfortable on your flight (front, middle, back; left or right; window, middle, or aisle seat). Personally, I enjoy being by a window seat at the left wing of the plane. The greatest thing I can stress is being respectful of other passengers. You don't want an uncomfortable or awkward flight because of a dispute surrounding seating on the plane.
#2 Try to Store Luggage Overhead Quickly
Look on your airline's website to determine what size luggage can go into the overhead storage bins on the plane. This can help prevent you from trying to make your luggage fit, which creates some hold up in the line, thus irritating some people unfortunately. Also, when storing luggage overhead, please orient your bag into a position that takes up the least amount of space possible. This leaves room in the bin for more pieces of luggage and you don't have to worry as much about someone touching and moving your belongings.
#3 Be Kind to the Flight Attendants
They are people just like the rest of us, and they have feelings. Flight attendants work to make your flight as comfortable as possible. With that being said, please be nice to your flight attendant. :)
#4 Pressure in Your Head is Preventable
While cabin pressure is stabilized, the air pressure outside of the cabin is changing as you are flying. This will creating a feeling of heavy pressure in your head and may make you want to "pop" your ears. Chewing gum is a common tactic to combat that feeling. Other clever tricks exist, but this is one of the cheapest and most common ways to reduce such an uncomfortable feeling.
#5 Try Not to Get Mad at Crying or Fussy Babies
This is my final tip for this post. Yes, unhappy babies can make flying even more stressful. However, think about how difficult flying is for them. They are in a cramped space for what could be up to several hours with constantly changing pressure. If this is uncomfortable for you as an adult, it's even worse for babies. While some people know the "magic" behind keeping babies calm and quiet during flights, not everyone has that gift. My suggestion is get noise cancelling headphones or some headphones that block sound as you listen to your favorite music playlist.
Remember, these are just tips that I've decided to share with you based on my experiences while flying. I will have more tips to come in a future post that focus more on long-haul flights. In general, these tips can be useful for flights of all lengths. To help you think about something to calm your nerves before your next flight, know that pilots are very well trained and are really good at what they do. Many airlines hire ex-military pilots, so that's something to think about for your next flight. Until next time, Happy Travels!
Feel free to leave comments below, tweet (@KimiThoughts), or leave a post/message on Facebook (@KimisTravelThoughts) and let me know your opinion on these tips and if you have any suggestions for Part 2!
