Plane Travel Tips for a happier flight
Nov 15 '00
The airport: the myriad of corridors, waiting areas, boarding passes and flight anxiety. You've earned your vacation and you can't wait to get there. Yet shouldn't the arrival and departure be as relaxing as sunbathing on the beach? Let's face it-most of us have had horrible experiences traveling by plane, whether it's a delayed flight, a tryst with turbulence or crying children.
Being proactive and planning your plane journey with these tips in mind may help both the seasoned and occasional traveler.
Booking your trip:
Start by selecting the right type of plane for your travel. If you are flying internationally, you certainly will want a larger plane for a longer flight. You can search various flights on the Internet, or call the airline directly with the flight you have chosen and find out exactly what types of planes are involved.
In most cases, bigger is better. I have found that when flying, however, I prefer the smaller 727 or 737 plane to the larger for the following reasons:
Boarding time:
Have you ever been the very last person called to board the flight? You stumble down the aisle with your carry-on luggage desperately trying to find that one empty overhead compartment. Everyone glares at you as if it is your fault that the plane hasn't left the runway yet.
The larger planes take longer to board, and longer to unboard. The plane finally lands, the air conditioning goes off, and you stand halfway between the aisle and your seat, crunched along with every other passenger. Everyone eyes each other wondering who is going to push ahead and get out first. Why don't we all just sit down and leave in an orderly fashion? No, that would go against human nature and our desire to get there and get there faster than the other person.
Type of Seat:
Is a window seat pleasant for you, or do you prefer the aisle? Sometimes we fall prey to the dreaded middle seat. Middle seats are usually designated for small children or mothers of small children who most suffer the claustrophobia as each of her kids poke and prod her from either end while Dad gets that aisle seat adjacent to them. I've seen this scenario many types. About halfway through the flight, Mom usually glares over at Dad and before you know it, Mom is sitting happily on the aisle seat leafing through Vogue while Dad is miserably sandwiched between the siblings.
Always ask if the emergency row aisle is available. You must be over 16 and able to walk to be granted the emergency row aisle. You get more legroom in the emergency aisle.
Before leaving for the airport, call ahead. Check to ensure your flight hasn't been cancelled or is delayed for several hours. These updates change by the minute, but it can't help to give an initial call and save you a few hours of possible aggravation.
Once you arrive at the boarding gate, check your seat. Ask if the plane is "full" or "light". Full means that the chances of changing your seat are slim to none. Light is a great sign that you will be able to escape from the middle seat and get a better one.
If you are taking a connecting flight, ask which gate the second flight will be departing from. This helps if you are left with just a few minutes to catch your second flight. I once did the jog across O'Hara Airport in Chicago only to find out I went in the opposite direction and almost missed my flight.
Boarding
As you board the plane, slow down in First Class and glance around to see if anyone is looking. If not, open the compartment and grab yourself a pillow and blanket. There's always an abundance of them in First Class. You can ask for them once you are seated in Coach. It depends on the mood of the attendants as to whether or not you will actually get it. Bring a light jacket along to use as a makeshift pillow just in case.
Food for Thought
In the original movie The Out Of Towners, the husband admonishes his wife not to eat on the plane and spoil her appetite. The outcome is that the plane spends hours circling the runway for touchdown while the couple starves. Bring food on the plane with you. Nothing as irritating as smelly fast food that will quickly fill up a plane and earn you many angry glances. However, bring water, and bring snacks.
There is also the air turbulence scenario. I recently flew down to Florida where we weren't allowed to remove our seatbelts or get a beverage or food the entire flight due to turbulence. I was hungry, I was thirsty, and I really needed to use the bathroom.
There's something about plane travel that makes a person ravenous. Is it the possibility that the bag of salted peanuts may be your last meal? You actually start to drool like a Pavlovian dog when you hear the Stewart’s cart coming down the aisle. It seems as though they will never reach your seat as you crane your neck and watch people several rows ahead delightfully popping Planter peanuts and sipping their coffees and sodas.
Bring food you enjoy, because airplane food has gone healthy. Low-fat calorie bars are a big staple now. Don't expect a piece of chocolate cream pie: it ain't gonna happen.
Using the facilities on a plane is usually a harrowing experience. You step inside the cubicle and slide the lock across, knowing that four people are waiting for you to finish your business. You glance down at the toilet that is always cold and brace yourself. Don't be afraid to flush. Contrary to popular belief, the plane will not plummet down into a frenzied spin if you flush the toilet. It just feels that way.
Bring along a child survival kit: crayons, markers, coloring books and quiet toys (other passengers will appreciate this!) People are more willing to bend over and pick up a stray crayon than they are willing to listen to children cry.
You can't control most of what happens at the airports: flight delays, cancelled flights. Seize what you can control such as plane size, seat selection and food and drink to ensure that your business or vacation travel is as pleasant as possible.
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