How to survive dreaded economy class?

Easing the Stresses and Discomforts of Long Flights

Cheapest Business class tickets could easily cost you 4-5X the amount you pay in economy class. A long flight in an economy seat is one of the prospects that air travelers tend to dread. Here are a few tips to try and make it more comfortable.

* Place one of the provided pillows between your lower back (just below your ribs) and the seat. Helps ease back soreness.


* Pack your own neck pillow, or scrunch one provided by the airline to support your neck.

* Must do periodic stretches. Place your hands on the armrests and slowly twist your torso to loosen your upper body.
When the seatbelt light is off, stretch your legs by walking down the aisle of the aircraft with a bit more bend in your knees.

* Limber up swollen feet by slowly turning your feet at the ankle in circular patterns. Should help maintain good blood flow. Flexing and extending your feet from the ankle can help as well.

* Moisturize hands and face with heavy/lasting creams or petroleum jelly (don't do this one if your skin is naturally on the oily side). The air is very dry inflight and thin moisturizers wear or rub off.

* Keep the air vent above you open. Dampen a facecloth, place it over your face, and aim the air vent at the cloth. Helps with dryness. I also like to dilute an essential oil like lavender with water and pour it into a mini spray bottle, then dampen the cloth with that. A more loosely woven material like cheesecloth is also a good option as you can throw it away at the end of your flight.

* Bring lots of chewing gum for changes in air pressure. Ears don't always pop just during take-off and landing times, but during the flight. Helps with the nerves as well!

* Wear loose fitting shoes, carry sandals or slip on shoes. Feet swell, and if you take shoes off at any point in a flight, a shoe that just fits can be painful to put back on.

* Wear loose fitting clothes. Inflight dining and drinking may leave you feeling bloated.

* Don't wear any tight underpants. Make sure you moisturize your legs well. The dryness inflight can make legs feel very itchy in tights or underpants if you don't.

* Drink plenty of Water. Water is best drink on flight. Try and drink as many non alcoholic beverages as possible. Perhaps bring an extra bottle of water with you.

* When traveling with a broken arm, or toe, etc., make sure that your doctor has provided you with adequate pain medication. The compression inflight can make a broken bone feel excruciatingly painful.

* Take aspirin before flight. It has blood thinning properties. If you are concerned about blood clots and the much publicized economy class syndrome (deep vein thrombosis) consider taking an aspirin before flying as it has blood thinning properties.

* Try not to keep your hair in a ponytail, or use hair clips in the back of your head. These will dig into your head after a few hours of the rigid seat backs.

* Take shower before getting on plane. Take shower after reaching your destination. Warm water bath will have soothing effect for you.

* Bring something to entertain yourself. Usually, movies don't start for some time, and the built-in music selection can be quite poor, so bring an iPod or CD player. You could also bring a new book, magazines or portable game.


* Don't look at the time during the flight. You can't do anything about it and the flight will feel much longer if you keep looking at the time. Don't check your watch regularly and avoid looking at the in-flight map showing the current position of the plane.

* Carry Noise-Canceling Headphones. The headphones available on the plane (whether for purchase or for free) are usually of poor quality. Noise-canceling headphones and in-ear headphones are great if you have them, and can help block out engine noise and the conversations of other passengers. But even standard headphones or ear buds will be a big improvement.

* Minimize your carry-on luggage. One backpack is fine for the plane, and it is easier to find a place in the overhead bins or under the seat for a small backpack than for a larger roller bag.

* Bring a toothbrush, and anything else that isn't a liquid or a gel, that you need to help freshen up before meeting your loved ones at the end of your long flight. They, and your neighbors in-flight, will be glad you did.

* Consider bringing your own food on board if you care about taste or health. On some airlines, plane food is quite poor. Check airlinemeals.net before and look through the reviews and decide if you should buy food before the flight.

* Contact your airline in advance to find out if they still offer free meals and potentially request a special meal. Many airlines offer vegetarian, Kosher, Halal and other "special" meals if you order two days in advance. And because the airlines have to specially prepare your meal, it is usually better than the standard food fare. Plus, passengers with special meal requests are almost always served first. If your airline doesn't offer a free meal, be sure to bring your own or buy one at the airport.

* Move around. This is especially important on longer flights, to prevent your body from aching due to low circulation. Some airlines provide guidance on in-seat exercises you can do (such as circling ankles and stretching arms). The long mid-flight stretch on overnight flights is an excellent time to take a stroll up and down the aisle a few times. There is usually room to do some back stretches at the back of some of the cabins.

* If you have problem with noise, try to avoid seats near the engine of aircraft. Engine noise can become very discomforting for some people.

* Opt to sit near the back of the aircraft for long haul routes, if you don't mind the extra noise produced by the engines. Certain aircraft, such as the Boeing 747 series, have a large area behind the last row of seat in the back of the aircraft that give you plenty of space to stretch.

* Do not sit in the absolute rear of the plane as there will be noises and smells from people using the bathrooms and other areas in the plane's rear.

* Do not sit near bathrooms as people keep place noisy & it could smell bad as well.

* Participate in the in-flight exercise video, should your flight provide one. These are designed to help with body circulation and reduce fatigue. If your flight does not include such a video, you can still do your own stretches and exercises.

* Use eye drops (eye drops may now be carried through security) whenever your eyes feel dry. If you are really uncomfortable, don't hesitate to inform cabin crew.

* Consider saline nasal gel if your nostrils feel uncomfortable breathing dry air. Saline nasal gel, which can usually be found near the saline nasal wash at a drugstore, can help keep the inside of your nose moist and make breathing more comfortable. Apply in the restroom and wash your hands before and after. You can put it on a cotton swab and coat the inner 1/2 inch of your nasal passages. It may seem gross, but it really works for preventing your nose from painfully drying out.

* Bring lip balm in a 3 oz or smaller container and use it to protect your lips from becoming painfully dry. Bring a small container of hand lotion or cocoa butter if your skin dries easily.

* Take some sweets or other snacks with you. Protein bars are particularly helpful if on a long-flight. Most airline meals tend to be low in protein and high in carbohydrates.

* Include some soothing music on your mp3 player if you will be flying overnight to calm you down and help you sleep.

* Think positively. If you find that flying is a chore, remember the people and places you will see when you get there.

* If you are flying trans-oceanic or trans-continental, long naps are the best way to break up the tedium, so you'll want to stretch out. Keep your eyes on both the boarding passengers and the availability of empty, middle rows (in a pinch two empty seats in the aisles will do). When the number of boarding passengers thins out to a sparse trickle, get ready. Once you see the flight attendants close the hatch, bolt for that empty row you've been nervously eyeballing.

* Don't worry about getting up to use the restroom often; the walking about will be good for the blood flow in your legs.


Sleeping tips
* If you intend to sleep on the flight, bring earplugs, eye shades, and sleeping pills. Also, try and get a seat in the 'frequent flyer' section, which is less likely to have chatty vacationers. Be aware that "bulkhead" can equal "babies", although the one behind business/first class may be fine.


High quality noise-isolating (different from noise canceling) headphones usually work best and can make a world of difference by reducing the plane noise to a mere background hum and allowing you to fall asleep to your music in a quiet environment. However, this type of headphone takes a while to get used to - do not purchase them specifically for the trip.

Seats next to emergency exits generally have more leg room, but usually do not recline. If you are up for the task of helping evacuate others in an emergency, try to request that you get a seat in the emergency exit aisle, unless you are traveling with children, who are not allowed to sit there.

Many airlines offer "sleeper service" in parts of the aircraft. In the "sleeper service" cabins, lights are extinguished after reaching cruise level. Call your airline and see if they offer that on your flight.

When you board the plane, change your watch to the destination's time. If it is nighttime at your destination when you board, try to sleep. Then force yourself to stay awake in flight during your destination's daylight hours. Upon arrival try to be outside to see the next sunset or dawn. Each of these things accelerates your acclimation to the new time zone. Light exercise also helps.

Bring some sort of foot elevator or use your carry-on. Airline seats are way too long in the thigh for short passengers, and you either end up hurting your back slouching to touch the ground or suffering from leg cramps because your feet are dangling in mid-air. Travel supply companies (e.g. Travelsmith or Magellan) usually sell some kind of compact folding contraption for this.

Bring a travel pillow, because the armrests aren't in the right place either. Put the pillow in your lap and rest your arms on that instead. A stuffed animal might work well too, and it's smaller. Most Boeing planes have little wings where you put you head that you can bend forward. You can use one of those blow-up neck pillows to support your head while you sleep.

Use your blanket to 'swaddle' your upper body and create a 'cradle' that pins your arms to your body, keeping them from flopping out and hitting others next to you or in the aisle. Holding one end of the blanket in one hand, tuck it under the opposite arm, then use the other hand to pull the blanket across your body and tuck in on the other side. It sounds strange, but this technique has helped on numerous transoceanic crossings.

If you have a strong fear of flying, you could ask your doctor for a benzodiazepine (valium/xanax). These will lower your anxiety levels. Consider also prescription relaxation pills such as Temazepam to induce natural sleep. They work better and do not have the side effects of sleeping pills or alcohol.

Alaska Air usually has "Digiplayers" that are very similar to AVOD on cross-country flights. For $10 you get about six movies, four TV shows, and a bunch of music videos.

If you tend to get airsick, drink a small bottle of ginger ale before boarding and carry a newspaper in your backpack. The ginger will help calm your stomach and so will the smell of the newspaper.

To relieve pressure in your ears, research the Valsalva maneuver (holding your nose and blowing) beforehand and know how to perform it correctly.

If first (or business) class isn't completely sold out, boarding crews occasionally invite some coach class customers to move up. Your chances of this happening are best if you are dressed appropriately—this means no jeans or sweatshirts, no open-toed sandals, and no backpack or other unwieldy carry-on luggage.

Get the wax moldable over-the-counter ear plugs. They work better than the cheap foam ones and are less expensive than the custom made ones. If you are concerned about noise, try to sit forward of the engines.

WetOnes are one of the best inventions ever: a self contained bath. They are pre-moistened anti-bacterial towelettes. They sell a small pack about the size of your palm for a couple of bucks.

Get a NadaChair S'portBacker. It allows you to sleep sitting upright. It prevents slouching, which strains the lower back. Put this on, raise your seat almost upright, put the seatbelt snug across your lap, and you can sleep for hours with no discomfort. It folds up into a self contained bag about the size of a paperback book. (NadaChair's BackUp, not as compact, is recommended for larger frames.)

If you are flying across several time zones, consider using "No Jet Lag" pills. Many experienced travelers use these to neutralize your internal time clock. They are helpful to get you into the new time zone without feeling effects of jet lag.

Try downloading a few podcasts to your MP3 player before you leave. There are loads of them around, and there should be one that suits your interests. If you're traveling alone for a while, a podcast or two should keep you company.

Bring something to keep you occupied during the flight. Perhaps a good book or a magazine, a handheld game console (Gameboy, Nintendo DS), etc.

The last row of seats usually do not recline.
If you want earplugs but didn't bring any, use tissue.
Armrests can be raised (even on the aisle) but some have a hidden release latch. Ask flight crew.

Don't be bashful about asking for extra napkins and cups of ice when drinks are offered. You might be given the whole can of a less-popular beverage if you ask. Hydrate! Soda pop is a bad choice because of all the sugar.

Some airports have a rental kiosk for portable DVD players and DVD movies (about $10). Just drop it off at your destination airport.
Short flights may take longer than driving when you consider airport parking, security lines, waiting for boarding, luggage pickup, car rental, cost, etc.

Keep a photocopy (or more) of your main passport page spread out through your luggage. If your passport is lost or stolen, having the copy will make it MUCH easier to straighten out. If your bag is misplaced, it's more likely to be returned to you.

Bring a bag of lollipops. If you're seated near a crying child, offer them to the parent; they make an effective silencing tool. Bags of Dum Dums can typically be found at CVS or similar stores for 99 cents.

If you get homesick easily, Try downloading podcasts from radio stations that you listen to. This will make you feel like you are at home listening to your own language and/or accent.

Plan for airport layovers, too. They can take time, but they are also a good opportunity to stretch your legs.


Warnings
If you take sleeping pills, be sure to use something that makes you drowsy but not "out". In case of emergency, the flight crew needs to be able to wake you quickly. Plus if you sleep during the landing, you will feel uncomfortable due to large bumps on the runway. Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) is a good option. Benadryl can cause excessive sleepiness in some people. Know how the medication will affect you before taking it for the plane ride.

If you decide to take sleeping pills during the flight, it is a good idea to stay away from alcohol; they produce similar effects in the nervous system, and death may result in certain cases. In fact, about half of the accidental annual deaths are caused by alcohol tranquillizer/barbiturate combinations (sleeping pills can go under the heading of either).

Small items left on the floor can slide forward or backward when the plane changes altitude. If you take off your shoes, put them in your bag, so that you don't lose them.

Due to the latest security concerns, be prepared to put pretty much everything you might have wanted to carry-on, into your checked luggage. You may want to pack a cloth shopping bag into your carry-on. If for some reason you are forced to check your carry-on you can pull out the cloth bag and put in absolute essentials to take into the cabin. For the latest updates to policy, check the Transportation Safety Administration's Web Site and/or the transportation authority of the country you are visiting.

If the flight attendants give out hot towels, use them wisely. Never rub the towel on your face or hands. This results in uncomfortably dry skin. If you don't plan on rubbing them on your hands, then what good would they be? It's perfectly fine to refuse them, but you might want to keep some wet wipes or hand sanitizer with you to substitute for the hot towels.

Always check the toilet paper before sitting on the toilet. If you sit down and there is none you're in a rather awkward place! It is also advisable to bring a pack to tissue in your pocket. There might still have been paper an hour ago, but now there's none!

Don't fall asleep with your iPod on, especially if it is set to a high volume, as it could cause ear damage.

Things You'll Need
Sweater, sweatshirt or other warm layer
Tylenol
Eye drops
Lip balm
Book
Sudoku/Logic Puzzles
Toothbrush
Wet Ones
A clean pair of underwear, a clean pair of socks, and a clean shirt
Tissue mini-pack
Gum
Laptop
iPod/MP3 Player
Snacks
Hair brush/ties
Some bottled water bought or filled after clearing security.
The latest security listings about what is allowed on the plane and what is not.
Hand sanitizer

How to deal with Jet Lag

Step 1
Try to stay awake until night time arrives. Do not close your eyes during the day. Fight fatigue by being physically or mentally active: i.e. talking, walking or standing. Avoid: sitting, day dreaming, watching TV, or taking naps.

Step 2
Do sleep at night! Try to be active during the day, or at least 4hrs before bed time, so your body will automatically run down and be in need for some Zzzzing. For elderly, it helps to take a prescribed sleeping pill before hitting the hay when traveling to a different time zone. If you can't sleep, don't start talking to others. Don't do any physical or mental activities. Try to remain on bed till sun rises.

Step 3
Adjust to local time one day at a time. Start off from sleeping a little earlier from your usual bed time (i.e. 3 hrs earlier) and then work your way to the norm. That way, it's not as hard on your body.

Step 4
Do not get up and be active in the middle of the night just because you woke up early. In order to train your body to the new time zone, you need to stay in bed relaxed till day light appears. It's okay to watch TV laying in bed, however, no other brainy/physical actives would be recommended.

Step 5
Do NOT stare at the clock if you can not sleep anymore. Do not wonder about what time of the morning it is. Get up only when day light strikes.

Step 6
Eat according to local time zone. If you get hungry at an abnormal time, just snack a little but do not stuff yourself.

Step 7
Drop the concept of jet lag at your new destination. The more you think about having jet lag, the harder it is to get over it. Concentrate on your day activities and let nature take its course.

Traveling Tips for Elders

Traveling is a pleasant experience for everyone including elders. Good preparation and careful planning help to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey.


Preparation

1 Plan your journey early. Select a comfortable and relaxing schedule.
2 Collect information on local weather and pack suitable clothing, shoes and other personal belongings.
3 Purchase travel insurance beforehand especially for long distance trips.
4 Enquire on the possibilities of epidemic and infectious diseases in the destination. Arrange for vaccination if required. Consult Port Health Travel Health Centre for detail information.
5 For elders with chronic diseases, seek medical advice for fitness to travel before departure. Make sure there is enough medication to cover the whole journey. Drugs should be easily accessible at all times. Keep your partners and tour guide informed about your medical condition. It might be helpful to bring along a reference letter from the family doctor as well in case of emergency. Common drugs such as those for treatment of diarrhea, motion sickness and fever are always useful.
6 Avoid traveling alone if possible. Let your friends and family know about your traveling plan before leaving home.

During traveling

1 Do not wear tight clothing when traveling for long distance either on coach or aeroplane as this may impair blood circulation. If needed, elderly can bring along a neck pillow for extra comfort and support to the head and neck. It is advisable to maintain proper posture, and avoid crossing legs for long periods of time. Place the feet on the floor while seated. Drink plenty of water and perform stretching exercise intermittently to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis and joint stiffness.
2 While on plane, you may experience pain and discomfort in the ear because of pressure changes. Try swallowing to keep the Eustachian tube open to relieve the discomfort.
3 Air conditioning lowers the humidity and temperature in the cabin. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Bring along moisturizer and extra clothing when flying on a plane.
4 For elders with chronic diseases, remember to take regular medications while traveling on the plane.

Upon arrival

1
Jet lag occurs when the body's natural rhythm and sleep-wake cycle are disturbed. Symptoms of jet lag include difficulties in sleeping, tiredness, mood disturbances and gastrointestinal upset etc.

Management:

- Travelers should rest fully before traveling, drink plenty of fluids, avoid alcoholic beverages and coffee while on the flight.
- Avoid tight schedule especially for the first few days; allow the body to get used to the climate and time difference gradually.
- Adequate exposure to sunlight helps to reduce symptoms of jet lag.
- If the trip lasts for more than 3 days, travelers should follow the local time for sleep and meals.
- Melatonin is a hormone that has been widely publicized to alleviate jet lag. However, there are uncertainties about its safety, and inappropriate timing of dosages may worsen jet lag. Consult a doctor for further information and avoid self medication.

2 While staying in a hotel, elders should try to remember the location of emergency exit and local emergency telephone number. Bring along the address and telephone number of the hotel when you leave your lodging each time. Avoid going out on your own especially if there is language barrier and you are not familiar with the surroundings.
3 Well balanced diet is recommended at all times. Follow the basic principle such as avoid fatty and high cholesterol food. Take plenty of water and take more high fiber food such as vegetables and fruits to prevent constipation.
4
Pay attention to personal and food hygiene which include:

- Always wash the hands before eating
- Do not purchase from stalls with poor hygiene
- Drink from cans or bottles only. Boiled water is preferred.
- Do not add ice to drinks or drink any fresh fruit juice prepared beforehand.
- Avoid cold dishes and uncooked food such as salad and cooked meat.
-Make sure that food such as meat, fish and seafood are thoroughly cooked before consumption.

5 Evaluate your own health status and ability first before involving in vigorous exercise and high risk activities.
6 Make sure you have adequate sleep and rest during the journey.

For Diabetics

1 Consult the doctor first to ensure that your health condition is stable and medically fit for traveling.
2 Pay special attention to changes in food intake which may alter the blood sugar level.
3 Bring along snacks and candies in case of hypoglycemic attacks. Avoid bingeing.
4 Bring the medical alert card or bracelet when traveling.
5 Monitor blood sugar level using urine strips or glucose meter.
6 Order special diabetic meal beforehand with the airliners.