Recently I flew in ‘the back of the bus’ from from New York to London. This is a trip that should be 6 hours or so, but is usually delayed a bit on the tarmac. The delay makes it 7 hours West to East and 8 East to West. I usually upgrade if not too $$$, but this time, I went coach.
Here is what I learned.
Try for an aisle seat. Don’t fret if you are the middle passenger; follow our suggestions to make any flight more comfortable.
Some aircraft have more comfortable coach than others. If you can, do some research.
Invest in a soft small carry-on that fits into your larger one. Store the larger bag above you and lock it. Overhead space is not assigned to a seat; it belongs to everyone. I like to put my bag above and in front of my seat, easier to retrieve when leaving. Your soft smaller bag should include anything you need during the flight: reading material, electronics, snacks, tissues, medicine etc. It should fit under the seat in front of you and form a pillow for your feet. It should be easy to pull out, and take with you when going to the bathroom. Never leave behind important items when you leave your seat.
Dress the right way: loose clothes, socks (even if summer), laced shoes you can release. Avoid jewelry that jangles or tops that ride up. Waist lines should be wide, so you can tuck inside a money belt and a passport. There is theft on planes.
Personally, I find inflatable pillows uncomfortable. Try using the headrest, angling it the way you want. Consider covering your hair with a scarf.
If you have issues sitting for long periods of time, invest in a seat cushion, the lightest and most malleable is memory foam.
Bring your own water bottle; ask staff to fill it.
Download movies and tv. Download especially a lengthy tv series, crime or romance or whatever your junk fest is. On a flight to Dubai, I watched 14 seasons of Big Little Lies. Voila I was in Dubai!
Invest in decent earphones and ear plugs. Airplane noise is a stressor on our bodies. Gentle music helps us relax, even fall asleep PS most airplane entertainment systems have a music option.
Incline your seat gently (after meals are served), even if the person behind resists. It is your right to do so.
You just flew coach and saved a bunch of money. Travel tips from The Women’s Travel Group. We still have space on India, Thanksgiving Portugal, Mexico Budget trips and more. Contact us at 646 309 5607
