travel smart: fly right.
the flying part of travelling is both fun and a nightmare. pressurised cabin air and sitting still for long periods of time does so much to mess up your skin, hair, circulation and general emotional state. okay well maybe that last one is just me but working out how to fly right is one of the best things you can do for yourself. here are my tips to make flying better!
1. think like a fish. you know how fish love water? get in touch with your fishy side and embrace the h2o. i have to confess, i don't drink nearly enough water on a daily basis but i am so conscious of staying hydrated when i'm flying. it makes the world of difference! cabin air is very drying and de-hydrating. drinking tonnes of water will stop your skin from looking so deathly upon arrival. it's also good for your general overall state of being. depriving your body of water isn't good for you physically or mentally and you'll just end up grumpy and looking ill.
2. be more prepared than a boy scout. right, so planes get cold. wear layers and take socks. chances are you won't get tonnes of leg room so wear those comfy pants and don't make your lack of space worse through constrictive clothing. sometimes plane food sucks. grab some snacks before you board - think a little packet of sugary treats for a little pick me up and a little packet of pretzels can go a long way. people with children love to fly. bring your headphones or ear plugs. you will always need a pen, so bring 2. moisturiser can stop you from forking that man next to you who keeps farting. okay maybe it won't but your arms, hands, face, legs and feet will smell good. you're also probably likely to get your period. and a headache. be prepared!
3. bathroom trips are your friend. well, strategic ones that is. the second you get on the plane, get in that toilet. you're likely to be the first one in there so it won't smell. it also means that the time when the seat belt sign is on won't be filled with thoughts of 'omg i need to pee!' also, go every couple of hours. i don't care if you don't need to pee. just go. if you're drinking all that water you probably do actually need to go and it also means you're moving around. also, don't plan on going in the last half hour or so of the flight. everyone else has that thought. it's also probably when everyone's meals are being digested... yeah, think about it.
4. those foot exercises are serious! if you don't want fat feet, you'll do your exercises. simply rolling your ankles around every hour or so can ensure you don't get swollen feet (this is also aided by the whole drinking water thing!) be that person who gets up and walks the length of the plane a couple of times. it's good for your circulation, it gets your brain thinking, you get to check out all the other folk on the plane and you'll seriously feel better. if the thought of that makes you nervous, just do the foot exercises. no one can see you doing them and they work. trust me.
5. flight attendants are people too. this one is seriously important. those people are doing a job and that job does not involve being your personal slave. they are people, that have probably flown dozens of hours in the past couple of days. they
are trying really hard to be extra positive and make your flight as
comfortable as possible. so please, don't be a tosser to flight attendants.
yelling at them is stupid. they didn't plan the menu, they didn't put you
behind the screaming child, they didn't orchestrate the sun to be in a
really awkward position in the sky and that for the person across the
aisle to love sunlight and to refuse to shut their blind. 90% of the
problems you will have aren't their fault. so don't be a loser and blame
them. it's their job and they're just as tired and de-hydrated and confined
as you are. think about your words before you say them. and saying
thank you isn't a bad idea either.
do you have any suggestions to make flying a more pleasurable experience?
and don't anyone say join the mile high club because those bathrooms are
tiny and i feel like that would be more trouble than it's worth!
p.s we flew business class on the way home from HK because we got an
upgrade. don't think we fly fancy all the time!
1. think like a fish. you know how fish love water? get in touch with your fishy side and embrace the h2o. i have to confess, i don't drink nearly enough water on a daily basis but i am so conscious of staying hydrated when i'm flying. it makes the world of difference! cabin air is very drying and de-hydrating. drinking tonnes of water will stop your skin from looking so deathly upon arrival. it's also good for your general overall state of being. depriving your body of water isn't good for you physically or mentally and you'll just end up grumpy and looking ill.
2. be more prepared than a boy scout. right, so planes get cold. wear layers and take socks. chances are you won't get tonnes of leg room so wear those comfy pants and don't make your lack of space worse through constrictive clothing. sometimes plane food sucks. grab some snacks before you board - think a little packet of sugary treats for a little pick me up and a little packet of pretzels can go a long way. people with children love to fly. bring your headphones or ear plugs. you will always need a pen, so bring 2. moisturiser can stop you from forking that man next to you who keeps farting. okay maybe it won't but your arms, hands, face, legs and feet will smell good. you're also probably likely to get your period. and a headache. be prepared!
3. bathroom trips are your friend. well, strategic ones that is. the second you get on the plane, get in that toilet. you're likely to be the first one in there so it won't smell. it also means that the time when the seat belt sign is on won't be filled with thoughts of 'omg i need to pee!' also, go every couple of hours. i don't care if you don't need to pee. just go. if you're drinking all that water you probably do actually need to go and it also means you're moving around. also, don't plan on going in the last half hour or so of the flight. everyone else has that thought. it's also probably when everyone's meals are being digested... yeah, think about it.
4. those foot exercises are serious! if you don't want fat feet, you'll do your exercises. simply rolling your ankles around every hour or so can ensure you don't get swollen feet (this is also aided by the whole drinking water thing!) be that person who gets up and walks the length of the plane a couple of times. it's good for your circulation, it gets your brain thinking, you get to check out all the other folk on the plane and you'll seriously feel better. if the thought of that makes you nervous, just do the foot exercises. no one can see you doing them and they work. trust me.
5. flight attendants are people too. this one is seriously important. those people are doing a job and that job does not involve being your personal slave. they are people, that have probably flown dozens of hours in the past couple of days. they
are trying really hard to be extra positive and make your flight as
comfortable as possible. so please, don't be a tosser to flight attendants.
yelling at them is stupid. they didn't plan the menu, they didn't put you
behind the screaming child, they didn't orchestrate the sun to be in a
really awkward position in the sky and that for the person across the
aisle to love sunlight and to refuse to shut their blind. 90% of the
problems you will have aren't their fault. so don't be a loser and blame
them. it's their job and they're just as tired and de-hydrated and confined
as you are. think about your words before you say them. and saying
thank you isn't a bad idea either.
do you have any suggestions to make flying a more pleasurable experience?
and don't anyone say join the mile high club because those bathrooms are
tiny and i feel like that would be more trouble than it's worth!
p.s we flew business class on the way home from HK because we got an
upgrade. don't think we fly fancy all the time!
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