Airplane Hacks to Make Dealing With Flights More Convenient and Enjoyable

Sitting in an aircraft for more than ten hours with nothing much to look at but the endless ocean, cotton-bud clouds, and the blank expanse of the sky can get boring. Seats have become more cramped since the 1980s, making the journey claustrophobic. It’s easy to start feeling boxed in and unsettled with your lack of comfort and privacy.

Some passengers might want to turn the air vent above their seat off, thinking this would expose them to airborne viruses from other travelers. The truth is that you don’t have to turn off the air unless you’re cold. Indeed, the ventilation system will actually keep you from getting sick.

Passengers like to sleep during long flights to kill time and ensure they are well-rested when they reach their destination. Iced drinks cause your body to expel the liquid much faster, translating to many more toilet breaks. This will interrupt your sleep and disrupt the passengers around you.

Even if you leave the house with a fully-charged device, communications with family or business associates while at the airport might be needed, or boredom could strike and mobile games could easily drain the battery. Traveling without a means of communication is like traveling blind for most of us.

Sitting by the aircraft window gives you more than just a view. You also get a wall to lean on and a place to rest your head. It makes the flight a bit more relaxing, which means a lot in the long haul. The aisle seat, on the other hand, grants a passenger more space to stretch.

Passengers who are booked in the middle seat of an aircraft will find that their flight seems to take longer than the actual travel time. Legs could get cramped in the small space, and movement on both sides can be annoying.

If there’s something you can wear as an overlay or underlay to your outfit, that’s one less thing weighing down your bag. Wear it and travel lighter. Match the colors with its functionality and you can even look fashionable with your extra shirt, coat, or scarf. Throwing a jacket or hoodie over your arm can come in handy later if the temperature gets cold mid-flight.

A long trip somewhere might also be a time to weigh things in one’s life. It’s an opportunity to be alone, do some soul searching, or read a book that’s long overdue. This can be difficult when people are seated too close to each other, especially if one is in the middle seat.

This tip is not just about the long-term effects – diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay – of sugary soda. When you’re spending long hours on a plane, soda and coffee can bring much discomfort. This can create awkward moments when you need to burp or break wind with other passengers seated close to you. 

Hungover from last night’s party and can’t wait to doze off during a flight to recover? There’s a reason flight attendants approach passengers to wake them up before takeoff and landing. Some become annoyed by this minor interruption, but this is necessary.

Despite the compartmentalized application of aircraft ventilation, there’s still a high chance a passenger might get a bug, if not directly from the crowd, it could be from one’s immediate vicinity. Microbes could be left on surfaces that may not have been completely disinfected, like on the elbow support, or the foldable table.

It might be challenging to stay fresh all throughout a flight that lasts around twelve to fifteen hours. If you’re going for the whole gamut, the longest non-stop trip could last around 18 hours.

Going out on a long-distance trip implies occasional inconveniences that people try to prepare for in advance. Airport experiences are rarely luxurious or comfortable. After all, public seating isn’t ideal during these times, nor is it fun having to share a crowded public restroom with your luggage in tow. 

Depending on one’s location in relation to the airport, traffic is something practically every traveler has to battle against on a regular basis. Once inside the airport, passengers are greeted with even more lines that add to the delay.

Lengthy flights could mean more hours of nothing much to do for some people who, unable to move around as often as they want, prefer to drink booze until they pass out. Of course, you don’t need us to tell you that this is a bad idea. 

Ten hours of travel might seem like a life sentence for a bored passenger who can’t wait to leave the aircraft the moment they’ve settled. Others take this opportunity to read, listen to podcasts, and watch movies they’ve been meaning to see.

Those who love to munch while on the go will soon realize that there aren’t many options to choose from at the airport, with only a few rows of shops filled with products that are invariably expensive.

Water is the most advisable drink for those who plan to hop on a plane for a long flight. However, bringing liquids along is going to be a problem once screened by security. Of course, that doesn’t mean a passenger has to sneak in a bottle of water, coffee, or tea.

Trekking in the countryside is known to be beneficial for the mind and body. It’s become popular as it allows you to get close to nature while exploring lesser-known paths.

Staying in the same position for a long time is not a healthy practice, but some passengers think they don’t have a choice but to stay put after take-off. This can cause muscle stiffness as well as leg cramps. 

Book ahead of time to catch the best fares, especially during the prime booking period of a month to four months from your departure date. Oddly enough, you may notice that ticket prices go higher if you search repeatedly. If this happens, don’t panic buy.

Mobile phones are now a constant companion, especially for travelers who need to contact distant friends and family. In a new city, finding your way around via the many useful apps and maps your phone has can be a lifesaver.

Most passengers travel with at least one thing that needs to be handled with care. If a delicate item is placed in luggage that isn’t marked fragile, it could be thrown around or damaged under the weight of other bags. 

Don’t waste your limited vacation time by traveling late in the day. These flights are more susceptible to delays and cancellations. Start your itinerary early, and you’ll get more things accomplished and manage your day better.

Traveling across different time zones will make you feel out of sync when you arrive at your destination. The body will need time to adjust, and jet lag may make you tired, vulnerable to mood swings, and unable to slip into your desired sleeping pattern.

Reports and leaked videos sometimes show airline staff mishandling passengers’ luggage behind the scenes. If you travel without a fragile sign taped on your bags, you could be at risk of unwanted breakage of items such as perfume bottles that could spill and stain your clothes.

Staying organized is key when traveling, especially when flying to a foreign country where communication can be a major barrier. Losing a passport far from the Consular Office can cause hassles, especially if a wallet is lost along with it. Renewal will take days, so it’s possible that flight schedules may have to be changed.

While waiting for a flight at the airport, the restaurants, cafes, and colorful variety shops seem to twinkle at every passenger, beckoning for a short visit and product purchase. As tempting as these shops may be, it’s not wise to shop at airports because the prices are high to make up for their operating expenses. 

Even if you’re scheduled to fly and busily imagining your escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, a last-minute change could ruin everything. The culprits could be bad weather, aircraft maintenance issues, or a previous flight delay that has a domino effect on the rest of the day’s flights.

Even if you arrive for your flight well in advance, breeze through security before the lines build up, and find yourself a prime seat at your gate, complete with access to a charging station, there’s still a problem. If you want to see updates on your flight status, you’ll have to leave your seat to check the boards from time to time.

It’s not a bad idea to dress in a way that makes you blend with your environment, which is why many people like to look dapper when flying in business class. For long flights, however, the priority should be placed more on comfort than fashion.

Organized people get to plan and arrange for the best seats ahead of time. Those who book their flight at the last minute often get the back seats that tend to absorb more turbulence. It is also warmer there compared to the fresher air available to those seated at the front.

Traveling in the company of old friends is hard to organize in a real-world setting. It can be hard to agree on a given date, and money could be an issue, among many other things. Still, it’s nice to have somebody to share your adventures with.

When out and about on an adventure, it is a good idea to use a map to familiarize yourself in advance. Wireless connections are not always guaranteed in all areas, and your network operator might have roaming connectivity issues in the location to which you’re heading.

A long flight to a new city or country can be an escape from everyday life for those who are tired of uniformity. It is symbolic of a new start and a brand new outlook that is exciting and spontaneous.

Instead of going out to popular tourist spots for selfies, delve in and meet the locals. It can be a fascinating experience to gradually learn a new language and be immersed in customs and traditions other than your own.

Some passengers need to get to their destination without delay. If you’re not in a special hurry and wouldn’t mind hanging around for a couple more hours until the next flight is up, you can give up your seat on a fully booked flight as a humanitarian gesture.

To go on a tour or backpacking excursion requires more detailed planning. Otherwise, the journey could quickly become costly and time-consuming, which defeats the purpose of attempting to become the pro-traveler all backpackers are perceived to be.

Finding a dependable tour guide can be tricky, especially for a first-timer in an unfamiliar region. If you’re traveling solo, any tour you take could be priced as a one-on-one, making it many times more expensive than regular group tours. It’s even more challenging when traveling off-season. 

Experienced travelers prepare themselves for all types of circumstances. Potential dramas to be considered include a delayed flight, bad weather, and having to get to the hotel in difficult conditions.