Remember when air travel was thrilling? The sound of grand engines humming as you, the jet-setter, stepped aboard. Mouthwatering (all right, somewhat tasty, but at least “free”) meals. The chance to read and relax for hours, uninterrupted by incessant sensory stimulation. Arriving at your destination to find your luggage patiently waiting for you, having been lovingly handled since you parted ways? Remember all that?
Me either. But I’ve found some ways to pump up the pleasure of travel. Here are five of my top tips:
Don’t check luggage. Yes, it’s possible. I used one carry-on and a handbag for three weeks when we traveled to Russia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, literally via plane, train, and automobile. There are endless YouTube videos out there telling you how to do it. I even made my own, once, much to the amusement of family and friends. It’s no secret anymore, so find a way.
Eat a healthy meal or snack prior to boarding. Any food distributed on the plane, purchased or not, will most likely not be free of ingredients better left in the lab. If that’s important to you, arm yourself before flight time with suitable sustenance.
This brings me to a quick aside. Not that all this is organic, but check out these photos from one of the Delta Sky Clubs I just paid a visit to when I traveled from home in Portugal to the U. S. If you’re not a member or don’t have access to a club with a specific credit card, you might want to think about purchasing a one-time pass to the club on whatever airline you’re flying, or to a generic lounge, if you have a long travel day ahead of you. It can make a huge difference to your state of mind both as you journey and when you arrive at your final destination.
Bring your own headset and eye shades. The airlines mean well, but those headsets are generally not the most comfortable and you often have to pay for them. Also, unless you’re in Business or better (or flying internationally), you won’t be handed eye shades. Serious ear and eye gear are essential these days, between movies, laptop screens, and other intrusions into your very limited space. Speaking of which…
Take possession of your seat. This means everything from ensuring a seatmate’s foot doesn’t stray over to the floor in front of you to gently reclining your seat as much as want. Having said that, on a recent flight a border skirmish almost escalated to a fist fight between two passengers sitting way too close for comfort to me, over the seat back issue. Patience is stretched thin in these close quarters, so be as considerate as possible for everyone’s sake.
Taking possession also means turning on your overhead light if you want to. Lately I’ve noticed that as soon as possible after takeoff, no matter what time of day it is, window shades are snapped shut and passengers have their eyes glued to every sort of screen, from built-ins on the seats to computers to phones and who knows what else. If it’s noon and you don’t want to pretend it’s midnight and mess up your melatonin, assert yourself. Nicely.
Bring an e-reader. I resisted this for years, thinking it was chic to tote a three-inch thick novel with me. How literate, how erudite I was! Nope. I invariably did the puzzle in the in-flight magazine, snooped to see what the person next to me was watching, dozed off, and battled a band of escaped toddlers racing through the aisles as I tried to keep my circulation going. Leave the latest five-pound New York Times best-seller on your night stand at home and stick with a Kindle or other device. You will definitely thank me.
Any favorite tricks of the travel trade you want to share? Put them in the comment section below. And Boa viagem!
Great. Suggestions!
Glad you like them. And as suggested below, the best one is to stay put. 🙂
Interesting advise. I find it helpful.
Glad to hear it! Blessings for a happy weekend.
Hi Tricia,
Being a tad older than you, I actually do remember personal attention from flight attendants, tasty food served on china plates and metal, if not silver, flatware. Then there was the transition to meals on hard plastic, but still metal flatware, and tasty food. Swiss Air, and Air France were the best. The food always came with the ticket, no additional charges. International flights were a pleasure, making the jet-lag a lot less noticeable. There were not so many grump people.
I like your suggestions for trying to make it better now, but with seats shrinking as people expand, there doesn’t seem to be any way to sit comfortably, much less really ‘claim’ your space. Should I have no choice but to fly, I will certainly keep your ideas in mind.
Oh, boy, now I remember metal flatware, Ronnie! Air France is still a jewel, and Swiss Air, too. Happy travels, or better yet, happy stay-at-homes, my favorite thing these days.
Love the suggestions, I love the pictures, love you!
Same here, Lynner. On a related note about travel, I was in Paris (Charles de Gaulle) the day after the Cathedral disaster, and collected an armful of journeaux with the most shocking photos. When I came home and looked for a book to read in my office library, I selected The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which I’ve never read. Guess what was inside? A hand-written sunflower gift card from Madame. Little treasures in the midst of such sadness. xo
My son has to fly from Ohio to Israel several times a year for business. He says that in the economy classes the airline treats you like a prisoner. (You shuffle on and off, are confined to your seat, no food, and sometimes the prisoners fight!) it was funny how he said it. Good tips here Tricia and I like how you said that we should pleasantly protect our comfort. Bob voyage
You be safe and happy too, Jena, whenever you next attempt such an undertaking. Always nice to hear from you.
Hi Tricia, I could not resist commenting here regarding flying-after 30+ years with TWA and Alaska Air and AA and EAL etc. A few things I always carry are; couple of large cloth napkins that are useful for a tray table cover, clean up spills, covering your face in case of smoke (or worse). A frozen bottle of water can be taken thru TSA (you must sip out any melted water before you carry thru security). That way you have fresh/cold water for the entire flight. A light weight back pack vs a purse is always good to carry that frees up both your hands. Of course I always carry noise cancelling headsets, my Kindle, and and handy wipes. You would not believe what I have seen on arm rests and tray tables (even saw a baby diaper changed on the tray table…….Always wipe down your seat area. I always have a strap that has a bright pattern buckled around my suitcase for 2 reasons, for quick identification and prevent accidental opening. I guess that’s enough for now. Hope to see you soon dear Tricia xoxo
Great additions, Roseanne! I know you told me about the diaper thing before. I saw one changed on the seat across the aisle from me on my trip a couple of days ago. Ugh. I’ll email you about when I’ll be in L. A. Love you too.