Travel Tips - Air Travel

Long haul air travel, especially in economy/tourist/pack-em-in class can get very uncomfortable and boring. In an attempt to ease some of these negatives we hope some of the following might help:

wear the most comfortable clothes you have. Forget about 'dressing up' for travel - those days disappeared decades ago. Comfort is the key.
Once on board remove your shooes and put on an extra pair of sock. Put your shoes back on a few minutes before you're due to land.
Get rid of or loosen belts to stop restricting blood flow.
Download and print out maps of all the airports you will be using. Some airports are a nightmare to find you way around. These can also eliminate a bit of the boredom of a trip. Study the map of the airport you're due to land at next.
To avoid waiting at the airport if a flight is delayed call the airline to confirm take-off times.
Check in at least 2 hours early. There is always a chance that you will get 'bumped' if you're late in line.
Check your luggage allowance (carry-on and storage) and make sure you're not over as this can cause delays or you may even have to leave some of your stuff behind. This is a real issue you should not disregard. A few years ago I was on a flight from Singapore to Moscow with a 30 kgs allowance but on the flight from Moscow to London the allowance was only 20 kgs on the same airline. It was either pay US$50 per kg over the allowance or leave stuff behind. I was traveling very light and had only about 7 kgs on me. I helped other passengers as best I could by carrying some extra stuff but some had to leave items behind. Women were crying (one had to leave a beautiful pram and others personal effects). Be careful!
If your flight is cancelled don't rush for the ticket counter, as everyone else will and it might take quite a while before you can get the discuss alternatives with a staff member, ring your travel agent or the airline instead. So make sure you have contact details for all the airlines you'll be flying with (you should be able to find these on your e-tickets which you have available - right?).
Be aware that there is a good chance you might get 'bumped' - not be allowed, for whatever reason the airline chooses, to catch the flight. If this happens, usually because the airline has overbooked the flight to make sure it get filled up, the airline will normally offer to free accommodation until you can catch the next available flight and/or offer you a bonus of some type such as an upgrade. If they don't offer anything Ask!
If a flight is delayed by an 'Act of God' - ie bad weather, terrorist attack, safety problem, etc. then the airline considers that to be 'your problem' and not theirs. So no free accommodation or special offers. It is at times like this you need to keep your cool, make sure you have somewhere you can sit comfortably and maybe even sleep and make sure you have some snacks and water on you.
If you want the best seat available ask for a bulkhead or exit-row seat. These have more leg room and are usually the last to be assigned. So when you check in ask for one of these. Another reason to arrive early! Note: You may have to look fit and healthy as in an emergency you may be expected to open an emergency exit.
Stuck at the airport waiting for the next flight. Check out if you can get into the airlines 'executive lounge.' Many airlines will allow you in if you pay a small fee and look neat and tidy.
Drink lots of water on the flight. The air conditioning sucks moisture out of the air and you can dehydrate quite rapidly.
If you want to preserve that great tan make sure you cover yourself with moisturizer as the dry air can cause all your hard work to simply flake off and leave you as pale as you were when you started your holidays.
Don't buy bottled water at airports as you will pay dearly for it. Get yourself a mug with a sipping lid. The airport restaurants will normally fill it with iced water for free and the flight attendants will happily refill it on the flight.
Lubricate contacts regularly on a flight as the dry air can cause you problems. Or get rid of the contacts and put on your glasses for the duration of the flight.
Ear pain during landing (most common) or take-off can be a real problem for some people. To get relief either chew something or block your nose with your fingers and blow into your mouth (as if you're trying to blow a trumpet) as hard as you can - if you can feel air rushing into your ears then it's working. Keep blowing until the pressure equalizes.
Walk as much as you can on the flight. This help maintain blood circulation, stops edemia (collection of water at the feet which can cause swelling) and it also reduces significantly the potentially deadly problems of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
Do not joke about guns or bombs. This is illegal and may see you in jail for a long stay.
Earplugs can be useful to cut out the noise from that kid screaming in the next row or to just help you get to sleep.
A small inflatable neck support can help you sleep if you normally have problems.
Go to the bathroom just before you land. Brush your teeth, wash your face and see if you can empty your bladder. If you use make-up apply a little. This will help you feel a lot better and more relaxed when you do land.

This article is copyrighted by Lance Chambers a senior partner at www.accommodationnear.com

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