Videos 10+ Tips for Preparing for a Long Plane Ride
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Steps
- Check out what entertainment is offered by the airline. Many of the newer aircraft types offer individualized monitors in the back of the seat right in front of you so that you don't have to crane your neck to try and see a wobbly old movie screen with someone else's head in front of it. A lot of these individual entertainment centers now come with lots of movie, cartoon, news, documentary, etc. choices, as well as radio, music and games that can be played using a handheld device that lifts out from the seat.
- Check out the affordability of a flat bed in business class. If you can sleep your hours away, this can be a bonus as you'll arrive fresher and possibly overcome jet lag faster. Obviously, the drawback here is cost – although do investigate the chances of upgrading using your air/frequent flier miles or points and perhaps even finding a sensational online deal for a business class trip. It can be worth it to do some deeper research into the options or to pay a little more for extra comfort – and you won't know unless you try!
- Check out the food options. Most airlines offer a huge array of dietary preferences for international and long haul flights. However, you must book anything that is not the usual run-of-the-mill food choices and it's very wise to double check 24 hours before you're due to fly out, just to make sure the dietary preference you've ordered is properly recorded. It's really depressing to get on a long haul flight and realize you have no food to eat because they botched up the order!
- If you have very young children, be sure to arrange the right seating for them. While it is cheaper to have a "lap baby" (an infant that has no seat and just sits in your lap throughout the flight), it's not as safe as having a child in his own seat (most airlines allow you to use a car carrier in-flight). Moreover, you're not likely to be permitted to have a baby on your lap for long haul flights that are international.
- Check that everyone's passports are up to date. Many countries require at least 6 months validity to remain on the passport during the time of travel, so don't get caught out.
- Organize any visas needed before traveling. It is much easier to do this before you leave for another country than to be standing in line in a foreign airport endlessly worrying that they might not let you in.
- Arrange for a mixture of foreign cash, traveler's checks and credit/debit cards for overseas travel. Talk to your bank to see what they offer in the way of exchange rates.
- Get vaccinations out of the way. It can be all too easy to forget these in the excitement of preparing for a trip, so check with your doctor early to see if you need any. And if you need to stock up on any medications you take, do so now by letting your doctor know how long you'll be away for. Don't rely on buying needed medication in a foreign country as you might strike all sorts of problems from lack of the medication to not being able to see a doctor.
- Make hotel or other accommodation reservations as needed. Booking ahead can get you great deals on the prices, especially over the internet. Some hotels offer great prices for longer term stays, so this is a time when you can ascertain whether you can take advantage of such deals.
- If you're afraid of flying, book into a course that deals with this issue, or speak with a therapist. Some airlines run courses to help overcome this fear; ask when you make a booking.
- Pack essentials a few days before the trip. That includes your clothes, any medications you might need, plane tickets, passports and toiletries. It's sensible to create a list that helps keep you on track with what you should pack and that can be used for the entire trip to help ensure you've remembered all contents for your bag, as well as serving as a record of items if your bag gets lost or stolen.
- Make arrangements for any pets being left behind; either have them boarded or have someone come around to feed and play with them regularly.
- Organize for timers to set off lights and perhaps radios in your home at night while you're away, to give the appearance of still being at home. This is especially important if you live somewhere that burglaries are an issue. It's also a good step to take to ask a trusty neighbor to park your car (if you're leaving it behind) differently every day if you're going away for a while; or, they can park their extra car in your drive as needed, on and off. If you have pets and a garden, a housesitter is the best option for a trip that's more than a week away; if you can't find a professional housesitter with super references, what about your neighbor's older teen or an older teen child of your siblings? Most older teens love a chance to prove that they can "play house" and they tend to be more respectful when it's not their own home!
- Make arrangements for someone to pick up mail (or instruct the post office to hold your mail) and to watch the family pet.
- Electronics: The things you might consider carrying on the plane include an iPod for music and audio books, a laptop or iPad for writing and reading (and surfing on your trip), a portable DVD player (although this will be quite bulky and your hotel rooms in many places have DVD players) or a portable games machine such as a Nintendo DS or a PSP. Each has pluses and minuses that you need to weigh up. Bring your cell phone; you'll need it on the trip and even if it cannot be used on the plane, it should be with you for safekeeping. Keep in mind that many newer planes have in-flight entertainment available. And if you bring a laptop or iPod, make sure to have fully charged it before leaving.
- Reading material: If you haven't read that novel yet or caught up on the news, here's your chance. Don't forget that you can also stock up on the latest magazines in the airport before boarding the plane and if you manage to read them on the flight, you don't need to cart them with you off the flight! If you have an eReader, you might like to bring it as it can store hundreds of novels or other reading material, including guidebook information for your destination.
- Writing material: If you like to write, bring along your writing work, be it a journal, a novel, an article you're preparing, etc. This is a perfect time to write.
- Fun stuff: Small magnetic, dice or card games can be useful to bring along. Try to choose games that are fun for a wide age range, so that you can share them around. For younger people, throw in some coloring in books, markers and anything you know that distracts them.
- Snacks: Not strictly entertainment, snacks do break up the monotony of the flight as well as helping stave off any unexpected hunger in between airline meals. If you're on a restricted diet, bringing your own snacks is advisable in case you can't eat the food offered to you during the flight.
- Mess cleaner-uppers: You can never have too many tissues or too many wipes. Just trust this wisdom and you'll be all set.
- Be aware of baggage weight and size restrictions. Even more painful to your wallet than losing the pocket knife is the damage inflicted in fees for overweight bags! And if your carry-on bag is too big, you're stuffed, so get it right from the beginning. See How to avoid airline baggage fees for more information.
- If you have an obvious sickness, such as the tail-end of chicken pox or you're coughing a lot post a bad flu, have a dated doctor's certificate certifying that it's okay for you to fly (namely, that you're no longer contagious). You can be prevented from boarding if the boarding officials are concerned that you might be contagious. It's also important to get prescription notes or letters if you're carrying medications, to avoid drug charges in less understanding destinations. Read more about this in How to travel with prescription medications.
- Call the airline if you have any dietary, access (for example, a wheelchair or walker) or other issues needing to be double checked. It's probably best to do this 24 to 12 hours in advance of departure.
- Check that your passport, visas and any other official documents are all safely ready.
- Check that your foreign currency, traveler's checks, credit cards, and such are all safely organized in a money pouch or other carrying item.
- Check that you have any needed medications and accompanying prescriptions.
- Check that all electronics are fully charged. And be sure to put the charger in your carry-on bag! It's awfully easy to leave the charger at home and spoil your vacation with lamentations about leaving it behind. Ditto for international Sim card, phone cards or portable broadband USB connectors.
- Be sure to have left information with neighbors, friends and family about what to do in the event of an emergency with your property (house, car, etc.), your pets or any children you've left behind with relatives or, if they're old enough, in your house.
- While you're waiting in the airport, read How to be comfortable on a long airplane trip for ways to cope while on board!
Video
Tips
- Pack medications in carry-on luggage.
- Pack several days worth of beauty and sanitary supplies in carry-on luggage. One spare pair of underwear is a good idea too in case bags get lost.
- It is crucial that someone picks up your mail. A mailbox full of social security numbers, credit card numbers, and other personal info is an identity theft dream. However, it is possible for the post office to hold your mail if you make a request.
- Bring chargers for electronics. Don't assume that charging all of the electronics beforehand will work, because your DVD player probably doesn't have enough battery for a 6 hour plane ride, a week-long vacation, and another 6 hour plane ride.
- Invest in electrical converters and/or adapters for foreign destinations.
- Some good entertainment items are portable video games (DS, PSP), iPods and MP3 players, magnetic "travel" board games, crossword puzzle or Sudoku books, a good novel, magazines that interest you, and a cell phone.
- If you don't have a cell phone and are 7+ years of age you can always use your parent's phone.
- Be courteous to flight attendants and all airline personnel. You never know when they might upgrade you because they liked your smile or seated you next to the toilets at the back of the plane even though you asked precisely to avoid that, all because you irritated them.
- Make sure to buy a meal in the airport if they do not serve one during your flight. Most airports have tiny food courts with familiar restaurants like McDonald's or Taco Bell.
- Realistically, you won't be listening to your iPod for the entirety of a ten-hour flight, so pack more than one source of entertainment.
- Read the airline's magazine (usually in the back pocket of the seat in front of you) for things you can't use during flight. You don't want your flashy new iPhone confiscated from you.
- Pack gum to chew so you don't get the ear pain that may occur with the plane's landing.
- Check with your medical care giver about giving a bottle to a baby during take-off and landing to help prevent ear discomfort.
- Arrive at the airport 2 1/2 hours early before the plane's scheduled departure. This will allow time to have a bite to eat, buy a book to read during the plane flight, or use the bathroom. Otherwise, you will have to rush through everything in the airport and have an uncomfortable flight. Remember that due to new security screening measures it might take awhile to have your bags cleared.
- If you have a problem with air pressure in your ears, such as tinnitus, pack some plane earplugs in your carry-on luggage so you can wear them. The airplane's air pressure may be constant, and they have air conditioning, so you may not need them. Ear plugs and eye shades will also help drown out unwanted noise and light when you want to sleep on board the plane.
Warnings
- Don't rely too heavily on any one source of in-flight entertainment - anything can happen. Your iPod can die, the in-flight movie system can fail, etc.
- There are lots of don'ts because airlines and airports are very strict about observing good behavior. You'll be aware of them all soon enough and here are some:
- Don't pack something that is not allowed in your origin or destination airports. This is very important. Check with the airline or travel agency to confirm what is allowed during the trip.
- Don't get up while the seat-belt sign is on.
- Don't ignore the pilot's command to turn off electronics. Some electronics are very bad for the plane when it is landing.
- Don't do anything stupid such as threatening the pilot. Don't joke around about bombs or terrorists.
- Don't use a phone (unless there's a flight mode) or any other kind of wireless transmitter/receiver (such as a laptop, a Nintendo DS, etc.) on the plane, these signals possibly could interfere with the plane's navigation technology.
- Avoid advertising your vacation. While it's acceptable to tell close friends and family about your trip (and recommended), it isn't acceptable to go post in your blog or on Twitter: "Oh, tomorrow I'm going to Mexico, and I'll be gone for two weeks" – strangers might find your house and steal from it.
- Be prepared to walk during the airplane flight to help prevent deep vein thrombosis. Keep moving your legs, or get up to walk to the bathroom often, depending on the length of the flight. Do some mild stretches in the aisles (be careful that you don't hit a sleeping passenger or a flight attendant!). Some flights with personal TVs offer videos of in-seat stretches.
- If you use a shuttle service to get to the airport, when asked what time your flight is leaving, give an earlier time than your actual flight, say about an hour earlier. They often will be picking up other people in your vicinity, and these other people may not be on time for the shuttle service, like you will be. This may be even more important on the return flight, especially if you are going to a favorite vacation spot, like Florida, where many people use a shuttle service since it is usually half the cost of a taxi. This way you will not be compromised time-wise regarding being on time yourself, and won't be rushed when you do arrive at the airport.
Things You'll Need
- Puzzle book
- iPod/MP3 player
- Travel pillow and blanket – many airlines provide these, so check first; the less you carry, the better for your posture
- Snacks – especially important if you're always hungry or you're on a dairy/gluten/egg/meat/air-free diet
- Travel board games – magnetic, card and dice ones are best
- Magazines – grab a load at the airport to save you carrying them
- A good book – a thick novel will do the trick; you can always post it back home (Or even better, an E-reader with many books on it)
- DVD player – extremely optional, extremely not needed
- Chargers for your electronics – don't forget them!
- Passports and tickets – without fail
- Pens and pencils – colored ones for all ages, serious pens for adults and writers
- A change of underwear can really make a huge difference. After hours and hours of travel, it's the next best thing to having a shower. Bring a Ziploc bag for the dirties.
Related wikiHows
- How to Practice Airplane Etiquette
- How to Be Comfortable on a Long Airplane Trip
- How to Travel by Air
- How to Travel With One Bag
- How to Travel Without Germs
- How to Avoid Having Diarrhea During Travel
- How to Be a Smart Traveler
- How to Choose a Travel Agent
Article Tools
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