30 ways to survive long-haul economy

Travelling long distances at the back of the plane is a challenge. Here are tips to ease your pain

1

Adjust your expectations. If you are used to being pampered in business class, recognise that in economy you won’t be. Making the best of what you have is the way to survive. Forget the “Do You Know Who I Am” attitude – it isn’t attractive even among premium passengers.

2

At check-in, ask if there are any spare seats and, if so, whether you can move so that one of them is next to you – giving you more room to spread out.

3

Build status with your airline and alliance of choice – this will increase your chance of an upgrade and provide you with lounge access before the flight.

4

Invest in Priority Pass membership (US$399/`25,800 annual fee for unlimited visits) – lounge access is good for loading up on food and drink before boarding if you travel in economy often.

5

Buy a bottle of water once airside to have on board.

6

You may enjoy ignoring fellow passengers in business class – after all, it’s all about space and privacy – but in economy, being polite to the person you are rubbing shoulders with for ten hours-plus is the best advice. You don’t have to tell each other your life story, but the odd smile and remark will help make the enforced proximity a lot more bearable.

7

Pay for an exit or bulkhead seat. On a long-haul flight the cost is worth it, particularly if you are tall.

8

Seat choice is personal. If you don’t want to be disturbed and are confident about not wanting the bathroom on a regular basis, then window seats are for you. If you like getting up and stretching, then an aisle seat will be the better choice. Avoid middle seats at all costs.

9

Be aware that some airlines cram in more seats than others – ten-across instead of nine-across on a B777, for instance, will be more claustrophobic. Do your homework on cabin layouts in advance.

10

Take a portable battery for your phone or tablet in case the plane is old and you can’t charge it.

11

Avoid sitting at the very back of the aircraft – it is bumpier, noisier (behind the engines), it often takes you longer to board and disembark, and you may be disturbed by people queueing for washrooms if these are located at the rear. For the best seats visit seatplans.com.

12

If you can, choose a carrier with new seating, which will be more ergonomically comfortable.

13

Try to get on board early so you can find a place for your bags in an overhead locker that is reasonably close to your seat – ideally, directly overhead. It will lessen hassle when you need to get things out during the flight, and also help when it comes to disembarking.

14

Dress in loose-fitting clothes – you’ll be sitting down for hours. Bear in mind that the temperature at your departure point is unlikely to be the temperature of your destination, and if the airline loses your checked bag, you’ll be wearing them for even longer.

15

Wear layers. Cabin temperatures vary hugely, even during the course of a flight, so make sure you have ways of keeping warm or cooling off without a change of clothing – the airline will provide a blanket (probably), but it’s a good idea to have a jumper or hoodie to keep warm if necessary.

16

Compression socks are important if you think you may suffer from DVT – and since you’ll want to kick your shoes off during the night, having a couple of pairs of old flight socks from business class (or just old socks) is a good idea to keep your feet cosy.

17

Wear slip-on shoes – or at least not boots. They are a pain to lace and unlace at security, and the same applies on the flight if you want to take them on and off.

18

If you wear contact lenses, consider glasses instead – your eyes will dry out during the flight.

19

A wide scarf or pashmina is good for using as a pillow or blanket in case the one given to you is unwashed.

20

Carry a small toiletry bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, moisturiser, facial mist, lip balm, eye mask and maybe some eyedrops or saline nasal spray to help with dehydration.