Survival Guide for Economy Passengers

As you travel the world you will frequently find yourself relegated to economy class for your global jaunts between continents. As new long range aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A340 are deployed, flights are getting longer, and cities are being connected with non-stop service instead of the regular fly - layover - refuel - change plane routine of the past.

Long Flights

For some, an eight-hour flight with Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow to New York may seem long. But air travel these days is truly becoming LONG distance - earlier this year, I had the pleasure of flying Qantas in economy from Los Angeles to Melbourne with a flying time of 15 hours and 3 minutes wheels up to wheels down.

While the 15-hour flight was long, some flights make this seem like a short jaunt. Continental Airlines is now flying from Newark Liberty International Airport, just outside of New York City, to Hong Kong non-stop at 16 hours scheduled flight time with the Boeing 777-200ER. And how does 18 hrs and 35 minutes cramped in economy sound? Singapore Airlines is operating non-stop Newark to Singapore with a scheduled flight time of 18 hours and 34 minutes with an Airbus A340.

Unless you cough up the money for international first or even business class, short of an upgrade, like many people you'll be flying in roach, er, I mean coach. Sometimes upgrades can be purchased at check-in or at the gate for an extra fee- it never hurts to ask, but be polite. Don't make up a story to get an upgrade as the check-in agents have heard it all from the "My dog Died" sob stories to passengers faking injuries.

Whether you plan to fly for 8 hours or 18 hours this guide should make your journey more of a pleasure than a trial.

Select a good seat

First, try to select as good seat as possible. I know, good seat and economy is a bit of an oxymoron, but some seats are better than others. A good site for aircraft seating is Seat Guru. Often bulkheads and emergency exit rows will give you more legroom, but these seats may not be available for assignment in advance. Seating layouts on various aircraft do vary depending upon airline and SeatGuru is a great place to find information.

Seat Pitch Matters!

Check the seat pitch before you choose your seat for the long haul - a midget may be able to sprawl in the smallest pitch but those of us of average or tall height will want as much pitch as possible to ensure we don't arrive at our destination with pretzel legs and need of a chiropractor instead of a tour guide.

When talking flying comfort inches DO count. Even an extra centimeter of stretching space can save your sanity between continents.

On the long haul between the United States and Australia, Qantas has an economy seat pitch of 31 inches, whereas Air New Zealand has a 34-inch seat pitch on their 747-400s aircraft but means a layover, typically a change of planes in Auckland. United Airlines offers Economy Plus with 34-36 inches, while their standard economy seat has a 31-inch pitch on their Boeing 747-400’s.

I personally prefer window seats so I can lean up against the wall of the aircraft to sleep while others prefer an aisle seat. It depends on your preference - do you want to limbo and contort to get out when you want to stretch your legs or are you happy with easy access and the joy of your seat-mates clambering over you whenever nature calls? Regardless of your preference, one thing holds true for all veteran travellers - avoid the middle seat at all costs!! This is the purgatory of airline seating, and choosing this seat will ensure that your long haul is constantly interrupted by your seat-mates moving in and out and increasing the odds of sharing breathing space with the dreaded snorer, loud eater, obnoxious talker or the fear-inspiring crying baby for hours on end.

Flight Essentials

Now that you've managed to secure the best possible seating, it's vital you carefully pack a small carry-on of essentials to help survive your economy journey.

Don't place these in your bag to be stored above you - this will lead to threats and possible injury from your seat-mates after the 10th time you access the bag. Pack the following items with you in a small carry-on to keep under the seat in front of you:

• Ear Plugs (industrial strength if babies or children are likely nearby!)
• Eye Shades
• Moisturizing Lotion & Chap Stick to combat the recirculating air
• A bottle of water
• Hand sanitizer
• Medications, if you take any.

Keep Hydrated when flying

While the cabin is pressurized, many people do not realize it is only pressurized at approximately 8,000 ft. The air will be thinner and drier as a result. Additionally, fresh air fed into the aircraft at altitude is dry with little to no humidity.

In this type of an environment, dehydration occurs in the human body. Make sure you drink lots of water and minimise, or best yet, keep away from beverages containing alcohol and caffeine. While the free beer or scotch some carriers provide may sound appealing, drinking alcohol or caffeine will further dehydrate your body. Between drink services your bottle of water will come in handy. While in flight you will find the Chap Stick and moisturizing lotion handy to keep your lips and skin from getting too dry.

Sleeping on flights

Many people find sleeping on an aircraft to be difficult. There are no hard and fast rules as to when to sleep, but if you are on an overnight flight arriving at your destination in the morning sleeping through the flight will make adapting to your new time zone far easier.

With earplugs you will be able to drown out much of the noise, be it the engines or a screaming baby. A portable mp3 player will also help as you can set the style of music - and most importantly the volume - to suit your current situation, and settle back in ignorant bliss of your surrounding passengers.

Secondly, eyeshades will allow you to block out light. Not all airlines will provide these in economy, so it's always a good idea to have comfortable eyeshades with you.

Sleeping medications in-flight

Sleeping medications help many passengers get a decent sleep on long haul flights. While some sleeping medications, generally antihistamines which cause drowsiness, are sold over the counter, you should consult your doctor for advice on what medication will help you sleep through the journey and not arrive at your destination with a hangover feeling. Additionally, there are several prescription sleeping medications, which may be helpful, and your doctor is the one to decide what is best for you.

If you are prescribed a sleeping medication or decide to use an over the counter, if you have never taken it before it's always a good idea to try it at home to see how your body reacts to it.

Exercises In-Flight

It is extremely important to move around and do some stretching in-flight. Most carriers will play a video shortly after take-off with information about stretching you can do from you seat, and more information on stretching is also typically available in the airline's in-flight magazine. Move your feet, legs, and arms around on a regular basis; it's also a good idea to get up and walk around when on a long flight, providing the seatbelt sign if off and it is safe to move around the cabin.

There is a dangerous medical condition called DVT, or Deep Vein Thrombosis, which can be caused by sitting or being stationary too long in one position. If you have concerns about this, it is important you speak to your medical doctor for professional advice before your long haul.

Eat Light Calorie Meals

As you will generally be inactive for a period of time while in-flight, it's good to eat light, low calorie meals including fresh fruit when travelling. Use the hand sanitizer prior to eating, as it's not exactly easy to go wash your hands prior to eating like you may do at home.

If you bring your own food along, it's important to know the customs laws of the country you are travelling to, even if it is only a stop in-transit. If in doubt, dispose of your food on the aircraft prior to arrival in another country. Many countries including the United States & Australia have strict laws about bringing food into the country. It would be a pity to begin your trip of a lifetime exploring a new continent with a grilling by local customs officers at the arrivals counter!

If you do decide to bring food into another country, do your research ahead of time and be sure to properly declare it. If you do not declare it or if you attempt to bring in a prohibited food item, you may be subject to large fines.

Arrival After a Long-Haul Flight

Upon arrival at your destination, it is best to start adjusting to the local time immediately. If you arrive in the morning, stay up for the day and try to stay out in sunlight. If you arrive at night, go to sleep and do your best to wake up in the morning the next day & to get out, exposing yourself to natural sunlight. Many people find travelling westbound easier, thus the saying, "West is Best, East is Beast."

With the development of new, long-range aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and the mega-giant Airbus A380, the world is becoming smaller and more cities will be connected with non-stop service.

If you want to take advantage of the world awaiting you and Business or First Class is out of your budget, take my advice, plan ahead and ensure that your Economy journey gets you there fresh, energetic and sane!