AirTravelGenius Blog

For the majority of passengers, flying long-haul in economy class is the uncomfortable reality. One of us recently had a nightmare economy flight experience – due to travel constraints we were unable to check-in online for a flight which was also completely full in all classes. At the airport we were left with a middle seat in the middle row – our first time there in many hundreds of flights taken.

The story then gets worse… to our left was a passenger of “size” who spilled over into our seat and promptly fell asleep for the whole flight, blocking our aisle access. Ahead of us was a young couple sitting on the bulkhead row who spent 90% of the flight with seats fully reclined. And behind us 2 noisy young kids who were kicking our seats literally all the way!

By some quirk of bad luck our row was also the very last to be served on both meal runs – and our first choice had run out on both occasions. However, at least the flight was on time and landed safely…

So here are some tips on surviving a long-haul flight in economy:

1. Choose your airline – If you find the standard economy class a bit cramped then consider using an airline with the higher economy seat pitch of 34″ – Malaysian Airlines, Thai Airways, Asiana, Air China – who all serve Asia, Europe, west coast US and Australia – and Royal Jordanian which serves the Middle East, east coast US, Europe and Asia.

2. Go premium economy – If you can’t afford a business class ticket but want a little more legroom (typically 38″) then consider a premium economy seat – offered by the likes of Air New Zealand, Qantas, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, United, EVA Airlines, V Australia. EVA has some very reasonable premium economy fares from Amsterdam and Vienna to Bangkok and Taipei.

In the future we should see more advanced economy products – Air New Zealand already plan to install economy 3 seater rows that convert into beds.

3. Pick your seat BEFORE you get to the airport – Try to choose your seat assignment in advance. Some airlines such as British Airways, Qantas, KLM-Air France will now allow you to purchase the sought-after emergency  exit row seats beforehand. Alternatively you should always check-in online as soon as it opens, typically 24 hours ahead of flying to get the widest possible selection of seats – and thus avoid a middle seat “nightmare”.

4. Think about your body clock – If you are staying at your destination longer than a week then you should start adjusting your body clock a little in the days leading up to travel. For example, about a week before flying from say London to Hong Kong try to get up a bit earlier each successive day – this will bring your body clock slightly towards Hong Kong time. As soon as you get on board the aircraft set your watch to the destination time.

If you have a choice of flight times try to land at your destination in the late afternoon / early evening which means you can get to your accommodation, go for a light walk, have a meal and then go to bed.

5. Eat before flying – Consider eating a good meal a couple of hours before you get on board rather than eating in the air. Airline food is usually poor quality, loaded with preservatives and your digestion processes are slowed down which affects your capacity to rest well.

If you wish to stay awake however, you can delay the onset of sleep by not eating at all – this could be useful when travelling westwards.

6. Try to get comfy – OK, an economy class seat is generally quite cramped and uncomfortable and for many it is almost impossible to get any sleep.

Comfort also depends on personal preference. What do we do if in economy? Preferably have an empty seat next to us.  Wear loose fitting clothing, take our shoes off and put on the socks provided, put the pillow on the ground for our feet, bring our own neck pillow, use the blanket and eye shades. Turn off the entertainment screen. Change into a fresh pair of socks on landing.

7. Use noise cancelling headphones – We are currently using the JVC HANC250 headphones which reduces the ambient engine noise. Other recommended brands include Audio-Technica, Sennheiser and the Bose Quiet Comfort, although the Bose’s are relatively expensive. Test them out before purchasing as some phones can get uncomfortable if worn for longer periods.

8. Stay healthy on board – If you are awake make sure you stretch and get some exercise – get out of your seat and go for a walk every so often. Stay well hydrated, avoid sugar, caffeine and alcohol. To help you relax bring a small bottle of lavender oil and put a couple of drops of on your temples or the back of your neck. Do the same again when you get to your destination just before you go to bed.

9. Earn some miles – At least try to get some frequent flyer miles or points from your long-haul economy flight. Many airlines also offer double miles when booking on an affiliated card. (Check out our airline credit cards section for more info).  Save your miles up for a business class redemption on a quality carrier with flat bed seats!

In part 1 of this article (below) we mentioned the following points on getting the best seats on your flight:

*picking your airline

*choosing your aircraft type

*studying seat maps to find the optimal seats

*advance seat assignments (paid vs free vs elite status)

*using Online Check-In (OLCI)

In this part we continue our seating discussion…

Another factor to consider is whether the seat(s) next to you will be taken – this could make your journey a lot more comfortable, especially when flying in economy class. The extra space an empty seat can provide could make a big difference on a long-haul flight.

This is somewhat out of your control, especially if the flight has a full load. However if the flight is less than full it is possible to select certain seats to reduce the possibility of someone being next to you. (Again, this is purely a personal preference – some people may like to have a seat mate to talk to).

Note, top-tier elite status passengers in some programs (eg Lufthansa) are able to request an empty adjacent seat, subject to availability.

This strategy comes down to seating psychology and the fact that people don’t really like to choose the middle seat if the aisle and window are occupied.

If you are travelling in a couple you can always pull the old trick by selecting a window and aisle seat on a 3 seat window row. If someone does turn up with the middle seat they are usually more than happy to swap so that you can sit together.

If travelling alone, by choosing a 3 seat row with 1 window or aisle seat already occupied, you will leave the middle seat which is less likely to be taken if the flight is not full.

So in the following seat configuration example, most single passengers would tend to choose a window or aisle seat in the empty row 19. However, choosing seat 20D will mean middle seat 20E is less likely to be taken. If you chose 19F then the chance is there that a couple will take 19D and 19E. (Although if you wanted a window seat then you would have to take 19F!)

If as a couple you want to be guaranteed aisle access on a widebody aircraft and don’t want to have anyone else climbing over you then choose 2 seats together in the middle row. Or choose the 2 seater rows as discussed in part 1.

Don’t forget that with the exit/bulkhead rows being popular it is less likely that you will have an empty seat next to you – but at least you will have extra legroom.

And on flights with light loads it can be worthwhile grabbing an empty row in economy class which can be turned into a “bed”.

Final thoughts:

At the end of the day as long as the airline gets you to your destination safely that is all that really matters. If you can find and secure a seat in your class that will give you a little more comfort then of course that is a good thing.

But if you want to guarantee extra comforts on your journey then book a first class or business class ticket on a top airline.

The swine flu outbreak has made big news headlines this year and has had a serious impact on many people’s travel plans. We’ve heard of some contacts who have had to cancel holiday flights to the US on orders of their employers (big corporations). Let’s discuss some ways of trying to remain healthy if you do have to take that flight.

Obviously sitting in a confined metal tube with hundreds of other passengers means there is always a risk of catching something. Generally, economy passengers in close proximity to each other carry a slightly higher risk than those travelling in the more spaced out business and first class. That said, if the passenger next to you in any class has the flu your risk factor is magnified.

If you are a corporate flyer and/or have the means, consider using private jets to minimise contact with other passengers on board and at airports. For most this won’t be a possiblilty – so when flying on commercial airlines there are a few prevention measures we can take:

-Hydration – Drink plenty of natural mineral water and avoid dehydrating liquids such as alcohol, coffee, tea and carbonated soft drinks. Once past security you can buy water at the airport.

-Eat only lightly on board as digestion is slowed and takes up a lot of energy. It is better to eat on the ground before and after your flight – if you have access to a quality lounge then exercise your pre-flight dining option; alternatively find a good restaurant at the airport or bring your own food.

-Remember to wash your hands regularly and avoid hand contact with your mouth. Be aware of what you are touching – lavatory door handles, in-flight entertainment players, tray tables, laptop keyboard, your mobile phone – any of these could be contaminated with bacteria.

-If you are really paranoid you could wear a face mask during your travels – this could be uncomfortable on a long flight though and you will probably feel a bit strange if no-one else is wearing them! Standard 3M masks (N95 and N100) are classed as dust respirators – they will reduce but not eliminate the risk.

-In the week before you fly try to eat a healthy, balanced diet – include plenty of garlic, onions and use herbs like oregano – all exhibit “antibacterial properties”. Eat citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruits, lemons) for a shot of vitamin C. You should also stay well rested.

-Make sure you get some exercise during the flight and go for a walk outside when you arrive at your destination.

-Keep your immune system in the best possible shape before you travel with a regular supplement program. Probably the best daily natural supplement for air travellers (or any traveller for that matter) is Total Balance (*) from New Zealand. We have used this product for 4 years in combination with their Omega 3 DHA Fish Oil (*) and give them our highest recommendation. Their customer service is friendly and top notch.

For further protection against any flu they also produce a natural supplement called Viral Protec (*) – this is optimal when used in combination with Total Balance.

Note: Article is for information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or instruction. Always consult your doctor or a qualified health professional on any health matters.

(*) Affiliate product link – this site receives a small commission from referring any sales.