Most of the people currently alive only know a world where travel via airplane is less and less of a luxury and more of a common occurrence. In fact it was in 1914, when the world’s first scheduled passenger service set off between Tampa and St Petersburg, piloted by Tony Jannus – whose name became legend within the aviation field. Amenities became a fixture, a short time later in the 1920s, when only the richest and most adventurous could afford to take a flight. Passengers had their every need attended to and were waited on with fine food and drink. Which they definitely needed as flights at that time were not at all comfortable as planes, of that time, traveled at a much lower altitude, so passengers were subjected to lots of noise, turbulence and long journey times. It was in the mid 1920s when the first in-flight film was shown when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World was shown on a single screen on Imperial Airways. This started a trend where commercial airlines did everything they could to make passengers feel comfortable and in the 1980s as flying became more and more commonplace, the economy class cabin looked much as it does currently. Lavish, multi-course meals had been mostly replaced with more humble dinners served from boxes or trays. And passengers, because of economic cutbacks and general ideals change, were left to find their own ways to get themselves some level of comfort. Packing a light sweater that can double as a blanket if the plane is cold or wearing compression socks with comfortable shoes to prevent any occurence of swelling are just two of the best suggestible actions that anyone could replicate in order to get the most comfort out of their trip in the sky. Fortunately, there are quite a few more suggestions that should have even the most low maintenance of travelers flying like a high roller.
Useful Tips For Air Travel
- Try To Get The Best Seat Possible – seats by emergency exits provide plenty of legroom. The bulkhead seats (the ones in the front rows of each section) often have more legroom – they are, however, occasionally reserved for people with medical needs or those traveling with infants, but sometimes they are available. Also consider a window seat if you want to lean against the wall and sleep. Try to avoid seats near the toilets/lavatories, as other passengers will be accessing these regularly.
- Bring A Small Air Pillow – air pillows for traveling are one of the best solutions for comfort on the go. It would be smart to get one that packs down small, stays put on the neck, is machine washable, and adjustable comfy for all types of sleep positions.
- Dress Comfortably – Dress in loose, cozy clothes and comfortable shoes. Also because there is a very good chance that a person will have to sit in one position for hours at a time. It makes sense to wear compression socks that can help improve circulation in a person’s legs and prevent inflammation and blood clots.
- Carry Chewing Gum – chewing gum has been known to ease ear pressure during a plane’s takeoff and touch down. The pressure in the airplane’s cabin can cause an unbalance of pressure in the middle ear which creates stress on the inner ear. Chewing engages the muscles that surround the eustachian tube and let out air to relieve the buildup of pressure inside the ear.
- Bring Noise Canceling Headphones – with good noise canceling headphones, a traveler could just put on an audiobook, music playlist, or a good movie and forget all about the possible ruckus around them. Quality noise canceling headphones were made to drown out all of the engine noise, which is important if a person wants to get a few hours’ sleep in.
- Maintain Personal Hygiene – conscientious travelers should always take a hairbrush, toothbrush, lip balm, and anything else that they would need to help them freshen up before they land. Facial wipes are also great for helping someone feel clean and refreshed – especially after a few hours on a flight. There is always the option of just headed to the bathroom and freshening up. They could also splash some water on their face, put on some deodorant, and maybe even brush their teeth before disembarking the plane and heading to arrivals.
- Keep Active – This is especially important on longer flights to prevent aches, poor circulation, and potentially dangerous conditions like deep vein thrombosis. Travelers should go for a stroll every few hours. Stretching their legs and arms once they are out of their seat should refresh them, hopefully fending off cramping and promote healthy blood flow. There are some exercises that can be done without getting out of the seat as well such as ankle circles or arm raises. It might be cool to participate in the in flight exercise video, should the flight provide one. These are designed to help improve circulation and reduce fatigue. So look out for them.