Brady Robinson on a flight in Peru
You Made It Onboard, So Should Your Carry-on Luggage.
With almost all airlines charging for any checked baggage, passengers are trying to bring more carry on luggage onboard. As a result the overhead bins are often full even before all the passengers board the plane. Airlines typically board from the rear of the aircraft. If you are seated in the front or middle of the plane take note, once you are onboard, of how quickly the overhead luggage compartments are filling up. If it looks like space is at a premium, take out whatever essentials you must have for the flight (computer, iPad, book, food, water, etc) and quickly stow your carry on at the first available empty compartment.
Know Your Own Metabolism.
Aircraft temperatures often fluctuate considerably during the flight and being able to adapt to the changing conditions is key. Sometimes conditions are out of your control. Have you ever been on a plane that has felt like it was kept in a freezer overnight. And to make matters worse the passenger next to you is prone to motion sickness and has all the vents above you turned on at full volume? But extreme situations aside, if you are a person who gets cold easily bring an extra layer or grab an airline blanket on your way to your seat. If you are a hot person dress appropriately, so you don’t elbow the person next to you in the nose while trying to take off your sweatshirt mid flight.
Protect Your Territory, If Stuck Between A Rock And Hard Place.
If you have ever booked a flight at the last minute or during a holiday, chances are the only seats available were the dreaded middle rows. Will you end up stuck between a screaming two year old and a 300lb football player? I hope not, but if you are stake your claim immediately by putting down the armrest to give yourself some separation from your fellow passengers. Being in the middle you have certain unalienable rights that people rarely discuss, but everyone should know. You are entitled to BOTH armrests. Get your elbows on YOUR armrests immediately and never let them go no matter what, they come with the lousy real-estate.
Use Technology To Escape From Chatty Passengers.
Let’s say you are seated next to Hank, who has already had twelve cups of coffee and loves to talk about monster trucks. If you are into monster trucks you are psyched, if not smile politely and reach for your secret weapon, your headphones. Hopefully not the free airline set, as those usually hurt your ears and the fidelity is equivalent to the sound produced by a worn out 8 track player from the 70’s. Today you can buy top dollar noise canceling headphones that allow you to escape to your music, podcasts or movies, but also electronically filter out the ambient chatter. Two cheaper options are small ear bud headphones or over the ear headphones that will do an adequate job of isolating you from a in depth discussion with Hank about lift kits and roll bars.
Plan Ahead If You Have To Work.
Sometimes even though all you want to do during a flight is catch up on the latest gossip about Lady Gaga in People magazine, you have work to do. Try and plan out the type of work your want to accomplish during the flight. Simple tasks such as to do lists or reviewing notes from a meeting are preferable to projects that require all of your attention such a proofreading a legal document. Headphones, as mentioned above are a great asset in creating a better working environment. If you are in a middle or window seat and have to use your laptop, make sure you stow your computer under the seat in front of you, so you will have easy access during the flight. While first class seats often have power outlets and free wifi, economy usually does not. Make sure to fully charge your computer’s battery and download all the information you will need from the internet before your flight in case those options are not available to you in your class of seating.
Take Appropriate Steps To Prevent Kankles.
Kankles are defined by the urban dictionary as, “a term referring to the body part where the ankle is located, but is not visible due to swelling or a condition preventing the ankle bones from being visible. Kankles is a humorous term referring to the absence of an ankle where it appears the lower leg grows straight into the foot.”
Even if you are not overweight or genetically predisposed to kankles, after being seated for a few hours many people notice swelling in their ankles and feet. This is a very natural occurrence when gravity and inactivity cause the blood and other fluids in your body accumulate in the lower legs. Some individuals with poor circulations can be at risk of developing Deep Vein Thrombosis, a dangerous clotting of blood in the leg. Those individuals might want to invest in some compression socks for longer flights. For the rest of us, wearing loose fitting shoes or removing tight shoes (assuming your feet don’t stink!), flexing your ankles and feet while seated and walking around the cabin of the plane will help alleviate this condition.
What Do You Mean This Packet Of Peanuts Costs $5?
Gone are the days when airlines routinely provided free meals during domestic flights. Today you are lucky if you get 4 ounces of water and packet of peanuts on anything less than a 5 hour flight. The environment inside the cabin is often very dry and staying hydrated is one way to reduce jet lag. Come prepared with your own water bottle or other non alcoholic beverages. Even if you pay the outlandish prices, airline food is often one step above prison food in terms of quality. Spending some extra time at home preparing a delectable feast, will not only make your stomach feel better, but keep a few extra dollars in your wallet that you can use on a real meal when you get to your final destination.
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