Any flight that is longer than about four hours can be quite challenging for most people, unless you are able to travel in first or business class. Flying an economy long haul flight in cramped quarters squashed in next to other people that you don’t know can be very trying. In fact, if you have had a bad experience, it can enough to put you off flying forever.

Once you have done a number of these flights, you get to know a few tricks, that help you along the way. No one really talks about these tips and tricks, and it’s not until you get back on a flight, that’s going to take 12 to 24 hours, that you realize you need to know them. The first one I want to talk about today, is what you were going to wear on this strip. Most people want to look smart when they check in and go through customs, however, the last thing you need to wear while on one of these long flights, is your most formfitting clothes and high heeled shoes. One way to get over this, is to take a very lightweight tracksuit and soft ballet style shoes, and change in the bathroom once the flight is underway. Change back into your arrival clothes, just before breakfast is served at your destination.

As the flight is getting ready to take off, have a good look around you and see if you can spot any empty seats. What you are looking for and is at least three seats next to each other in a row that has no passengers sitting on it. If you find one of these sets of seats, as soon as the seatbelt sign goes off, and you’re allowed to stand out grab your bag and sit in one of those seats. Put your bag on the seat next to you and then lift the hand rests between the 3 seats. Grab the pillows and blankets off the seats and make yourself a bed on the three seats and then lie in it. Having this much space, will make it easy for you to sleep nearly the whole trip, that way you will wake up bright and chirpy when you arrive at your destination. If you decide you don’t want to be woken to eat, just ask the flight attendants not to wake you please. One thing you must remember, with this trick, is that you must return to your original seat for landing as the plane has been the weighed and needs to be balanced.