How to Improve Your Next Flight – A Simple Guide

Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel quite a bit. Seeing new and interesting places, and experiencing all the diverse cultures the world has to offer is amazing. Though all of these trips have been worth it, and though I’ve learned useful skills – such as haggling – there’s been one consistent thread of suckiness that’s ran through all of my trips: the flight.

If you’ve ever been on an airplane for more than a few hours, perhaps you’ll agree that, unless you’re flying first class, it’s often a dull and even uncomfortable experience. Your legs cramp up, there are babies crying, and perhaps the person next to you smells. So in the spirit of making your next flight more comfortable, I’ve compiled an exceedingly short list of simple things to do and occupy your time, hopefully improving the journey to what you know will be an amazing trip.

3 Simple Steps to Improve your Flight

  • Drink excessively, preferably to the point of passing out. Believe me, the meager amount of money you spend on the equally meager amounts of alcohol you’ll receive are well worth the money. After picking up super inexpensive airline tickets for an admittedly short flight within Europe, I decided to drink excessively on the plane, and you know what? It was a wonderful decision. Never have I been so happy after a flight. Just remember to also drink lots of water. I know, bummer right? It will keep you from getting dehydrated, though.
  • Bring a book, or even better, an e-reader. If you’ve ever tried to watch the movies on a long flight, well… yeah, you know. Even the worst novel you pick up at the airport will be better than the best movie playing on the airplane.
  • Attempt to sleep so that you feel wonderful and rested on your arrival in a foreign country. If you can pull this off, the added rest means you’ll be feeling great (or at least less bad) the moment you step off that plane. Unfortunately, if you’re tall like me, trying to position your head just so to sleep on a plane can be a challenge in and of itself. Consider packing a small inflatable travel pillow.

The actual experiencing of flying, as in… being up in the air, soaring across the sky in a giant metal bird, is quite thrilling on its own. Unfortunately, the event loses it’s sheen rather quickly. Whether you’re flying from Vancouver to China on vacation, or frequently taking business flights from New York to Chicago, you know exactly what it’s like, and that’s why we all need to get a little bit creative when it comes to making our flight more enjoyable. I hope you find my suggestions useful next time you’re stuck on a plane with crying babies. Hint: the first suggestion is the best one.

If you have any flight tips of your own, feel free to share them below. My list is by no means comprehensive, but these three simple “techniques” have been an absolute life saver for me.

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Chad

Chad is the co-founder of Unfinished Man, a leading men's lifestyle site. He provides straightforward advice on fashion, tech, and relationships based on his own experiences and product tests. Chad's relaxed flair makes him the site's accessible expert for savvy young professionals seeking trustworthy recommendations on living well.

2 comments on “How to Improve Your Next Flight – A Simple Guide”

  1. Sleeping pills – I regularly fly to and from London and in my experience being able to plan my sleep is a great advantage especially upon arrival with a few hours under your belt to tackle the jet lag.

    Ear plugs & Eye mask – to avoid those unnecessary interruptions.

    Aisle seat – Preferably the emergency exit as i too have long legs. After all that booze (and water) you will need access to the bathroom. it’s also easier to buy drinks.

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  2. Take the red eye flights. less people want to fly out at 12 or 1am so you have more room beside you. I flew from new york to seattle and had all three seats to myself which took care of the smelly neighbour problem!

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