You’re going on vacation soon and you want your flight experience to be as pleasant as possible? Consult our 10 effective tips to make the most of your journey up in the air. More comfort, less stress, that’s what awaits you in our practical advices!
1. Dress comfortably
The choice of your outfit can greatly influence your comfort during the flight. To feel comfortable on a plane, choose loose clothing that doesn’t restrict your movements and shoes that are easy to remove during security checks. Also favor clothing layers to be able to adapt to temperature variations in the cabin. Ideally, don’t wear jeans and tight shoes as well as one-pieces to avoid an uncomfortable situation in the restroom.
It’s also best not to tie your hair too tightly, to choose comfortable underwear, and to avoid white clothes in case you spill something. Also, don’t forget to pack a lightweight spare kit in your personal item or carry-on to stay comfortable in the event of an unexpected event.
Crédit photo: Marissa Grootes/Unsplash
2. Stay hydrated
Maintaining optimal hydration in flight is essential for a comfortable travel experience. Faced with dry air in the cabin, it’s important to drink enough water to avoid dehydration. Don’t put on excessive makeup which can dry out the skin. Ask for a damp towel in flight or keep some in your carry-on to freshen your face. Also, make sure you have access to your moisturizer, especially on long flights.
3. Choose a superior comfort option
To get to the Costa del Sol, we had the chance to fly with Air Transat and enjoy the Option Plus experience for an extra dose of comfort from Montreal to Málaga! This upgrade allowed us to benefit from exclusive advantages such as priority passage through security checks, a checked baggage with priority delivery as well as the possibility of choosing our seats in advance.
By opting for an upgrade with Option Plus, you can relax in the sky thanks to their comfort kit including a soft blanket, a rest mask to sleep better and natural wooden headphones to watch a movie. From the beginning of your flight, you can also enjoy a free snack, and at service time, you can choose an alcoholic drink from the Bistro menu such as sparkling wine. With Option Plus, every detail is thought for a great, worry-free vacation start.
Crédit photo: The Storytellers MTL
4. Prepare your entertainments
Carefully planning your entertainment can greatly improve your flying experience. Before you leave, make sure your electronic devices are fully charged and bring an intriguing book or games to keep you occupied during your flight. You can also download guided meditations in advance, inspiring podcast episodes or do deep breathing exercises to reduce your stress and make your flight even more enjoyable.
Crédit photo: The Storytellers MTL
5. Use comfort accessories
To help you rest on the plane, don’t hesitate to bring some comfort accessories. A travel pillow can make it easier to sleep and prevent neck pain, a reusable water bottle keeps you hydrated, while an eye mask and earplugs create a peaceful cocoon. Get ready to immerse yourself in a more relaxing flight experience than ever!
6. Stay informed about safety rules and flight procedures
To stay calm before and during your flight, it’s essential to keep yourself informed of the safety rules and airline procedures of your chosen carrier. Use flight tracking apps to receive real-time updates, informing you of possible changes. This simple tip will help you avoid unpleasant surprises and make your experience way smoother.
Airports are making efforts to reduce waiting times to go through security following the chaos of recent years. Montreal airport, for example, offers you the possibility of booking your passage through security in advance, allowing you to reduce some of the stress before taking your flight.
Crédit photo: Danijela Prijovic/Unsplash
7. Book direct plane flights when possible
Several airlines are offering more direct international flights such as Air Transat which has enhanced its offer with new destinations for the next year, allowing you to access even more places while limiting your transport. In addition to avoid increasingly long waiting times at transfer airports (especially during high season), you’ll considerably reduce the risk of complications such as lost luggage and delays in your stopovers.
Sometimes, tickets with several stops can be cheaper and seem more tempting than a direct flight, but when you take into account the waiting times during your layovers and the costs you’ll have to add to eat at the airport, direct flights may become more advantageous in the end.
Of course, it’s not always possible to find a direct flight to your destination of choice. In this case, you can consider extending your stay by a few days if time and your budget allow you to explore an additional city before flying to your final destination.
8. Reserve your plane seat and check-in in advance
For several years, we always try to do our check-in online as soon as the process opens 24 hours before our flight. Although check-in can be done directly at the airport, it always reassures us to have our boarding pass with us before arriving there. Since we travel mostly with our carry-ons, it also allows us to speed up the process at the airport, as we don’t often have to check-in baggages during our trips. This way we can go straight to security and get through this stressful moment as quickly as possible.
In addition to avoiding waiting lines, you’ll be able to select your seat (if you didn’t already when purchasing your ticket) and choose the one that suits you best. For example, if you’re someone who often gets up during a flight, you may opt for the aisle to avoid having to move your seat neighbors.
Crédit photo: Jaimie Harmsen/Unsplash
9. Take advantage of the airlines lounges if you can
When possible, optimize your flight experience by taking advantage of airline lounges. If you have a travel credit card or are a privileged member of an airline points program, these benefits are often within reach. These lounges usually offer a quiet and comfortable space with refreshments, food, fast Wi-Fi and sometimes even showers, transforming your waiting period into a relaxing experience.
10. Learn a few words in the local language
Enrich your flying experience by learning a few words in the local language of your destination. This little tip takes on its full value when you take an international flight, thus facilitating interactions with the crew and passengers. In addition to making your communications more fluid when necessary, you could also have access to local recommendations more easily and thus make your trip even more exciting.
We hope that these tips will help you to have a better flight experience on your next vacation and, above all, that they will make your journey more pleasant and less stressful!
Have a good trip!
*This article was written following an upgrade with Air Transat. This is based on our own experience and genuine opinions.
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