First time flyers

Air travel is no longer a luxury .The entry of several low budget carriers made sure of that. This can only mean that there are a lot first-timers taking to the sky, either on business or pleasure.

As a first time air traveler it’s highly likely that you will have your own preconceived notions about what flying is like…notions which needn’t necessarily be true.

You might also unexpectedly find yourself in some rather unpleasant situations which you might not have prepared yourself for, like a delayed flight or maybe a really bad case of jetlag. In such cases it is always wise to prepare yourself by knowing the do’s and don’ts of flying.

If this is your first time up in the clouds then the following is intended to give you an optimum air-borne experience.

SEATING

1. Getting a seat in a good location isn’t always easy as some fares require check-in before seats can be assigned. Still, try to avoid seats near the galley (kitchen area) and lavatories due to the noise, and in certain cases, the odor.
2. Bulkhead seats (the row where you don’t have any seats directly in front of you) work for some people though sometimes they offer only limited legroom.
3. For the safety conscious, seats over the wing structure are regarded as the safest; due to the structural strength of this section of the plane.
4. If you are seated in the middle row, try to opt for the aisle seat as is allows you to exit easily from your seat without bothering your fellow passengers.

1. Carry an in-flight bag containing books, magazines, medicines (incase of air sickness or otherwise) under linen, a spare shirt, a shoehorn, flight socks, toothbrush, traveling sized toothpaste, comb, tissues and deodorant. (Nowadays, most flights provide some of these things, but if you don’t like to use what is offered on the flight it makes sense to carry your own, particularly if it’s a long flight)
2. On long international flights make sure to get hold of a pillow and a blanket before settling into your seat as it gets colder as the plane reaches higher altitudes.
3. The best footwear is that which can be easily slipped on and off. Avoid shoes with laces that need to be tied every time you wear them. They can be troublesome in case you have to make trips to the lavatory.
4. Your feet will swell during the flight so be sure to use that shoehorn while putting your shoes back on during landing.

1. Drink plenty of fluids and keep yourself hydrated as the air on the plane is very dry and can cause dehydration. Keep away from alcohol and caffeine if you want to avoid jet lag.
2. Reset your watch as soon as you board the plane. It helps to start living and thinking according the time zone of the place you are headed to as soon as possible.
3. Get up, take a short walk up and down the aisles and stretch every few hours. Sitting for prolonged periods can cause decreased blood flow and in some cases even blood clots.
4. Uncomfortable ear pressure can be tackled either by chewing on gum or by yawning which helps to relieve the pressure. You could also using ear plugs.
5. If you get motion sick easily, take some sort of motion sickness medication before you fly. Note that you must take the medicine before you get sick. Don’t hesitate to use the “Barf bags” provided behind every seat.
6. Finally, take a nap. It will refresh and revitalize you. Most international flights take place at night and arrive at the destination at either early in the morning or at bed time. Either way a few winks of sleep will do you good. Avoid taking sleeping tablets to prevent jet lag.

1. Meals are usually first come first served and based on where you are sitting and from where the attendant starts serving.
2. Considering the food is prepared before time and made to serve a large number of people with varied tastes, it is highly likely that you will NOT enjoy the meals.
3. Certain carriers accommodate certain dietary preferences (vegetarian, kosher).For this you will have to reserve a “special meal” while making your reservation itself.
4. If you have food allergies, you are better off bringing your own food, but many countries have import restrictions on food so make sure you finish it on the plane.

1. Jetlag occurs when people take time to adjust to new time zones, thereby experiencing a little disruption in their sleeping patterns.
2. To keep jetlag to the minimum, avoid alcohol, caffeine and sleeping pills while traveling and get as much exercise as possible.
3. Two good rules of thumb: it takes about one day per hour of time shift to totally get over jet lag. It is also much harder to travel east than it is to travel west.

When booking your flight remember:

1. A departure early in the day is less likely to be delayed than a later flight, due in part to the “ripple” effects of delays throughout the day
2. You are least likely to be delayed on nonstop flights .A connection (change of planes) always involves the possibility of a misconnection.
3. Call the airline well ahead of your departure time to check on your flight’s status. If there is a problem, try to rebook over the telephone.
4. If you find a flight on another airline, ask the first airline to endorse your ticket to the new carrier, however, that there is no rule requiring an airline to do this.
5. If your flight is canceled, most airlines will rebook you on their next flight to your destination on which space is available, at no additional charge. If this involves a significant delay, find out if another carrier has seats and ask the first airline to endorse your ticket to that carrier
6. If you are stuck somewhere overnight because of something that was the fault of the airline, they will usually furnish you with a hotel room, breakfast, and the first flight out in the morning.

One can never be totally prepared for what one might encounter on or off board a plane but hopefully these little tips will make the experience a lot more comfortable. That said… BON VOYAGE!

By Melanie Lewis
(This article contains inputs from multiple sources)

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