Travelers know it well: long-haul flights are tiring. After waiting in line at the airport, we spend hours sitting on the plane and often have difficulty resting in flight. However, according to an experienced flight attendant, it is possible to make your flight much more pleasant if you follow his advice.
Unless you are lucky enough to travel on business where you are pampered from start to finish, long flights are quite tiring. With little legroom and often next to strangers who are not always friendly, you have to quickly adapt to a completely new environment which can be a source of stress and annoyance. Result: we often arrive exhausted at our destination and it’s a shame to start your vacation in this state…
Kris Major, a British flight attendant who has been in his profession for 25 years, however, shared 4 very useful tips on CNN Travel and they should help you travel in a more zen way.
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The best time to eat and what to bring with you
When you know you have a long flight, you usually wait until you’re on the plane to eat. But When it comes to flights that last only 6 to 8 hours like those connecting France to the United States for example, Kris Major advises eating before boarding. The reason is simple: once on the plane, you can fall asleep quickly after takeoff, which allows you to arrive more rested.
Concerning the accessories to take with you, even if you are provided with a pillow on board, this steward recommends bringing your own pillow, often more comfortable, and your sleeping mask (not always provided). Earplugs can be helpful, but noise-canceling headphones are often more effective. On the entertainment side, it also offers download movies and podcasts on your tablet or smartphone before the flight, in case you don’t like the selection offered by the airline.
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The attitude to adopt if you are afraid of flying and in the company of children
If you are rather nervous in a plane, you panic at the slightest engine noise, and tend to imagine that the plane is going to crash, there is no point in stressing according to steward Kris Major who specifies that the plane remains the safest means of transport. Although sometimes impressive turbulence can occur, everything will be fine if you keep your seat belt fastened during the flight.
If you’re traveling with children, there’s a chance they’ll be unsettled by air travel, especially if they’re not used to it. To help them stay calmwhich allows you to avoid screaming and crying (which will create a certain number of enemies in the plane), you just need to adopt a serene and relaxed attitude according to Kris Major. Children are sponges and will therefore be more relaxed. Also remember to take a few toys and your child’s cuddly toy, these are points of reference that will reassure them.
News journalist
A true jack-of-all-trades, passionate about travel, culture, society, people and beauty, Saliha writes for various media such as Escapade magazine, the GEOguide collection by Gallimard, Le Figaro…