There are few things that many people dread more than a long haul flight in economy class.  Personally, I relish the opportunity to spend 15 hours on a flight to Hong Kong or Sydney!  No emails, no phones, no texts…just solitude, some reading and hopefully some sleep.  The key is knowing how to do it right. There are several keys including the right airline, the right airport and preparation.  The right airline is easy, if you don’t live in the US.  Most US carriers are atrocious.  The best are Asian carriers such as Cathay and Singapore, next are European such as Lufthansa and KLM, with Turkish Air a rapid up and comer.  And then I’d put Air Canada in the desirable class as well. Depending on where you live, the right airport might not be possible.  Vancouver is fantastic, Toronto is okay but if you are transferring across from the domestic to the international gates, it can be a major haul.  Getting through security is fast in Vancouver and improving in Toronto.  Departing from any US city is a major pain … Denver might be the best.  Getting between international and domestic terminals in Australia is terrible.

If traveling from Canada through the US, you’ll be going through Customs, as well as Security, on the Canadian side which is a double pain, particularly if during peak hours.  My recommendation is to depart in the early evening if possible when lineups are non-existent.

Preparation starts with booking the ticket.  Be sure to get an aisle row seat.  This is critical.  Even better, a centre aisle seat, that way anybody in the middle seat(s) can get out on the other side if you are sleeping.  Also, if you are a frequent flyer, let the airline know that you prefer a vacant seat next to you, this may help.  Also know that airlines seat those passengers without reserved seats from the front to the back, so simply choosing a seat in row 50 may improve your chances of a vacant adjacent seat compared to row 15. Comfort in your cramped space can be achieved.  Although I like to board the plane last to avoid all that anxiety and mayhem of other passengers finding their spots and dealing with luggage, there is a benefit to being early, mostly to ensure that your luggage gets racked above you and is not stuffed in the foot-well in front of you.

Many airlines have adjustable headrests and these are effective at allowing you to position your head in a comfortable spot.  Since you can’t control the temperature, bring a sweater or fleece jacket in case the aircon is too chilly.  And, because you’re wearing fresh socks, you can take your shoes off during the flight for additional comfort. Although the above hints won’t get you a good night’s sleep, you at least have some control of the process and your environment to provide you with moderate comfort and put your mind at ease.  To sleep?  That will be addressed in a future post.