12 Things to Know Before a Flight to Have the Most Comfortable Experience

A weekend trip is nice and a holiday is even better. But it can be spoiled by the journey and its surprises. Whether it’s the scrutiny at the airport, a tireless child kicking your seat, or your own face swelling up treacherously, these things can seem like a real challenge. However, such troubles can be avoided by following some simple rules.

With these versatile tips and tricks from seasoned travelers, here at CHEERY, we’re sure that your journey won’t just be a necessity but an absolute pleasure.

1. Think about what you’ll be wearing when traveling, taking into account security checks and the length of your flight.

Consider wearing clothes that will allow you to quickly and easily go through security without raising any questions. For example, leave your belt in your suitcase, and choose shoes that are easy to take off and put back on, preferably flats without laces. Unless you don’t mind being stuck on check-in. Avoid wearing high heels and stilettos, they may contain metal details and you will get stopped with them by TSA.

• Today, nobody cares how you are dressed, so you don’t need to be dressed up, just don’t be smelly (either by being stinky or wearing too much perfume. It’s hot and tight on that plane). I have a specific outfit for flying so I don’t get stopped. © reddit-account90210 / Reddit

2. Double-check the list of items you’re not allowed to carry.

Anyone who has ever been on a plane knows that their favorite shampoo, conditioner, micellar water, and other liquids cannot be carried in bottles larger than 100 ml. Travel kits are the best solution. However, don’t forget about other forbidden items too — you can’t transport portable chargers (power banks) in your luggage or carry too many of them in your hand luggage. If you don’t want to waste time rummaging through your bags in search of a power bank, you’re better off putting it in your hand luggage in advance and checking the rules for carrying such items.

3. It’s best to avoid coffee before traveling.

Even if your flight is in the early morning, choose to take care of your skin and postpone your daily cup of coffee until you land. Dermatologists point out that caffeine suppresses the production of antidiuretic hormones in the body, which leads to skin losing moisture. Low humidity on the plane, coupled with air conditioning can make your skin look duller, enhance the appearance of circles under your eyes, and even give you surface wrinkles. Cappuccino lovers could be in for a nightmarish outburst of acne, as studies have found a link between dairy products and acne.

4. Don’t forget about moisturizers

Specialists recommend taking thermal water with you and spraying yourself with it regularly. When flying long distances, it’s best to apply the moisturizing cream. It is also advisable to travel with no make-up on. If you choose a window seat, don’t forget to apply a cream with an SPF factor. Once you’re at the hotel, remember to gently exfoliate your skin, and in the case of swelling, put an eye mask or a cool cloth over your face and have a little rest.

• Your skin dries out so fast when you’re 40,000 ft in the air. On long international flights, I’m the crazy person with a sheet mask on her face and head tilted back to get the most out of it. I really don’t care because: 1) the lights are often out for the majority of the flight and 2) I’ll prob never see these passengers again. © Kaila J. Lim / Quora

5. Do not confront other passengers

Even if a passenger behind you is listening to loud music, snoring, or kicking your seat, you shouldn’t confront them or tell them off. The Association of Flight Attendants strongly recommends asking one of your flight attendants for help. Moreover, even if you witness a conflict between passengers, you should only intervene if a flight attendant asks you to. “It’s rare that we would ask for help because most people want a safe, uneventful flight and it’s a small percentage of people who cause conflict or problems.”

• Smile, nod, and understand. Most of the issues we have with long flights are the people around us. The crying baby three rows back, the guy who kicks your seat with each shift of his body, the teen who’s trying to get the movie on the screen to play by pounding the screen attached to your seat... All of these are annoying things and completely out of your control. You need to be at peace with them. I know it’s hard (oh, I know...) but it will save you bucketfuls of stress to let these things pass. © John McCann / Quora

6. Sleep, if you can

One of the most rewarding things you can do when flying is sleep. Experts assure us that a healthy sleep will do wonders for your skin and save you from possible irritating triggers. Don’t forget to bring earplugs, a sleep mask, and a pillow.

• Noise-canceling headphones are bliss. Three hundred people in a turbine-propelled aluminum tube for 12 hours is extremely noisy. That noise causes a lot of low-level stress over a long period of time. One of the ways to counter this is by investing (yes, this is an investment into your sanity) in noise-canceling headphones/earbuds/whatever. You‘ll thank yourself later. © John McCann / Quora

7. Think about keeping yourself entertained

If you can’t or don’t like sleeping on a plane, or if you ended up having that coveted cup of coffee in the morning, it’s best to plan your in-flight entertainment in advance. Think, is there a book you’ve been meaning to read or listen to for a while now? Or maybe you can use that time to squeeze in some last-minute work.

• WiFi is often spotty or unavailable on international flights, so downloading podcasts, audiobooks, and songs beforehand is a MUST. I packed my Beats headphones with the audio cable.
  This helps preserve the headphones’ battery life and can be used for the airplane movie audio too. For the majority of the flight time, I am listening to podcasts and taking notes. © Kaila J. Lim / Quora
• I have a fully charged tablet with mindless games and plenty of media to consume. You never know what sort of entertainment system the airline will have until you board the flight. In addition, the reliability of the systems is in question. Last year, on average, 1 out of 5 flights I was on had an issue with the entertainment system. © John McCann / Quora

8. Get your devices ready for the flight

Make sure you know which devices are getting checked-in, and which ones you’re taking as hand luggage. If you’re bringing a laptop, it may be easier to carry it in a separate laptop bag or at least put it in its own compartment inside your bag. Batteries, tablets, cameras, and cables should be checked-in with your main luggage, as the more electronics you have on you, the longer it will take to get through security.

9. If you’re carrying medicine, inform the TSA.

Inform the TSA officer that you are bringing medication in liquid form, and remember to bring medical documents describing the reason you need them. For convenience, put your medicines in a separate organizer or make-up bag so you don’t have to waste time gathering them all individually. Different states have different labeling requirements for medications, so it’s best to familiarize yourself with them in advance.

10. Don’t be too chatty, and save the jokes until you’ve landed.

If you get nervous before a flight and become overly chatty, make jokes or even the opposite: act too timid, you’re likely to attract the attention of TSA staff members. Joking about the dangers of flying can even have quite serious consequences. So, if you feel you might be one of those people, it’s best to focus on staying calm at security and during the flight.

11. Be considerate of others

Before reclining your seat, make sure you’re not making the person behind you uncomfortable. Be the passenger you want to fly next to.

• When you recline your seat, do it slowly. For shorter flights, I don’t recline if the person behind me is tall. But on long-haul flights that’s not reasonable ⁠— tall people need to upgrade to a seat with more legroom if they don’t fit. Remember the seat back in front of you is someone’s seat! Do not grab it and pull it backward to stand up and be very aware of how hard you’re pressing the touchscreen. © Kerry / Quora
• If you’re traveling alone and somebody wants to switch seats, do it. © Kaushal Barot / Quora

12. Keep calm

TSA is statistically one of the toughest jobs out there, ranking bottom in employee satisfaction. The high turnover of workers is largely due to the high levels of stress they’re under, trying to keep the passengers safe. This is why it is so important to keep calm if you’re asked to go through the scanner again.

• My mother was picked for a random check when we landed in Chicago. She looks like the typical grandma that has a bunch of fat grandkids. Anyway, they pulled her aside and were about to take her somewhere and she started to become nervous. Then this guy looked at her passport and did this audible: “Ehhh.” And they just let her go. © AlleywayGum / Reddit

Do you have any lifehacks that help you ensure a comfortable flight?