13 tips to make flying easier - or how to survive a long haul flight without going nuts!

David and I live in Australia and David loves to travel.  Australia is that big island at the bottom of the globe which is literally thousands of miles from everywhere. As a result we spend a lot of time on aeroplanes. Even on domestic trips we can easily spend five hours on a plane - and don't get me started about how long it takes to get to Europe, America or Asia. If time sitting in a tin can in the sky can make you an expert, then we are world experts on flying.


As a world expert I can tell you that if things are destined to go wrong on your flight no amount of preparation will help. Sometimes flights leave late, in-flight entertainment systems don't work, the food is inedible and the child in the seat behind you spends the entire time kicking the back of your seat. There is nothing you can do! Just remember your sanity is not like airline luggage, it is remarkably difficult to lose and chances are you will arrive with it intact. However over the years David and I have discovered that there are a few things you can do to make your journey easier and increase the chance that your next long haul flight won't be the one to finally turn you into a raving lunatic.

Before you leave home: - 

1. Pre-book your seat -

For a small extra cost many airlines allow you to choose your seat when you book your flight. Do it! Trust me it is worth every cent. When you arrive at the airport and half the planet is in the check-in queue ahead of you you can be smug in the knowledge that your preferred seat, whether it be a window, aisle, up the front or up the back, will still be sitting there waiting for you.

Needless to say the earlier you book the better your chances of getting what you want. There are only four economy seats on a Qantas A380 which David and I like to sit in and by booking early we always managed to get them.

If you aren't sure which seats to choose take a look at Seat Guru. It isn't infallible but it can be helpful.

2. Leave a spare seat in the middle - 

If you are travelling as a couple and feeling lucky try booking a window and an aisle seat in a three seat configuration.  David and I have used this trick several times to score a vacant middle seat between us. It works better on domestic and shorter haul international flights and doesn't work if the flight is completely full. No-one wants to sit in the middle so a lone middle seat will be one of the last to go. If someone does turn up, we don't have to stick with sitting apart. The first thing the middle-seat person always says once they realise we are a couple, is 'Would one of you like to swap?'

Business Class in a QANTAS A330 - travelling up the front of the plane is a lot nicer if you can do it!

3. Pack light - 

There is a saying among cyclists - 'Lay all your gear out before you pack and then leave half of it behind, but make sure it is the right half'.  I think that sums up my approach to packing. If I leave half my stuff behind it will always be the wrong half. So pack light enough that your bags won't be a burden but remember it isn't a competition. You don't get a prize for being able to fit everything you need in a carry-on the size of a small envelope.

4. Don't use a black bag -

Have you noticed how many black bags there are on luggage carousels. Is there a rule somewhere which says you have to travel with a bag which is black and only black. Don't! It is no wonder luggage goes missing. No one can tell these bags apart. Half the passengers are going home with someone else's pile of washing. Travel with a brightly coloured bag, preferably one as ugly as possible, which no-one in their right minds will mistakenly think is theirs. David and I have matching bags in a beautiful purple. They are truly hideous but we never have to worry about someone else taking them home. If you do have a black bag, tie a bright scarf around the handles or stick coloured dots all over it to give it that 'one of a kind' character.

5. Use internet check-in - 

If you are flying with an airline which allows you to check-in on the internet, do it - even if you have baggage. Trust me it makes life a lot easier once you arrive at the airport.

You will usually need to print out your boarding pass. Most hotels have a way of doing this for you - just ask. However even if you don't have access to a printer, check-in online anyway. You can get a print out of your boarding pass at the airline check-in counter.

6. Invest in a set of noise-cancelling headphones -

Noise-cancelling headphones are expensive and I confess that I don't always carry a set but aeroplanes are noisy. If you want to be able to watch a movie and hear the soundtrack then noise cancelling headphones are almost essential.

Economy class - no wonder people have been known to go crazy on long flights.

7. Pack an eye mask - 

Once upon a time every passenger on a long haul flight would get one of those little bags of goodies with an eye mask, toothbrush set and socks. If nothing else it kept us amused for a couple of seconds while we opened up the plastic. Nowadays these little airline giveaways are like a lucky dip - sometimes you get one and sometimes you don't. Don't risk your luck! Pack an eye mask. An eye mask is the single most useful item you can have with you on a long haul flight.

At the airport: - 

8. Arrive early but not too early - 

Depending on the airline, check-in usually opens about three hours before departure. If you arrive earlier than this the counter may not be open, particularly if your airline has no other flights departing that day. 

For long haul international flights most people seem to arrive about two hours before departure. If you aim for two and a half hours you can often check-in before the crowds. If you are in economy don't risk cutting it shorter than this. Check-in, immigration, and airports generally, can be maddeningly slow places to navigate when you are cutting it fine.


9. Use the internet check-in counter - 

Refer back to rule 5. Look for the 'Bag Drop-off' counter. It will be the one with the shortest queue, often no-one at all. If you can't find the counter, ask, sometimes it doubles up with the Business Class counter. Checking in on the internet has saved David and I countless hours standing in airport queues. It constantly amazes me that more people don't do it.

10. Go straight to security and immigration -

Don't make the mistake of thinking once you have checked in that the hassle is over. It might look like there is no queue for outward security and immigration but you never know until you get behind the barrier. It can be a war-zone back there!

11. Choose the left-hand queue -

Honestly, I don't know if this works but it is worth a try. Most people are right handed which, apparently, causes them naturally to turn to the right if they have a choice. Turn to the left and you should always find yourself in the shorter queue.

Alternatively, and I can guarantee this will work every time, if you happen to see David and I at the airport choose the other queue. We have a 100% success rate with picking the slowest queue. For the story of our three hour journey through the customs and quarantine queue in Auckland read my post on Life in the Slow Lane: Welcome to New Zealand.

Premium Economy - it is more comfortable than economy and cheaper than business.

On the aeroplane: -

12. Congratulations you made it - 

All the hard work is now over. Sit back, relax, watch a movie, sleep as much as you can and keep telling yourself the flight can't last forever!

One last thing: -

13. Choose your airline wisely -

David and I fly QANTAS whenever we can. QANTAS lets us pre-book our seats and check-in on the internet. Its A380s have a small section on the upper deck with some of the best economy seats in the skies. Check-in is always smooth and the staff are pleasant. Once in a while our loyalty waivers and we nearly always regret it. If you book a budget airline, expect a budget experience - fine for short flights but not so much fun when you are their captive for a long haul.

Note: This is not a sponsored post. We have always paid our own way when flying.

Related blog posts you might find useful

• Where to find the Best Economy Seats in the sky!

• The 7 most annoying things in hotel rooms and how to fix them!

• Is premium economy worth the extra cost?

• Booking an airline ticket yourself: How to avoid some common mistakes

• Tips and tricks to get the best hotel room at the best rate

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If you have any of your own suggestions on how to make flying easier I would love to hear about them. Please, leave me a comment. I love connecting with fellow travellers.

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