Settling in for a long haul flight can be challenging. You want to board as soon as possible, but this obviously extends the length of time you’ll be seated and trapped in your row. And an extra twenty minutes when your butt is numb and your leg is cramping can seem like an eternity for those of us that prioritize spending money at the destination and not blowing cash on an expensive seat.
You want to make sure that you have what you need for your trip, even if you and TSA have a drastically different view of what constitutes a solid or an essential. And I have to tell ya, that lately my travel toothpaste, hand sanitizer and “forgotten” large tube of sunscreen have made it through security without so much as a hiccup. Not that I’m complaining. But I was much more fortunate than this gal…
You must secure overhead space, but you don’t want your luggage smashed or damaged by the next passenger. You’d love a window seat to have that teeney tiny bit of extra room between your body and the window but you don’t want to risk the aisle person sleeping when you desperately have to pee in the middle of the night. You want your in flight necessities close to you but not crowding you, arms length but not too far away, visible but not touching something that probably has not been disinfected.
You want to travel with a nice carryon for under the seat in front of you, but not so nice as to scratch the leather or damage the hardware or charms when you gently smoosh it with your foot back into place.
The plane is sometimes hot and sometimes so cold and the temperature swings can be random and immediate so you need a jacket, scarf or wrap of some sort but where do you keep it after you’re seated? Isn’t flying a blast?!
And then there is pressure to stay awake if the snacks are elite! Maybe you don’t want it now, but what about later?? Shouldn’t you at least take a look see and then decide? And this involves staying awake and ripping those uncomfy earphones from your ears so that you don’t scream to the flight attendant.
And if you’ve sprung for a schmancy seat, you certainly want to enjoy the great perks that come along with “not camping!”
Some nervous fliers purposely have a little somethin somethin to take the edge off flying. Melatonin or a sip of something soothing, or something stronger. But be careful… when you’re out of your element, it’s easy to get confused midair!
Flying is definitely the most efficient way to get from here to anywhere far. And for those of us who travel frequently, it’s a necessity to lean into the process to maximize efficiency. Going any other way would be crazy.
And then there are those of us who just can’t get enought of the whole airport thing, present company excluded.
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