How to survive a long flight on Economy

I have recently watched the movie, “Crazy Rich Asians” and when Rachel yelled “We’re economy people!” when she had no idea about why they’d been upgraded to business class, tugged my heart. Relate much, aren’t we?

It is a wild dream to be able to try business class especially for long flights where you get to lie down and have a good night’s sleep. Order food at your beck and call and get freebies. LOL.

But I am an economy person, dreaming about flying in business class while I try my best to feel comfy on my stuffy economy chair is the best that I can do. I can only wish.

I have been on a couple of long flights and each one is different from the other. I must say, the quality of service of one airline determines the amount of sleep and rest that I get. On good days of flying, I sleep like a baby and on bad days, I feel grouchy like hell the next day.

My TRAVEL TIPS are these:

Get LOOSE!

Travel tip #1) Fly in comfy attire.

Yes, I get you. As much as leather jackets look cool as an airport fashion and we feel as though a paparazzi would come and take a photo of us like those of our favorite Korean Stars, it is so suffocating on an economy seat! Most stars have PAs and they change into comfy outfits after the picture has been taken. And yes, they are on Business class! While us Economy People? Oh well, forget it! On long layovers, I wear my basic loose pants, loose shirts and sneakers and a scarf to cover my face while I drool! LOL

Travel tip #2) Pack a carry on for basic necessities.

Have a small pouch ready before the plane takes off. For instance, I pack sleeping tools like an eye cover, a face mask, a lip balm,  Vicks Vaporub (haha) bedroom slippers to change into, etc. I also include wet wipes, facial tissues and the like. (We're economy people, some airlines don't provide that much.) This saves me from getting my cabin bag which has been stowed and avoid further disturbing my seatmate when I need to pass through her every time to get my stuff. Always ready, Girls Scout! J

Travel tip #3) Do your beauty regimens before flying

Plane toilets are designed for dwarves! LOL

It’s rather… compact that you can’t do much other than peeing.

While I’d want to brush my teeth, put on my serums when I feel like it, while on the plane after perhaps taking off… the space is just too constricting. So ideally, before I go to the airport, I am makeup free, serums done, moisturizers applied etc. BUT sometimes, it’s too rushed so I do everything in the airport while I wait there for two hours. LOL

Window Seat if you want to take a video

Travel tip #4) If you paid for a desired seat, Good. If not, use your charms and ask for your preferred seat.

Whether you want a window seat, an aisle seat, a less far seat, go ahead. Ask and you shall receive.

Alright, I failed to ask for some flights because I was either busy chatting or I was absent minded and let the ground crew booked whichever he preferred me to be seated.

On my recent flight, we were there to check in early BUT I was shocked to discover that I am seated separately from a friend.

Normally, when you’re booked together in the same booking confirmation, most airlines would let you seat in together. This is basic. I mean, long flights would mean endless toilet dash for me, who can I entrust my stuff when I go? I made a mistake by not checking after checking in. I just assumed he seated us in together. Be alert, be awake. Don’t be tanga. :P

Travel tip #5) Cannot sleep? Wine is the answer.

Unless you have the reversed effect of wine.

But this is the most important travel tip when you want to feel refreshed after landing.

There are people who use their time binge watching free movies during flying and some people just catch up on sleep, me included. I invest on sleep because it gives me the energy when we land. When I travel, I usually take night flights, and all I do is sleep and be refreshed for tomorrow’s endless walking, whichever city I am into. When I needed sleep, I ask for wine. Some airlines give you a whole bottle. On my flight from Paris, I woke up the next day and my friend asked, “hey the movie was so nice, I want to download it, have you watched it?” the other friend chimed in and said “yeah, I loved it too, the guy was the culprit!” and I was like, “ha? Uhmm errrr..” ( What movie? I slept the whole time! LOL)

 

Long flights are never easy. You sit for 10 hours or so. Thy feet will feel numb after a good amount of sitting and the back aches after finding a “comfy” way of sleeping (not really). BUT "wanderlusts" like us with LIMITED BUDGET take no offense, no matter how much sleep we sacrifice or how many joints become stiff so long as we can … TRAVEL!

Sleep is life! BUT travel is LIFER? :P