Let’s face it, the airport isn’t the worst part of flying. That honor belongs to what happens in-flight while there’s nowhere to go. Sometimes surviving crying babies in flight among other things (hello window seat who gets up every half hour!) seems difficult. A little preparation goes a long way.
The first step is to see to your own physical comfort in the seat. While airlines make continuously smaller seats, some are more comfortable than others. Set up your clothing so you will be warm enough. Play with the air controls. Bring something to support your low back if you typically hurt there. It does not matter how weird it looks, your comfort matters.
Another necessity is finding something that amuses you. Whether that’s a book, a podcast, some music, a movie, basket weaving, etc. doesn’t matter. Doing something distracts from the discomfort of the seat and the closeness of the neighbors. Ideally, these things mix, like reading and music. More distraction allows the time to pass quicker.
Protecting your own ears is vital. Even cheap noise canceling headphones will help with surviving crying babies in flight. Now, earbuds and earplugs interfere with ear pressure, so make sure not to use them during takeoff and landing. Instead, take many small sips of liquids or chew gum during those times to assist in ear popping. Less pain plus noise canceling makes for a better flight regardless of the cause of the noise.
Dealing with the noise of a plane flight and the closeness of the neighbors is a necessary part of flying. Surviving crying babies and other disruptive occurrences happen but preparing for them minimizes the lasting impact. Regardless of why you fly, what’s your favorite tip for a pleasant flight?