Re: Making flight more comfortable
 

You can request the emergency exit seats and explain about your height - they wont promise but if you turn up early and look fit and healthy then you may be lucky. Alternatively, as someone has said, try for the pairs of seats at the back - back 4 or 5 rows usually because the window seat usually has quite a bit of extra wiggle room. If all else fails, go for an aisle seat so you can sort of stretch your legs out and hope no one falls over them.

Personally I can sleep anywhere so it is never an issue for me - I run myself absolutely ragged the day that I leave and more often than not am asleep before the wheels are up. I usually miss the first meal but if I am awake, a glass of red is enough to send me off very quickly thereafter.

Alternatively, pay an extra $1500 and go BA premium economy or whatever it is called - seems like the old business class. However, if you are anything like me, I object to spending 1500 for a 24 hour experience so I am damned if I am going to pay nearly another 1000. It's only 24 hours for heavens sake!

Re: Making flight more comfortable
 

Great way to start to morning!!:lol::rofl:

Re: Making flight more comfortable
 

any thoughts for travelling with a one year old(just), we are flying one stop at her bedtime so hopefully she sleep through the plane noise on our laps.:unsure:
one stop hong kong

Re: Making flight more comfortable
 

When we flew in August we got great travel pillows from Boots. They're an odd shape to look at but they fit beside your head and round your neck perfectly so they really helped.

Also got the two seats together that the back that people have mentioned. We had a lot of room down the side of the inside seat so we put all our crap down there, made us feel not quite so cramped.

Valium!! we both took some and although we didn't sleep a lot we definitely dozed for hours and were so blissed out we didn't care. I'd highly recommend it or something similar!! We also brought some food ourselves so we could eat when we were hunrgy and not when we were told to. Meant we could sleep through meals and wake up when we wanted.

All in all, i think thanks to the valium, they were the best long haul flights we're taken. 10 hours to San Fran sans valium seemed a lot longer!

Therese ;)

Re: Making flight more comfortable
 

We flew back at Christmas with a 4 y.o and a 5 month old. Flights were fine really, we left Aus at tea time, 1 milk for the baby and off she went to the bassinet. 4 y.o watched Simpsons movie 4 times! We kept her entertained with small quiet toys and she slept on the floor (her choice!) as we were in the bulkhead seats.
We were expecting the flights to be a lot worse, but we actually had some fun. I think they key is to remain calm and keep kids stress free (no shouting unless they are really naughty.

It also helped that on the way to UK we had friends on the same flight and they babysat for most of the last leg as I was driving to Cornwall when we landed (Thanks C&T!).

Re: Making flight more comfortable
 

Flying in the premium cabins allows more rest, which in turn reduces jet lag. I fly either to or from Moscow from Perth every month, and jet lag is minimal if at all as I fly business or first. I recently returned from the UK and flew economy, it took 6 days to get over the effects of jet lag.
The additional cost of a premium seat pays for itself in some cases.

Cheers LL

Re: Making flight more comfortable
 

Try:

1) Take Calpol or baby Nurofen (one you've used before) for in case she has problems with ear pain

2) Give bottle (or breast) on take off or landing to help with pressure. Remember don't do this as soon as you get on the plane - sometimes you can be there for a while before take off.

3) They like to board babies first but sometimes its best to get on last to minimise the time they have to be seatbelted up.

4) Word of warning - babies like to fill their nappies on take off and landing, if it looks like its going to leak grab a plane blanket to put underneath.

5) Get baby use to baby packet cereals mixed with water before flights. You can take packet cereals on flight without tasting, (as long as they are sealed), and the air hostess can provide water for mixing. So its an instant snack whenever needed. You can also take indivdual milk sachets, ask for the hot water about 40 mins before you need the milk as it is very hot. Not sure which airport you are flying from but Boots at Heathrow has a limited supply of foods and ready-made milks after you've passed all the liquid checks.

6) Feeding on your lap is a pain and very messy. Get one of the plastic wipeable bibs or take some cheap bibs and just throw them away as you go along. In fact get cheap clothes for you and baby and just chuck them as you go along - a lot better than carrying food covered dirty washing everywhere.

7) Get pull up nappies for flight, as its easier for just wet nappies.

8) Get a bassinet seat but be warned, every time the seatbelt sign comes on you will have to take the baby out. This can happen lots so don't rely on it. Also don't always jump up to get the baby out straightaway, sometimes they turn it on and then off a couple of minutes later. I often wait till the steward tells me to do it, unless its really bumpy.

9) If it gets difficult agree 1 or 2 hour shifts. This means that one copes no matter what while the other gets a genuine rest, then you swap later.

10) Walk to the back of the plane for a change of scene and often lots of people happy to play with a baby!

11) If you book the set of 3 seats (normally a window bassinet seat) you may be lucky and get the whole set to yourself. However, they are often booked up by tall people, so you may prefer the middle four which you will often share with another couple with baby. (all the babies will wake each other up!)

12) The plane noise is actually your friend, many babies find it relaxing and it covers the sound of crying.

13) If your baby has a loud cry then consider ear plugs, as they may be very close for a very long time! You can still hear the crying its just not so loud!

14) Take your own blanket as the airline ones are full of static. The baby sleeping bags are perfect for this as you can carry them around in it and put the seatbelt on with them still snuggled up.

15) Be inventive - even the sick bag can be a toy for a baby!

16) Allow for it being light and noisy, especially if you are near the galley. A cloth and series of safety pins or clips can often be used to create a tent over the bassinet so its not so light, or just to shield their eyes while you are cuddling them.

That's all I can think of ....... for now! :D

WithIce x

Re: Making flight more comfortable
 

Noise cancelling headsets are great. It heps loose the sound of the drone of the engines and you can hear the inflight movies a lot clearer.

Re: Making flight more comfortable
 

Might get told off but my mate put me onto seatguru.com tells you stacks of info bout plane seats for allsorts of airlines.

Hope this helps.

Re: Making flight more comfortable
 

Great post withice. Will save this one for later!!

Re: Making flight more comfortable
 

I love flying...until that second leg of the trip - gets me everytime and I immediatly feel guilty for telling all my family 'the flights not that bad!!!' in order that the will come and see us! Nevermind!

The last few trips out to Oz we've had we booked the 2seats and the very back of the plane. To anyone else thinking of doing this the seats are good in that you have no-one kneeing you in the back and yes there is the extra room between the window and the seat, but .... EVERY person that gets up to go the toilet or stand by the exit door will LEAN VERY HEAVILY ON THE BACK OF YOUR CHAIR, WAKING YOU UP AND GETTING YOU VERY VERY angry :mad:. And...relax....

Seriously though, anyone flying spare a thought for people in those seats before you rest on the back of the chair! It amazes me that people are so oblivious!

Definately take own headsets, own music is great, sleep lots if you can and I always take lots of nice snacks as the food is so bad. Comfy clothes a must - comfort over style anyday! Ooh, try to not look at the fligh path map - time goes sooooooooooooo slow if you keep checking!

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Hi
I find drink helps.A few drinks when you get up there helps you sleep real well..LoL

Re: Making flight more comfortable
 

thanks withice for the reply,

little one has just turned one and is drinking whole milk now not formula, oh is a little worried as someone has said you will not be able to take milk though customs for second leg.
heathrow-hongkong-sydney-brisbane and reverse (no stopovers) :rofl:

leaving at night as little one sleeps normally 8.30pm through to 8.00am if all goes well one complete leg. :unsure:

Re: Making flight more comfortable
 

Going,

You could try those 1+ bottled milk. My DD loves them. She uses the Cow and gate one and you get about 16 oz from one bottle. My advice is take 3 1+ bottles for the flights.

Re: Making flight more comfortable
 

Been back and forth more times then I care to mention to Australia and never really got sleep except years ago passed out on JAL flight on too many Chardonnays lol.
If you are tall and cannot get the aisle seat get to the aft of the plane the back and get an aisle seat at least you can stretch your legs, stand up without annoying others and get to chat to all the bored folk roaming the plane, plus the flight crew are easily accessable for extra goodies etc... lose clothing and drink plenty of water, when I have a stop over and time permits I have a shower in Singapore or Brunei it really makes you feel better.
Girls take the slap of your face no ones give a toss what you look on the plane it's not a fashion parade be comfortable moisturizer loads of it.

Well you asked :)