Heading for the sun this winter? Booked a long-haul flight? It is now easier and cheaper to fly long distances than ever before, and there is a huge choice of destinations to escape from the January gloom.
However, the flight itself can be an endurance test from the moment you arrive at the airport until the you finally collapse, jet-lagged and weary at your destination. By the time you get back home, you risk being more exhausted than when you left!
But it doesn't have to be like that. Plan your flying strategy in the right way and long-haul travel can - almost - be a pleasure. Here's our five point plan.
1. Choose your airline
The biggest single factor affecting your comfort on a long flight is almost certainly the amount of leg room you get. In economy class the typical seat-pitch (that's the distance between each row of seats measured from the front of one seat to the same point in the row behind) varies from 30-32 inches in economy class. With BA, for example, it's a bog-standard 31 inches. Go for the right airlines, however, and you'll get 34 inches - that may not sound much, but it could be enough to allow you to stretch out your legs and actually get some sleep. These include Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines (varies from 33-35 inches), Malaysia Airlines, and Thai.
Legroom isn't everything, of course. A state-of-the-art plane with decent service, food, comfortable seats and seat-back entertainment makes a big difference too. The easiest way to check on these points, is through the website airlinequality.com, which gives information and ratings for most scheduled airlines around the world.
Beware of booking charter flights - seat pitch is usually just 29 inches, though you can often book a seat with more legroom in a premium cabin at extra cost.
2. Pay the right price
Unlike flights to Europe - especially with no-frills airlines - where it is cheaper to book direct with the airline, you will nearly always get the lowest fares to faraway destinations by going to a specialist travel agent. This is because airlines release unsold seats (or seats which they predict they won't be able to sell) to them in bulk and at lower prices than normal fares. If you already know which airline you want to fly with, you can ask for the agent for their lowest quote, but they can also get a very quick and easy overview of what all the airlines are charging on those routes. Try trailfinders.com, ebookers.com, airline-network.co.uk.
3. Breeze through the airport
The less time you can spend in an airport, the better. Normally long-haul flights require you to check in at least two hours in advance. But even this far ahead, you risk being seated in the middle row of five on a 12-hour flight. To avoid this, you can take advantage of the system operated by more and more airlines which allows you to reserve your seat online when you buy the ticket.
British Airways has gone one step further recently and allows you to confirm your seat online 12 hours before departure. Once you get to the airport, it also allows you to avoid queues altogether by using an automated check-in point - several are located by the check-in desks in departures. You feed in your ticket (or credit card if you booked online), answer a few questions, print out your boarding card, and take your hold baggage to a "fast baggage drop" desk. No queues, no hassle.
4. Make the flight bearable
You can take the tension out of waiting for the trolley to inch down the aisle, by requesting a vegetarian (or Kosher) meal. They are usually handed out first. Bringing your own water, and perhaps snacks, can also make life more bearable.
5. Avoid jet lag and DVT
Jet lag is the most invidious enemy of the long-haul traveller, but it affects different people in different ways, and some remedies work for some and not others. Several approaches are worth trying. Setting your watch for the time in your arrival airport before you take off helps your mind adjust more quickly to the new zone. Drinking plenty of water (and no alcohol or coffee) during the flight reduces the effects of dehydration. And when you do arrive, trying to fit in with the new time zone as quickly as possible will limit the damage to your body clock. If you can avoid napping in the middle of the day and hold out until you go to bed in the evening, you stand the best chance of getting a decent night's sleep.
DVT (deep vein thrombosis), though extremely rare, is potentially much more serious. The jury is still out on exactly what causes it and how much of a danger it is on flights. But there is no doubt that keeping active with occasional walks up and down the aisle and following the foot and head exercises often suggested by in-flight videos and magazines will help keep your circulation going. If you have serious concerns, consult your GP before you fly. There is a good general summary of risk factors on the BUPA website.
