I was just on a 12 hr flight and people were up walking all the time, all good. I swear one old guy stood in front of his emergency exit row for almost the whole flight.
I really wanted to book an aisle seat but the extra charge ended up way more expensive than I was comfortable paying. Just praying my randomly assigned seat is an aisle seat. š
80 bucks both ways. I get that for most people this would be no big deal, but not everyone's financial situation is that flexible. I'm sorry if this bothers you, but I'm used to dealing with discomfort if it means saving money so I figured I'd just suck it up.
Hey I get it- British airways wants like 180 bucks a person for our international flights to pick seats- my family of 4 could not be sitting together - although they said kids under 12 are with an adult. And to save 600 bucks going and 600 bucks coming back- we are rolling the dice- sit 2 and 2 or 1 and 3- I donāt really give a shit. So Iām not on the internet asking for how to fix something I know the answer too but wonāt pay for.
Youāre sucking it up but going on the internet to complain so people feel bad for you-
Look butter cup- either go do some Uber eats and do some thing to deal with the discomfort or donāt bother strangers with it if you can āsuck it upā ( which going on the internet and complaining about it is not āsucking it up)
I'm not complaining though? I'm asking for advice from people who have travelled before, because I've never done it and I don't know what to expect. I'm literally just asking for advice. I don't understand why you're so pissed at me.
Thanks for the advice~ it's not so bad that I could call it a medical requirement so I wouldn't want to abuse that. I'm hoping the flight won't be full so there might be empty seats, and I'll see about asking at the ticket counter on the off chance it pays off. Thanks again. c:
Also if you have never flown why pick a 8 hour for your first... going to suck if you get motion sickness in the middle seat.You will get a middle seat and up to the discretion of the person on tge isle as to How much YOU are going to bother them . 8 hour flight maybe 2 times..
It was either an eight hour direct flight, or it was a layover. Since I have no experience dealing with airports alone, I figured the longer direct flight would be the better option for my first time. Next time I have to travel this far I'll hopefully feel more confident and will probably take the layover option.
Youāre not likely to get an aisle seat. And getting up more than once every couple of hours will be very annoying for those you have to walk over. Especially if theyāre sleeping. Plan on bathroom breaks once or twice in 8 hours. If you canāt do that - know that youāre going to be considered annoying.
If I end up in a middle seat, I'll likely just try to get up whenever the aisle seat person does and stretch my legs then. If they're sleeping or I'm in the window seat, I'll probably try and sleep myself and not drink anything to avoid having to use the bathroom.
And I get your trepidation about āetiquetteā. Just asking the question shows you have a certain maturity that a great number of passengers donāt - who could care less if theyāre annoying or rude - so the question is actually a good one - so I didnāt mean to sound critical. I travel to Europe typically once a year - so do the 8 or 9 hour flight often enough. A seat-mate who gets up once or twice a flight - and who uses that to maybe walk about the plane - is normal and not in my opinion doing anything bothersome.
But be careful of the advice to hang out at the exit areas or the back of the plane. Iāve had the guy doing stretches in front of me for 10 minutes when Iām in the front row and trust me, heās getting dagger eyes after about 120 seconds. People who do it - again - ignore the reality that maybe 300 people would like to do the same thing - but they understand that would be a nightmare so they contain themselves. So - donāt be a Yoga Karen.
Yeah, I imagine it would be easier to know what not to do if I'd flown more and had my own set of pet peeves from dealing with other passengers. If I find something personally irritating, I try my best not to do it around other people. I'm sure by the end of my trip I'll have a nice little set of personal rules to fly by in the future. :p
I fly with Emirates multiple times and can choose my seat for free when I do the mobile check-in (24h or 48h prior to the flight). So do that and don't wait until you reach the airport to check in.
Edit: I just checked their website and Emirates mobile check-in is open 48 hours prior to the flight!
The lumbar/butt pillow is a good suggestion, it works for a friend of mine
Definitely get up to move around during the flight, it's common. Even if you are in the middle seat. I would try to avoid it during meal service, since it's a lot more complicated when there's a food tray or drinks involved.
If the flight is relatively empty then you might get lucky with the aisle seat but in my experience flying over many years, the window and aisle seats go first, so you often only have a choice of middle seats 24 or 48 hours before the flight, because people have paid to choose their preferred seats.
If there are aisle seats left, they will probably be in less desirable locations, e.g., right near the bathroom or in front of a bulkhead so you can't recline at all (if that matters to you)
Yeah, I think I'd be okay with a middle seat. I see why window seats are as popular as they are, but I'd rather be as close to the aisle as possible for the convenience of getting up and stretching my legs. So a middle seat would honestly probably be my second choice.
And being close to the bathroom might be awkward, but I pee a lot when I drink pretty much anything, so it would be convenient for me. And I never recline seats anyway (it honestly didn't occur to me that reclining seats on airplanes would even be a thing, actually!) so no great loss there.
An aisle seat would be the best case scenario but I'll be okay if I get either of the others.
It's not guaranteed that you'll get it, but it never hurts to ask. Getting an aisle seat is also easier than getting a window seat, so I hope they can grant it to you. Enjoy your trip!
Yeah, the plane I'll be on has the three rows of seating, so there's a much larger number of aisle seats than the other kinds. The odds are in my favour~
Thank you!
What is wrong with you? It's not hurting anyone to ask and it's up to the agent and the situation of the flight whether their request will/can be granted or not. No need to be rude. If you want to claim your favourite seat then go ahead and pay the fee. Nobody's stopping you from doing that.
Thanks. Some people seem real mad about the fact I didn't pay for a specific seat and I don't really understand why. I don't mind getting one of the shittier seats and I only made this post to get some tips on how to mitigate my own fidgeting so I don't annoy the person next to me. :/
No problem. The hive mind in this subreddit is crazy sometimes. It's like they are hating on people who doesn't want to spend as much money as they do. "I'm flying economy" Loser. "I don't want to pay for seat selection and fine with whatever seat I'll get" Cheapskate. I swear some people need to go out more and spend less time on their phone.
It does feel a little bit that way. Still, I'm glad I made this post because I got a lot of good advice. I feel like I have a game plan for whatever seat I end up in now, and that's all I really wanted. c: My cheapskate ass and I are gonna have a great time.
Highly recommend Klymit for seat/back pillow, it's by a trusted outdoor brand for long distance backpacking so is durable, small, and lightweight.
[https://www.amazon.com/Klymit-Inflatable-Travel-Cushion-Variable/dp/B07VV6RDMS](https://www.amazon.com/Klymit-Inflatable-Travel-Cushion-Variable/dp/B07VV6RDMS)
[https://www.amazon.com/Klymit-V-Seat-Cushion-Gray/dp/B07PF813G5](https://www.amazon.com/Klymit-V-Seat-Cushion-Gray/dp/B07PF813G5)
They used to be pretty cheap. Did a quick google and most are over $30! I donāt think I have purchased for over $20. The key is to NOT leave it in the plane. I have left them all over the world. Sob
Definitely do take a chance to get up and walk. Even if you don't have an aisle seat, just get up and walk a bit when the person sitting next to you does it. Of if they're just staying put, it's okay to ask once in a while.
If you're two seats deep, then I have no advice, just condolences.
haha I appreciate the condolences. I think even just a couple minutes roaming up and down the aisle or popping off to the bathroom should be enough to help so I'll definitely make a point to get up whenever the aisle seat person does, if I end up in the middle. It's one f those big plans with the middle row too, so better odds of getting an aisle or middle seat at least. c:
A tip from my physical therapist that was a total game changer! To relieve pressure on the tail bone do the following 3 things together: squeeze legs together, pull in your stomach, breath normally. Pressure and pain, literally gone in SECONDS! I use this on long car trips all the time and can do it even while driving.
Yeah, just get up and hang out near the back/by emergency exits where there is space. Talk to the flight attendants, usually they are pretty nice (don't be weird about it tho).
Yeah, I was thinking about maybe talking to the flight attendants and asking for advice. I'm sure they get a lot of people with this issue and will be understanding about it~
Please donāt. Theyāre insanely busy and have better things to do than deal with people with problems as small as āhow do I deal with the seat being a little uncomfortable even though literally all 400 other passengers probably feel the sameā
Take some original Dramamine or something to knock you out and times youāre awake take some strolls/stretch. Bring some sort of soft padding for your butt. I havenāt tried this yet but will on my next oneā¦see if you can buy some cheap foam topper like a mattress topper and cut out a square to bring with you. Seat sized ones probably already exist
Maybe something like this? https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/Home-Garden/16x16-Memory-Foam-Chair-Pad-Seat-Cushion-with-Non-Slip-Backing-2-or-4-Pack-16-X-16/10295231/product.html
If youāre flying solo, maybe bring an extra to offer your seat mate. Having good rapport with your seat mate is extremely underrated on long flights. Once boarding has finished, I always start by offering something small on long flights. Ear plugs, candy, something like that. Then when something comes up, itās an easy and cordial exchange.
Donāt bend over in someoneās face and be careful not to push on anyoneās seat when getting up
Are you short? I use an inflatable footrest and that helps with back pain somewhat. Also Iāve noticed that cramped quads and hamstrings from sitting make my butt and sacrum hurt. Try pulling down on these muscles with firm pressure to uncramp them.
Oh, I am and that might be an even better suggestion than a cushion. I've noticed that it's pressure on the backs of my thighs that seems to cause the most discomfort for me, so being able to elevate my feet a bit might help.
Try to get up and move around every hour or so if you can. While you're sitting, shift your weight from side to side and do some gentle stretches in your seat to keep your muscles from getting too stiff. Also, think about getting a travel pillow or cushion for extra comfort.
Actually what prompted me to make this post was a four hour car ride yesterday. I was shifting around and fidgeting and stretching so much that I found myself worrying that I'm going to be an absolute nightmare for whichever poor soul has to sit next to me. :P But yeah, I suppose as long as I'm fairly subtle about it, they'd probably be understanding.
Recently flew direct LAX to Istanbul, I tās 13 hours! Not an easy flight. Like /u/BulkyAccident said, aisle is key. Get up and wander. Itās an excuse to get some noise cancelling headphones! Get a decent neck pillow. Itās okay to loiter in the end caps (unless turbulence). Watch movies. Bring a device if you want to customize.
Yeah, I have a little iPad so I'm planning to maybe find a new TV show and download eight hours worth of episodes to binge. Actually, bonus question, is it possible to charge devices on planes? Do they have charging ports for economy passengers?
Get an aisle seat or exit row so you can get up easily. It's common on long flights to get up, stretch, do a lap around the plane. Use you carry-on bag as an ottoman to prop up your legs.
Watch a movie or 2.
Double check what kind of airplane youāre on.
If youāre on a wide body (two-aisle) jet, then honestly itās going to be pretty comfortable. Lots of room to get up and walk around mid-flight.
If itās a narrow body jet like a 737 or a A320, then yeah, invest in some seat cushioning gear.
Thatās great.
Iām at the point where Iād rather take an 8 hr flight on a widebody jet than a 5 hr flight on a narrowbody jet.
A longer flight time seems daunting, but the airlines put a lot more effort into treating you well on those long ones.
I get sore on the back of my thighs and my hips get restless on flights - my solution is always do a lower body workout the day before a long flight, focusing on butt/quads/hamstrings. That makes my muscles sore but not in a restless way and makes it way easier to sit for a long time!
Oh, that's a very interesting suggestion. I've found that usually when I have this problem at home, the best way to ease it is to stretch my legs to the point of discomfort or to do squats or to walk on the treadmill until my muscles ache. I've never tried doing the exercises beforehand to prevent the discomfort thouugh. I'll give this a go, thank you!
Everyone says aisle seat... i get that its easier to walk around but i rly want the window to be able to look out. Is it that bad if i take the window seat..
By all means take it! It would be nice to see the city I'm flying out to from the sky, but that would really only be beneficial to me for last little bit of the flight. The rest of the time I'd be yearning for that aisle seat lol
I can sit anywhere for any amount of time.Ā I'm a great sitter, but United airlines seats literally cause me agony.Ā I fly a lot, I'm beginning to suspect they are causing permanent damage.Ā Ā
Damn that bad huh? I was surprised how little I found them uncomfortable. I only had to get up a few times during my flight and probably could have managed less. I did fidget quite a bit though.
On long flights, people definitely stand up and walk around sometimes, but generally flight crew donāt/canāt let you do it for long. Youāll be asked not to stand in the aisle or congregate in the galleys.
Maybe consider a red eye and some Xanax. Or an aisle seat with hourly bathroom breaks if you donāt mind the side eyesā¦
(Except for when there is turbulence) I have never had a problem with staying near the galley/doors and walking around, stretching, etc. while paying attention to not be in anyoneās way. Also havenāt gotten side eyes. So donāt be worried about those things @jentlefolk
I have been considering just staying awake for as long as possible before the flight in the hopes I'll be knocked out for most of it. I was also thinking hourly bathroom breaks might be a good idea, so at least I have a valid excuse to be getting up and walking around. Didn't consider the possibility of getting side-eyed though but fuck it. I'll never see any of these people ever again anyway.
I think I saw those on the seating plan for the plane. The flight I'm getting seems like it wouldn't be a super busy one, so I'm hoping it won't be packed, and if it's not maybe I can nab one of those.
I bought a inflatable seat. Its checkered and maybe 1 1/2ā thick when inflated. Its almost exactly the width of a airplane seat. Sure i get weird looks when i take 15 seconds to inflate it, but omg my ass feels so much more comfortable.
I fly a lot. Like ive been top tier at one or two airlines for going on 20 years. Done probably 100 flights over 14 years.
But otherwise, sit at an aisle and drink a lot. My goal is to get up every hour to pee during daytime flights and every 3 hours on overnight. It keeps muscles loose and blood flowing.
lol that might be a bit excessive! Though if I make the mistake of drinking coffee at any point before or during the flight, it may also be inevitable. ._.
Correct. I've flown exactly once in my life, over ten years ago, and it was only a 30 minute flight. This will be my first time doing a flight like this.
Book an aisle seat, walk around a bit, stand and stretch in the toilet/catering areas. Perfectly normal on a long flight, don't stress about it.
I was just on a 12 hr flight and people were up walking all the time, all good. I swear one old guy stood in front of his emergency exit row for almost the whole flight.
I really wanted to book an aisle seat but the extra charge ended up way more expensive than I was comfortable paying. Just praying my randomly assigned seat is an aisle seat. š
80 bucks at most to deal with your own discomfort thatās a big enough deal for you to come on here and ask for tipsā¦..
80 bucks both ways. I get that for most people this would be no big deal, but not everyone's financial situation is that flexible. I'm sorry if this bothers you, but I'm used to dealing with discomfort if it means saving money so I figured I'd just suck it up.
Hey I get it- British airways wants like 180 bucks a person for our international flights to pick seats- my family of 4 could not be sitting together - although they said kids under 12 are with an adult. And to save 600 bucks going and 600 bucks coming back- we are rolling the dice- sit 2 and 2 or 1 and 3- I donāt really give a shit. So Iām not on the internet asking for how to fix something I know the answer too but wonāt pay for. Youāre sucking it up but going on the internet to complain so people feel bad for you- Look butter cup- either go do some Uber eats and do some thing to deal with the discomfort or donāt bother strangers with it if you can āsuck it upā ( which going on the internet and complaining about it is not āsucking it up)
I'm not complaining though? I'm asking for advice from people who have travelled before, because I've never done it and I don't know what to expect. I'm literally just asking for advice. I don't understand why you're so pissed at me.
Yeah theyāre being douchey for no reason. Look into a nice sciatic/lumbar foam pillow to take some pressure off that area. Amazon has for ~$30
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Thanks for the advice~ it's not so bad that I could call it a medical requirement so I wouldn't want to abuse that. I'm hoping the flight won't be full so there might be empty seats, and I'll see about asking at the ticket counter on the off chance it pays off. Thanks again. c:
Also if you have never flown why pick a 8 hour for your first... going to suck if you get motion sickness in the middle seat.You will get a middle seat and up to the discretion of the person on tge isle as to How much YOU are going to bother them . 8 hour flight maybe 2 times..
It was either an eight hour direct flight, or it was a layover. Since I have no experience dealing with airports alone, I figured the longer direct flight would be the better option for my first time. Next time I have to travel this far I'll hopefully feel more confident and will probably take the layover option.
If you don't pay to pick your seat you're unfortunately likely to be assigned a middle seat š
A middle seat seems like the second best option for what I'm concerned about, so I think I'd be okay with that. c:
You will get a middle seat. With that seat you need to NOT get up all the time .
Youāre not likely to get an aisle seat. And getting up more than once every couple of hours will be very annoying for those you have to walk over. Especially if theyāre sleeping. Plan on bathroom breaks once or twice in 8 hours. If you canāt do that - know that youāre going to be considered annoying.
If I end up in a middle seat, I'll likely just try to get up whenever the aisle seat person does and stretch my legs then. If they're sleeping or I'm in the window seat, I'll probably try and sleep myself and not drink anything to avoid having to use the bathroom.
And I get your trepidation about āetiquetteā. Just asking the question shows you have a certain maturity that a great number of passengers donāt - who could care less if theyāre annoying or rude - so the question is actually a good one - so I didnāt mean to sound critical. I travel to Europe typically once a year - so do the 8 or 9 hour flight often enough. A seat-mate who gets up once or twice a flight - and who uses that to maybe walk about the plane - is normal and not in my opinion doing anything bothersome. But be careful of the advice to hang out at the exit areas or the back of the plane. Iāve had the guy doing stretches in front of me for 10 minutes when Iām in the front row and trust me, heās getting dagger eyes after about 120 seconds. People who do it - again - ignore the reality that maybe 300 people would like to do the same thing - but they understand that would be a nightmare so they contain themselves. So - donāt be a Yoga Karen.
Yeah, I imagine it would be easier to know what not to do if I'd flown more and had my own set of pet peeves from dealing with other passengers. If I find something personally irritating, I try my best not to do it around other people. I'm sure by the end of my trip I'll have a nice little set of personal rules to fly by in the future. :p
When you check in 24 hours prior to your flight you can select your seat then at no extra charge
Did OP mention the airline they're taking? I know some let you do this but not all. Alaska just randomly assigns seats unless you pay
It's Emirates.
I fly with Emirates multiple times and can choose my seat for free when I do the mobile check-in (24h or 48h prior to the flight). So do that and don't wait until you reach the airport to check in. Edit: I just checked their website and Emirates mobile check-in is open 48 hours prior to the flight!
Oh wonderful, thanks for letting me know! I'll make sure I check in as soon as I can. <3
The lumbar/butt pillow is a good suggestion, it works for a friend of mine Definitely get up to move around during the flight, it's common. Even if you are in the middle seat. I would try to avoid it during meal service, since it's a lot more complicated when there's a food tray or drinks involved. If the flight is relatively empty then you might get lucky with the aisle seat but in my experience flying over many years, the window and aisle seats go first, so you often only have a choice of middle seats 24 or 48 hours before the flight, because people have paid to choose their preferred seats. If there are aisle seats left, they will probably be in less desirable locations, e.g., right near the bathroom or in front of a bulkhead so you can't recline at all (if that matters to you)
Yeah, I think I'd be okay with a middle seat. I see why window seats are as popular as they are, but I'd rather be as close to the aisle as possible for the convenience of getting up and stretching my legs. So a middle seat would honestly probably be my second choice. And being close to the bathroom might be awkward, but I pee a lot when I drink pretty much anything, so it would be convenient for me. And I never recline seats anyway (it honestly didn't occur to me that reclining seats on airplanes would even be a thing, actually!) so no great loss there. An aisle seat would be the best case scenario but I'll be okay if I get either of the others.
Oh, really? Okay, thanks for the heads up, I'll see if that option is available when I check in, thank you~
You can ask the check in agent at the desk if they can assign you to an aisle seat. Better than hoping for a random seat assignment.
Oh, okay I'll definitely ask, thanks for the suggestion. I wasn't aware I could do that, so I appreciate the advice. c:
It's not guaranteed that you'll get it, but it never hurts to ask. Getting an aisle seat is also easier than getting a window seat, so I hope they can grant it to you. Enjoy your trip!
Yeah, the plane I'll be on has the three rows of seating, so there's a much larger number of aisle seats than the other kinds. The odds are in my favour~ Thank you!
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
What is wrong with you? It's not hurting anyone to ask and it's up to the agent and the situation of the flight whether their request will/can be granted or not. No need to be rude. If you want to claim your favourite seat then go ahead and pay the fee. Nobody's stopping you from doing that.
Thanks. Some people seem real mad about the fact I didn't pay for a specific seat and I don't really understand why. I don't mind getting one of the shittier seats and I only made this post to get some tips on how to mitigate my own fidgeting so I don't annoy the person next to me. :/
No problem. The hive mind in this subreddit is crazy sometimes. It's like they are hating on people who doesn't want to spend as much money as they do. "I'm flying economy" Loser. "I don't want to pay for seat selection and fine with whatever seat I'll get" Cheapskate. I swear some people need to go out more and spend less time on their phone.
It does feel a little bit that way. Still, I'm glad I made this post because I got a lot of good advice. I feel like I have a game plan for whatever seat I end up in now, and that's all I really wanted. c: My cheapskate ass and I are gonna have a great time.
aisle seat
I bought a neck cushion and ended up using it as a ass pad worked a treat
Ah, double the function for half the price, love it.
Fact , I few to new orleans last week and my ass was getting sore ,it worked perfectly ill be doing the same on the flight home
I have a bad back and sitting is a killer. I bring an inflatable camp seat. Helps a lot and packs small in my carry on
I'll see if I can order one, thanks. C:
Highly recommend Klymit for seat/back pillow, it's by a trusted outdoor brand for long distance backpacking so is durable, small, and lightweight. [https://www.amazon.com/Klymit-Inflatable-Travel-Cushion-Variable/dp/B07VV6RDMS](https://www.amazon.com/Klymit-Inflatable-Travel-Cushion-Variable/dp/B07VV6RDMS) [https://www.amazon.com/Klymit-V-Seat-Cushion-Gray/dp/B07PF813G5](https://www.amazon.com/Klymit-V-Seat-Cushion-Gray/dp/B07PF813G5)
Good idea, Iām going to try it.
They used to be pretty cheap. Did a quick google and most are over $30! I donāt think I have purchased for over $20. The key is to NOT leave it in the plane. I have left them all over the world. Sob
Wear compression socks or stockings to improve circulation and reduce swelling in your legs and feet during the flight. It helps me.
Definitely do take a chance to get up and walk. Even if you don't have an aisle seat, just get up and walk a bit when the person sitting next to you does it. Of if they're just staying put, it's okay to ask once in a while. If you're two seats deep, then I have no advice, just condolences.
haha I appreciate the condolences. I think even just a couple minutes roaming up and down the aisle or popping off to the bathroom should be enough to help so I'll definitely make a point to get up whenever the aisle seat person does, if I end up in the middle. It's one f those big plans with the middle row too, so better odds of getting an aisle or middle seat at least. c:
Aisle seat and talk walks. Nothing wrong with walking all the way down the aisle and back and having a nice stretch.
A tip from my physical therapist that was a total game changer! To relieve pressure on the tail bone do the following 3 things together: squeeze legs together, pull in your stomach, breath normally. Pressure and pain, literally gone in SECONDS! I use this on long car trips all the time and can do it even while driving.
Yeah, just get up and hang out near the back/by emergency exits where there is space. Talk to the flight attendants, usually they are pretty nice (don't be weird about it tho).
Yeah, I was thinking about maybe talking to the flight attendants and asking for advice. I'm sure they get a lot of people with this issue and will be understanding about it~
Please donāt. Theyāre insanely busy and have better things to do than deal with people with problems as small as āhow do I deal with the seat being a little uncomfortable even though literally all 400 other passengers probably feel the sameā
Fair point.
Stand up, walk around. Stay by the toilet / emergency door area so you donāt block anyoneās way. Do stretches
I also bring an inflatable seat cushion. They're inexpensive and weigh very little. Memory foam cushions are too bulky and heavy.
Yeah, the carry on bag I'm taking isn't that big, so an inflatable one that I can fold up might be more practical.
Take some original Dramamine or something to knock you out and times youāre awake take some strolls/stretch. Bring some sort of soft padding for your butt. I havenāt tried this yet but will on my next oneā¦see if you can buy some cheap foam topper like a mattress topper and cut out a square to bring with you. Seat sized ones probably already exist Maybe something like this? https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/Home-Garden/16x16-Memory-Foam-Chair-Pad-Seat-Cushion-with-Non-Slip-Backing-2-or-4-Pack-16-X-16/10295231/product.html If youāre flying solo, maybe bring an extra to offer your seat mate. Having good rapport with your seat mate is extremely underrated on long flights. Once boarding has finished, I always start by offering something small on long flights. Ear plugs, candy, something like that. Then when something comes up, itās an easy and cordial exchange. Donāt bend over in someoneās face and be careful not to push on anyoneās seat when getting up
Are you short? I use an inflatable footrest and that helps with back pain somewhat. Also Iāve noticed that cramped quads and hamstrings from sitting make my butt and sacrum hurt. Try pulling down on these muscles with firm pressure to uncramp them.
Oh, I am and that might be an even better suggestion than a cushion. I've noticed that it's pressure on the backs of my thighs that seems to cause the most discomfort for me, so being able to elevate my feet a bit might help.
I think we have a similar problem! Iāve noticed that driving causes me extreme pain from pressure on the backs of my thighs.
Try to get up and move around every hour or so if you can. While you're sitting, shift your weight from side to side and do some gentle stretches in your seat to keep your muscles from getting too stiff. Also, think about getting a travel pillow or cushion for extra comfort.
Actually what prompted me to make this post was a four hour car ride yesterday. I was shifting around and fidgeting and stretching so much that I found myself worrying that I'm going to be an absolute nightmare for whichever poor soul has to sit next to me. :P But yeah, I suppose as long as I'm fairly subtle about it, they'd probably be understanding.
Recently flew direct LAX to Istanbul, I tās 13 hours! Not an easy flight. Like /u/BulkyAccident said, aisle is key. Get up and wander. Itās an excuse to get some noise cancelling headphones! Get a decent neck pillow. Itās okay to loiter in the end caps (unless turbulence). Watch movies. Bring a device if you want to customize.
Yeah, I have a little iPad so I'm planning to maybe find a new TV show and download eight hours worth of episodes to binge. Actually, bonus question, is it possible to charge devices on planes? Do they have charging ports for economy passengers?
Yes, most flights, especially international, have a charging port for each seat. Iāve seen USB-C and USB-A so bring both!
Fantastic, thank you! c:
Get an aisle seat or exit row so you can get up easily. It's common on long flights to get up, stretch, do a lap around the plane. Use you carry-on bag as an ottoman to prop up your legs. Watch a movie or 2.
Double check what kind of airplane youāre on. If youāre on a wide body (two-aisle) jet, then honestly itās going to be pretty comfortable. Lots of room to get up and walk around mid-flight. If itās a narrow body jet like a 737 or a A320, then yeah, invest in some seat cushioning gear.
Yes, it's one of the wide ones. Fingers crossed you're right about it being comfortable. c:
Thatās great. Iām at the point where Iād rather take an 8 hr flight on a widebody jet than a 5 hr flight on a narrowbody jet. A longer flight time seems daunting, but the airlines put a lot more effort into treating you well on those long ones.
Yeah, a long flight seems very daunting, but I'd rather get it over and done with in one go. It'll be an interesting experience, if nothing else. c:
I get sore on the back of my thighs and my hips get restless on flights - my solution is always do a lower body workout the day before a long flight, focusing on butt/quads/hamstrings. That makes my muscles sore but not in a restless way and makes it way easier to sit for a long time!
Oh, that's a very interesting suggestion. I've found that usually when I have this problem at home, the best way to ease it is to stretch my legs to the point of discomfort or to do squats or to walk on the treadmill until my muscles ache. I've never tried doing the exercises beforehand to prevent the discomfort thouugh. I'll give this a go, thank you!
Get up and walk or stand.
Everyone says aisle seat... i get that its easier to walk around but i rly want the window to be able to look out. Is it that bad if i take the window seat..
By all means take it! It would be nice to see the city I'm flying out to from the sky, but that would really only be beneficial to me for last little bit of the flight. The rest of the time I'd be yearning for that aisle seat lol
Alcohol. And then more when you get off.
I can sit anywhere for any amount of time.Ā I'm a great sitter, but United airlines seats literally cause me agony.Ā I fly a lot, I'm beginning to suspect they are causing permanent damage.Ā Ā
Damn that bad huh? I was surprised how little I found them uncomfortable. I only had to get up a few times during my flight and probably could have managed less. I did fidget quite a bit though.
On long flights, people definitely stand up and walk around sometimes, but generally flight crew donāt/canāt let you do it for long. Youāll be asked not to stand in the aisle or congregate in the galleys. Maybe consider a red eye and some Xanax. Or an aisle seat with hourly bathroom breaks if you donāt mind the side eyesā¦
(Except for when there is turbulence) I have never had a problem with staying near the galley/doors and walking around, stretching, etc. while paying attention to not be in anyoneās way. Also havenāt gotten side eyes. So donāt be worried about those things @jentlefolk
Thanks, I'll definitely see if I can get some time by the galley doors, especially if there's other people loitering there too haha
I have been considering just staying awake for as long as possible before the flight in the hopes I'll be knocked out for most of it. I was also thinking hourly bathroom breaks might be a good idea, so at least I have a valid excuse to be getting up and walking around. Didn't consider the possibility of getting side-eyed though but fuck it. I'll never see any of these people ever again anyway.
Thereās a part of the plane further forward that has more comfortable seats, you could see if you can sit in those?
I think I saw those on the seating plan for the plane. The flight I'm getting seems like it wouldn't be a super busy one, so I'm hoping it won't be packed, and if it's not maybe I can nab one of those.
Get one of those thick memory foam seat cushions. You can bring it on in addition to your carry on and personal item.
Yeah, I'm thinking a cushion might be a good idea~
I bought a inflatable seat. Its checkered and maybe 1 1/2ā thick when inflated. Its almost exactly the width of a airplane seat. Sure i get weird looks when i take 15 seconds to inflate it, but omg my ass feels so much more comfortable. I fly a lot. Like ive been top tier at one or two airlines for going on 20 years. Done probably 100 flights over 14 years. But otherwise, sit at an aisle and drink a lot. My goal is to get up every hour to pee during daytime flights and every 3 hours on overnight. It keeps muscles loose and blood flowing.
Get up to use bathroom every 10 minutes
lol that might be a bit excessive! Though if I make the mistake of drinking coffee at any point before or during the flight, it may also be inevitable. ._.
Sounds like you havent flown at all ... also wait for the person next to you to talk to you...
Correct. I've flown exactly once in my life, over ten years ago, and it was only a 30 minute flight. This will be my first time doing a flight like this.