Do you have any tips for travelers on long flights? It's important for both adults and children to get up and move around during a long flight. Children can get anxious about sitting for long time periods.
The prospect of a long flight can be daunting to any airline passenger. If you fly from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia, you will be on a plane for fourteen hours. That sounds like a long time, but there are things you can do to make such a flight much easier.
Along with the long flight time, there are other important things you must know when planning your trip.
When flying to a different country, there are things every passenger must have. There are documents you must present to customs once you reach your destination.
Along with the long flight time, there are other important things you must know when planning your trip.
When flying to a different country, there are things every passenger must have. There are documents you must present to customs once you reach your destination.
"Always check with that country's consulate regarding the need for visas, shots, etc.," says Milena Garita, Reservations Sales Representative with Continental Airlines. "You may be denied entry if you don't have them."
Don't forget about your children. There are papers you may need for them as well.
"When adults travel with children and only one (or neither) parent or guardian is traveling, it's very important for the accompanying adult to find out if the country they're flying to requires special paperwork such as notarized letters or court-issued papers for the child to enter and leave the country," explains Garita.
These rules are different from country to country.
"Some countries might not require much more than passports to get a child into their country, but they will require special government permits to allow that same child to leave the country to go back home," says Garita.
Your airline may have suggestions for you in regards to what documentation you may need, but it's important for you to call the consulate yourself.
"Airlines will provide the most up-to-date info that they have, but immigration laws change constantly and each country's consulate will have the most current information," says Garita.
You may be in trouble if you reach your destination without the proper credentials. You will not get off the ground without them.
"Keep in mind that airlines are given very specific lists from the different governments telling them what they must verify that their passengers have, in way of documentation, before they're allowed to board that passenger," says Garita.
Garita goes on to say, "If a passenger cannot satisfy that requirement at the time of travel, the airlines will not board them. Airlines risk being fined in the thousands of dollars per passenger who cannot clear customs and immigration due to lack of correct documentation."
There are other things to consider other than paperwork. Keeping yourself occupied is definitely a must for long trips.
"Bring along things that will entertain you, to make time go by faster, like books or a portable music player," says Garita.
This might be a good time to put comfort before fashion.
"Comfortable clothes are always a good idea," says Garita. "Especially important are comfortable shoes, since some people's feet tend to swell a little bit during flight."
Don't remove your shoes during a long flight, or you may not be able to get them back on. Your feet may swell as much as one shoe size. It's a common occurrence on long flights, so keep your shoes on your feet unless you want to be barefoot in the airport.
It's important for both adults and children to get up and move around during a long flight. Children can get anxious about sitting for long time periods.
"Most airlines are very aware of the fact that our littlest passengers need to move around and stretch," says Garita. "One thing that parents have to be aware of though is that flight attendants do have to move up and down the aisles very often to see to passenger's needs (and airplane aisles are pretty narrow), so as long as the child doesn't lay down or sit in the aisle, it's ok for children to walk up and down the aisle to stretch for a bit."
If the prospect of being on a plane for a long period of time does not appeal to you, you have options you may not have considered.
"Some people like to break up a flight," says Garita. "This means that even if they can take a non-stop flight, they'll opt for a flight that will connect somewhere."
Why do this?
"It might take longer to get from point A to point B, but there's a break in between flight segments where you'll be on the ground for a little while," explains Garita.
Long flights over oceans may not allow for this though. If you are flying over long expanses of water, resign yourself to remaining on the flight for the duration.
Taking the time before a long trip to get papers in order will save you a lot of headache down the road. That, along with planning to keep everyone comfortable and occupied, will make for an easier flight. When you take off, the only thing you have to worry about is enjoying your vacation.
