Wings and Legs

All of us who take those silver wings to those far off lands we dream of share one thing in common. That is being in a small confined space in what seems like forever. With airplanes there is airspeed and ground speed.  I believe that according to my experiences there is air time and ground time.  And since speed is a function of time there should be some relationship between the two.  I am positive that air time travels much slower.

Most of us don't suffer much discomfort on short flights of four hours or less.  But when you're in that metallic object hurtling across the sky for an extended period of time, fatigue tends to increase at a compound rate.  And if the fatigue is to  well-seasoned body, so much the worse.  However, there are some things a savvy well seasoned traveler should consider.  Sleep tends to make the time pass faster.  Getting ready to sleep while flying can be quite a ritual in its self. Once on a trip from Atlanta to Tokyo  I witnessed such a ritual of the Japanese lady across the aisle from me.   The steps in preparation were as follows:

1. Select the proper music through the headphones.
2. Replace shoes with comfortable soft slippers.
3. Request and receive pillow and blanket from the attendant.
4. Strategically place pillow for maximum comfort.
5. Put on inflated collar pillow.
6. Recline seat to the maximum.
7. Put on sleeping mask and adjust without damage to coiffure.
8. Cover with blanket.
9. Fall asleep.

By the time this ritual is completed the aircraft has reached cruising altitude.  I don't follow this ritual. There's something about the little pink slippers I don't like. I actually start my preparation before I buy my ticket.  One thing for sure is that the airlines pack as many paying passengers aboard a plane as they can. Comfort while traveling is important to me but not enough to pay for first class seating.  Yes, it's tourist or economy class for me. The manufacturer of the  aircraft and model has a lot to do with seating comfort. The airline determines the seating arrangements when buying the planes so they affect seating comfort as well.  In my experience I seem to find the Airbus planes more comfortable than Boeings.

In seating it is surprising how much difference  a fraction of an inch in seat width can make in passenger comfort.  For example the seats on an Airbus economy class are one inch wider  than an economy class seat on a  comprable Boeing plane on the same airline. But seat size isn't the only variation, the location of the seat on the airplane determines legroom. The first row of seats after the partition between first class ant economy has more legroom and is not encumbered by reclining seats in front. There is no seat to stow your personal carry-on bag but that's a small price to pay for more legroom.  The seats just aft of the side emergency exits have more legroom. But the seats behind these have less than standard legroom.  Unfortunately for the smart traveler  many of the airlines have realized the benefits of these seats and now charge a premium for them. Be aware that some of the most comfortable seats are sometimes on the regional and budget airlines.

There are a number of websites that show the seating arrangements of various airplanes and some indicate the best seats. There are traveler reviews on some of the sites to help you decide what is best for you.

• SeatGuru
• SeatExpert
• American Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• SkyTrax

There are a number of other things that can make your flight more enjoyable as well. When flying be aware that if the plane is not fully loaded you may find an empty seat that is better than your assigned seat. Ask the attendant if it's okay to move. It is amazing how much more comfortable it is flying next to an empty seat.  Elbow room is a precious commodity. Avoid those seats near the galley.  It's unbelievable how noisy attendants can be in flight. One thing that seems to help me battle fatigue when traveling is to leave my seat and walk the length of the cabin about every two hours. Airlines vary a lot in the services as well.  Most domestic flights have only bare bones  amenities while foreign carriers offer more. For example, Air France meals come with wine and SwissAire provides chocolates.

To be the most comfortable on long flights you must pick the right airline. And selecting the right seat can make all the difference.