Travel News - 9 Must-Dos Before a Long-Haul Flight

http://travelkit.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/23/11796107-9-must-dos-before-a-long-haul-flight?lite

Do y'all agree with this? Why or why not? Is there anything that you would add or take away?

After "choose your airline" and "choose your aircraft", how do you miss "choose your seat". Seatguru and FT forums are great sources to get the right seating.

I would add taking a shower at the airport lounge before boarding a long-haul flight unless it's first thing in the morning, and after a long-haul if making a connection. Even if traveling in a premium cabin, I'm surprised how humanizing and restorative this can be.

I would also add double checking visa requirements for the destination - I know we've seen reports where pax were shocked they needed a full empty page in their passport for their destination.

:)

I would also add double checking visa requirements for the destination - I know we've seen reports where pax were shocked they needed a full empty page in their passport for their destination.
:)
It's typical of "journalists" writing "human interest" stories is that they forget some of the most critical issues.
For some free drinks might be important.
..........................

IF no clue GOTO NOCLUE
Subroutine Booze.
Check for booze.
IF yes, go to end
IF no, go to 1
END
End subroutine
NOCLUE
GOTO FT
.......................................

Frankly, the article comes across very sophomorish. Someone who needs to be educated by this article, will not know the difference between various aircraft. There is no way you will be able to find out about frequency of meals unless you frequent FT. The author should have said, GOTO FT.
Unless you are flying to Asia, theere is so little difference in service/amenities provided by various airlines, that price is one clear discriminant. Advice about connection at port of entry is good. Usually minimum connection time requirement will take care of it, but one should still look into that, as sometimes one can end up with as many as 23 hours at the port of entry. The premise of section 3. is false if you are flying from NA to EU.

Frankly, the article comes across very sophomorish. Someone who needs to be educated by this article, will not know the difference between various aircraft.

+1

We have a person here at the office (a VP no less) who is otherwise capable and intelligent. Said person was tapped to travel from YYZ to SIN for an internal meeting. Arrangements made, bags packed, arrived @ airport and at check-in was told the passport expires in 3 months so it's a no go. Our otherwise capable and intelligent VP had never heard of the 6-month "rule" for passports.

Someone like this will have absolutely no idea about aircraft, seats, special meals, upgrades ...

What airline has 3-5-3 seating? Even EK stops at 3-4-3.

What airline has 3-5-3 seating? Even EK stops at 3-4-3.

LKM ON MD11's have 2 - 5 - 2

LKM ON MD11's have 2 - 5 - 2

I can appreciate advantage of two aisles over single aisle aircraft as twin aisle aircraft are faster to board. But having an aisle blocked during meal service, hardly means significant advantage of two aisles, as both aisles are blocked at the same time. Over all fewer (1-1.5 fewer people per aisle) people are competing for an aisle in a twin aisle aircraft if a single aisle aircraft is taken to be 3-3 configuration.
Articles of general interest are best when the information they provide is generally and widely applicable. Advice of an upgrade cannot be used by every one. Will a novice have enough miles to upgrade? Some such articles also leave an impression that you can have an upgrade just for asking, increasing the number of people crowding at the gate counter, pestering GA's for an upgrade.

Add consider health issues:

Make sure you carry prescription drugs with you on the plane.
Ensure you have pills for the length of your stay (plus a few extra days)

Add consider health issues:

Make sure you carry prescription drugs with you on the plane.
Ensure you have pills for the length of your stay (plus a few extra days)

^. He leaves out many important matters of practicality. Keep enough, if not all, your medicines in you carry on. Pack an underwear and change of clothes in your carry on. Don't check anything you can't afford to lose, unless you are not allowed to carry them on.
Know the time zone ou are going to be in.

Well, I liked this advice from #8:

"So maybe you load up one fiction book -- one that you know you are going to like -- and then one non-fiction, utilitarian book focusing on a subject in which you have a longtime, serious interest (business or hobby titles, an oral recording history of the Beatles, that kind of thing)."

Because your average tablet really only has space for a couple of books, so you'd better choose those books carefully. :rolleyes:

Because your average tablet really only has space for a couple of books, so you'd better choose those books carefully. :rolleyes:It's not a space issue, it's a weight issue.

It's not a space issue, it's a weight issue.

I can't tell if you're serious or not, but adding extra books to a tablet doesn't add weight. They're ebooks, not paper books.

LKM ON MD11's have 2 - 5 - 2

Wrong.

MKL does not have 3-5-2.

;)

I can't tell if you're serious or not, but adding extra books to a tablet doesn't add weight.

Not even War and Peace?

PS: I assumed your interlocutor was kidding.
It's always wise to assume the best http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i251/benzomatic/Emoticons/icon_smile_tongue.gif

1. Agree

2. Agree

3. Disagree: food is not something I expect on a flight. Yes, they usually serve you some stuff to keep you from starving, but it's pretty far from food. I would say ignore food altogether and just take some nut mix, fruit and/or chocolate with you. Focus on comfort and IFE.

4. Pretty much the same as #1. Agree here: aircraft and seats are important, but I would also add noise as a factor. Quieter planes make a flight more relaxing, IMO.

5. Somewhat disagree. Really trying for an UG has some side effects:
(a) you end up running around in the airport, watching GAs and so forth, when you could be spending that time more pleasantly
(b) not getting the UG can be disappointing and you start off a long journey with a negative attitude
(c) you won't really appreciate what you do have in Y; flying for 14 hours may not exactly be fun but in the right mindset it can be relaxing (although tiring)... ultimately it's time you have to yourself

6. Agree to some extent, although if you're an infrequent flyer a FF program can lure you to an airline you would otherwise avoid. Unless you have significant travel planned for next year and you want status, stick to value (price, comfort).

7. Somewhat disagree. I know many people wear pajamas on long haul flights. The problem is, you still leave from and arrive to a location and some people do care about how they look (not so much a problem in the US tho). Secondly, I would recommend having clothing with a good amount of pockets (this more important for men because women usually have a purse where they can cram everything). It's very useful to be able to have on me the phone, wallet, BPs, passport, headphones, pen, etc. Lastly, some things are more convenient to wear than pack. (E.g. shoes that take a good amount of room in the checked luggage and/or are heavy - I prefer to wear those and use the space in my suitcase more wisely.)

8. Agree; prepare your device (that may or may not be a tablet though... could also be a phone, netbook, etc.)

9. Agree.

PS: I assumed your interlocutor was kidding.
I was kidding. But I knew it would make people think twice :)