Cabin Temperature on Transatlantic Flights
 

Hello,

I'm recovering from an illness that caused autonomic nerve damage and my body has trouble regulating its own temperature. At warm temperatures, my body overheats; at cool temperatures, I'm just fine. I need to cross the Atlantic and I wonder if there is anyone who regularly makes a certain flight across the Atlantic where the cabin temperature is kept chilly. I'm hoping to depart from the Washington, D.C. area; anywhere I'd land in Europe is acceptable.

I've flown several times domestically since the onset of my illness. On one flight with a warm cabin temperature, I nearly lost consciousness; the FA was nice and turned the temp down a little for me, but they're not always willing or able to do this (if, for example, other passengers like it to be warm). I've been reading through the forum threads and have seen a few conversations regarding cabin temperatures, but I was hoping for some current information on specific flights. I'm aware that there are no guarantees about cabin temperature, but I'm trying to improve my odds of making it overseas safely and comfortably. If, for instance, someone regularly makes the same flight on business and can say, "It's always chilly onboard," I'd love to know which flight this is. I'm looking into cooling vests, but haven't tried one out yet. Thank you!

Try sitting by the emergency exit door. That area is usually cooler.

More space = more air circulation = cooler.

I believe trans oceanic flights are usually cooler rather than warmer. Hope you don't run into issues.

I find that US airlines tend to keep the temperature much lower than European airlines. I nearly freeze to death on UA - I know to wear two layers on top and most especially with socks.

Hm. I find the opposite of lhrsfo: the coldest flight I've ever been on was LHR-SFO on BA, and it was so cold that tons of people around me were wearing hats and jackets. (I'm almost always chilly, so I don't use myself as a basis for judging.) Conversely, I've been on a lot of AA TATL flights where it's been so warm after the first hour or so that even I am in a short-sleeved polo shirt (and very happy, it has to be said).

My experience has *generally* led me to expect BA to be cooler than AA, and I think this is consistent with the people I've observed - British folks tend to be uncomfortably warm at temperature many Americans (especially those from the warmer states) find pleasant. The very-cold BA flight, the FA opined that the temperature was due to their using fresh, rather than recirculated, air. I don't really see what that has to do with where they set the thermostat, but if that's the significant difference you could ask what they expect to do on the flight you're taking.

A friend with MS and a similar temperature control problem wears an ice vest when the temperature is warm. I don't know how feasible that is for air travel...

wg

An ultramarathoner friend of mine has one of those. Yeah, not sure how that would work going through TSA. Hey, it's not a liquid!! (yet...)

Exit row window seat is always a little chilly. I'd go for that. The main time I'm hot on an airplane is at boarding time if the aircraft has been sitting there for a while. At airports used to dealing with hot weather, they're usually good about closing window shades while the aircraft sits. But not always...sometimes I'm sitting there sweating and mentally counting the seconds until they fire up the APU and get some air moving through the vents.

Thanks for the answers so far. I saw the ice vests and am considering either one of those or one with recirculating ice water. I wonder if the flight attendants would be able to give me a few big cups of ice throughout the flight

Not all airlines have individual air nozzles on all their planes and that's a no-go for me. I've never found a reliable source to check this information, it would be a huge enhancement to Seat Guru. If I can't get air flow I perish.

All UA INTL birds (as far as I know) have nozzles.

I've found that Lufthansa tends to keep their planes hot, too hot for me. Not TATL, but I've been able to pursued SQ to lower the temp when asked.

I generally fly AF from LAX. I have learned to dress in layers which I can remove as the cabin heats up. AF cabins, after the meals are served, become oven-like. I agree with other poster that BA cabins on transatlantic flights are more comfortable.

American flights are usually far too cold for me. Nearly died of hypothermia once lol

BZimmie: since the issue is in fact a medical one, perhaps your doctor could help by giving you a prescription for the ice vest? You wouldn't want to fill it before going through security anyway, but if you meet resistance from airline crew (which would surprise me) the prescription might help unstick their resistance.

wg

I agree with the suggestion to sit in the emergency exit row by the window .I was just on a UA TATL last week and saw a woman sitting there request extra blankets because she was cold. When I was waiting for the bathroom, I could definitely tell it was cooler there.

I have to second sitting in an exit row. Depending on when you go,I would suggest a light jacket just in case you need to warm up a bit. I'm usually doing TPAC flights (where the cabin is usually warmer than I would like).

What I do is I carry a portable USB fan (I can't find the model I use, but I got it at Walmart for $10+tax.... this one is similar, but not quite as compact as the one I have)...

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/royal-s.../6000193833295

When I'm feeling warm, I hand the fan off of something like the coat hook or off the edge of the seat in front of me (making sure I don't disturb them) and point the fan at myself. If it's still too warm (and you're not doing anything that requires the tray), use the fan and place a cup of ice in front of it. NOTE, the fan may annoy the passengers grouped with you so make sure you check with them as well. If you can get a whole row to yourself, this works exceedingly well.

I agree that an exit row window seat is likely to be relatively cool. But, not to be harsh, I'm not sure that somebody who has almost lost consciousness when overheated (and may well do so again) is the ideal person to be seated in the exit row.