by - Kris Major has been a flight attendant for 24 years and shared her best flight tips
- He gives advice on where to sit on the plane and how to feel energetic afterwards
A flight attendant has revealed her surprising top tips for surviving a long-haul flight – including not eating in-flight meals and making sure to pack a travel pillow.
For many, the prospect of a long-haul flight is exciting – marking the start of a trip to a long-awaited holiday somewhere warm and sunny.
But for others, the idea of spending several hours with strange, screaming children and having a disturbed sleep can be terrifying.
Kris Major has been a flight attendant for 24 years. After spending many hours in the sky, he shared his top tips for a peaceful flight with CNN.
Kris’ first useful advice is to avoid eating meals on board.
Instead, he recommends using the time you’d normally spend eating to get some much-needed rest, so you’re as full of energy as possible when you reach your destination.
Brushing your teeth after leaving the plane can also help you feel refreshed after a long and groggy flight.
Kris advises you to eat before boarding, but to pack snacks in case you start to feel peckish.
Most airplanes today should provide you with a comfortable seat and pillow for the flight.
But it’s always better to be prepared in case you’re faced with a 12-hour trip without a pillow.
Kris says it’s a good idea to bring an eye mask, travel pillow and blanket to make sure you’re as cozy as possible on the trip.
He told CNN, “I would say cater to your own comfort and your own needs as much as you can.”
The aviation expert believes that comfort on board the aircraft is crucial for customer satisfaction.
He therefore advises people not to worry if they can’t sleep, to take off their shoes if they are uncomfortable and to move regularly to keep the blood flowing.
Seat selection is also important – but where you go depends on the requirements of the individual passenger.
For those who experience motion sickness or dislike turbulence, the best place to sit is in the front to reduce movement.
But if getting a full eight hours of sleep is your main priority, it might be worth thinking about booking a window seat.
And if you are tall and usually find your legs cramped in the small seats, you can order the emergency seat to get extra legroom.
Former flight attendant and vlogger Jamila Hardwick also shared her top tips for air travel.
Like Kris, she also recommends bringing your own blanket and pillow.
For travelers concerned about hygiene on board, she says you can relax by cleaning trays with wet wipes and not ordering tea or coffee, as she claimed the pipes are rarely cleaned.
