Surviving a long haul flight in economy

[Bobsledgirl]

How? We have a 8 hour overnight flight next month. Can’t afford an upgrade and the last time I had a flight like that it nearly killed me!

The seats are so uncomfortable, you can’t recline unless everyone does. I recall being desperate for sleep but couldn’t find the right position. A neck support cushion didn’t help because the seats are too upright.

Any tips? It’s putting me off the trip tbh. ( Can’t change the flight)

Just done this for 10 hrs and actually the flight there was worse (daytime - I got so bored after 5 hours!). No tips - just got to grin and bear it, I couldn't recline and had my teenage son flopping over me which made it worse. I was hoping for a half-empty flight to nab an empty row so I could lie down but the flight was full.

What I can say is I was exactly like you - dreaded it but I found that yes I didn't sleep much (I did manage a couple of hours) but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Once I got home I went straight to bed for a couple of hours then felt more human.

That's not helpful is it, given the flight is booked and OP has said she has to travel for family reasons (which often translates to travelling for very sad reasons). She just wants a bit of advice to get through it as comfortably as possible.

@ColleenDonaghy maybe not, but what a lot of drama about what is essentially the same amount of time as most people spend at work in any given day. If she was flying to Australia or New Zealand, fair enough, that's a bloody long, uncomfortable flight. But 8 hours? That's about three films.

Valium & noise canceling headphones.

No to valium if you're travelling with kids

Come off it 😂. You’re not allowed to walk through business to use the bathrooms anyway and it’s highly likely you’d be stopped.

If you actually do this then fair play, you’ve got some balls! Were you not utterly mortified at being escorted back to your seat?

@YaWeeFurryBastard i noticed several passengers sneaking up to use the business bathrooms on my last business flight from US and not being stopped. Absolutely amazed if any of them could have nabbed one of the spare seats though as the flight attendants have a good handle on who’s where for meal selection. But if anyone has ever managed this, hats off to them for nerves of steel, I would never dare!

I travel regularly on overnights.

Memory foam neck pillow
Eye mask
Earphones
Melatonin (or if you can't get that, any drug that will make you drowsy like anti nausea meds or antihistamine)
Plug into any meditation/chill out music
Fall asleep

And FFS recline. If it's an overnight, everyone else will be. I'm also tall and fly fine in economy even if people in front recline their seats.

Why am I seeing so many threads about whether to recline or not? It's a night flight, of course you can, even if you're staying awake to watch movies.

Interesting! I’ve never noticed this and on our last flight a woman came up from economy to chat to her partner next to us in business and was pretty quickly approached by one of the hostesses and asked to leave. I agree I definitely think they’d notice if someone randomly appeared in one of the business seats so I don’t find the PPs story particularly believable and certainly wouldn’t advise anyone to try it.

Eight hours isn't too bad. I wouldn't necessarily call that long-haul.
Eat a light meal, watch a film, then try to doze when you can. Keep hydrated and just catch up on sleep when you get to the other end.
Be thankful you're not flying to the Far-East or Australia.

😂at taking at empty business class seat. Actually after the meal the lights get dimmed and the staff go to the back. Though always looked full on every flight I've flown on plus surprised no other passengers would report. But I like your style.

Eye mask. Noise cancelling headphones.
gin and tonic ( just the one )
Recline seat and sleep

take own blanket ( I take a pashmina as it’s useful when away ) . Try a neck cushion “ backward “ ie with the widest cushion but under your chin. That a rolled up jumper in the small of my back works for me.

you can also get inflatable cushions that you pop on the tray and lean into - might suit you

Ear plugs are a MUST - I like the conical shape soft foam ones. Eye mask or soft hat/hood that goes over your eyes too.

Bring a soft large scarf or two - can act as extra blanket, extra padding by the arm, go over your head, or even make a foot sling by tying around the table bracket.

Something as a foot rest really helps.

Of course you recline once meal is over.

Bear in mind there will be a queue for the loos just after meal/before sleep so maybe get in earlier.

Accept you will need a long nap/very early night on day of arrival.

The real issue with an 8 hr flight is there will be dinner and breakfast and the duty free trolley etc so only about 5 hours when the plane is dark and quiet.

@Bendysnap

i noticed several passengers sneaking up to use the business bathrooms on my last business flight from US and not being stopped. Absolutely amazed if any of them could have nabbed one of the spare seats

Nipping forward (as is usually the case) to use the loos sometimes happens..it shouldn't in theory but if you're coming up to seatbelts going on for landing the crew might take a relaxed approach as long as the genuine business class passengers don't end up disadvantaged.

I know of one definite instance of somebody trying to sneak an upgrade on a night flight but it didn't work...it was something that the cabin crew where I worked knew they needed to watch out for.

Actually after the meal the lights get dimmed and the staff go to the back.

Actually they don’t! In business there’s always at least one or two Crewe on hand to serve passengers if they need anything.

Agreed, the crew don't all "knock off" after the meal service...

What they do do depends on the airline and sometimes the length of flight but in general there's usually a requirement for at least one crew member to be present in/ or very near each galley and often a requirement for cabins/loos to be checked/walked on a regular basis.

We have a long-haul flight coming up soon, the seat configuration is 3-4-3 - all extra legroom seats already gone. We’ve booked the end two seats of a middle set of four, thinking that no one will be climbing over us as they’ll go the other way - does that make sense? Never done a 13 hour flight before.
in fact, I’ve chosen seats 1&2 of the four in a row where seat 4 has already been booked, in the hope that no one will go for seat 3 unless the flight is completely full. I may be overthinking this now…

Fwiw I just did an 8 hour overnight flight on Aer Lingus in economy. I was dreading it a bit as my recent overnight flights have mostly been in business. It really wasn't too bad. The flight wasn't full, which helped.

Eight hours gives a fairly short night once you take take off and landing into consideration so my top tip is to eat dinner before you leave and then refuse the meal service - just stick an eye mask on and try to doze while other are eating and then recline and try to sleep once the lights go down. I use a memory foam pillow and take a big shawl to use in addition to the airline blanket if the cabin is really chilly.

That was exactly my thinking for my booking to Australia. I like aisle seats because I hate climbing over people - but don’t mind people climbing over me- and the row I chose was full except for the one next to me. Fingers crossed!!

couple of drinks & some night nurse works a treat for me

I don’t fly any more but I could only get comfy with my shoes off in a vertical foetal position, sideways in the seat. Then reading, watching TV etc.

This is an excellent list.
The only thing I'd change is that I prefer a slightly bigger pillow rather than a neck pillow.

I just can't see this happening and certainly not more than once.
The cabin crew have lists with your names on in BC, so they can say "Hello Mrs Fall" when you get on, and they check on you during the flight and also shoo away anyone who comes to try and use the toilets.
They are going to notice an extra unnamed body.

I also am surprised it could happen and that many times. Ours had lists for the meals with a seat chart I think though was as we ordered special meals but seemed to have all the seats on and lots of staff before and during meals. In economy after meal they dimmed lights and staff went to back (was in back section), I think a few were on duty but mainly chatting and distracted so think you could have got out of economy easy enough. But to take a seat in business class unnoticed. 😱Maybe the OP could do an experiment for us. 😂Or any tips on how this is done?

Get yourself a feet hammock from Amazon - they really help relaxation