I hate flying, only done short flights, is long haul better?

[mammajulie]

I’m not a good flier at all and only even done under 5 hours. Really want to take the kids somewhere long haul and my husband says the flights are so much nicer, is this true?

Only if you go Business class or First class. Otherwise horrific.

I’d say the long haul planes are much nicer and roomier (obviously depending on airline). Virgin is my go-to, even in “cattle class”. Miles better than budget short haul planes!

Definitely nicer than short haul planes. usually more leg room, often bigger planes so the ceiling is higher, tv in the seat back, meals and drinks included, often a pillow and blanket too.....

What is it in particular you don’t like about flying?

Depends on what you dislike about flying and who you fly with.

The seats are slightly bigger and the horrible food is free, TV and a blanket, but no, still not a nice way to spend 12hrs. I’d love to try 1st class one day, that might be bearable!
But it’s what you have to do to get places.
Our friend really really hates flying, they’ve taken to cruising to places, sometimes really basic, they went to Australia on a cargo ship a few years ago. Have a few weeks there and then cruising home. Retired with lots of disposable cash though!

^^ This.

If it's airports, take-offs and landings the OP doesn't like, but they don't mind the cruise, then there's not much to choose between Long haul and Shorthaul.

If they simply don't like flying for any length of time then Long Haul isn't a great idea.

As far as seating goes Economy Long haul might be a bit better appointed than short haul, and perhaps might have seat back screens but it varies.

BTW I think some of the low cost long haul operators might now charge for meals...possibly Norse do but that but can't swear to it.

What I hate….

the cramped nature, the motion makes me feel sick, I panic that I /my kids need a wee when we can’t go, I can’t read or watch anything for fear of feeling/ being sick.

I have no issue with fear or safety or anything like that.

In that case, you'll hate long hall. It's all that, but for even longer.

Personally I hate long haul.
I can't settle and get bored. I can't focus on a film and get irritable.
Unfortunately they are an annoying necessity if I want to visit family!
5 hours is my usual limit, so when I fly to Japan or Australia im broken!

Well TBH a lot of basic Long Haul Economy is "tight", both in leg room and maybe width, despite on paper possibly having slightly more room than an economy short haul equivalent.

IMO unless you can select any extra leg room seats you sometimes find in basic Economy it's generally only really when you get into Economy Plus (or the appropriate brand for the airline involved) that you find space noticably improves

Take motion sickness drugs. It’ll change your experience entirely. Kwells for short haul if you want to stay awake or stugeron for longer journeys or to sleep.

The economy seats are marginally better but not enough to make you enjoy the experience. On the plus side you get entertainment and food.

I travelled business class for the first time recently on a long haul flight and I didn't want it to end 😂was gutted when we landed.

Same shit, just for longer

Flying long haul is a means to an end- to get to your destination. People don’t do it for the enjoyment of the flight. Weigh up whether getting to that destination is worth it. I say that as someone currently on holiday a long haul flight away!

Hmm, it's nicer in that you get the free seat back TV with lots of movies to choose from, and you get free food and drinks. On long haul it's also more socially acceptable to recline your seat (after the first meal has been cleared away). It is still cramped. And there will be times when the seat belt sign is off and you're not supposed to use the loo (but if there isn't obvious turbulence happening at the time & the staff are walking around, and your child is desperate to go, the staff are likely to be understanding)

At the end of the day it's not great, but it's a relative short period of your life. I'd be pretty upset if my partner never wanted to travel anywhere long haul. Some of my favourite trips have been to Japan and China.

A scheduled flight is always nicer than a chartered. And your meals and bar service are included.

But economy is pretty grim regardless. We go premium economy with Virgin which makes it a tad more bearable.

I’m not a happy flier and I’m sorry to tell you that I don’t find long flights any better than short ones. For me they are worse. I haven’t done one for ages and struggle with the idea of anything longer than about four hours now.

I have done long flights but when I was much younger and didn’t mind flying.

Take-off is the worst bit for me so you’d think that the length of flight wouldn’t matter ‘cause you’ve got to take off either way and then you’re just in the air. But it turns out I also don’t like just being in the air. 😂 I get bored easily and fidgety and I don’t like sitting for long periods as it makes my bum go numb. So I won’t be rushing to do any long flights ever again.

But you might cope much better than me with it!

@StaringAtTheWater

"And there will be times when the seat belt sign is off and you're not supposed to use the loo"..

You've lost me there - do you mean when the trollies are out in the aisles?

May depend on the destination, but I find long haul marginally better as you get tv's and often they're overnight so people are sleeping (I can't sleep on planes but it at least makes it quieter). The food is still shite but at least it's free, although some airlines have started charging for alcohol ( I don't get drunk but a glass or two to take the edge off helps). I do find I have to have an aisle seat otherwise I get claustrophobic (especially given the not sleeping on planes issue).

Ref food - just a heads up that you can't always assume it's included in the ticket price these days..

https://help.flynorse.com/articles/onboard/food-on-board/626696b20c103b24added739

Sorry, brain malfunction! I meant when the seat belt sign is on

Why wouldn't you be able to go for a wee?

But agree based on your list of dislikes, a long haul flight won't be much different.

I assume the OP meant when the seatbelt signs are on (due to turbulence risk, or at take off / landing) and you're supposed to stay in your seat with the seat belt fastened, until the light goes off again.

But if the staff are still moving around the cabin, the risk is likely quite low and they will still let a desperate child use the loo.

If the staff are strapping themselves in though, then you should definitely stay put!

I fly a lot and the times I have needed a wee and been absolutely unable to are probably zero. At worst you might have to wait for the seatbelt sign to come off or someone else to finish in the cubicle, but that's no different to any public toilet surely?