Flying 101

Airports are indeed one of my favourite places to be and as many as you know, the travel bug infected me long ago.

Here are some of my tips and tricks to make travel easier for the mind, body and your fellow passengers.

Before you go:

Check in online. That saves a bit of time at the airport. Especially, if you are a light packer like me with nothing to check in.

Research if you need a VISA, what the departure tax might be for some countries (if there is, put that money aside straight away to avoid running to an ATM last minute) and if you are required to have any shots. Some immunizations are spilt and you have to go back for the second or third shot. Don't wait last minute.

If you're going to places where the water isn't potable, you can always get these water purification tablets at stores like Mountain Equipment Co-Op. The water doesn't taste the best (bleachy and chlorine like) but it'll do in a pinch as it did for my sister and I when we were traveling the Amazon basin. On the same note, electrolyte packets are great to quickly hydrate the body. Be sure they're actually electrolytes because Emergen-C is really more of a vitamin C supplement.

Travel documents saved and stored in your phone. Flight booking numbers and flight details. I've also scanned my passport and sent it to my email and have it in my phone, just in case.

Carry-on:

Be sure that all your liquids are in containers 100mL or less. They won't care if it's a half empty 200mL container. I always snag the hotel shampoo bottles whenever I can, not for the quality of the shampoo but for the container. That way, as you use them up on your trip, you can just dispose of them.

Grab a few extra carry-on liquid bags whenever you go. Those bags can be flimsy and they can get gross with exploding liquids. To save yourself the time and hassle of repacking your liquids at the airport, you just whip a new one out. Also, you'll likely save a friend the hassle too by having an extra bag!

Have the items you'll need for your flight in an easy to reach place of your bag. Headphones, pen (for immigration papers), passport with boarding pass (for immigration, but it's a good idea to memorize your passport number anyways), books and whatever else you need.

Be courteous of people boarding the plane and either wait till everybody is seated before grabbing your things or be sure you can do it quickly without needing to rummage around therefore blocking the aisle and holding up the flow. You can always step into the seat rows too so that your fellow passengers can pass freely.

My biggest pet peeve is when overhead compartments run out of space. It's not because there's not enough room for each passenger, it's because people don't want anything by their feet so they put both of their allowable carry-ons up there. I push the limit too for my carry-on allowance but it's important to be courteous so others don't have to check in their carry-ons right then and there or have to put one way out of the way from their seat. It also makes for a quicker take off for everybody and that always leads to a happy traveller.

Cruising altitude etiquette:

The unspoken rule when you're in a crowded flight with neighbours is that you get *one* armrest, not both. It's absolutely the worse to be in the middle seat and the passengers flanking you have both decided to take two armrests, leaving you all smushed. You get one. Only one.

Not everybody wants to chat or hear your conversation so be courteous. Some people will be traveling very long hours and just looking for some shut eye or peace and quiet. It's fun to travel with friends but keep the conversation volume to low. It is a shared space and voices can carry further and louder than you might think. Read your neighbour's body language to see if they're the chatty type or the quiet type.

If you have to use the bathroom a lot, opt for the aisle seat. Yes, you won't get the pretty views of a window seat, but you'll also save your neighbours from constantly bothering them to stop their movie, unplug their headset, unbuckle and stand up.

Also, if your inside neighbour needs the bathroom... Have the courtesy to stand up and into the aisle so they don't have to awkwardly squish their way through. Also watch out for hair if you need to brace yourself with the seats in front.

Don't be afraid to politely ask your neighbour to give up an arm rest if you need, to lower the volume, etc... Better to be forthright than passive aggressive and bubbling with annoyance the entire flight.

Stretching it out:

Flights can be tough on the body, especially the transpacific / transatlantic ones. I, the yoga teacher, is quite terrible at getting up. I can sit for ages and ages and my body pays for it dearly. So I make it a point to get up every couple of hours to stretch.

Cabin space will be limited so here's what I do. You can do a modified version of a seated pigeon by crossing one ankle on top in a figure four. That might be enough of a stretch but if you need more, you hinge at the hips to get the external hip flexors.

It'll be weird for your neighbours and yourself, but for me to get into my hamstrings I just pop my leg straight up to the ceiling and hold on with my hands. Bringing the leg closer into me if I need that deeper stretch. Be careful! Don't bop your neighbour's head in front!!

I don't know how people use those neck pillows but they end up being more uncomfortable for me than anything. So, my neck gets a bit sore with flying. Take time and bring one ear over to the corresponding shoulder and imagine the opposite shoulder begins to drop (as if a heavy bag was placed on it). Bringing the chin towards the armpit was help stretch out the front of the neck too.

The front of the chest can get tight from the head of the arm bones rounding forward. To counteract that, when you do get to the galley, interlace your fingers behind your back and bring the shoulders up and down the back body while lifting the arms up and away.

Be courteous to the staff on your flight. Taking up precious space to do a full on poses is going to slow down their job because you'll just be in the way.

Final notes:

Stay hydrated to combat jet lag and fatigue from traveling. It's helpful to bring a water bottle so that you can ask them to fill the entire thing instead of asking for 12 cups of mini waters.

If you're flying over several datelines, try to mimic the hours of the place you're headed to. Sleep when it's their night time, try to stay awake and keep busy during their daylight hours.

Have fun!! Don't sweat the small stuff, it's not really going to matter in the long run. Have an amazing adventure! Learn something new! Eat something different! Make new friends!!

Up up and aaawwwaaaay!!