How to enjoy your next flight

Do you dread all the petty problems that come along with a long distance flight? Here is some practical advice for you to enjoy a ten hour flight: Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before if not 3 hours for a flight transiting via the United States: you avoid the stress of missing your plane and have more chances of choosing your favourite seat (corridor, window, or by the emergency exits so that you can stretch your legs).Think of bringing chewing-gum to avoid ear ache on take off and landing, as well as keeping your breath freshIf you have blood circulation problems, wear contention socks, and in any case, get up regularily, walk up and down and exercise a bit: this will relax and ease your back. Make yourself comfortable and take off your shoes. On the other hand, if your feet swell in altitude, you will have problems putting your shoes back on.Wear loose-fitting and confortable clothes and avoid tight jeans.Avoid drinking alcohol, it is not recommended in altitude and keeps you awake. Drink plenty of water (a litre every 3 hours), you dehydrate faster in a pressurised cabin (20% humidity on take off, 10% during the flight, for the air recovered from outside is drier in altitude than on the ground. Injecting steam would force the carrier to transport extra weight.Take a pill to sleep, because there is nothing worse than counting the hours to breakfast. Think of ear plugs and a mask to cover your eyes.Companies tend to put the air conditioning on full (except for flights from the Carribean, the Indian Ocean or the Middle-East to Europe, for the passengers used to temperatures of 25°C or more), so bring a pull over in order not to get cold, espescially on night flights.The films broadcasted on board are generally not that good, so bring a book. Don't buy too many newspapers at the airport as they are generally freely given out on boarding the plane (mostly on regular companies, the charter companies  try to save on these expenses).Put all your objects such as scissors, nail file, Swiss penknife down in the checked baggage. How many of us have had to separate from the family wash bag or grandmother's scissors!If you find the food on board has no taste, it is not the caterer's fault: the air in the cabin modifies the food's taste, and makes salt, spices, or sugar hard to detect. It does not mean that you should cover your 'tagiatelle à la crème' or your saffron rice with salt. It won't change the taste and you will get thirsty.