A Guide to Surviving the Journey!

Some useful notes to help plan your journey:

• Get plenty of sleep the night before the day you travel. Although exciting it can be fretful if you are tired.

• Leave plenty of time to get to the airport. A great idea is to stay at an airport hotel, if possible. This means that before your flight you can relax in the evening and then get up fresh in the morning, have a leisurely breakfast and get to the airport in plenty of time. Some airport hotels have deals which include one night’s accommodation and X amount of days parking included in the price. They also lay on a shuttle to and from the airport which removes the strain of getting lost!

• Ensure you have all your travel documents including passport to hand, so you are not routing through bags to find them when you arrive at the airport!

• Ensure you arrive at check-in in plenty of time, as sometimes the queues can be large. Bring books, magazines or comics if younger members of the family are present. Some snacks and drinks are an idea as well. A chocolate bar always keeps us happy! Factor in time for security control and going through the X-ray machines, as the queues can be also long there some days.

• Once you get to the departure lounge, do not spend all your holiday cash in the duty free shops! Seriously though, here is the opportunity for some retail therapy to buy those essential items which you have forgotten…wink, wink. There are lots of food and drink establishments too.

• You normally get called forward to board anything up to 45 minutes before take-off. If you have small children, make yourself known to the airline staff and you should board first. Make everyone go to the loo before this stage!

• Once you have boarded the plane, it is best to get yourself settled for the initial part of the journey with the bits and bobs you and your party, especially the children, will want straight away, i.e. books, snacks, drinks, games, etcetera.

• If you have any special dietary needs you should speak with the airline before hand to ensure when the meals come out, you are catered for. If you are worried about bringing your own meal(s) – don’t. I have noticed lots of parents do this for their children.

• Drink lots of water during the flight to stay hydrated on the flight. Alcohol should be avoided, although occasionally we break this rule!!

• Take exercise on the flight by just walking around a little and often. The in-flight magazines normally also contain exercises that you can do in your seat.

• Wear something comfortable; loose clothing and flat shoes are best. I normally travel to the airport in a glam outfit, as old habits die hard! However, I learned the hard way, so now when I get on the plane I put comfy clothes on which I carry in my hand luggage. I also take my own slippers!! Make sure you have enough warm clothing, as it can get chilly so far up! There are always blankets and little pillows available to curl up under!

• Essentials on the flight include important things like medication, so ensure you have enough for the journey; painkillers are always handy, just in case. Lots of passengers wear DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) stockings, which are good on long haul flights. A chap stick of some description and moisturiser, (yes the men can wear it too) and hand cream are useful items. A foot spray can also be a bonus.

• A supply of snacks is always a good idea, especially if you have younger or fussier members in your party! Most flights provide an in-flight service, where soft drinks, tea and coffee are complimentary. Alcohol may also be complimentary on some flights. You can buy small snack items like chocolate and nibbles on most airlines. The airlines take cash; dollars, sterling and euros, plus travellers’ cheques and credit cards.

• Most portable music devices can be used on the plane, as well as laptops and other electrical items, although not during take-off or landing. It is always best to check with the cabin crew if you are unsure. The exception to this rule is mobile phones; they have to be switched off at all times during your time on the plane!

• If you smoke, make sure you have some patches or gum to keep you going, as all flights are non-smoking and the loos are fitted with smoke detectors. On the plus side, at least you can purchase cheap cigarettes from the in-flight duty free service for when you arrive!

• And lastly, don’t forget your earphones and aircraft adapter, so you can enjoy the in-flight entertainment, where they have the latest movies and some good tunes to listen to! (You are able to purchase the earphones if you do not have your own or have forgotten to bring them)!

OK you should be almost there now…..enjoy your trip!