How to Be Comfotable on Long Flights

When you need to spend long hours in the air, there's no way to make the distance shorter. However, with common sense and smart planning, there are many ways to make it seem shorter.

1. The first part of making your long hours in the air more comfortable is getting the right flight. For those lasting four hours or more, book what's called a red eye flight. They usually take off from the airport between 11 pm and 3 am. A good feature for the traveler is that they're scheduled at times when roads and airports are less crowded. You'll get through security more quickly, and be settled in your seat without all the pushing and shoving.

2. Because your flying time will be your regular bedtime on the red eye schedule, try to make yourself as comfortable as possible. If you've booked a first class flight, it should be easy for you to just lean back and snooze away the hours, interrupted only by an occasional snack, cocktail or two. If you're in the squeezed tourist section, try to make the best of it with what you have.

3. No matter where your seat is on your flight, wear or bring along loose clothing, soft footwear, an eye mask and earplugs. Puff up a pillow, pull up a coat or blanket and try to curl into as relaxing a position as you can manage, and then sleep the hours away.

4. If you'd rather keep busy to pass the time in the air, bring along some gadgets. You can use your cell phone device to tweet and send Emails to frinds and family. If your device has a keyboard or you've brought a laptop, you can write, listen to music, watch a movie, play games, read Ebooks, study or do scores of other keep-busy things. If you're a student, you can do some boring homework, so you won't have to do it during a busy day.

5. If you're of legal age, ask the flight attendant to bring you a glass of brandy or wine. Sipping those kinds of soothing drinks can induce sleepiness. However, if you want to arrive at your destination in good shape, don't overdo it.

6. If flying at any time makes you tense and nervous, and even on a red eye, and you have trouble relaxing or snoozing, ask your doctor for medication. Take it as prescribed, and have a smooth, trouble-free flight.