How to Maximize Your Experience in an Airplane

We've all been there, 36,000 feet in the air for hours on end. It seems like the clouds circumnavigate the globe, leaving much to be desired as far as spectacular views of earth. And just when the clouds finally clear, either it's nighttime or you realize you are looking at nothing but ocean. So how can you position yourself on an airplane to maximize the enjoyment?

I should first note, that this article applies mainly to anyone who likes to have a nice view when flying. Some people have longer legs, or get up a lot and prefer the aisle seat, so although you might consider this advice, it is less applicable.

Ok, so let's say you are one of those that fight for a window seat like me. First thing's first. Before you choose your seat, get out a map and look at your destination and origin. What route will your plane most likely take? Some trans-Atlantic flights from the US to Europe can change dramatically based on weather, or other factors. The first thing I usually do is go to the airlines website, where they have flight tracking. Some airlines will actually show you a map of where all their flights are at the moment. Remember that most flights leave daily or hourly, so although you cannot track your exact flight (because it is in the future) you can track your flight number. Again, many factors contribute, so this isn't foolproof, but it gives you the general idea.

When I went to Iceland last August, I failed in my attempts to get good views. I failed out of sheer laziness. I went ahead and book my seats without paying much mind. Normally, I am always conscience of this. But since the flight to Reykjavik from New York was an overnight flight, I assumed there would be nothing to see. Wrong!

I was sitting on the right side of the plane. Had I thought for a moment, I would have specifically asked for a seat on the left side. It was a night flight, but the left side of the plane faces north. We were heading to Iceland. Halfway through the flight, our captain announced that if we looked out the left side of the plane we would receive a stunning view of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. While everyone jumped up and headed left, I was trapped on the right next to two sleeping men. In Iceland, I saw the Aurora for a whopping fifteen seconds as the clouds cleared one night. What a bummer.

Coming home from Iceland, I made the opposite mistake. I called the flight a loss, since this was a daytime flight. No more aurora borealis. Once again, my laziness hindered a stunning view. Coming home, I was on the left side of the plane, facing south. Once again an announcement came over the intercom. Those passengers sitting on the right side of the plane could see a stunning view of Greenland. Unfortunately, from my side of the plane, all I could see was the southern tip and some islands. Although it was spectacular, I could not help but wince at the "oos" and "ahhhhs" from the right side of the plane. They saw the coastline, the icecaps, some villages and who knows what else, the way they moaned on about how "amazing" the view was.

I've had some great views from airplanes, but all by chance. Now I go out of my way to plan them, and so far it has worked like a charm. I am returning to Iceland in a few weeks, and I have ensured that I will see both the aurora and Greenland!

This may sound like such a stupid, insignificant little piece of advice, but traveling can be both exciting and exhausting. Sitting cramped in an airplane for any length of time is annoying, so if you go the extra mile before you leave, you can add a few extra little moments of awe to your flight.