Your First Intercontinental Flight - What to Expect

So you've decided to take your first intercontinental trip. Your adventure starts with something that might not excite you: a long flight. Cheer up, though. This won't be like flying from Boise to St. Louis. Really, an intercontinental trip might make you believe that getting there is part of the fun. Here's what you an expect from your trip.

1. Better Service - Intercontinental flights are the pride of just about any airline. And foreign airlines seem to take these flights extra-seriously if they're a burgeoning tourist destination. The flight is the first chance for the country to make an impression. So they try to do it right. Take a Qantas flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, for example. When you get to your seat, there's a care package waiting for you. You'll find some socks and a cover for your eyes if you want to get some sleep. You'll also get dinner and breakfast, with flight attendants making a few other runs for snacks and drinks. The crews are friendly from boarding to disembarking.

2. The Planes - You might not think this makes a difference - but it does. Walking aboard a 747 will astound you if you're used to flying a 737 or A320. Even a tall guy like me can walk right down the aisle without any threat of getting bonked on the head by a low ceiling. You can get up and take a decently long stroll. The spaciousness makes everyone feel a lot less closed in. And even smaller airplanes get a bit spruced up: IcelandAir uses many 757s in its fleet - but they're a night-and-day different from those used to get fliers from Phoenix to New York: They're cleaner, with just enough extra space between seats to make a difference.

With some airlines, the experience will vary from plane to plane. The Cranky Flier reports that United's 747 fleet is actually its weak link, with the newer 777s offering a more pleasant flight. Do your research and see what other travelers say before booking.

3. The Amenities - Many planes that fly intercontinental routes are a notch up from those in domestic services. It's increasingly popular for such aircraft to have on-demand entertainment systems at each seat. You can, at any point, call up your choice of movie, radio station or games. Aboard IcelandAir, you can even use it to learn to speak Icelandic. These make long flights go far faster. Be sure to research whether an airline your considering offers on-demand entertainment on your flight before booking.

4. Foreign or Domestic - I fly intercontinental for fun. That means I want to get a taste of the country or region I'm visiting. And that starts with the flight. I've had great experiences flying foreign airlines, so I've been reluctant to try a U.S.-based airline for an intercontinental flight. The Web is also replete with horror stories about long-haul flights on American legacy carriers. Granted, I believe that much of the Internet screeching is the product of people who love to whine. Unfortunately, my domestic flights give me little hope that these tales don't contain at least some germ of truth.

5. A Few Numb Bits - Sitting down for a long time is always going to take its toll. Get up. Move around the cabin. Intercontinental flights often require bigger twin-aisle planes, effectively doubling your room to stroll. Use it all.