12 MUST-KNOW Tips to Survive a Long Flight in Economy

Discover the ultimate SURVIVAL GUIDE for long-haul flights in economy with these proven tips and tricks! Learn how to make your flight experience as comfortable as possible, from ordering a special meal to tackling ear pain and uncomfortable cabin temperatures. Don't miss out on these game-changing tips to upgrade your next flight, and subscribe foR more travel hacks every week!

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Welcome to Portable Professional, where I, Megan, use my experience from over 300 flights to offer you simple, practical and game-changing travel tips and hacks. Our mission is to help you reduce stress and make the most of every trip.

🐶 Chapters
00:00 Flight comfort hacks
00:16 #1 Airplane meal hack
01:42 #2 Minimalist travel essentials
03:46 #3 Prepare for this (it sucks)
05:18 #4 Bring this, not a water bottle
06:12 #5 The 'tax rule' hack
07:01 #6 Plane PHONE hacks
07:49 #7 Do not forget this!
08:43 #8 Entertainment system hack
09:17 #9 TSA Security tip
10:26 #10 Economy seat hack
11:01 YOUR travel HACKS!
12:11 #11 Sleep on flight trick
12:39 #12 Most important (do not skip this!)
13:32 Bonus flight hack!

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[scrapjoy]

Pack a large plastic shopping bag (larger grey Target bags work) to put your under-the-seat bag into when you’re settled. Keeps the bag’s surface clean from the floor, in-flight spills, and from your shoes if you’re using it as a footrest. Make sure the zippers are accessible from the open front of the plastic bag. Throw the bag away at your destination. Pack another one for the flights home.

[ingeborgsuckel]

I do long flights at least four times a year. I personally recommend not to bring all those devices, just comfortable clothes, take a shower right before you leave home, take a good book and just relax and enjoy the experience

[russellhltn]

My travel tip for long flights: compression socks. It minimizes restless legs where you can't find a position that is comfortable for more than 30 seconds.

[helenelliot]

I have to disagree with Megan about the meal. I have a relative who was a long haul flight attendant and their experience is that it was a nightmare if large numbers of passengers ordered special meals. If 5% ordered special meals, it started to get onerous. 10% special meals totally disrupted service delivery for everyone.
Thats the reality folks. Trying to get hundreds of pre prepared meal to hundreds of people in a narrow metal tube in the sky is not easy.
If you don't have a religious or medical reason for a different meal, just have what's offered.

[elizabethparkhurst]

I used your beach ball trick going to Costa Rica, in Costa Rica as an extra pillow, a partially inflated ball between my knees in bed!! The best trick EVER!!!! I cant believe no one asked me about it. I put it in front of me on the tray table and slept.

[Whalewraith]

I'm in Bangkok. The fatal Singapore/ Heathrow flights emergency landing was all over the news yesterday.
Number one tip wear your safety belt. The interviews and video of the damage has had more effect on me that a 100 boring safety videos.

[Andrea-]

Pack your outerwear item, a shawl, and/or an “emergency” outfit in a medium compression packing cube, along with an empty “tube” packing cube, and place in your large personal item. (1) Wear items when cold; (2) unzip compression on medium cube to use as back support pillow: or (3) place a rolled shawl, clothing, or magazine in the “tube” cube to use as a neck pillow. No need to pack extra stuff.

[tonyraph]

I will forever be jealous of those who can sleep on a plane

[cfair]

I also wear a wide comfortable headband, can be used as eye-shade that also holds earbuds in place, as headband, or as neck warmer.

[treefrog]

A few weeks ago, I did an 11hr flight, nonstop from UK to USA. The flight was not full so many of us got our own seat aisles. It was lovely. I was tired enough to sleep throughout most of the entire flight. 11hrs just felt like 6hrs.

[rondaherriott]

When it comes to that awesome fan, please learn from my mistake and buy it in any color but pink. Multiple people have told me it looks like an adult toy. 😂

[neutronjack]

For those of us who a plus size, it is a good idea to request a seat belt extender when boarding. The flight attendants use them for the seat belt demonstration. It is much more comfortable for me to add a few inches to the seat belt, than to ride constricted.

Like the meal selection hack, it will open me up to trying new foods.

[cfair]

On longer flights I bring an inflatable neck pillow, these fold down really small and I can vary inflation for comfort level. I also bring a small spray bottle filled with water and spritz my face with it to combat the dryness of a long flight.

[laurensweeny]

I bought a vest with a multitude of pockets. I put my needed in flight stuff in each pocket. This way allows me to still have a personal item and carryon.

[Trojan]

We flew to France on business. Flew back on premium economy, 2 seats with window & aisle. Worth it

[YouTuberMe]

I just got back from two 16 hr flights. The worst part was waiting for the toilet to be free. I was economy Korean airlines. The 747-b. I was extremely comfortable. Packed plane, plenty of overhead space. The legroom was great. I'm 5'10 and never got uncomfortable. Used plane pillow against window, and the hum put me to sleep. If you go onto a flight expecting to be uncomfortable, you probably will be. Now the smaller planes are less comfortable like the 300. But long haul larger planes aren't as bad as most of these videos make them out to be. Oh and no one clapped or was even fazed when the plane landed. Service is excellent in Korean Airlines btw. So much better than any American company I've ever been on.

[Hilighted]

Thank you very much! Liked, subscribed and shared. My absolute favorite YouTube channel by far.

[phuttyyt]

One thing to be aware of when ordering special meals in Economy class, particularly on long-haul flights, is that you're often given less food overall than if you just chose from the 'beef or chicken?' options they serve everyone else. Often the standard meals come with e.g. a bread roll and/or cheese and biscuits and/or a chocolate bar or whatever, but with special meals - especially those with restrictions like being low in fat or sodium - you often only get a starter and main, and for dessert, whatever the menu, it's almost always a few pieces of fresh fruit.

So you might be missing out on the 'perks' of the ordinary meals just for the sake of getting served first and not having to queue for the toilet. Plus you still have to wait for drinks, as they're only offered when they serve the standard meals. So, yeah, worth bearing those things in mind :)

Oh, and I've noticed in the last year or two in particular that *way* more people are ordering special meals, so much so that last time we did it on a long-haul flight, about a third of the ordinary meals had already been served by the time we got our special meals. So depending on we're you're sitting in the Economy section, you might not be gaining that much or indeed any time at all, and you'll probably end up with less (and sometimes much more bland) food.

[bzzihzq]

I agree with merino clothing. I've been wearing Icebreaker since 2004 and love them. At home and on holiday it is fantastic. Loved your ideas and will look at them more closely when going overseas again.😊

[nocluatall]

Bring a hotel slipper so can take off shoes and use the slipper on the long flight, good for blood circulation and easy for potty breaks between sleep