All My Journeys Started With Istanbul
A few months before I turned 40 I decided that I needed to travel no more excuses, the time was now. A few weeks later I had a destination and an accomplice. The two months leading up to the trip were both exciting and nerve wracking. My first international trip was also my first long haul flight; 14 hrs. I learned a few things from that flight and that trip. 1) Long haul flights suck! They suck hard. 2) While seats on the outer aisle have less people in the row making it not as claustrophobic for anyone in the window or the aisle seat, they have less leg room. As someone who is a little over 5’9 this is not a small thing. 3) As much as you would like to - you can not get comfortable to sleep in economy (I also found out I snore, like a Mack truck with a stuck throttle). My take aways from this flight experience? 1) Unless you can afford business or first class you have to find away to embrace the suck. During my many flights internationally I have found that international carriers are a tad bit roomier (the food is also better) as such I try to book tickets where the long haul portion of the flight is an international carrier. 2) Book the aisle seat of one of the interior rows; you will have one person beside you and free access to the aisle (something I really begun to appreciate more as a female traveler now in her early 50s) - if you are traveling with someone instead of booking them a seat in the row beside you - book them in the seat across the aisle from you. 3) The best earphones are your own. Especially if they are the type that go in your ear as they can help with the change in pressure (they also help drown out the sound of your own snoring). 4) Download the app for the airlines as most times it will provide you with updates on your flights as well as access to wi-fi. 5) Don’t wear jeans. Go for comfort. Instead I wear leggings and and oversize sweater in fall and winter and in spring and summer a maxi dress with a hoodie for the plane. (this also may vary depending on where you are going). 6) If you are going to wear make up - keep it to mascara and load up on moisturizer and sunscreen for the flight - your skin will thank you. 7) (mostly because it is my lucky number) While we are all tempted to wear slip ons to make it easier to go through security screening - shoes that are closed (especially if they toe) help with any potential swelling from the change in pressure - they also come in handy if (when) you have run between gates to make connecting flights. If the flight is a short domestic flight I tend to wear a pair of Toms for the longer flights I wear a pair of light weight compression socks with my Toms or a pair of lace up trainers. This also helps free up some space in your bag.
Speaking of bags…. to say I over packed for my first international trip is a mild overstatement but thats a topic for next time.
