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Let’s face it: there are better things to spend money on than Business Class tickets. Long distance flights in Economy Class can be an excruciating ordeal, but they don’t have to be. Here are some tips on how to get the best possible experience for little money:

Booking Roulette

When you check offers for a flight on an aggregator site like Momondo, they seem to change randomly, going up and down. This is because the airlines don’t know from the beginning how many people will want to fly on that day, so they adjust the prices as the date of the flight approaches and they get more exact estimates. (It’s admittedly a bit more involved, but that’s the gist of it.) So when should you book?

• As a general rule, if you’re not flexible on your dates, you should book early, because if demand turns out as expected prices will go up over time.
• If you’re somewhat flexible, it can be worth it to wait for special offers. Make sure to subscribe to the newsletters of the airlines that offer decent connections for your route; when they announce a good deal, those seats will fill quickly, so be ready to buy.
• While it’s generally cheaper to book online, I should mention that some travel agents really know what they’re doing and can save you a lot of hassle. And sometimes they even have access to special group deals that they’re not supposed to sell individually, but some do anyway.
• Most airlines allow you to book seats in advance. I usually book an aisle seat in the back of the plane, as it tends to be emptier. The seat that I really want, however, in an emergency exit row with lots of leg space, isn’t available for booking. More about this in the section about checking in.

Preparation Is Key

When packing for a long distance flight, my goal is to avoid having to pay for excess baggage, while at the same time checking in as much of my stuff as possible. I hate taking a trolley on board: if all I have is a small bag, I’m not in a hurry to get on the plane (because there’s always room for a small bag), and I have better mobility in transit. So if I have a lot of baggage, this is how I pack:

• A small carry-on bag that only contains the following items. I fully intend to use this in the future as a packing check-list:
  • My passport, a copy of my reservation, and any other important documents I’m taking with me.
  • Any valuable items (e.g. laptop, camera). I never check in anything that would be tempting to steal. It’s incredibly easy to open even a locked bag, customs does it routinely.
  • Chargers for all my electronics, and an adapter if necessary.
  • A sleeping mask, ear plugs, and extra socks. Sometimes they pass out little bags with some of these items, but you rarely find them all provided.
  • Sleeping pills.
  • My Toiletries (minus a nail clipper) with all fluids in containers less than 100 ml and enclosed in a large zip-lock bag. It’s nice to be able to freshen up during or in-between flights, and if they lose my checked-in bags, I will miss these items most.
  • A small bottle of water. You can’t take a full bottle past security these days, but you can take an empty bottle and fill it up at a water fountain. Some airlines also have water fountains on the plane.
  • Snacks. It’s nice to have peanuts on a plane, but they rarely pass them out in coach anymore, so I bring my own. It’s also nice to have a sandwich with you when you’re in transit and all the sandwiches cost 8 dollars.
  • A book. I also load a bunch of podcasts on my phone.
• A large bag that I will check in. Most airlines impose a limit of 20kg on checked-in baggage, but you can usually get away with 23-25kg before they make you pay extra.
• A cabin-sized trolley that I can check in. The weight limit for carry-ons is usually 8kg, but you can get away with 10-12kg.

I try to dress comfortably but not sloppy. I want to be able to sleep in the clothes I’m wearing, but just in case that they are handing out upgrades to Business or Economy Plus, I don’t want to be wearing sweatpants.

Check-in Etiquette

I used to work at check-in, so here’s a word of advice: Be very very friendly to the check-in agent. This person has a great deal of influence on your well-being for the next 20 hours or so. If they don’t like your face, they can and will choose a crappy seat for you, and make you pay for excess baggage. If they like you, however, you can get a great seat, a priority baggage tag, and you can get away with bags that are well over the weight limit. If the flight is rather empty, a nice check-in agent can block the seats next to you. If the flight is very full, an even nicer check-in agent can even upgrade you to business class (although this rarely happens anymore). So look them in the eyes, smile, and be polite and patient. Whatever you do, don’t just throw them your passport and talk on the phone while checking in.

• The earlier you get to the airport, the better the chance that you’ll get a great seat. I like to be there two hours early for long flights. The counters usually close one hour before take-off.
• I always politely ask for a seat with a little bit more leg room. More often than not, I’ll get a seat in the emergency exit row, where there is a lot more space. Don’t specifically ask your check-in agent to block seats, or for an upgrade. If you’re in a hurry to get somewhere on arrival, you can tell them and they might give you a priority baggage tag.
• If I packed an extra trolley, I tell them, “I can check this in, or I can take it as carry-on.” Since it’s going on the plane anyway, they will almost always gladly check it in, because room in the overhead compartments is sparse. This way, I can check in more than 30kg without paying for excess baggage.

In-flight

My goal on any long-haul flight is to sleep as much as possible. There is simply no better way to pass those boring hours, and it’s always easier to handle jet lag when you arrive rested.

• The air on planes is very dry, so you have to keep hydrated. Drink a lot of water (keep a filled bottle around) and order juice every time they come around with drinks. It’s okay to ask for two drinks, and when the crew doesn’t seem busy you can just go to the galley and ask for a drink.
• I also apply moisturizer every so often to keep my skin from drying out. I’m not sure if this actually helps against dehydration, but it definitely helps me get comfortable in order to sleep.
• Resist the urge to get drunk on free booze. It dehydrates you, and you’ll pass out rather than sleep. You’ll be tired and hungover when you arrive at your destination.
• Time your bathroom visits. If the flight is even halfway full, there will be queues after every meal as soon as they collect the trays. I try to beat the crowds by standing up before they collect the trays, another good reason for an aisle seat.
• Don’t waste your time watching censored movies on tiny little screens. Instead, get comfortable, put on your sleeping mask, plug your ears, pop a sleeping pill, and try to get some sleep.
• Some airlines have those little stickers: “Don’t wake me up” / “Wake me up for a meal” / “Wake me up for duty free shopping” (who the hell would choose that third option?) I always go with “don’t wake me up” because I figure, if I can sleep, let me. If they don’t have the stickers, sometimes I will tell the crew not to wake me up until landing. So what if I miss breakfast? I brought a sandwich.

Trapped in Transit

After an hour or so in transit, you’ve pretty much scouted the airport and done your duty free shopping. What else can you do to pass the time?

• There’s an upside to long transits: you’re pretty much guaranteed an emergency exit seat for your connecting flight. On arrival, just go to the transit desk and ask for one.
• Lounges are not just for platinum elite frequent travelers. Additional to the airlines’ lounges, most airports have their own lounge that is often quite affordable to get in. Sometimes you get a discount with a certain credit card. Services in the lounges differ, but most often you get free snacks and drinks, a comfortable place to sit or sleep, and WiFi. Even if you don’t think it’s worth it, it doesn’t hurt to ask, and more often than not you can take a quick look at the lounge for free.
• And again, there’s nothing better than sleeping to pass time. Afraid you’ll miss your flight? Find a place to sleep right in front of your gate, ground staff will usually wake you up and ask if they end up missing a passenger.
• If the transit is over 6 hours, you can try to catch a movie in whatever random city you’re in. Of course, this depends on immigration regulations. If you’re not sure, ask at the information desk.
• Some airports have visitor’s platforms (although they almost always require you to pass immigration). It can be nice to get some fresh air and watch planes take off  for a bit.

At the Destination

• At the baggage claim, there is really no need to grab a spot right next to the belt. You can just as easily wait in the second row, and when your bag comes out, just say “that’s my bag” and people will let you through. As a general rule, the longer your last transfer, the later your bag will come out.
• If you are ever in a real hurry to get somewhere, it is always an option to just not pick up your bags. They will be taken to lost at found, and you can pick them up at your convenience.
• If you have ever picked up a friend at the airport, you know how annoying it can be to wait at the door behind customs, never quite sure when the person is going to come out. If someone volunteers to pick me up, I always tell them to meet me at a cafe at the airport that is easy to find, about 40 minutes after the plane lands. This way, they don’t have to be there early, and whoever gets there first can just order a coffee and wait comfortably.