A former flight attendant shares the one item all air travellers should have on hand to ensure maximum comfort on long-haul flights and better protection against germs
Before you zip up your luggage for the long-haul, a veteran flight attendant suggests packing one item for “maximum comfort” while flying.
Former flight attendant Beth Windsor shared her cleverest tips and tricks for flying comfortably with Business Insider. One of her top tips is bringing a pair of hotel slippers on board to change into after take-off.
According to Windsor, a must-have travel item is a pair of cheap hotel slippers, as they are comfortable enough to wear on a flight and can be conveniently disposed of on board. “I also wear slippers when I walk to and from the bathroom,” shared Windsor.
She alludes to the unhygienic nature of the aeroplane being a strong motivator: “After being flight crew, I’ll never ever go into a plane restroom without something more substantial than socks on my feet.”
READ MORE: Flight attendant uncovers one ‘disgusting’ thing passengers skip before boarding
Comfort is certainly a priority on any flight, but especially on long-haul journeys. Many passengers end up taking their shoes off at some point to allow their feet room to breathe.
But while you may feel more comfortable with your shoes off, other passengers might find it a bit offensive. For that reason, a pair of slippers may be a smarter compromise than bare feet and socks.
Windsor also shared some other helpful tips, including what seats to avoid on a plane. “I’ll never book a seat by a restroom or galley (where food is prepared) as I know just how noisy and busy it will be,” she revealed.
“I also avoid bulkhead seats — people with babies often book this area because it’s where bassinets for infants can be placed.” It’s also advisable to avoid the row behind the wing, which will place you closer to the whirring sound of the engine.
According to Windsor, the most comfortable seat to book on an aeroplane is the window seat. “Yes, you may need to squeeze past your fellow passengers to get to the bathroom, but that may not be often depending on your bladder.
“Still, asking to exit the row is worth it to have a place to rest my pillow and an armrest of my own (the middle seat always loses out),” she shares.
The seats next to the emergency exit are also often lauded as the best seats on an aircraft because they provide ample leg room. That said, these seats can only be occupied by able-bodied passengers prepared to assist in the unlikely event of an emergency.
Reflecting this commitment, Ryanair’s terms and conditions state it reserves the right to ” change your allocated seats at any time, even if you had reserved it, if we need to do this for operational, safety or security reasons.”
The airline’s guidelines state that passengers who want to sit in rows 1, 16, or 17 – where the emergency exits are located – must meet specific requirements. These include being over 16 years old, capable of assisting in an emergency, not travelling with an infant, not needing any special assistance at the airport, not requiring a seat belt extender, and not having booked an extra comfort seat.
