Long-Haul Flights
A couple of weeks ago, I was reminded of the realities of a long-haul flight - overnight across the Atlantic. My neck was locked rigid and my legs were twisted, shins cramped against the underside of the seat in front and knees jammed against the seat back. Nevertheless, after three or four hours of fitful wakefulness, I managed to drop off to sleep. Then, as they always do in economy, the crew switched on the cabin lights so that they could serve breakfast. It is the most brutal awakening and the nadir of most night flights.
Short of using ear plugs and an eye mask and hanging a "Do not disturb notice" around your neck, I can't think of a way around this particular downside to long-haul flying. But there are some things you can do. Here are 5 tips to make a long journey more bearable.
1. Book a decent seat
Most airlines that fly long haul allow you to select your seat well in advance of the flight via their website. Some have started to charge for this privilege. In BA's case, it will cost you £25 per seat for return flights in the World Traveller cabin (long haul, economy class).
However, free seat choice and online check-in opens 24 hours before departure. When I checked a couple of virtually-full flights recently, I found that there were still plenty of seats that hadn't been booked. So, as long as you are well organised and log on at the right time, you should be able to get decent seats. Choosing the best seat to book is the next problem. Bulkhead seats and seats in the emergency-exit row (for which you often have to pay extra) are popular. Seats in the emergency-exit row give you extra legroom but you are right by the lavatory door, and the legroom in the seat nearest the side of the plane is compromised because part of the door juts out. The bulkhead seats at the front of the cabin seem attractive since there is no one in front of you to recline a seat into your space. But it is also the row most often used by parents with babies.
2. Fly east to west
This will work only if you are travelling around the world, but it is a strategy worth considering for those flying to Australia or New Zealand, when a round-the-world ticket may be the same price as a normal return, or only slightly more expensive.
If you do circumnavigate in this way, you will avoid the worst effects of jet lag. Flying east to west means that your body adjusts more easily to the new time zone and you can sleep in for longer, rather than find yourself lagging behind the clock. However, the time you gain on each leg will be lost the moment you cross the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean, when suddenly an entire day will be wiped out. Travel the other way and you will gain a day, but lose time on each leg.
3. Use a top-quality agent
One area in which travel agents can still give good advice on a consistent basis is long-haul travel. The complexity of possible routings, fares and airlines, especially on a round-the-world ticket, is not something that lends itself well to online systems. An idea or suggestion from an on-the-ball consultant who is compiling itineraries every day could save you both time and money.
4. Pick the best airline
There is no doubt that the top airlines have significantly improved things for long-haul passengers over the past three or four years. Key developments include seats with more space in front of your knees; "wings" on the headrests to support your head; and on-demand seat-back entertainment so that you can choose what you want to watch and when and can put programmes on pause. But not all airlines offer equal standards of service or the same amount of legroom and, since there is a choice of carriers on nearly all routes, it is worth thinking about more than just the cheapest fare when deciding who you fly with.
5. Avoid peak-time flights
You will have more space, more air, more personal service and a nicer experience all round on a half-empty flight. Since fares vary according to demand, you are also likely to pay less for it. A good agent (see above) will be able to advise on the quietest times on individual routes but obvious times to avoid are school holidays, weekends and Monday - the busiest flying day of the week.
The author feels that the worst part of the flight is when the go on before breakfast.
Some airlines have started to charge for the of booking a seat in advance.
Emergency-exit row seats have the problem of being next to the .
One way to reduce jet-lag is to the globe east to west.
Despite online systems, are still a useful source of help particularly for round-the-world tickets.
'Wings' on headrests are an example of recent in seat comfort.
You may pay less for an off-peak flight because fares depend on .
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Question Focus: Synonym match - summary says 'go on before breakfast' and passage describes lights being switched on to serve breakfast
Correct Answer: cabin lights
Why this is correct: The passage says the crew switched on the cabin lights to serve breakfast, and the writer calls this the worst moment. The summary paraphrases this as the lights going on before breakfast.
Passage Reference: Then, as they always do in economy, the crew switched on the cabin lights so that they could serve breakfast. It is the most brutal awakening and the nadir of most night flights. Short of using ear pl
Common Mistake: Students may write lights only. That is incomplete because the passage specifies cabin lights. Writing a shorter or general word is a partial truth trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'switched on the cabin lights' = Summary: 'the ___ go on before breakfast'
Tips: When a noun has a modifier in the passage, copy the full phrase, not just the main noun.
Key Vocabulary:
- nadir = lowest point
- brutal = very unpleasant
Question Focus: Synonym match - summary uses 'charge for' and passage explains charging for a privilege
Correct Answer: privilege
Passage Reference: Some have started to charge for this privilege.
Why this is correct: The text clearly says airlines charge for this privilege, meaning booking a seat in advance. The summary shortens this idea but keeps the same meaning.
Common Mistake: Students may write seat selection because it sounds logical. That phrase is not used in the passage, so it is a synonym trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'charge for this privilege' = Summary: 'charge for the ___ of booking a seat in advance'
Tips: Do not invent phrases. Always copy the exact word used in the passage.
Key Vocabulary:
- privilege = special benefit
Question Focus: Direct detail match
Correct Answer: lavatory door
Passage Reference: seats in the emergency-exit row (for which you often have to pay extra) are popular. Seats in the emergency-exit row give you extra legroom but you are right by the lavatory door,
Why this is correct: The passage explains that emergency-exit seats are by the lavatory door, which is the specific problem mentioned. The summary repeats this idea directly.
Common Mistake: Students may write lavatory only. This misses an important word and is a partial truth trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'right by the lavatory door' = Summary: 'next to the ___'
Tips: If the passage gives a two-word location, copy both words to be precise.
Key Vocabulary:
- compromised = made worse
Question Focus: Synonym match - summary says 'the globe east to west'
Correct Answer: circumnavigate
Passage Reference: If you do circumnavigate in this way,
Why this is correct: The passage uses the verb circumnavigate to mean travel around the world. The summary paraphrases this as going around the globe east to west.
Common Mistake: Students may write travel around or go around. These are not exact words from the passage, so this is a synonym trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'circumnavigate' = Summary: '___ the globe east to west'
Tips: For verb gaps, check that the verb form fits after 'to'.
Key Vocabulary:
- circumnavigate = go around
Question Focus: Context match - who gives useful help
Correct Answer: travel agents
Passage Reference: One area in which travel agents can still give good advice on a consistent basis is long-haul travel.
Why this is correct: The passage says travel agents can still give good advice, especially for complex tickets. The summary paraphrases this as being a useful source of help.
Common Mistake: Students may write online systems because they are mentioned nearby. That refers to the opposite idea, which is a context shift trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'travel agents can still give good advice' = Summary: '___ are still a useful source of help'
Tips: Check subject-verb agreement. Plural subjects need plural verbs.
Key Vocabulary:
- itineraries = travel plans
Question Focus: Category word match
Correct Answer: developments
Passage Reference: Key developments include seats with more space in front of your knees; "wings" on the headrests to support your head; and on-demand seat-back entertainment so that you can choose what you want to watch and when and can put programmes on pause.
Why this is correct: The passage lists 'wings' as one of the developments improving comfort. The summary directly refers to recent improvements.
Common Mistake: Students may write improvements. That changes the word used in the passage, which is a synonym trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'Key developments include' = Summary: 'recent ___ in seat comfort'
Tips: Even if a synonym fits, it is wrong unless the passage uses that exact word.
Key Vocabulary:
- on-demand = available when you want
Question Focus: Cause explanation match
Correct Answer: demand
Passage Reference: Since fares vary according to demand, you are also likely to pay less for it.
Why this is correct: The passage explains that prices change because of demand. The summary paraphrases this as fares depending on something.
Common Mistake: Students may write peak time because it is discussed later. That confuses cause and result, which is a causation trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'fares vary according to demand' = Summary: 'fares depend on ___'
Tips: Look for cause words like 'because', 'since', or 'according to' to find the answer.
Key Vocabulary:
- demand = how many people want something
General Tips:
- Summary completion questions follow passage order. Use the previous answer to find the next one quickly.
- Always copy the exact word or phrase from the passage. Synonyms are usually wrong.
- Check the word limit every time. Even one extra word makes the answer incorrect.
- Use grammar clues like articles, prepositions, and verb forms to predict the type of word you need.
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