If you are not already in business class, get an upgrade. Makes all the difference, flat beds to sleep, free drinks better food

We fly international a lot. Hate to say it, but flying first/business class is a game changer. If you can lie down reasonably flat and get some real sleep, its huge. Yes, the tickets are $$$. Outside of that, just dress comfortably. There are all kinds of travel/active where pants that are flexible enough to sleep in. REI has options. Noise cancelling headphones are great, bring the 3.5mm jack that can plug into their entertainment system, its a great time to catch up on movies.

Have flown business class across the Atlantic and can confirm the above - the difference is huge.

It depends greatly on size, but at my size of 190 cm and 110kg there is no way I can fit in the economy seating...

My wife, on the other hand, is aspiring to 160 cm and weighs 52kg soaking wet and she does not see economy as a problem.

The price differentials are pretty big, but there are often economy comfort or extra room seats that are not too unreasonably priced...

If you are big like me, it's a must do....I just don't fit....

D.

On our Greece trip last year. My wife managed to score first class tickets, Delta one. I'm now ruined. It's truly the only time I've never minded getting on a plane. Arrived both directions, well rested and ready to go.

I'm a big guy too, if I can't at least go business class, aisle seat. I'm not going.

My wife and I recently flew to Korea in the cheap seats. It was really not too bad. We slept a lot. I also watched the offered movies. The only entertainment I brought was a book. It was enough.

Usually, I don't eat or drink much on typical 2-6 hr flights so I don't have to use the bathroom but did so to stay hydrated and kill time. That helps a lot. They bring water, juice and coffee around all the time so you might have to go to the bathroom a few times, but it kills the time and keeps you moving (which is essential). I made sure our seats allowed us in and out easily as not to disturb anyone else.

If I go back to Australia or Korea, I think I will stop in Hawaii for a few days each way, maybe a stop out west as well I have a place in NM) ...as one is already pretty exhausted by the time you get to Hawaii if you start on the east coast.

Once when I flew to Australia, I was on the aisle and two very old ladies were in the middle and window. They never failed to get a drink when the attendants came around, but they had to get out about every 5-10 minutes to go to the bathroom (one 5 minutes after a drink and the other 10) ...and needed to wake me up all night to get in and out. I was exhausted the next day.

In Korea, do not go into a room salon. If Kia is taking you out to one and paying the tab, that's ok. Just understand the tab will be in the thousands of dollars for drinks and karaoke. Walker Hill in Seoul has many of those room salons.

Most everything has been covered: noise cancelling headphones, compression socks, a book or two in case you watch all the decent movies. I bring a fresh shirt, socks, and underwear just to be safe and change the shirt before I land. Of course a full small toiletry set just incase. On my first 14 hour flight, I remember being halfway through the flight and thinking, "wholly crap, I'm only halfway through this fight!"

On compression socks: I bought a few pairs and wore them around as my regular socks before the flight to find which pair works for me and that brand became my go to socks.

I do NOT care for cramped tight spaces! As others have mentioned, Valium is a plus. My doctor gave me a prescription just before our flight to Iceland last summer... I never opened the pill container but knowing that it was there was all the comfort that I needed! The same was true when we flew to Portugal a couple of months ago.

One important addition that I made on the last trip was huge. Things tend to get 'pinched' while seated for hours - Duluth's Ballroom Jeans was a game-changer for me! I had ordered two pairs just before Christmas during one of their big sales and, whoa, was this ever a great purchase. This is part of the 'uniform of the day' for any road trip or flight now for me!!!

One last thing; Be assured, the aircraft is designed and built to a six sigma level of reliability and is something just minor to ponder as you hurtle along at 550 mph/ 40,000 ft/ -40 below in a pressurized carbon fiber tube flying over point Nemo in the Pacific.

I'm claustrophobic and hate long flights. I take 2 benadryl and 3 cocktails upon boarding. Works like a charm for me! I wake up refreshed and non stressed. Pisses my wife off but too bad. Even CA to Hawaii is an hour too long for me

Cheap seats or expensive seats, make sure you get up and walk around a little. Deep vein thrombosis.

If you are back in steerage try to get an upgrade. Business is expensive but 15 hours is a loooong flight.

Don't forget a neck pillow and maybe an inflatable donut to sit on.

Get fairly plastered in the departure lounge, then follow up with few stiff ones as soon as you reach cruising altitude...

Pass out, wake up on the other side. Done. SmileWavy

We switched to flying premium economy a few years ago and it was really nice for a few while (still not bad). When we first started doing it, it seemed like most paying themselves flew economy and most people flying business flew business class leaving the 20 or seats in the premium economy section relatively empty. That's changed the last few trips so not sure if it's vacationers like us that moved up or business class flyers cutting costs.

My goal for retiring is not to retire until I can afford one or two international business class flights a year for the wife and me without affected our other retirement spending.