So now you’ve made it through security and have patiently waited at your gate far longer then necessary. Now for the main event for the next however-many hours: the flight.

First thing’s first. Make sure to take out the predetermined necessities before storing your carry on in the over head compartment, iPod, book, notebook, laptop, magazines, homework (if applicable… I’m sorry), whatever you think will be used in your flight. This accomplished you may now feel pride in not being that annoying person who must expose your ass to one aisle and your gut to the unfortunate person below your compartment as well as the annoying shuffle out of your seat should you have been unfortunate enough to have a non aisle seat.

Next: depending on the status of clean socks or foot odor, remove your shoes. On long flights you will notice this increasingly more comfortable. Be courteous however in this action, as nothing is worse then sitting for an extensively long amount of time next to someone who exudes the fragrance of jungle foot rot.

This next part applies specifically to longer flights usually over eight hours, which require a change in dates from take off to landing… After the plane has gained in altitude and the captain has turned off the fasten seat belt sign, it is time to scope for sleeping arrangements (this is under the assumption that you do not have the adequate funding for a first or even business class ticket). If the flight is not full, near the rear of the plane are extra seats and in the very last row (at least on most Boeing 747s and 777s) there are two seats in an exit row with no seats behind them. Claim them! The arm rest will go up and you can now curl up there with no worries of the fat man or old lady with odd smells falling asleep on your shoulder. If you are on an empty enough flight you may even find three seats open… SCORE! Also for your own sake, when reserving your seats, visit www.seatguru.com

A traveling must is sound canceling headphones… Music of course can dim the drone of the engines, but nothing compares to sound canceling ones. Bose makes some excellent headphones but for significantly less money and for sticking with trends, Skullcandy has some decent alternatives. And if you really want to eliminate all sound, double these up with ear plugs.

For personal comfort, here are some basic personal additions that can always come in handy:

• Gum/Toothbrush (or some other breath friendly device)
• A pen or pencil (on Int’l flights there are always forms, and now you don’t have to ask to borrow one)
• Baby wipes (feel very nice next to that airplane grimy feeling)
• Imodium ID (ya never know)

Now enjoy your flight and hope that you sit next to a blonde beauty or ruggedly handsome gentleman.