A few weeks ago, I read an edition of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop newsletter. The subject of said newsletter was the art of “flying well” — i.e., how to enhance the drudgery of air travel.
The tips were RIDICULOUS. (I absolutely love Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop, so I do not say this lightly.) One of the tips was to spray the air surrounding your seat with liquid silver to repel germs. Another? To buy THREE seats (for the price of two) so you can spread out over a self-made air couch.
I’m not even going to pretend I fly first class. It’s been coach for me since my maiden flight in 1996, and until I rack up enough points to get upgraded, that’s how it will stay.
But I DID take one piece of Gwyneth’s advice: What to wear on the plane.
She recommended Uniqlo’s stretch legging pants, which are a much thicker version of a typical legging. (The leggings also include a faux button so they aren’t immediately identifiable as “pull-ons.”)
I bought the cropped version of the Uniqlo leggings for my recent trip to Miami for July 4th. (I originally bought the full-length in two different sizes, but both fit me terribly. Cropped is the way to go.)
I paired everything with my “easy-fit” Helmut Lang tee (consignment, obvi) and my new-ish “dressy” sandals. It was an insanely comfortably look.
In-flight Wifi is so expensive, so on shorter flights, I still entertain myself the old-fashioned way: with non-serious books and trashy magazines. The more pictures, the better. (Always fashion-related, of course. That way, I can peg it as “research.”)
I get pretty bored on planes, so I always do a bunch of selfies toward the middle of the flight, when I’m still looking decent. (Hey, if Kim Kardashian can turn the concept into a book deal, I don’t see why I can’t at least make a very popular pamphlet.)
Gwyneth Paltrow is another fan of the plane selfie:
Confession time: I’m what you call a “nervous” flier. Turbulence terrifies me. I hate take-off. I’ve self-diagnosed myself with “vertigo,” which only seems to strike if I look out an airplane window while waiting for the restroom. I’m also highly superstitious and have to touch the plane before I board.
That said, I absolutely love to travel, and I’ve gone on about 20 flights so far this year — with several more planned for the remainder of 2015. I’m trying to create my own comprehensive list of “flight hacks” — but these will be geared toward the rest of us who fly coach. Be on the look-out for the list later this year.
Do you have any great flight tips for the masses? Please share them! Let’s bring a touch of luxury to the back of the plane!
