What is it like to fly economy class to the United States?

Hello, I am very happy to answer your question.

This question is so strange. Most of the seats on a plane are usually economy class, and the number of people sitting in first class and business class is less than 10% of the passengers on the entire plane. In other words, most people fly in economy class. Even in the United States, which is on the other side of the world, most people travel in economy class. ,

Even though everyone knows that business class and first class are much more comfortable, especially on long-distance flights, due to economic reasons, most people still buy economy class. Especially when flying on long-distance routes like the United States, you often encounter discounts on economy class. Sometimes the round-trip air ticket for domestic flights to the United States only costs more than 2,000 yuan. Due to the scarcity of resources, business class and first class usually do not have much price reduction, unless you get discounts for frequent purchases.

In short, most of them fly in economy class, so since most people can sit there without any problems, even those flying trapeze artists who often travel on business have no problem, so don’t be too pretentious.

I have lived abroad for more than 10 years, traveled to 43 countries, and taken countless long-distance flights. I have also flown many flights between China and the United States. I always fly economy class. Among domestic routes to the United States, the longest route is about 14.5 hours. I once took one of the longest routes in the world, Singapore to New York, which took 19 hours.

When flying in economy class on a long-distance flight lasting more than 8 hours, the following points will make you more comfortable:

1. Choose your seat.

Nowadays, you can generally check in in advance when flying, and you can sit in economy class, which is closer to the toilet. Another special suggestion I have is that you choose a seat further back, because most people prefer to sit in the front, and airlines also arrange seats from front to back. If the plane is not too full, there is a greater chance that the seats in the back row will be available. This is what I learned after taking countless long-distance cross-country flights. As long as the flight isn't full, there's usually an empty seat next to me, which makes it much more comfortable.

Most long-distance flights will use large passenger aircraft such as 787. The internal seats are generally in a 343 structure, with 10 seats in a row. Under such circumstances, it is actually good for a family of three to choose the three nearby locations. Some airlines are more generous and arrange 242 structure or 333 structure, that is, 8-9 seats in a row. In this case, it is very convenient for a family of three to choose the 3 seats in the middle. If you are traveling alone, choose the aisle seat among the two seats next to 242. If you choose the back row seat and the plane is not too full, there is a high probability that there will be no one next to you and you will be very comfortable.

(I'm on a plane)

2. Be prepared to kill time

Generally, you can turn on your mobile phone on an airplane, you just need to turn it to airplane mode. Then it would be a good idea to prepare a few small games that you like and watch short videos. In order to rest my eyes and avoid looking at the screen, I bought English entertainment magazines at the airport, which were also very good to read. You can also experience the in-flight entertainment system on the plane. I also watched some movies on the plane. On the plane, I suggest you only watch dramas, feature films and other movies. Action movies and science fiction movies that require visual effects are not suitable for watching on the plane, as they will greatly affect the viewing experience.

For those who need sleep, you can bring an eye mask and neck pillow so that you can rest when needed.

(The few times I have flown in business class, I can lie flat)

3. Pay attention to activities

Be sure to eat when meals are provided on the plane. Even if you’re not too hungry. The body is actually very dehydrated at high altitudes, so drink more water and less coffee and carbonated drinks. If a long-distance flight is equivalent to staying up late, it actually consumes a lot of physical energy, so proper replenishment of physical strength is a must. In addition, don't sit in your seat all the time. Get down and walk around for a while, go to the toilet, etc. every once in a while, which is beneficial to blood circulation.

As a traveler from China to the United States who flew directly from Beijing to Chicago for nearly 13 hours, I can honestly tell you the following points:

The first flight time was too long; The process was too painful. Be fully mentally prepared.

Second, after getting on the plane, try to sleep as much as possible.

Third, in fact, most of you will not be able to sleep. For this, it is recommended to move your muscles and go to the toilet every 1 to 2 hours.

Generally speaking, American Airlines aircraft are large Boeing aircraft, which are very spacious and have room for movement. It is important to press your legs and stretch in this spacious place, because it is very meaningful to prevent thrombosis during long-distance travel.

Fourth, the air conditioning on old American planes is turned on very low, which makes it very cold and abnormal. So be sure to prepare thick clothes. Don’t expect the thin blankets offered to you by those indifferent “empties” on the plane to do much good.

Before the fifth flight, it is best to do your homework and simply master simple oral expressions such as ordering a drink. There are old ladies on American planes who can serve you. There are also middle-aged black women and old Chinese ladies. Don’t expect their poor Chinese to give you any high-quality service.

The sixth and most important thing to talk about is the issue of jet lag. In fact, you don’t need to pay too much attention to the jet lag problem, and don’t give yourself too strong psychological hints. It’s too much to think of it as a woman giving birth, and it’s unnecessary. In fact, just let nature take its course. If you feel sleepy, you can sleep or if you don't, it's as simple as that.

Seventh, let’s talk about a topic that concerns the most personal interests. How to choose between economy class and business class? Frankly speaking, it feels uncomfortable for a long time. If you have a lot of money, you can naturally be a little more luxurious. If you are an ordinary traveler like me, then I suggest you stay in economy class. After all, if you save a few thousand, you can still do a lot of things in the United States.

One more thing, when you get on the plane, you must fully charge your mobile phone and have enough power in your power bank. During a long-distance flight of more than ten hours, you will be worse than dead if your mobile phone is without power. Don't expect any American or Chinese blockbusters to be waiting for you on the plane, just dream.

I wish you a pleasant journey.

It was my first time to fly to the United States, to San Francisco. I remember that the flight took 10 and a half hours. I took a China Eastern Airlines Boeing 777-300ER with a window seat. The flight took off at around 2 p.m.

Since it was my first time to fly to the United States, the first 2 to 3 hours naturally felt very fresh. When I get on the plane, I look at the scenery, take photos, play with the entertainment system behind the seat, watch movies and so on, and I don’t feel bored at all.

About 3 hours later, it started to get dark, and the first meal was served on the plane. The main dish was butterfly noodles with tomato sauce. It was very unpalatable, so I was particularly impressed. I took two bites of it at will. Don't want to eat it. Then I swallowed a pill of my own melatonin and prepared to take a nap, but the roar of the engine was so noisy that I couldn't fall asleep. At this time, the entertainment system was tired of playing, it was dark, there was no scenery to see, and I couldn't sleep. Around 6 to 8 hours is when time seems to pass the slowest, and I start to feel a little irritable. I feel uncomfortable being squeezed into the small economy class cabin. You have to know that it is a window seat (China Eastern Airlines’ 777s use a 3-4-3 layout). If you want to go out to do some activities, you have to step over two people. I have the urge to get off the plane right away. .

About 9 hours later, the plane broke out of the dark night. It felt good to welcome the sunrise on the plane. Moreover, after just 6 hours of suffering, I really felt the joy of welcoming the dawn. The moment I saw the North American continent, even though I hadn't slept all night, I started to get excited again, because for me, after flying thousands of miles across the vast Pacific, I was finally about to set foot on an unknown new continent.

I often travel between Chicago and Shanghai for work, which is generally tiring, but it’s good to get used to it. After all, flying for 13-14 hours is no joke. So I’ve put together a few tips that work well for me at least.

1. Try to choose a flight in the first half of the night so that you can sleep on the plane, although the sound of the engine may make you upset;

2. Try to eat as little as possible the day before departure. The purpose is to use the toilet less often. The toilet on the plane is very narrow, and the plane shakes from time to time, and I don’t like to use the toilet with so many people;

3. Bring a neck pillow for sleeping, so that your neck is not Tired;

4. Try to choose a seat near the corridor. You can get up and stand on the corridor to stretch your muscles at any time, and it is also convenient to go to the toilet;

5. Prepare a pair of slippers to relax your feet. If you have foot odor, think again! ! ! Ha ha! ! !

6. Take a shower at home before departure to ensure you feel comfortable on the plane;

7. Prepare a can of xylitol to clean your mouth after meals on the plane, after all, the plane Brushing your teeth is inconvenient, but it would be better if you brushed your teeth;

8. Choose as few seats as possible behind the wings. The noise from the engine nozzle is not that loud. Personally, I feel that the noise of the A350 is smaller than that of the B777;

9. Bring a small square towel to wash your face and wipe your hands;

Last month I went from Shanghai to Brazil, transiting through Chicago, resting for three hours, and then flying again It took more than ten hours to fly to Sao Paulo, Brazil, and it was dark when I got off the plane, but the above tips helped a little bit...

I flew to Los Angeles, USA, in economy class, round trip on Air China in April this year.

The air tickets were purchased 4 months in advance, and the entire journey was on Air China (Hangzhou to Los Angeles, Air China required a connecting flight in Beijing).

The total ticket price is 6,900 yuan, the flight lasts 16 hours, and the per capita price is less than 3,500 yuan.

The timing is great, outbound: Beijing time 16:10-Los Angeles time 18:10, return: Los Angeles time 14:10-22:00 Beijing time, the time difference between the two places is 15 hours.

I never expected it! ! ! On the day of online seat selection, there is also a seat with an extra price. It is at the emergency exit, with plenty of space in front and enough space for your feet to stretch out. Lin Sensen seemed to have received a call from God (inner OS: as a human being, you have to be kind to yourself), and while I was brushing my teeth, he forcibly selected the price increase, 600 yuan each, 1,200 yuan. As a result, air ticket prices skyrocketed by nearly 20%.

Lin Sensen’s reference: height 176cm, weight haha

The place to add money: the row in the middle facing the wall (the two sides of the wall are bathrooms), where the flight attendants stand on both sides

Air China’s economy class meals (personally I don’t think they are as delicious as those on ANA, so don’t order them if you don’t like them)

In the past ten years, due to work requirements, I have crossed the Pacific more than once. I have flown 150 times, and most of them are in economy class. What does it feel like? It's okay if the cabin is not full within 12 hours, but it is very painful if the cabin is full for more than 14 hours. In recent years, Boeing 747 aircraft have gradually been retired, replaced by Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus 350. There are very few flights using Airbus 380 to fly between China (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan) and the United States. Among them, Airbus 350 and Boeing 787 have fewer economy class toilets.

Across the Pacific or close to the Arctic route to the United States, the flight time in winter will be shorter than in summer due to factors such as high-altitude air currents. Of course, the reverse flight time from the United States to Asia in winter will be longer, and it is easy to The flight time is 14-17 hours. On any type of aircraft, staying for more than 12 hours is a kind of torture. At least, my accumulated experience after flying more than 150 times is that it is more painful after more than 13 hours than within 12 hours. a lot of.

In addition, there are also differences in the types of aircraft you take.

In the past, most trans-Pacific routes were operated by Boeing's 747 aircraft. Although this old hen is bulky, even the economy class is more comfortable, with a 3-4-3 seat arrangement and 32-inch seats. The space, 17-inch seat width, and sufficient number of toilets (most have 11 toilets) are quite comfortable. After that, most airlines used Boeing 777 to replace the 747 routes. The economy class of 777 is also arranged in 3-4-3 (only a few are 3-3-3). The seat arrangement of most airlines is also 32 inches apart. The 17-inch seat width is quite comfortable, but it doesn’t feel as good as the 747. Most of the toilets are between 7 and 10, and most of the toilets available in economy class are 7.

After Airbus launched the 350 to compete with the Boeing 777, the number of economy class seats in the Airbus 350 is no less than that of the 777. Most of the seat pitches are still 32 inches and the width is between 16 and 17 inches, but the number of toilets is only Fewer, most aircraft only have 7-8 toilets. Similar aircraft are the Boeing 787. Although the 787 has 3-3-3 seats, the seat pitch is 32 inches and the seat width is 16-17 inches. The one less inch will reduce comfort for fatter people. In addition, the 787 There are also few toilets, most of them only have 8-9. For aircraft with more economy class seats, queues are unavoidable on long-haul flights.

As for whether it is full, the reason is that if it is not full, if you are lucky, there will be no one sitting next to you, which means there is more space. Even if you can place things, the chance of being disturbed is low. And if it's a full or nearly full flight, a tour group or a lot of babies, it really takes patience and torture.

I have flown to the United States once a year in recent years, always flying economy class. Moreover, it was flying from a second-tier city in China to a second-tier city in the United States, with two transfers, one in China and one in the United States. The whole journey took more than 20 hours, and the longest section took 12 to 14 hours. The longest period was really uncomfortable. I can still bear it at my current age of over 50, but it will be hard to say when I get older.

I always pay a small fee for seat selection and choose the seat at the front. My legs are just long enough to straighten my legs against the wall in front, which is relatively comfortable. One time, an uncle came to me and wanted to change seats with me. He seemed to be about the same age as me. I don’t know what he thought. Hehe, maybe he didn’t know the rules. The disadvantage of this kind of seat is that there is a high probability that someone with a baby is sitting next to you, which will make it noisy. Fortunately, I like children very much. When I am not sleeping, I can see and smile with the children, which is more interesting and not lonely.

Slippers and a jacket are essential. Every time I get on the plane, I put on slippers to make myself comfortable and to create a feeling of being at home.