Flying

Want to avoid getting stuck beside the passenger from hell, it can be done, remember 12 hours in the company of a complete stranger not giving you any peace can make you wonder why you have booked the trip in the first place. Travel Tips: 1. Check www.seatguru.com for the best and worst seats on the different planes used by major airlines, then use the online check in facilities to grab the best seats. 2. If you're travelling alone, www.airtroductions.com will put you in touch with like-minded sole travellers. 3. Sign up for frequent flyer schemes to boost your upgrade chances, and consider checking in late, overbooking is common. 4. Exposure to and avoidance of light are the most important factors in realigning your body click. Type your journey details into the calculator at www. ba.com/jetlag to find out when you should seek or avoid light - always helps if you have a window seat. 5. Check www.airlinequality.com or www.seatguru.com for a precise rundown of exactly how much space each airline offers in terms of legroom.  Thai Airways, Malaysia Airways and Air New Zealand all give you extra inches, with 34in from your economy seat. 6. You'll feel more nervous on an empty stomach, trying eating a banana or some dried fruit before boarding. 7. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) - be wary of Aspirin as it can cause stomach bleeding warns consultant vascular surgeon and DVT expert John Scurr, Zinopin, a food supplement that occurs naturally in plants, has the same anti-DVT benefits as Aspirin, and is available at any chemist. Take one before travel, two on the day, and one for the next two days. 8. Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure, so log on to your booking, choose your seats and print your boarding pass. 9. Humidity drops 30% in the cabin.  Aim to drink 500ml per hour on the flight. 10. Take protain-rich nuts and fruit to help stave of hunger pangs, anxiety and tiredness.  Choose fish as it has high levels of Omega 3 helping you to handle stressful situations, like the baggage reclaim. 11. On long flights, request a special meal such as the vegetarian option when booking.  Specialist meals are always served first, and you'll digest them quicker than the ever-unappetising beige meat option. Travelling with your Kids – Hints and Tips: 1. Ask if the flight is full when you check in – if not, they might agree to block out the seat next to you. 2. Get a wrist 'lead' or 'reins' for your toddler – this helps when you are wrestling with bags, buggies, passports and boarding cards in a busy terminal. 3. Ditch your TV-watching rules: The 'Simpsons' all the way from London to Cape Town is a blessing, not a curse. 4. Keep luggage to a minimum. 5. Get on the plane last – staff will try to get you on first, but that's the last thing you want to do. You want your child zooming around the airport lounge, burning up as much energy as possible, before you strap them in to a small space for nine hours. 6. To help cope with small children while you are away, pre-order all the essentials, such as baby food, toiletries and nappies, through www.tinytotsaway.com. Goods are dispatched by UPS, priced according to your destination, and timed to arrive at your holiday accommodation the day after you do. The website also has an excellent checklist for travelling with young children. For more tips visit www.babyflying.co.uk or www.babygoes2.com