There are some people who enjoy flying. They tend to be under the age of 13, small enough to squeeze into an economy seat and this enjoyment tends to last through the first two in-flight movies or until their stash of hyperactivity-inducing sweeties is finished.

For everyone else flying involves airport admin, the ever-present-if-repressed fear of crashing, the hyperactive kid throwing a tantrum in the row behind you and all the aches and niggles that come with being stuck in a cramped seat in a metal tube full of recycled air.

Unfortunately, nothing can be done about the airports, gravity or that annoying kid. The good news is that your in-flight ailments need not be quite so bad. The solution is simple: book a business class seat…

However, if you would rather use your pension fund to retire on, there are a number of small (and inexpensive) ways you can ease the pain of flying.

Up, up and away

The change in altitude when the plane takes off and lands causes a change of pressure in your ears which can be uncomfortable or even painful. Chewing gum while you are taking-off/landing will ease the discomfort. If you don’t have any gum, try yawning.

Up, up and out

There is nothing appealing about the notion of barf bags. Unless, of course, the alternative is your lap. Nine hours of nausea or airsickness can put you off travelling. Forever. If you suffer from severe motion-sickness, you best bet is to take some medication before boarding. However, if you are averse to the idea of taking medication every time you fly, there are natural alternatives such as peppermint and ginger which work well.

Pack in a box of peppermints or ginger sweets and suck on these whenever you begin to feel nauseous. Otherwise try drinking some ginger ale or ginger tea. The scent of peppermint can also be effective — put some peppermint oil on a tissue before you board and smell it whenever you begin to feel nauseous. The chalk in peppermint antacid tablets (such as Rennies) also help to combat nausea.

Cramping muscles

Sitting in an unnatural position for hours on end inevitably result in some physical discomfort. While there is the serious threat of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), there is also the more likely scenario of cramping calf muscles, sore feet and a stiff neck.

Combat this problem by getting up and walking around as much as possible (so book an aisle seat). Walk up and down the aisle and — if you don’t mind a few odd looks — throw in a few lunges and stretches.

If getting up is not an option, try the following in-seat exercises.

• Rotate your feet and wriggle your toes.
  
• Stretch your calves by flexing your foot (heel pointed towards the ground).
  
• Squeeze your shoulders up towards your ears, hold for a few seconds and then relax.
  
• Stretch out your neck by placing your right hand over the top of your head onto the left-hand-side of your temple. Pull gently in a downward movement towards your right. Repeat on the other side.

Neck stiffness can also be prevented with an inflatable u-shaped travel pillow which will prevent your head from falling to one side while you are sleeping. The pillow is inflatable, so it is easy to pack in your hand luggage.

Dehydration

Because of the air-conditioning you can quickly become dehydrated on a long flight. The dry air also leaves you with scratchy eyes and a dry, sore nose. To avoid becoming dehydrated, drink lots and lots of water — at least one cup an hour. Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they only increase dehydration.

If the dry air really bothers you, pack in some eye drops and saline nasal spray (in small quantities of course) to keep your eyes and nose lubricated. Another point to remember about air-conditioning is that it tends to be pretty chilly, so make sure your pack in an extra jersey.

Germs, germs everywhere!

Aeroplanes are breeding boxes for germs — not only because of the recycled air, but also because of the fact that the passengers are packed so tightly together. If you sneeze, your germs can reach passengers three rows in front and two rows behind you. Eew.

Unfortunately there isn’t too much you can do about this — a surgical mask probably won’t go unnoticed — but you can stock up on the vitamins before you leave (and even during the flight) and avoid additional germs where possible. The toilet cubicle is the biggest germ hothouse, so try to touch as little as possible whilst you are there and use a sanitising gel on your hands when you get back to your seat. If you aren’t able to take a sanitising gel onto the plane, wet wipes are a good alternative.

Jet lag

Although most flights result in some fatigue as a result of poor or a lack of sleep, jet lag is only really a problem if you cross time zones. The problem is worse if you are travelling from west to east and are 'losing' time.

Ease the symptoms of jet lag by eating a light meal of carbohydrates and veggies before your flight. As soon as you get on board, reset your watch so that it is synchronised with the time of your destination. If possible, try to eat and sleep according to this time rather than the time your body is accustomed to.

So, there you have it, and — because the obvious is so often forgotten — don’t forget to pack in a couple of disprins, some Corenza C (in case you begin to feel fluey), tissues and a good book.