Free bags, free meals, free blankets, free seat assignments.  Those amenities are long gone.   Is there anything left for the airlines to cut?   Probably.

But with a little advance planning, you can eliminate many of the hassles of air travel.  Here’s our list of travel tips for a more enjoyable flight.

1) Book a nonstop flight.  Your chances of being delayed or inconvenienced multiply with every flight, so why risk it.  On a nonstop flight, there’s no connecting flight to miss.  And it’s harder for your bags to get lost.

2) Take an early flight.  Delays compound as the day wears on, so a one-hour delay on an 8AM flight may be a four-hour delay by two in the afternoon.

3) Book a big plane.  Wide bodies — planes with two aisles — are more comfortable.  The three-and-three seating configuration on smaller planes means that if you’re a couple flying in coach, you have a neighbor.   Your best bet if you’re not flying in business is a wide body with two-four-and-two seating.  Travel sites like seatguru.com or seatexpert.com can help you figure it out.  British Airways recently started charging for seat assignments, so be prepared to pay for the seats you want.

4) Choose a connecting flight wisely.  If you’re traveling in winter, avoid airports like Chicago and Denver that are known for weather delays.  And don’t fly too far out of the way if you can avoid it.  Los Angeles/New York/Buenos Aires makes no sense when you can fly via Miami.

5) Pack light.  If you can avoid checking baggage, do.  And know that bags that are sold as carry-ons in the United States, may not meet the standards for international flights.  Be prepared to check you bag at the last minute if they won’t let you carry it on.  Have some clean underwear and a change of clothes in a bag you know you can carry on the plane.

6) Swap clothes.  Put a couple of your outfits in your traveling companion’s bag and vice versa.  That way, if your bag gets lost, you’ll have something to wear until it’s returned.

7) Have a sensible dinner.  Even if you have an iron-clad stomach, the night before your flight, avoid spicy, high-fat, and greasy foods.  Trust us on this one.

8) Dress for any temperature.  We’ve been on flights where we could see our breath of the plane.  And we’ve been on flights where the cabin temperature has been nearly 90.  Many airlines no longer give blankets in coach, so take enough layers to keep warm and be able to peel them off if it’s hot.

9) Be comfortable.  We love jeans as much as anyone, but they’re not the most comfortable clothes to sit in for hours on end.   Wear loose fitting clothes made of natural fibers.  They’re safer.  And comfortable, sturdy shoes will be a blessing if you have to walk from terminal A to terminal Z.  If you’re flight’s delayed, you can also go for a nice, long walk.

10) Take food.  Some airlines have meals for purchase, but they’re not very good.  We often roast a chicken or buy a rotisserie chicken the night before we travel (see #6) and make roast chicken sandwiches to take on the flight.  They’re delicious, healthy, easily digestible, and easy to eat — no utensils required.

11) Take water.  Buy it after you go through security.   These days, in-flight service ranges from great to nonexistent so don’t depend on the flight attendants to keep you properly hydrated.   Drinking plenty of water will minimize all the negative effects of air travel.

12) Get some exercise.  On some flights, it seems like the Captain never turns off the fasten seat belt sign.  We strongly believe that when the sign’s on, you should stay in your seat.  But it’s also important to get some exercise, especially on long haul flights.  There are some exercises you can do in your seat.  But if possible, you should get up and stretch every two hours or so.

13)  Get some sleep.  If you’re on a long-haul flight, take an eye mask, some ear plugs, and a neck pillow.  Many airlines give these out, even in coach.  But who knows how long they will.  And don’t drink too much alcohol or caffeine.  If you’ve followed all our advise, you’ll be well fed, hydrated, and snug as a bug in a rug.  So relax, turn out the light, and nod off.  With a little luck, you won’t wake up until the final approach to your destination city.

Get more trip planning tips here.