How to Micro-Nest in Economy

Here’s a better solution, which always works; don’t fly if you cannot go premium economy or business/first class. I write this as someone who spent contiguous years as a road warrior. Unless one is physically very small, it is impossible to be comfortable in economy. Impossible. Take fewer, better flights.

REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE. Some places you might not be able to drink the water, but when you can - refill and reuse. Irresponsible graphic.

Don't use the airsickness bag for trash! Suppose the person in the seat next to you gets sick and has no bag in which to vomit? Do you really want to sit next to someone who has no vomit bag? Do you want to be the person who needs a vomit bag? There are other ways to deal with trash, fah cryin out loud. Seriously! Leave the vomit bags alone. Big fail, Christine Negroni. I expect better from the NYT. Really, really bad idea.

Lipstick on a pig. Airlines need to increase the legroom and clean their planes - all the surfaces, after every flight. Not because of coronavirus specifically. This has bene an issue for many years, the sheer filth and squalor. And no, I do not fit in economy. Thirty two inches is the bare minimum, 34 inches is preferable. It is intolerable to fly like this.

One red wine, two Ambian, see you at the passport check...

And please keep all your nesting paraphernalia on your side of the arm rest. I love in the illustration, the person is all spread out like they're sitting in a huge lounge chair at home. I've been doing the same thing for years. I wear a sweatshirt with a hood, bring an extra sweater, a snack from home and a book so I don't have to strain my eyes for hours staring at a bright screen the entire trip. This not rocket science.

I pretty much already bring most of the items mentioned in the article, with the exception of a foot hammock, because I barely have room for my body. I wear a coat with lots of pockets for the small things: wallet, phone, etc, and carry everything else that I need in a backpack. I always check a suitcase for the trip, whose cost is covered by my credit card, or in the case of Southwest Airlines, is still included.

I’d like to add the electronic component to ensuring a good flight: a kindle with downloaded movies and/or books. Plenty of cables to recharge your device as well as a spare battery bank. And noise cancelling headphones.

I routinely put all of the airline paperwork in the seat pocket in the overhead storage. This allows me to use that space. (I know this includes the safety instructions. I can read them before putting them overhead. I also make a habit of watching the safety drill before take-off) I generally do not buy food, drink, or duty free from the airline (I pack my own) so bye-bye menus. I put my personal bag overhead, too, to free the floor space for my feet. Sitting in an aisle seat helps to access the bag if needed en route. I wear a down jacket. It make a great blanket for planes that usually feel too cold to me.

Airsickness bags are NOT for your trash.

You cannot be comfortable in economy, period. Accept it and settle in as best you can without impeding your seatmates’ comfort and their ability to get up. And as to who is wiping down tray tables, it isn’t first time flyers. It’s me, a long time and frequent flyer. Why? The trays are not cleaned in the manner an eating surface should be. You may also be laying your face on the table to sleep. I wipe down the table, armrests, video screen, air vent, pocket front, and light switch. Any hard surface I will touch. It’s quick and unobtrusive. I’m also allergic to peanuts but that’s not the main reason I wipe down my area. Planes are full of people. People carry and transmit germs. I prefer not to get sick. I use hand wipes or sanitizer before I eat on a plane, and after returning from the lav.

If Ms. Berger designs airplane interiors we have her to thank for airlines slightly increasing their profits by causing massive human discomfort. The nest is too small to contain the egg. At 5'8" (170 cm) 160 (72 kg) I find my knees painfully up against the seat in front on many airlines. How do I "micro-nest" my way out of that?

A comfortable bean/bead filled head cushion can be snapped to the handle of your carry-on, thus not taking up inside valuable space. I like the idea of using an attractive 'throw' as a shawl wrapped around one's shoulders (over a coat). Since removing shoes at security may be necessary, opt for loose loafers worn with socks. For comfort, wear loose pants preferably with an elasticized waist and top it with a nice-looking but generous pullover sweater or jersey. (A lovely silk scarf folds into 'nothing' and can be pulled out on arrival to make the travel outfit look less functional.) Black as the basic 'color' works best, goes with everything. However, I opt for a bright color for my eye-shade so it can be easily spotted if dropped. I also refill a re-usable water bottle and tuck it in an outside carry-on suitcase pocket. I take a small bag with earplugs, pills, tiny moisturizer lotion, eye-shade, and minimal make-up in the very large 'personal' item allowed and put it in the seat pocket. The 'personal item' becomes a foot rest--best filled with clothes, maybe a small book. Skip the movies on long flights and opt for a nap instead as it can make a big difference with 'jet lag.'

As someone who has flown to Australia once or twice a year since 2009, I've found that the key to flying economy is ruthless space management. It took me a couple of Qantas flights to discover the net storage compartment under the seat in front of me, but once I did I could stretch my legs instead of putting stuff on the floor. Now I know about the neck bag. No more rooting through my baggy Dockers for my passport, entry card, phone, sleeping pills, or glasses. Great idea. Thank you.

Just please people, do not bring dirty unwashed pillows from home, especially when they billow over to your neighbor. I had a row mate with a huge pillow covered with - I did not know at the time - cat hair. I started having an asthma attack and asked the stewardess if there was a cat on board because that is the only thing that sets off an attack. Then the woman next to me said her cat sleeps on that pillow. It was additionally really dusty and smelly.

Years ago I bought a Sharper Image Personal Air Purifyer that you wear around your neck. It is no longer available on the Sharper Image web site but it still works and it does purify the air around you on planes. It also has a blinking blue light which is unfortunate in one way since people look at you as if you came from Mars but the upside is that they leave you alone in your space. I don't need to mention that I wipe down everything, spray the air with a lavender air purifyer, etc., etc., and all this when there is no fear of viruses. Germaphobic? Yes! I would wear gloves in summer but I look like Minnie Mouse...

The first thing we do when we get to our seat is take out a small zip bag (REI) with a plastic zip lock bag with large bleach laden wipes for the seats, tray tables etc. Then lip balm, hand and face cream, kleenex (with a baggie) nasal spray, Ricolla drops and tylenol. Add ear pieces and my tablet. A second small zip bag contains body wipes, powder, toothbrush and paste, make-up wipes, and a personal hygiene product for a complete freshening up before we land. Layer my clothes, wear a down vest on board (rolls up to a small soft pillow), a large scarf and a small, blow-up back support that has a belt so I don't lose it if I get up. I actually enjoy our 12 hour flights...soft, comfy, read and sleep.

My only request to the Foot Hammock users. Please don't keep pushing against the seat back in front of you as you get comfortable. Unlike a foot massage, it is NOT relaxing for the passenger in front of you.

In the event of an emergency, the foot hammock might prevent a seat mate from escaping. I can’t believe it’s allowed.

I wouldn’t enjoy straddle/crawling over someone and their foot hammock to leave my seat, and I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t enjoy that together time we’d be sharing either.

That illustration doesn't look like any economy seat I've flown in lately; there's at least 6 inches more width pictured in the artist's rendition. We can dream. I have (and love, for longer flights) a foot hammock, but it's NOT at all like that inflatable safety obstruction linked in the article.... mine is a small soft upholstered base (the approximate size and thickness of a small dish towel) attached to an adjustable strap that affixes to one's own tray table. No encroaching on neighbors, virtually no added safety risk in the case of an evacuation.

Re, this "That person wiping the tray table? First-time parent" No, that person is smart. Tray tables are almost never cleaned, and with COVID-19 currently breaking out all over, it is very smart. I also wipe down the seat belt buckle, headrest, and arm rests - have done so since long before the current outbreak.

On my recent trip, the airlines had an endless list of privileged economy passengers. Ordinary passengers flying economy had to check their carry-on luggage. The average handbag - which was all that I was allowed to carry onto the plane - can't hold all this 'nesting' stuff.

Foot hammock, hmmm. I just put my feet on top of my carry-on bag. Not every problem requires an expensive solution.

This glosses over a bit the perspective of Ms. Ormerod's boyfriend who has no room for any of this stuff. That person is in many seats. But the elision is reasonable, for he has no way to micronest in economy.

Ms. Berger may be a "designer of airplane interiors," but her hot take on the different ways millennials, boomers, parents and business travelers prepare for flight is eyeroll-inducing and tiresome, as is the need these "experts" have to stuff everyone into a generational box in order to appear as though they know what they're talking about. "Micro-nesting?" Just stop.

This from a person who used to check a large heavy suitcase and carried so much stuff I was exhausted. Over the years I’ve fine tuned, curated if you will, what I am willing to deal with baggage-wise. I’ve tried every gimmick of flight comfort for those long international flights and the foot hammock lost my vote after one flight, as did a number of so-called pillows for neck support. I only carry a rolling brief case with, basically, a few changes of clothes and ipad, and then top that with a large travel purse for personal items that fits over the rolling brief handle... over half of the items I carry are for use on the plane! Noise cancelling headphones, compression socks, wipes and hand sanitizer, large shawl and a big soft teddy bear. He makes a great sleep pillow. I use the airline pillow as a barrier with the seat next to me, and the airline blanket with my shawl as my little cubby for the flight. In very cold weather I carry a down coat, which also helps make a great pillow/nest.

That foot hammock thing is definitely encroaching on her neighbors' space. Quite rude.

One of my travel projects for many years. Accessories are often limited if you’re packing light for some serious travel. One of my latest essentials is an inflatable pillow by Sea and Summit that packs down tiny. Sometimes I use it for lumbar support, other times as an armrest. In lodgings it comes in handy for reading in bed.

Please explain how a product placed on a premium seat improves the comfort of an economy class seat. Transitive property or sloppy editing?

How can the Flight Hammock possibly conform to under seat stowing of carry ons? They look like a tragedy waiting to happen in an emergency. . . .

where are you supposed to put all these nice little amenities? your carry-on is already, presumably, full. most economy flights are short. this article is ridiculous.

Flying in coach these days is more like nano-nesting rather than micro-nesting.