Ah Matt - you're getting soft
We'll have to talk about it at the next get together at the Kingo.
Over the many years I've been sitting on flights, virtually all have been up the back, including countless red eyes domestically (KNX-PER all stops, PER-MEL, DWN-MEL etc etc) and international. In 2015-2020 I was doing 3-4 trips to the UK for work, and company policy only covered up to PE. As I can't sleep sitting up I went Flex Y as I always had to juggle flights at the last moment, and put in for upgrade to J on points - and I was successful 50% of the time. While I'm tallish (6'2"), I have short legs/long body, which means leg room isn't an issue.
Fortunately, as others have said, when I get onboard I know what I'm getting into, and just zone out with a book or go through the TV shows on my tablet that I don't watch at home. Screaming kids don't worry me (as they're not mine), and a couple of times I've helped out with the kids as you can see the mother is always stressed out - there never seems to be a father on the scene. But, I have learnt what to do, and what not to do, to make it tolerable:
- Chill out - everyone else is in the same boat as you
- Help out your fellow passengers sitting around you - although some can just be grumpy and I leave them alone
- Always get an aisle seat
- As I have status, board early, get some space up top, and spread your stuff around you
- On the old QF380's, go for the mini-cabin up top - sadly no more
- Change into light weight tracksuit pants and a t-shirt for sleeping or snoozing - I hate sleeping in my clothes. Pyjamas are not just for F/J
- Make use of a self-inflating hiking mat on the seat (@RooFlyer mattress comforter - patent pending)
- Don't pick seats down the back hoping you might get a vacant seat next to you, or even a whole row - it just never works, except on the Dallas flights perhaps
- Don't expect an exotic meal/dining experience
- Don't think drinking airline wine out of a plastic cup will make it taste better
- Don't worry that being seated down the back will mean you're last off and seems to take ages - your luggage won't arrive any faster, and you'll be standing at the baggage pickup anyway
Now as I am a few years away from retirement, MrsK and I are planning some big trips for when that happens, and are going through the conversation on the flights. After treating MrsK to Bus when we spent one of her significant birthdays in Singapore, she likes bus class. But, as I point out, if we break up the trip to say Europe in a series of shorter legs in Y, the money we save goes a long way towards luxury hotels and nice restaurants. I'd quite happily trade a few uncomfortable flights, for a very comfortable bed in a top end hotel. But, that conversation is still ongoing.