Best flights to avoid motion sickness

[flyagain]

Hi, new here, and would value advice please. I used to travel regularly, but a few years ago developed severe motion sickness and have now developed a fear of this and haven't travelled since. I am keen to fly again regularly with my family and perhaps try a short trip as a start. Of course I am speaking with my dr etc but would value opinions from other travellers. In particular:-
- Are any planes (eg newer, larger) less prone to motion? If so, what planes types should I look for when booking?
- Any short routes from Sydney recommended? (although short trips may have smaller planes?)
- Any support out there for people like me – not scared of flying, but suffer severe motion sickness and now scared of getting sick while flying ?
- Any other advice

Thanks

 

[clazman]

Welcome aboard Flyagain

I find drinking ginger ale before and during the flight very helpful.

For the longer flights I use a product called gravol and always have the air-conditioning vent open 100%.

In relation to aircraft i have had the smoothest ride on B717, I would have thought it depends on the weather, geography, but sure others will say A380 will give you the best ride, but that means a OS trip.

 

[DavBlayn]

Clazman, does sitting in a window seat help?

 

[jb747]

The bigger the aircraft the better. Sitting as close as possible to the centre of the aircraft will reduce all of the motions.

 

[DavBlayn]

The bigger the aircraft the better. Sitting as close as possible to the centre of the aircraft will reduce all of the motions.

Didn't know that before. Thanks.

 

[jb747]

I mean the centre both fore and aft, and laterally. Basically, that's the axis of many of the motions. So, for most aircraft, right in the middle of the wing.

 

[DavBlayn]

That's when complimentary advance seat selection comes in handy! Unfortunately, you need to be PS to get it.

 

[Mattg]

Maybe an A330 between SYD and MEL would be a good "first flight"? Large, comfortable aircraft and the flight's only about an hour.

 

[mimishat]

I find sitting in a window seat middle of the wings works best to alleviate mine - I like to see the horizon (same as in a car). Also sipping on ginger ale or lemonade and always having a full stomach helps also. Bigger the plane the better too - they don't bounce around as much. You can get OTC tablets at the chemist as well to help.

 

[juddles]

The bigger the aircraft the better. Sitting as close as possible to the centre of the aircraft will reduce all of the motions.

If you get sick in an A380, give up and don't fly.

That is a positive comment!

 

[Foreigner]

- Any other advice

Thanks

Fly with a companion for reassurance and company.

 

[Saintza]

My girlfriend suffers bad motion sickness and use a combination of what others have suggested.

- Motion sickness sea bands for her wrists, they seem to help with most basic stuff like car travel etc
- Window seat so she can see the horizon
- Closer to the middle of the plane as possible
- Air vents on to keep her cool
- For flying she takes a motion sickness tablet half an hour before flying and/or landing (landing is usually the worst for her).

We flew into Sydney last Monday night during the storms and she'd forgotten to take a motion sickness tablet but she did have her wrist bands on. When it got quite rough and bad she lay her head in my lap which she finds helps as well and she just managed to not be sick.

 

[Deleted member]

I carry stemitel tabs. ( prescription) They don't stop the ill feeling. But they do help with nausea. I get seriously bad sea sickness. But flying needs to be very bumpy for me to have an issue. I have had such a good run of late, I have actually forgotten to carry them with me. I must get back into the habit

 

[eric2011]

From my days at sea, Do not look down, ie no reading or in flight entertainment. Keep looking at the horizon and keep moving to different points on it. As JB said, try to get directly above the centre of the wing, and lastly, try not to think about it, its easy to talk yourself into feeling airsick

 

[clazman]

Clazman, does sitting in a window seat help?

No I sit in a aisle seat as close to possible to the centre of the aircraft,

 

[feezable]

I swear by Blackmores ginger tablets.

 

[Alanslegal]

That's when complimentary advance seat selection comes in handy! Unfortunately, you need to be PS to get it.

Present JB747 a single malt whiskey, vintage champagne or equivalent and he might be able to direct his CSM to give you an on-board upgrade to a nicer seat

 

[straitman]

I find drinking ginger ale before and during the flight very helpful.

Ginger is great for overcoming the effects of motion sickness and without side effects. NASA used it for the shuttle astronauts and I used if for simulator training. (In my case 20-40 min without and 5+ hours with)
Ginger tablets can be bought at a chemist of grocery store.

I swear by Blackmores ginger tablets.

As do I.

 

[juddles]

Ginger may be OK for some, but it never worked for me. And I love ginger.

For seasickness the only thing that ever worked was an American product based on scopolamine. Transderm-scop or something like that? It involves a patch like a bandaid that you wear - lasts for three days and is MAGIC

 

[dajop]

I'd absolutely suggest avoiding propeller planes, where they effects of bumps etc seem to be magnified. That would eliminate regional NSW and many flights to Canberra.

I do suffer motion sickness of sorts (like many people I guess), but it is definitely of the benign variety, that is caused more by cyclical/wave pattern type motion than the sort of random movements you get on most passenger jets. As a word of encouragement, I've been or felt sick on boats (most commonly), passenger seat of cars (not too common), buses and spinning rides (which I avoid generally), but never on a plane. But, I am not sure if that really helps anyone with motion sickness that is of a severe type.