I decided to purchase my flight on the KLM website instead of through a third party. I always recommend this if possible. Airlines are much nicer to people who use their services. Now, this is the part of the process where you learn about baggage fees, meals, and seat assignments. I say this because I don’t want you to sit down with your credit card thinking you will be done in five minutes. This is actually the most stressful time for me. Also, have your passport ready because you will want to enter than information as well. Lastly, do a VISA check to make sure you don’t need a travel visa to go somewhere. Americans do not need one for Italy, but when I went to India, I most certainly did and that involved mailing off my passport at their consulate. If that is the case, you will want to do that as soon as possible.

First, I checked out the food situation, I did some google searching and that said the food and drink situation was fine. The airline website even told you how many meals you would get and asked if you had any diet preferences. Moral of the story, food and beverage was included.

Second, the baggage situation. This was merely on the screen. It wanted to know if I wanted to purchase a checked bag or additional bags. This means that you don’t get a free checked bag, which is pretty common on an economy flight. However, they also had the dimensions and weights for a free carry on. This is were I quite literally got a tape measure and measured the dimensions of my bag. The weight situation I don’t worry about because if it fits but doesn’t meet the weight requirements, you can just put on clothes until it does. The second you get your ticket, you can repack the bag. After using an inches to centimeters conversation tool, I learned my bag was going to meet the requirements for a free carry on. This was a huge win. If your bag doesn’t fit, this could be a point where you either decide to shell out some more money or reassess your bag situation. It is usually cheaper to buy a bag online than at the gate. Again, this is why I don’t recommend sitting down with your credit card. Set aside some time to feel great about your purchase.

Lastly, the seat situation. I was about to purchase four flights. Two flights that were over seven hours, and two flights that were three hours. First, I went to Seat Guru, a website that quite literally polls people and gives you reviews on every seat on the plane. The airline website will tell you what airplane you will be on. At this point, you can see if there is a solid movie situation, comfortable seats, learn about bathrooms, and even see if there is WIFI and USB plugs for your phone (what a world we live in).

I decided to purchase seats on the two long flights for $40 each and just go lottery on the shorter flights. I will admit, most people think purchasing a seat is a waste of money, but I beg to differ. I can’t stress enough how much of a positive impact walking around and drinking water can have on your ability to beat jet-lag. Do some research and you will find the benefits are clear. I always recommend purchasing a middle row aisle seat (usually there are 3 seats, an aisle, 4 seats, an aisle, and another 3 seats). This is because people often travel in pairs and individuals are usually flying on company dime and will use their funds to buy an aisle seat. This means there is a good shot there will be an empty seat next to you if you are solo. Additionally, if you are next to a group of three in a row of four, usually the person next to you will actually go out the long way in order to not bother you. They rather inconvenience their friend than wake you up. This is why I recommend the middle row aisle and not the sides that usually have three seats. You will be getting up every single time someone needs to get up and that is obnoxious. The aisle gives you the ability to drink as much water as you want because you can always use the bathroom without inconveniencing anyone, which is key on these long flights. I probably drink 2-3 liters on each international flight and get up often to walk around and stretch. Hydration and blood flow is paramount for beating jet-lag.

Finally, after researching the food, measuring my bag, and googling best seats, I bought the flight. Using this process to purchase a flight can feel more like an Olympic event than a typical airline purchase, but setting time aside to buy the perfect flight can truly enhance your trip.

Next, you need to figure out what you need to pack.