Actually, I like flying at least as much as traveling by train. What attracts me here is different: first, it's a much higher class of service, when they bring you food, take away the trash, smile, apologize when something goes wrong. Second, it's the opportunity for me to look at the architecture and layout of cities I love from a completely unusual angle. They look especially breathtaking at night. Third, and this is both a plus and a minus, planes, unlike trains, are used by more well-off people, which means more educated, cultured and businesslike people with whom it's often very difficult to start a conversation, and you're forced to sit through a whole 10-hour flight in silence, pressed up against the cold porthole.

However, the choice of airline is a factor that determines how comfortable your 10-20 hours of flying will be. How many times and what you'll be fed! What quality of headphones they'll offer on board )) Actually, to be honest, in the first and second years I didn't choose an airline and bought tickets right from the center, but if I happen to have to fly the next year, I will definitely buy the tickets myself.

Why? Because it's likely to be at least a little cheaper. I found Moscow–New York–Moscow tickets for my friend costing only 14,000 rubles!!! It was Aerosvit with a transfer in Kyiv, but for that kind of money! There are many sites specifically for finding the cheapest tickets, but the most convenient and easy to use, in my opinion, is www.anywayanyday.com

The second tip is not to fly direct, but to connect in Europe. You'll get a chance to see one more country. But most importantly for me, you'll have two flights of about 4–7 hours each, which means you'll be fed as many as four times. If you fly a direct flight, you'll be served only twice. The same fate awaits those who fly the now very popular Moscow–Washington–New York route. Since the Washington–New York leg is domestic and lasts only 1.3 hours, you're unlikely to be offered anything more substantial than a glass of juice.

And the last tip. Almost every airline, if not every one, has long had a loyalty program in its arsenal. This means that once you choose an airline, miles corresponding to the distance you have flown are credited to your account, and when you buy a ticket next time you can often use a number of privileges by spending those miles. The most worthwhile privileges, in my opinion, are: an upgrade in class of service, i.e. you fly business class while paying as for economy, or a free ticket — you're simply given a free ticket, debiting the necessary number of miles from your account. So, to participate in such a loyalty program you need to register on the airline's official website and get your number, which you will present at check-in. Often, after registering, you can already choose the type of meal you'd like to have on board (say, vegetarian or kosher) and the seat you'd like to sit in. The names of such loyalty programs are: for United it's Mileage Plus, for Air France it's Flying Blue.