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Jet lag: what it is, how long it lasts and how to get over it fast

You land after a long flight, the sun is shining, and all your body wants is bed. Or it's 3am, the hotel is silent, and you're wide awake. Welcome to jet lag. It's one of the most common side effects of travelling, and almost everyone who has flown across a few time zones knows the feeling.The good news: jet lag usually clears up within a few days, and there's a lot you can do to make it shorter. Here's everything you need to know, from the symptoms and how long jet lag lasts to practical tips for before, during and after your flight.

Sleeping in airports: rules, tips and what the airline owes you

Your flight has been pushed back to tomorrow morning, and the departure board isn't budging. So can you just sleep at the airport? In most cases, yes. Here's what the rules say, where to find the best (and worst) spots, whether sleeping pods are worth the money, and why the airline might actually owe you a hotel.

What happens if you get drunk on a plane?

Most passengers enjoy a drink or two before or during a flight without any issue. But getting visibly drunk on a plane is a different matter - for you, for the crew, and for the other passengers around you. Here is what actually happens, and what it means for your ability to board.

Inside a flight kitchen: where your airline food really comes from

Your in-flight meal isn't made on the plane. It's the output of an industrial catering operation that starts hours before boarding, and what happens to it after you don't finish it might surprise you.

10 best aviation disaster movies of all time

Ever found yourself gripped the moment a plane starts shaking on screen? From Sully's Miracle on the Hudson to the Andes survival story in Alive, these are the plane crash movies that do it best, and a reminder that real aviation disasters are far rarer than the movies make them feel.

Italian souvenirs to bring home: 5 ideas for your suitcase

What should you bring home from Italy? From a moka pot to good olive oil, regional specialities and local crafts: here are the Italian souvenirs worth packing and what to know before taking them on a plane.

The most dangerous airports in the world

Across the world, a handful of airports combine short runways, mountain terrain, extreme altitude, and minimal instrument guidance to push aircraft and pilots to their absolute limits. Here are ten of the most dangerous airports on earth, and what makes each one so extreme.

How to change a diaper on a plane

Flying with a baby is a lot of things. Relaxing is rarely one of them. Between feeding schedules, ear pressure at takeoff and landing, and the ever-present risk of a mid-flight blowout, parents on planes have enough to think about. Diaper changes add another layer of logistical challenge, especially when you're working with a space roughly the size of a broom cupboard.The good news: it is manageable. Here is everything you need to know about changing a diaper on a plane, including what to pack, where to go, and what to do when there is no changing table in sight.

Best Nintendo Switch games for planes

Plane journeys are when a Nintendo Switch finds itself to be especially useful. You are stuck to your seat often for hours anyway — so why not get immersed in an amazing virtual world, instead of watching another movie on the crappy, small airplane screen, or try to sleep while your co-passengers talk and flash their phone lights straight into your eyes?

Emergency landings: what are your passenger rights?

Hearing a pilot announce an emergency landing mid-flight is one of those moments passengers never forget. What follows is often hours of confusion, missed connections, and out-of-pocket costs — and most passengers never find out whether they were entitled to anything more.

Airplane seat downgrade compensation: What you can claim

Being moved to a lower class than the one you booked is frustrating, especially when you paid for the extra comfort. European air passenger law treats an involuntary downgrade as a specific breach of your rights, and it can entitle you to get part of your ticket price back. Below, we explain what a downgrade actually is, how much you may be owed, and the steps to take.

The worst plane crashes in history

Air travel is, statistically, the safest way to travel. But when things go wrong at altitude, the consequences can be catastrophic. These are the biggest plane crashes in aviation history - ranked by death toll, with the facts behind each disaster and what they changed.