I've gone to China twice. So, four times I have been in a jet for 14+ hours at a time. I thought it would be a nightmare, but it really wasn't too bad.

If you've never traveled on an international flight, you might be surprised to discover how comfortable the seating is. On international flights, there's more leg room, and every inch is appreciated. Also, the seats leaned back further than on regular flights.

One way to get comfortable on any flight is to buy one of those little pillows for your neck. I used one that you blow up because it was so easy to carry in my carry-on bag, folding up to the size of a little tissue pack. It was very comfortable and easy to manage.

I also always ask for a blanket and pillow (or two) from the steward or stewardess for extra padding and shifting and otherwise setting up my little "seat-bed".

As you know, international flights feature movies and television shows. I was able to see a couple of Korean programs, Chinese kung fu movies, as well as American films. Occasionally, the screens would offer exercises to remind us to stretch our legs and shoulders and arms. That felt good. People frequently got up and moved around to stretch and talk, too. I enjoyed the casual, friendly atmosphere of the flights to and from China.

I found the meals to be delicious. We were offered a few different choices, some traditional Chinese or Korean fare, as well as American food.

One of our stewards was very fun and entertaining. On these international flights, alcoholic drinks were complimentary, and he would walk down the aisles, calling, "Free booze! Free booze!"

He spoke fluent English and Chinese, and he liked to have passengers practice their Chinese on him. If they were way off the mark, he would laugh and say, "You'd better practice some more!" But if you did pretty well, he would say, "Ah, good! You've been working on it!"

The international flights are fun, too, because you can meet the most interesting people and have a chance to actually learn about them. I had some wonderful seat-mates.

One fellow who sat next to me was an author and psychologist. He was an expert in human potential and was traveling to China to help train the men who would be operating the great Three Gorges Dam, the largest dam in the world, which stretches more than a mile across the Yangtze River. If they were to make even one mistake in operating it, millions could drown, he said.

A high school girl I sat next to on another flight was coming back from spending a semester in China after staying with a Chinese family. She had some wonderful stories to tell about the school she attended and the family she stayed with.

Of course, with any flight, the noise will get to you after awhile. The constant noise of the engines wears on you, so having noise-cancelling headphones is a great help.

All in all, I enjoyed the international flights. The service was excellent, the food was good, the seating more comfortable than usual, the seatmates were friendly, and the anticipation of arriving in China was exciting!

Roshana Ariel is a longtime writer and editor. She enjoys writing about her traveling adventures at http://www.adventuresinchinatravel.com/china_air_travel.html, and her dogs at http://www.love-those-doggies.com She also has a site devoted to another passion: brainwave technology and brain science at http://www.brainwavejourneys.com