Keep practicing and experimenting what works for you. Personally, I do not worry about keep my pipe lit and require many relights. Once I gave up chasing a constantly lit pipe, my enjoyment factor went up quite a bit.
I typically use a two or three stage method for packing, depending on the bowl size. You want to have just enough resistance so its like you pulling through a straw. Puff on the pipe after each layer so you can judge how tight the pack is. How the pipe draws could also be a factor. I find that if the draw is open, it helps my bowls stay lit easier.
Another thing you can try is once the pipe is lit, gently blow through the stem every so often to provide some air for the ember. Very gently though.
It took me awhile to find a method that works best for flakes. Now, flake is what I smoke 90% of the time.
