Tips on surviving long haul flights
 

We will be taking our first really long flight (13 hours) in a few weeks, and I am looking for tips on how you seasoned travelers stay comfortable and entertain yourself.

I do have a few movies on my iTouch, some music on the iPod for entertainment.

Any suggestions you might have to offer for entertainment, comfort, or anything would be appreciated.

Avoid the booze. Drink lots of bottled water. Don't eat carbs. Get up and walk around at least every 2 hours. Dress in loose comfortable clothing--track suits my fave (a fashionable one,of course) Bring a good book. Pray for an upgrade (if you are flying in coach).

I always bring my own fleece blanket and use it for two different reasons. It can be used for padding your seat (if you're in Y) and it's better at keeping you warm if you get cold.

Get up and walk often

Bring some snacks, movies on your computer/ipod.

I can't agree with the above more. These are the two key elements for me.

I also change into PJs. I wear jeans, etc. in the terminal but then change into PJs once on board

The dress code / fashion police who sometimes post here may come after you...

As far as comfort goes, dress in layers so that you can easily adjust the warmth of your clothing based on the airplane cabin temperature. Put extra layers in your carryon if you are not wearing all of them when you board. Try not to use very bulky or heavy clothing so that the extra layers don't consume all of your carryon volume.

Sleeping pills, if flying coach.

Couldn't disagree more. Krug and Dom Perignon with some caviar and frozen vodka makes the flight far more enjoyable.

A lot of your experience will have to do with which airline you are flying?

To check the entertainment just about all airlines worth their salt have the full inflight movie guide somewhere on their website - even if just for the next month or so.

A lot of folks like to buy noise cancelling headphones.

Ear plugs (the foam ones that go right in) are very useful, as is an eyemask. Again, depending on which airline (and which class) the eyemask (but rarely earplugs) may be provided. The lower the class, the less you get :)

Again, depending on which airline the need to take snacks may not be necessary - the asian carriers will provide sandwiches, peanuts, instant pot noodles in economy (more in premium cabins). United also used to have a little snack box mid-way through their very long haul flights in the main cabin. Not sure if it is still there.

Finally - go to seatguru and check your airline and select seats. Some airlines allow you to oay for seats with more legroom or the emergency exits. If you want lots of forweard space then this might be worth your while.

Let us know which airline and class and we'll be able to advise more.

regards

lme ff

Only applicable if OP is flying F.

Ear plugs, eye mask, noise cancelling headphones, saline nasal spray (counters dry cabin air), sleeping pills (see your doctor beforehand for something suitable that won't give you a sleeping pill "hangover").

I always like to bring my toothbrush and paste on long flights as it helps me feel a bit fresher.

If your airline allows, you may be able to select a special meal which means you're guaranteed to get your meal first before the main meal service. I have in the past had a "high fibre meal" and it was good because I had fresh fruit instead of a stodgy cake dessert, and I felt much better for it.

Add my voice for recommending moderate amounts of alcohol. A few drinks, my noise-reducing headphones and music on my iPod makes the time fly by, primarily by letting me sleep. The problem with alcohol is that it dehydrates you, so drink plenty of water or fruit juice along with your drinks. Noise reducing headphones are invaluable -- it creates a cocoon of [relative] silence that you can fill with your own music. My wife uses them without music -- just the phones alone allow her to arrive refreshed and relaxed.

My advice would be:

• Try to be well rested before you get on the flight — counsel of perfection, I know, but it does make a big difference if you've had a good amount of sleep for the few nights before the trip
• Set your watch to the destination time when you board, but then forget about the time and — most importantly — grab any sleep you can whenever you want it (i.e. don't feel you have to follow the airline's ideas about when you should be awake and when you should be asleep)
• Eat sparingly; if you don't want a meal and don't want to be woken, let the cabin crew know
• More importantly, drink alcohol and tea and coffee sparingly
• Drink plenty (and I mean plenty) of water — take a bottle on board with you if you can
• Take a good book that is easy to read and that can be put down and picked up again easily
• Take an iPod or similar if that is your style
• Put all the things that you will want for the flight in a plastic bag inside your carry-on luggage: that way it's easy to get them out and put them in the seat pocket in front of you (or wherever) when you board
• Take a pen, if you're going to have to fill in a landing and/or customs card
• Take an eye mask and, if noise worriers you, think about ear plugs
• Take an iPod or similar if that is your style; consider buying some noise-cancelling headphones
• Have a pleasant flight (as they say in the on-board announcements) ;)

Ginger Ale is really nice on flights.

It lacks the caffeine of Coke and Tea/Coffee and lacks the complete lack of taste of water. It does have sugar which is both a blessing or curse depending on if you want to sleep NOW or you want to sleep in like an hours time (sugar's lows make you sleep like a baby :D).

I think your comfort on the flight will be directly related to your height. If you are over 5.9 then forget it, just take a sleeping pill and hope your lower leg is still attached when you wake up. Unless you pay 300% and upgrade to business.

UGH! I always want my meal last, which is why if I'm flying peasant class I always sit as far to the rear as possible.

on long (15 hour) flights LAX to CAN I bring two ambien. I take one after the first meal service. it is good for 6 hours for me. wake up in time for the second, take the other.

wake up in time to fill out the paper work,

You don't miss a thing and whats to see from 35 k feet.