What to do on Long Haul flights!

Elphaba

Hi all,
As the title says I'm wondering what to do on a Long Haul flight? Apart from the obvious cracking up! Heading to Sydney on Thursday and I'll have the usual book/Mags/playing cards in my bag. I know they'll be showing films but was just wondering if anyone had any bright ideas they can share? Last time my mates were sick of I spy by the time we checked in!
Thanks

mikedragon32

Take regular walks along the aisles. Not very exciting, I know, but it gets you out of your seat and you may just get chatting with someone interesting (or really boring).

It helps prevent DVT too!

HelterSkelter

Buy a travel scrabble set (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mattel-5011363523476-Travel-Scrabble/dp/B00005N9YS), you'd be surprised how quickly the time passes (assuming you are not travelling alone!!)

Just found this review on the amazon site, think it sums it up perdectly...

I'll assume that you all know how to play Scrabble. Well, this travel set is AWESOME! The letter holders fit neatly under the playing surface when not in use (I notice a previous reviewer said they needed to be stored elsewhere when not in use? Not sure what they are on about there, just leave them under the board!) and because the letters are magnetic, you can just pop it all away mid-game and then come back to it!

To the reviewer who said that there is no scoring system, I draw their attention to the markers on the sides of the board (visible in the photo above) - you simply slide the counter to indicate the number of points you have - i.e. 'x' no. of 1's, 10's, 100's.

When not in use, the letters fit in a tray which slots neatly inside the board, and the handy storage bag doubles as the letters bag when play is in progress. The attention to detail on this product as A1.

We travelled the world for two years and this game was invaluable for whiling away long flights or just relaxing in the evenings...word of advice though - buy the official Scrabble words book, or fast-track yourself into a divorce situation!!!

Darren

I fly long haul a lot. I bring with me, some books, an mp3 player, a psp and a gba. I also have a good quality eyemask (one that does not stick to your eyes like the ones they give you on the plane do) and a bottle of oxygenated water spray and a lip balm. On the plane I tend to start off by drinking and eating and watching a film, I then try and sleep but usually can't so I play the PSP and GBA. Sometimes I try and read but am usually to knackered to concentrate and then I drift into a catatonic state between awake and sleep.

breadmonkey

I can sleep almost anywhere at any time. I'm lucky that way. However, planes are my nemisis. I simply cannot get to sleep on the fcukers! I would recommend bringing one of those inflatable things that go around your neck. They make sleeping easier (I'm told:p ).

mr_disc

Check out the air hostesses

Ruu_Old

As a veteran in long haul flights, I walk around alot as I can never get comfortable. I also like to watch the little map of the flight information (if your aircraft has the screens built into each headrest). Don't really watch the films, but listen to the radio as theres sometimes some comedy sketches on there.

jjbrien

I criss cross the atlantic quite alot so I am a vertern of the whole thing. I usually bring my psp with me and I have a 1 gb and 2 gb card for it. I put lots of good tv shows on it and bring my mp3 player as well. For night flights I normally stop by a drug store and buy some sleeping pills and knock myself out. Normally the entertain on airlines out of Ireland is poor.

empirix

The dude is going to OZ, he won't be leaving from Ireland, i went on BA and Qantas, very good entertainment,the latest films in the cinema, radio, and computer console and flight map - enough to keep you going, especially when theres a few good films out now, Borat and the departed, thats 6 hours already, can't believe your not stopping off half way for a few days couple of weeks/months - Thailand etc. You might also have somebody interesting beside you, do the walking in the oils thing, don't drink beer until your around 2 or 3 hours away from the final destination, drink plenty of water and personally i find a towel and good moisturiser an excellent idea, the clinique one is greaqt for flying and in general,26 hours on a plane with an hours break somewhere is just mental and personally i'll never do that. Good luck anyway.

rant over

danash

Check out if the plane you are flying on has a power point - options such as DVD player, Laptop, whatever security will let you carry on..as well as the walking around stuff. At least then you can watch the movies you want.

try here after you find out the aircraft from your airline/agent

www.seatguru.com

skibum

Get yourself some quality earplugs, the ones that I got reduce noise by 32 decibels. I'm a light sleeper but these really cut down the "drone" ?? background noise of the engines etc. I managed to get a good sleep and felt pretty good when we arrived.

dermot_sheehan

Ruu wrote:

As a veteran in long haul flights, I walk around alot as I can never get comfortable. I also like to watch the little map of the flight information (if your aircraft has the screens built into each headrest). Don't really watch the films, but listen to the radio as theres sometimes some comedy sketches on there.

On a flight to OZ I had a free seat beside me and had the moving map on the video monitor on that showing the progress. Not a good idea at the begining of the flight, you realise how bloody big the world is when you see a line going across the map from london to hong kong to sydney and the plane hardly moves along it at all after a few hours, very head wrecking.

I just tend to view the movies and read a book, I can't sleep on planes.

Rabies

I'm off a long haul flight earlier today. London to Hong Kong. 11hrs of flying, never got any sleep.

A baby a few rows back was cry loudly now and again, then there was the English guy in front of me that got very loud and rude to the air hostesses when they refused him more drink and told him to sit down when the seat belt light is on.

The people beside him ended up moving to vacant seats to get away from him. He would rant away to himself at times during the flight or to the supervisor when ever she passed.

He passed out asleep for the final 2hrs or so. Much to everyone's joy.

I spent the 11hrs, reading, playing my PSP and watching Monster House, Aristocats, Snow White,Click and just blankly looking the seat infront of me

It was a LONG flight. Have to do it all again on Saturday when I fly to Auckland

daveg

Rabies wrote:

I'm off a long haul flight earlier today. London to Hong Kong. 11hrs of flying,

I did that flight in January. Slept most of the way. One of the best flights I have been on as BA upgraded us.

For all long haul flights I take a sleeping tablet. Were just back from Orlando and I took one there and back. Slept 3 to 4 hours each way. Makes a big difference.

One good tip for you if the flight is empty get an isle row to yourself once the seatbelt signs go off once your airborne. Then you can put down the armrests and you will have a bed bigger than they have in first class. I did this on the flight to Orlando and had the most comfortable kip ever.