Enduring Long-Haul Flights

Harry Mudd

I'm travelling to Hawaii next weekend, via LAX.

The thing is that I absolutely hate long-haul flights - I can never sleep on planes (no matter how tired or drunk) and become very vexed (an element of claustrophobia there).

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get through these long flights. A friend suggested a glass of wine mixed with a particular brand of anti-histamines to knock me out - this could help alleviate the jet-lag also. But only it actually works. I was coming back from NY last year and took these pills I bought there that make you sleepy. That's all they did; I spent the entire trip in an unpleasant, very conscious stupor.

Does anyone have similar experiences and/or recommendations?

Blackjack

Harry Mudd wrote:

I'm travelling to Hawaii next weekend, via LAX.

The thing is that I absolutely hate long-haul flights - I can never sleep on planes (no matter how tired or drunk) and become very vexed (an element of claustrophobia there).

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get through these long flights. A friend suggested a glass of wine mixed with a particular brand of anti-histamines to knock me out - this could help alleviate the jet-lag also. But only it actually works. I was coming back from NY last year and took these pills I bought there that make you sleepy. That's all they did; I spent the entire trip in an unpleasant, very conscious stupor.

Does anyone have similar experiences and/or recommendations?

Don't Drink Alcohol. Find something to occupy your time, bring an MP3 player, a books, something. Ask for a seat beside the Exit. This will give you extra leg-room and may help prevent the Claustrophobic feeling.

Dink plenty of water, and get up and move around during the flight.

Don't know about the drugs, but I've rarely slept on a flight unless I've been hammered (not a good idea, as you might not get on the flight, and the hangover lasts a whole lot longer) or sufferering from exhaustion (again not a good idea).
Personally, I don't actually mind flying, and I actually get a kick out of taking off and landing, and I fly at least once every month. Long haul can be kind of boring, but if you do stuff to take your mind off it it's not so bad.

Ruu_Old

I've travelled around the world, regularly enough and don't really get on too well with flying. I took some melatonin the last time I went from Chicago to Dublin and worked a treat.
As mentioned, plenty of water, moving about and even if it is just to the loo and back or something then it will help.

FlutterinBantam

good book is your man,well worth the investment.

Ponster

FlutterinBantam wrote:

good book is your man,well worth the investment.

He should read the Bible????

Tom Dunne

My wife is the same - she wouldn't be great on long haul. She got these tablets from the doctor, not sure what the name was, but they had a great calming effect. Didn't put her to sleep, nor make her feel drowsy, just calmed her down and made two long-haul flights (with a 5 hour stopover) quite bareable.

cold_filter

Is your flight direct to lax?
You could try not sleeping the night beffore,
I had a direct flight back from LAX a few years back the plane was empty so i jiust stretched out on the middle row of seats i fell asleep shortly after take off and woke up as the plane was about an hour away from landing..


I flew to new zealand last year, it was utter hell 36 hours of travelling
Got on a 2 hour frankfurt bound flight at 4 on a thursday, got on a 14 hour flight to singapore at 9 6 hours in singapore, then a 14 hour flight to christchurch, i didnt sleep at all i was like a zombie walking around christchurch!!

car39

get xannax from the doctor they are a mild tranquilliser, a couple of glasses of vino with dinner might send you for a nap..know only too well how you are feeling

NextSteps

Rescue remedy works for my boyfriend who is nervous of flying. And buy an engrossing spy novel (Ian Fleming, perhaps, or John Le Carré) or some whodunnit which will keep you going. Nothing too intellectual!

Darren

I do a lot of long haul flying. I've got to the stage when I kind of resign myself to my fate before I go, Here are a few things that help me -

1. I like to drink wine on the plane, helps me get dozy.
2. Snoozetime pillows are really comfortable and comforting on a long flight.
3. I like to take a PSP and a DS with me to play.
4. I've never been on a flight with the new generation AVOD IFE systems but can't wait to try one out.
5. A good quality eyemask (on that does not stick to your eyes).
6. Some earphones with a nice long lead on them.
7. Lip balm and oxygenated water spray.
8. A pen to fill out visa waivers etc

More than any other tip, I suggest get to the airport early and try for an emergency exit seat or at least an aisle seat so that you can get up as often as you like without disturbing anyone.

FlutterinBantam

I flew the Atlantic eastbound with only a few passengers on a b737 and even though I had plenty seats to lie down it was a horrendous trip.
Pure boredom.

davros

One thing that really relieves the stress of a long flight is to stay in the airport hotel the night before. That takes last-minute packing and the bother of getting to the airport completely out of the equation. Then all you have to do is roll out of bed, shower, put on clean clothes and arrive at the check-in desk fresh as a daisy, not a minute too early.

Taking advantage of shower facilities/pay-in lounges/transfer hotels at the connecting airport really rolls the miles off the clock too.

Cheese Princess

I've heard Rescue Remedy is good, but if you can get your hands on a valium that's the way to go...it'll knock you out for a good few hours. Wear a good black eye mask and try not to sit near any children....after spending an 8 hour flight behind a small baby who cried all night I can tell you it's not a pleasant experience.

Xavi6

I'm off to Australia on sunday, monster trek ahead so it's laptop and Pro Evo all the way for me!!

kinaldo

Xavi6 wrote:

I'm off to Australia on sunday, monster trek ahead so it's laptop and Pro Evo all the way for me!!

Apart from being three days ahead of me, snap! My battery will only last about 3 hours though and on top of spending a night at Heathrow my airline doesn't offer power outputs for economy class. I have a PSP for Pro Evo. Thank God for interactive TVs, hopefully I'll be able to follow the Newcastle Villa game on the plane.

event

a DS or PSP is the only way to go

that and a book

Devious

kinaldo wrote:

Apart from being three days ahead of me, snap! My battery will only last about 3 hours though and on top of spending a night at Heathrow my airline doesn't offer power outputs for economy class. I have a PSP for Pro Evo. Thank God for interactive TVs, hopefully I'll be able to follow the Newcastle Villa game on the plane.

Double snap! Im heading off on Tuesday morning, got a lovely 18 hour stopover in Singapore to look forward to - nice. MP3 player and books all the way!

kinaldo

Devious wrote:

Double snap! Im heading off on Tuesday morning, got a lovely 18 hour stopover in Singapore to look forward to - nice. MP3 player and books all the way!

:eek:

only 2 hour stopover in Singapore for me

but hey at least u don't have to spend the night in London Heathrow

jjbrien

One person said drink lots of alachol that is one of the worst things you can do. On a long flight, it is advisable to stretch your legs from time to time. The best thing you could do is bring your own entertainment I bring my psp with me alnd load hours of stuff to watch. Difftrent people do diffret things. Try to take some naps as well I ususally cant sleep on day time flights. A good book also works as well.

spurious

I'm off to NZ again this June and this time I'm flying business class (ahem...:D ).

Long haul comfort very much depends on whether you can sleep or not on planes. If you can, great, try get an overnight flight, a good set of ear plugs and a comfortable pillow/neck rest.

If you can't sleep, drink lots of water and move as much as you can. Watch the in-flights films, bring a book.

I wouldn't recommend anything involving alcohol.

Random

Get a PDA / Ipod Video / Zen Vision and fill it full of your favorite TV shows (preferably the comedy ones), and try keep yourself from watching them before you go.

I had 4 episodes of scrubs, 2 episodes of stargate and some family guy on my trip to New York and it really helps the time fly by.

Try some Sudoku aswell, I learnt it in the plane and it occupied another 2 hours!