How do I deal with a really long flight?

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99% fat free

I had the same worries when I went to the US for the first time. But I didn't have any problems sleeping. It was soooo boring. I could barely stop myself from saying "Are we there yet?"

Bring an ipod or mp3 player. I brought a laptop with me and got some work done and played some games. Bring magazines and maybe a sudoku or crossword book.

Try not to sleep before the flight and you WILL get sleepy during the flight. Sleeping is the best way to pass the time in long flights.

NOLA guy

Airlines really try to provide good in-flight entertainment on long distance flights. The airlineâ€™s website may list the films & music available and may even give the menu. However, you canâ€™t absolutely count on the in-flight entertainment.

Bring one or more books that you have started and know you like. It is really annoying to open a new book on a flight and realize you don't find it interesting. Things like an I-Pod, Gameboy or PSP, MP3 player, and non-electronic options like crossword puzzles are a good idea.

More than about 6 hours in an airplane is really tough, especially if you are in economy class. The result is usually called "jet lag".

The time change is part of "jet lag", but only part. For example, people experience jet lag when traveling from North America to South America even when they don't change time zones. Dehydration caused by dry air in the cabin is as important as the time change, and dehydration can be cumulative + aggravated by your environment/activities before the flight. Jet lag can be much worse on the return leg of a relatively short trip because you never really recovered from the lag incurred on the first leg. It can also be aggravated by what you do between trips.

I have not found anything that eliminates jet lag, but staying hydrated helps reduce it. Water and non-carbonated liquids are best. Avoid drinking a lot of anything with caffeine, including colas. Also avoid drinking a lot of alcohol - it aggravates the dehydration and you may have a hangover before the end of the flight.

Wear clothing that is comfortable. Especially avoid tight clothing or shoes - your body will swell during a long flight.

Sleeping on the flight (even if it isn't very good sleep) also helps. The seats are MUCH, MUCH better in business and first class on long distance flights so upgrade if you can. If you can't upgrade, select a window seat so you can pile extra pillows & blankets against the interior of the cabin to lean against for a bit of extra comfort. A sleep mask (like www.mindfold.com) and earplugs may help you sleep.

You can choose to take something to help you sleep on the plane, but try it first. Many sleep aids can make you groggy long after you need to wake up. I just use aspirin.

Get up and walk around every few hours. Do some stretching exercises - there is usually room by the exterior doors.

If you have a long layover during the trip, check with the airline(s) to see if you can purchase ($25 to $50) a 1-day pass to their airport lounge. Lounges offer a comfortable, safe place to wait between flights and refreshments are included in the membership. Some lounges even have showers (a Godsend after a long flight). Delta's Crown Room and United's Red Carpet Club are examples.

You may be wasted when you get to your destination, even if you fly business or first class. Don't schedule anything important the day you get there. Try to not drive for at least a full day.

Speed your body's adjustment to local time by living on the local schedule: Stay awake until local bedtime at your destination and stay in bed until local morning. If you absolutely must take a nap make sure you don't sleep more than 3 hours. Eat meals at the normal local time. And so on.

It still takes me 1 day per hour of time change to fully adjust (a 7 hour time difference takes me a full week to get over).

babyblue2pie

if u have an ipod you can listen to it
Labtop
watch the movie they have for u
draw
idk i usually just listen to my ipod and sleep

Brian O

you're on the right track....i would want to rest and get myself acclamated to the new time schedule.....this is best done by messing up your schedule a few weeks before the trip to be ready for it

carnaby_fudge

i recommend a portable video player. some planes will provide ongoing video at your seat a la a video screen above your food tray. i took a non-stop to london from l.a. that was about 11 hrs and they had video going the whole time. you could turn the screen on and off and plug in headphones to hear. but having something to watch like a movie that you'll get into make the time pass more quickly.
nothing wrong with some good reading material either. and good tunes will help you sleep away some of the time. but i'd plan on keeping yourself entertained for at least half the flight.

Who cares just be happy your traveling. Alot of people cant even afford a simple vacation better yet to travel somewhere like China.

You'll get over it.

John t

1. play a gameboy or any game consoles. or if they're playing a movie u should watch it.(just don't get too dizzy)

2.push your chair back and try relaxing.

3.do #1

whitecranberries

i traveled to korea once and japan once, and theyre roughly the same length of flight.

the first time i made some friends on the plane which helped pass the time. we played cards and shared cds.

on the way to korea, i was stuck between two grouchy men who snored the whole time. i listened to music and slept. I didnt get much sleep the night before the flight, which helped me sleep at least 6 hours of the trip. it wasnt bad at all.

i wouldnt take sleeping pills or any medication you normally dont take, since it can possibly trigger some sort of reaction/anxiety attack which would be BAD for on a plane!

you're butt will hurt. bad! but, hopefully you have neighbors who will be nice enough to let you get up and move with convenience.

the_lipsiot

Books, i-pod and in-flight entertainment.

Falling asleep is not normally a problem, but make sure you take a dark eye mask and ear-plugs (or use the i-pod).

Don't sit in the same spot for 12 hours - get up and walk around. I'm sure you'll have to use the toilet at some stage at the very least.

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