Tips for my first long flight

[Anonymous]

+1 on the compression socks especially if you are over 30.

[Anonymous]

Bring thick, comfy no-slip socks. My feet always get so cold on long international flights.

Bring lots of little, fun snacks -- chewy dried mango, chocolate/nut granola bars, hummus and veggies (yes, I know, people will say it is rude to "crunch" in coach, but whatever)

Bring a large bottle of water

Bring two books -- Project Hail Mary, Into the Wild, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, A Walk in the Woods, The Pillars of the Earth (have you read Harry Potter yet? if not, try it, those books are awesome)

Download a movies -- The Trial of the Chicago 7, Slumdog Millionaire, Pan's Labyrinth, A Man Called Otto, Burn After Reading, Safety Not Guaranteed, Hell or High Water, Gran Torino, Get Out

Download a few shows -- Marvelous Mrs Maisel, The Mindy Project, Ted Lasso, Succession, Freaks and Geeks, Arrested Development, Stranger Things, The Queen's Gambit, Schitt's Creek

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks all! This has been so helpful. This is my first time away from my DH and kids for a week so I am nervous but excited. It is a friends trip. To the PP who asked, we are not going to Turkey, have a layover there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks all! This has been so helpful. This is my first time away from my DH and kids for a week so I am nervous but excited. It is a friends trip. To the PP who asked, we are not going to Turkey, have a layover there.

OP, did you go on your trip? If so, did the tips help? Am going on a 15 hour flight next month and dreading it a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It is coach. Turkish Airlines.

Sure I can just deal. It’s just a conversation piece. Geez.

I know. I never understand why people come on to an Internet forum which is meant to facilitate discussion and then are rude to people who post. It's the whole point, and no one is required to read a thread.

[Anonymous]

I tend to think about long trips in sections. There will be the getting settled time, the meals, the sleep, the watching, the reading, and the boring part. While its hard to sleep on the plane - I do bring ear plugs, eye shades and my travel pillow. I work to sleep after the dinner service and before we set down in the first location - this may not be a long time - maybe only 2 hours -but it can help upon arrival. They will dim the lights and keep things quiet which is the clue to sleep.

Choosing your seat - if you can - will help with the trip. Not near the kitchen or bathrooms would be my advice.

Think about ways to keep yourself busy when you are sleeping or watching. I like to bring a book to fill in the parts where there is nothing else to do.

In terms of traveling alone - if you have done CA 5 hours then its just double that. A long time to sit in an airplane but a pretty passive experience. I actually enjoy the downtime of flight where nothing is expected of me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get some good snacks, good headphones (i have noise canceling blue tooth and also some cheap ones to plug in to their entertainment system), download some books and movies, and wear comfy clothes. If I'm flying solo on long flights, I prefer aisle seats so I can easily get uoyto bathroom or stretch without worrying about disrupting someome else.

All of this except I prefer window seats so I can sleep for stretches without other people asking me to get up from my aisle seat so I can go to the bathroom. And bring layers because planes can be hot or cold (or both at different times).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It is coach. Turkish Airlines.

Sure I can just deal. It’s just a conversation piece. Geez.

I know. I never understand why people come on to an Internet forum which is meant to facilitate discussion and then are rude to people who post. It's the whole point, and no one is required to read a thread.

Most of the time I agree with you. But some of the questions people post could be answered with a 5 second google (like another Travel post on what cities in Mexico you could fly to directly from DC) and others are so general that you would get meaningless answers (today's post on the college forum--what do you think of Dartmouth college). This post wasn't that bad, but OP could have googled and found similar answers in under one minute.

[Anonymous]

Ooof Coach in Turkish Airlines? Bring some imodium.

[Anonymous]

Make sure you stay hydrated. Bring your own water. Avoid alcohol or soda. Do drink tomato juice. There's something about the pressurized cabin that depletes certain vitamins and tomato juice replenishes them. You'll probably find a better meal at the airport than you will in economy class. So count on eating before the flight, and bring a few snacks to get you to the breakfast service. I prefer a window seat for the long overnight flights. Better for sleeping. Plus it's fun to look out the window when you're traveling to a new country. Also bring good reading material - trashy page turner is good for the long flights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if you have the room, but I used this neck pillow (turned sideways so the opening is opposite where my head rested) and actually was able to doze on a flight.

https://www.target.com/p/travel-neck-pillow-gray---open-story--8482-/-/A-86391411

I am not able to follow directions. What do you mean? I'm trying to picture it, and can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks all!! Should I buy plug in headphones to use the in flight system? Or do they provide that?

Maybe download some Netflix movies to your device in case you don't like what's in offer.

[Anonymous]

I got deep vein thrombosis so now I have to get an aisle seat, drink lots of water, get up every hour (see water consumption!) and wear compression hose. No alcohol. Tl

Take an empty bottle through TSA then fill it up by the gate before you get on the plane. Try to only drink bottled water on the plane not the stuff that comes from their water tanks (germy). Take an eye mask and ears plugs in case you are near a baby.

Particularly on the way there consider wearing a mask - you don't want to get a cold or worse for your vacation.

Don't take any sleeping pills else you might end up with my problems.

Order a special meal - kosher, low sodium, vegan or something, because they will probably serve you with the first group. That's useful if you're at the back of the plane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flying 10 hours followed by a 2 hour layover, then 5 more hours. Furthest I’ve flown is 5 hours to California. I am also flying without DH, who is my comfort during flights. Any tips / advice for me?

Personal water bottle (fill at airport); compression socks; music or audio book; whatever you need to help you sleep (valium etc)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Comfortable clothing. Lululemon align leggings are my go to.

Shoes that easily slip on and off.

Layers of clothing it case it is cold or hot. I almost froze to death on a flight to Maui.

Eye cover to block out light, earplugs to block out noise.

Download some movies in case the in flight wifi/movie don't' work.

It's really not that bad. We have flown coach to Asia a few times and lived to tell I know DCUM will insist it is not possible to fly anything but business that far, but us mortals have to make compromises.

came here to say the same thing! Align legging are the best for travel.

Also agree with a good eye mask and earplugs.
I like some sort of neck pillow, but have yet to find the perfect one.

Always download movies as the inflight ones/wifi may go out.
body wipes- I love the Hustle clean ones (previously Body Pill)
toothbrush
Warm clothing- I almost froze to death on a flight to hawaii.