Tips for my first long flight

[Anonymous]

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

+1 to compression socks if you are on birth control.

[Anonymous]

Lots of good advice here. I’ve done a couple ultra long flights- 12+ hours and if I’m being honest, it’s pretty miserable. For me, I have to get an aisle seat. While I like the view from window seats, I get too claustrophobic in them and much prefer an aisle seat. The seatback entertainment system will have tons of tv and movie options, but still a good idea to download your own on case your seatback tv isn’t working.

I have never slept on a flight and don’t even try anymore. The long flights to Asia are easier on my system than trips to Europe. In Asia, at least times I’ve gone, you arrive around dinner time and it’s bedtime soon enough. Landing in Europe is rougher since you arrive in the morning, and have to slog through a whole day on no sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of good advice here. I’ve done a couple ultra long flights- 12+ hours and if I’m being honest, it’s pretty miserable. For me, I have to get an aisle seat. While I like the view from window seats, I get too claustrophobic in them and much prefer an aisle seat. The seatback entertainment system will have tons of tv and movie options, but still a good idea to download your own on case your seatback tv isn’t working.

I have never slept on a flight and don’t even try anymore. The long flights to Asia are easier on my system than trips to Europe. In Asia, at least times I’ve gone, you arrive around dinner time and it’s bedtime soon enough. Landing in Europe is rougher since you arrive in the morning, and have to slog through a whole day on no sleep.

The Europe flights are significantly shorter, though, unless you live on the West coast. About the furthest you can go in Europe is Athens, which is 10 hours. Asia is 12 hours minimum, probably more like 14.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of good advice here. I’ve done a couple ultra long flights- 12+ hours and if I’m being honest, it’s pretty miserable. For me, I have to get an aisle seat. While I like the view from window seats, I get too claustrophobic in them and much prefer an aisle seat. The seatback entertainment system will have tons of tv and movie options, but still a good idea to download your own on case your seatback tv isn’t working.

I have never slept on a flight and don’t even try anymore. The long flights to Asia are easier on my system than trips to Europe. In Asia, at least times I’ve gone, you arrive around dinner time and it’s bedtime soon enough. Landing in Europe is rougher since you arrive in the morning, and have to slog through a whole day on no sleep.

The Europe flights are significantly shorter, though, unless you live on the West coast. About the furthest you can go in Europe is Athens, which is 10 hours. Asia is 12 hours minimum, probably more like 14.

From the East coast, that is.

[Anonymous]

The crew will try structure your time. Takeoff, beverages, meal, night night.

Then the wake you up, breakfast and deplane. For downtime , read, work or watch a movie.

You can do it. Many professionals do it multiple times a week, without a comfort companion .

If you are not very young, you are overly dependent on your spouse. Come on. Show your daughters women are as capable as men (and as grown up).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of good advice here. I’ve done a couple ultra long flights- 12+ hours and if I’m being honest, it’s pretty miserable. For me, I have to get an aisle seat. While I like the view from window seats, I get too claustrophobic in them and much prefer an aisle seat. The seatback entertainment system will have tons of tv and movie options, but still a good idea to download your own on case your seatback tv isn’t working.

I have never slept on a flight and don’t even try anymore. The long flights to Asia are easier on my system than trips to Europe. In Asia, at least times I’ve gone, you arrive around dinner time and it’s bedtime soon enough. Landing in Europe is rougher since you arrive in the morning, and have to slog through a whole day on no sleep.

The Europe flights are significantly shorter, though, unless you live on the West coast. About the furthest you can go in Europe is Athens, which is 10 hours. Asia is 12 hours minimum, probably more like 14.

PP, here. Yes, Europe flights are shorter, but the jet lag/recovery is worse for me due to the AM arrival. I’ve only been on a couple flights to Asia, and while they were brutally long flights, the early evening arrival was much more agreeable. One of my return flights from Asia landed at Dulles at 10am- that was a rough day too.

[Anonymous]

If you really want to sleep, get some drugs. Otherwise, you nap, wake up, nap some more and feel like crap when you arrive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you really want to sleep, get some drugs. Otherwise, you nap, wake up, nap some more and feel like crap when you arrive.

I tried sleep drugs and alcohol- probably not recommended, and still couldn’t sleep on a 13-hour flight to the Middle East.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you really want to sleep, get some drugs. Otherwise, you nap, wake up, nap some more and feel like crap when you arrive.

I tried sleep drugs and alcohol- probably not recommended, and still couldn’t sleep on a 13-hour flight to the Middle East.

Yeah, I can never sleep—booze, Ambien, melatonin—nothing works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is so lame. You're an adult. Can't you just ... deal? Figure it out.

Bit harsh. They’re just asking for recommendations. What is wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

I got over my extreme fear of flying and then the pandemic (and not flying regularly) brought it back so hard I had to talk to a therapist and get meds (basically strong Benadryl) and I’m still a mess it sucks because I had really come out on the other side from my issues with flying.

Apart from that, I have to wear compression stockings (blood clotting condition, have had DVT’s), download media/music, Bluetooth earphones plus old plug-in’s for the plane system, snacks, empty insulated bottle and I grab ice and ask for a water fill up at coffee shop after security, neck pillow, scarf, Birkenstocks (easy on/off), loose leg bottoms or a long flowy cotton dress (can’t wear leggings or skinny jeans because I need to get my compression stockings on/off fast), tums/hand sanitizer/antibacterial wipes/ facemask/lotion/skincare/deodorant/eye drops and such in my backpack. I also travel with an Away carry on always. I’d rather do laundry in Japan twice for a two week trip than check luggage and have it go lost. Happened to me twice and it sucked. I’m a packing pro.