I am flying to Australia on Air New Zealand on Wednesday leaving LAX at 10:15 PM and arriving in Sydney at 6:05 AM. Do any of you have suggestions for making the flight more tolerable? Have you flown Air New Zealand on this route. What is the typical flight schedule as far as meals, movies, etc. go?<BR><BR>TIA,<BR>Paula

<BR>I have taken this flight several times. I believe it goes: meal, movie, movie, movie, meal, News show. There may be another meal or snack thrown in there somewhere.<BR><BR>Here are some tips that work for me:<BR><BR>*During the week before I leave from the US, I try to wake up earlier every morning &amp; go to sleep earlier every evening. This really helps with the ultimate goal of getting as much sleep as possible on the flight, thus being rested when you arrive in Oz.<BR><BR>*On the day of the flight, try to do a lot of walking/exercise because<BR>you will be sitting for a long time. Drink a lot of water. Eat a good,<BR>light dinner before you go to the airport.<BR><BR>*Once on board (assuming that you're in coach/economy), look around you<BR>for rows of empty seats that you can switch to once the doors close but<BR>before you take off. If you can score a row of 3-4 seats, you can lay down, which is a godsend.<BR><BR>*Drink as much water and as little alcohol as possible on the flight. I do not subscribe to sleeping pills either.<BR><BR>*Try to get up and walk up and down the aisles a several times during the flight to keep the circulation going.<BR><BR>*Try to go to sleep as soon as possible once you take off. This should be made easier by the fact that your plane leaves in the late evening. I try not to watch more than the first film. Although you will be excited for your trip, try to read &amp; relax &amp; sleep.<BR><BR>Hope this helps -- have a great trip!<BR>

Paula: <BR>Have flown this flight several times as well, though on Qantas. While scurry's advice is well intentioned, nothing much really helps. The very first time I sought and followed advice. To no avail. My advice to you, get ready to do what you do to pass the time when you're really bored. Read, nap, watch movies, listen to music, eat. I did find though on subsequent flights, that they were not as bad as that initial flight. Don't ask why, maybe because I knew what was coming.<BR>The next time you might try departing LAX at 12:50pm arriving SYD at 9:40pm. This has the advantage of mostly daylight while en route and arriving at bedtime. Works for me.<BR>P.S. I have flown Air NZ while in Australia and New Zealand many times and was pleased with their operation. <BR>You're going to love Australia.<BR>John<BR>

Just got back from Australia on Qantas. Going over, while boring (we saw 5 movies each way) wasn`t too bad. We got to our hotel and went to bed and the next day we were raring to go. Coming back was another story. I was totally wiped out, and it took a good week to get over it. Yes, you will love Australia.

Nothing makes the flight bearable.<BR>Have an aisle seat - then you can get up and walk around more easily.<BR>These days there is no hope of getting 3 seats in a row to stretch out on. The last few seats at the rear of the aircraft on the sides, MAY have a bit more space.<BR>On arrival, try to get a lot of exercise as soon as possible.<BR>And fit into the normal time routine of your destination - maybe just sleep in the first morning to catch up on sleep.

We flew NYC-Singapore-Perth this year--about 24 air hours. My advise is to lighten up and relax. We watched movies, ate, read, and napped--generally turned into slugs. It just wasn't the nightmare I thought it was going to be( and we flew in the cheap seats). I have had much harder adjustments flying to Europe.Enjoy your trip!

We flew over on Air New Zealand last year. The flight was pretty good. We loved the foot rests and "wings" on the headrests.<BR>We left about the same time as you will be leaving. The first thing after we took off, they served dinner, which was great. There were several meals during the flight and also several movies. The one thing that we wished we would have brought with us was a large bottle of water for each. Stewards and Stewardess seem to disappear once they think you have settled in and most of the plane is sleeping, drinking water really helps on these long flights.<BR>Another thing you might find is that Air New Zealand was "hot towel crazy", after the plane starts to wake up, they bring hot towels around on a regular basis to freshin up. That was great.<BR>Try and get some sleep while on the plane, a couple of Tylenol PM's really helped us. Take them when the plane first takes off, then shortly after dinner and your first movie (if you get through the whole thing) you can catch 6-8 hours and then before you know it you will be landing.<BR>If you can manage staying up the first day and walking around, it will help.<BR>Have a great trip, we love that country.<BR>Toto

We flew over on Air New Zealand last year. The flight was pretty good. We loved the foot rests and "wings" on the headrests.<BR>We left about the same time as you will be leaving. The first thing after we took off, they served dinner, which was great. There were several meals during the flight and also several movies. The one thing that we wished we would have brought with us was a large bottle of water for each. Stewards and Stewardess seem to disappear once they think you have settled in and most of the plane is sleeping, drinking water really helps on these long flights.<BR>Another thing you might find is that Air New Zealand was "hot towel crazy", after the plane starts to wake up, they bring hot towels around on a regular basis to freshin up. That was great.<BR>Try and get some sleep while on the plane, a couple of Tylenol PM's really helped us. Take them when the plane first takes off, then shortly after dinner and your first movie (if you get through the whole thing) you can catch 6-8 hours and then before you know it you will be landing.<BR>If you can manage staying up the first day and walking around, it will help.<BR>Have a great trip, we love that country.<BR>Toto

My doctor also told me to take a few aspirin the day before, of and after the flight to thin your blood out to deter deep vein thrombosis, or "economy class syndrome."

Paula - Did thr same route on Quatas, the meal, movie, movie, movie, movie, meal/snack was our routine, found empty middle rows in the back of the bus and got some sleep, highly recommend sleep on the plane and then jump right into the local schedule as soon as possible. LOVED Australia <BR>

I just bought a Gameboy and some casino and other games from Ebay.com for my trip. Hoping it will help a little bit with the boredom!

Just came back last week! <BR> <BR>Check Air New Zealand's website for the movies and it may also have meals. <BR> <BR>FYI - 2 adults and 2 kids (7 yrs & 10 yrs)- we all slept 8-10 hours each way

Some rules we follow: <BR> <BR>1) Getplenty of exercise int he airport before boarding the plane. <BR> <BR>2) Try to locate a seat with an seat or two next to you - best done after the door closes but before the plane takes off. Move before takeoff. <BR> <BR>3)Drink lots of water, not much alcohol. If you party on the plane you will pay when you land. <BR> <BR>4)Hibernate. If you are not sleepy or tired, sit back and force yourself to relax - even to the edge of sleep. You may not sleep but you will rest. <BR> <BR>5) Eat when you are hungry, not when they serve you. Meals are a way of keeping you from getting bored and moving around the cabin. Rest is better. <BR> <BR>And, as someone previous has said, if you can start adjusting yourself to the destination time a week or so before departure - a luxury most of us aren't allowed - that will help a day or two after your arrival.

Bring some comfortable clothes to change into. My wife and I flew to Asia from NY last year and changed about an hour into the flight into very comfortable cotton, drawstring pants. <BR>Also, bring a large bottle of water on board with you.