1st transatlantic flight- what can you not do without
 

My daughter, age 17, and I will be flying from Memphis to Amsterdam. This will be our first flight to Europe and we have never been on a plane longer than 5 hours. What would you consider a "must" for such a long flight, and what do you consider trivial. Have thought about Nyquil, earplugs, pillow, food, earphones, but don't know if I will need all that. Appreciate any advice.

travel pillow, book(s) and saline spray for my nose. My sinuses get really dried out when I fly and I used to end up with colds or sinus infections - but no more! Have a fun trip!

Things I cannot do without on the trans-Atlantic flight:

1. Neck pillow (mine is inflatable)
2. Warm sweater or pashmina; warm socks (I'm always cold even with the airline blanket)
3. Bottled water
4. Refreshing wet napkins to clean my face/hands
5. Eyemask
6. Books/magazines
7. Travel Scrabble (obviously, only if I'm traveling with someone)

If you have a window seat you can always rest your head against the wall to sleep. Otherwise you would have to have a travel pillow to sleep. They will feed you decent food I guess...and flood you with beverages. I would make sure I had with me...

-travel pillow
-bottled water
-headache meds
-anti-bacterial hand gel
-something good to read, maybe a book you can get lost in and read for hours
-something to cover up with if it gets chilly
-journal to write in?
-portable music device (SAVED me on my last 10 hour flight from Holland to Texas)

p.s. One thing I like about all the transatlantic flights I have been on are that they had these lcd's on the head rest in front of me and I could choose what movies I wanted to watch. They also had tv shows to watch. They only had a few movies to choose from but there was enough variety to keep me occupied for at least half of the total flight time. The rest of the time I slept and read my book. I flew on Continental and Virgin Atlantic.

-travel sock/slipper
-eyemask, earplugs
-warm layered LOOSE clothes.
-small makeup kit
-chapstick,
-water and a few yummy snacks. ( have not been able to eat more than a few bites of recent airline dinners.)
-book, magazine

Hi ru,

The air on a plane is rather dry. My Lady Wife brings Vicks to put in her nose.

Drink a lot of water.

Get out of your seat and walk around at least every hour, if you are not asleep.

I go in the back and do exercises.

((I))

depending the airlines some transatlantic carriers give you pillow, blanket, earphones, eyemask, and headphones, free of charge (you might ask before you pack all that up).

while they do feed you, i would never travel without a few of my own snacks (cookies, nuts, granola bar). meal service isn't always timed for when you are in the mood.

i don't use earplugs but rather keep the headphones on tuned into a soft music channel to drown out the noise, but they aren't a bad idea.

i *have* to have reading material, nothing heavy but a paperback mystery and a magazine or two.

actually my one most important "must" is to get your seat assignment in advance so you don't end up squished in the middle of a row!!!!!

A really gripping book

Saline spray

Eye moisturizer and Visine

Clean underwear and socks in case the luggage doesn't make it

Travel journal (I like to get started on the plane)

My travel pouch that I keep my passport, train tickets, auto rental vouchers, etc. in (because I have to compulsively re-check everything a few times before de-boarding)

A tremendous sense of anticipation....

Lots of good advice here, including the advice to have some clothing or blanket layers to use if the plane's chilly.

Just as important may be the necessity to keep cool, or at least as cool as is possible in the event that you encounter turbulence (feeling hot and confined can worsen the nausea) or the plane has to sit on the runway for a long time (generally with suboptimal ventilation).

I wear a camisole under a blouse or sweater so that I can take off the outer layer if necessary (and I've found it necessary more than once). The camisole's also more comfortable than a bra for sleeping.

My list is similar to everyone elses:

Ambien (a must for me; I fall right asleep and am actually able to stay awake the day I arrive)
Lip balm, facial Moisturizer and lotion
Good neck pillow
I-Pod
Books and magazines
Slipper socks
Ear plugs
Bottled water
Hair brush or comb

Definitely wear loose-fitting clothes. You will be much more comfortable.

Tracy

yk - You should try Air France to Europe. They:

- like the cabin warm
- provide eye shade
- leave bottled water and orange juice out near the center galley
- have a wet-nap in the amenities kit
- provide newspaper at gate, and seem to have quite a few magazines (I didn't check titles) on board

As for myself, the thing <b>I cannot do without</b> is my iPod (currently the iPod nano) and a good noise cancelling/isolating headphones (currently Shure E4c). You can take away everything from me, but not my iPod and good headphones.

Comfy shoes, a good book (preferably based in the destination country), toothbrush/toothpaste, Listerine strips (close quarters in coach), bottled water, and the free wine (aids with sleeping).

Hi
Comfortable clothes, shoes or slippers, feet swell on long flights. The other items that people have mentioned. I also bring along Ambien, as the flight will be many hours. Whatever sleep you can get is worth it. Enjoy your trip.

Active noise-canceling headphones. They're engineered to neutralize low frequency noise like jet engines, so turning them on is like entering a Cone of Silence.

You can either play your CD or MP3 player, or jack into the aircraft system to listen to the canned entertainment. With no input at all, they're like earplugs.

I think the Sennheiser HDC451 I got for $100 at Amazon compare favorably with Bose.

iPAQ (Pocket computer with books, games, music, movies)
Inflatable neck pillow.
Sleep mask.
I rely on the airline to provide food and (yes, even bottled spring) water.

I MUST have a good, juicy mystery novel. I also have at least a change of clothes and my kit bag in carry-on luggage. (The airlines invariably lose my luggage. Lately, we have just taken carry-ons, even to Europe.) I can do without the drugs, pillow etc., as I never sleep on transatlantic flights.

I find that I do not need anything that I bring with me on board. Water is important but is supplied by my usual airline. Something to read often useful but between the movies, looking out the window, eating, talking to my travel companion or other passengers the time goes by just fine. I usually do bring a water bottle and some snacks just in case. The sleep aids are not relevant to me because I fly by day.

Agree with posts above. Would also recommend tissues as my nose always runs!! Certainly wear loose clothing, layers, socks and comfy adjustable shoes, ie laces or buckles in case your feet swell a bit. Most things have been covered so won't repeat them.

I like to bring a cuticle pusher, cuticle cream, and a nail file. Heavy hand cream is nice too - fragrance-free, of course. With all that time, it is the perfect opportunity to give my hands some extra attention :)

Here is something to think about: the airplane pillows are so small, I always lose them in my sleep, then some kind soul would give them back to me thinking they're doing good, when actually they wake me up!

Now I bring a rolled-up pillow which I blow up making it as soft or as hard as needed, and at the end of the flight I let the air out, so it doesn't take up much space in the carry-on.

And of course snacks and water! Also a list of exercises for me - my feet tend to swell.

Any pills I may need during the trip are in the carry-on, I don't check them.

Faina, maybe I was the &quot;kind soul&quot; sitting behind you. I seem to always be sitting behind people who put their pillow under a shoulder or elbow so that the pillow falls out and falls onto my legs. Since there's barely enough room for my legs back there, I don't want that pillow there as well. Not to mention the times that the pillow landing on me has awakened me, and my first impulse is to push it back from whence it came. So kindness has nothing to do with it! :-)

As long as I'm here...the OP mentioned Nyquil, which I never use on a plane because it contains an antihistamine, which dehydrates you further in addition to the dry plane air.

A 17 year old:

Bottle of water
Snack
iPod
Portable DVD palyer and movies
Good book

That's it!

a book, inflateable pillow, eye-mask..and airbourne! I often get sick from planes, so when I went to Spain this dec. I was determined not to, and, I don't know if it for sure worked - but I didn't get sick!

depends on if i am flying by day or by night. if it's an overnight flight i use an anti-anxiety or sleep prescription in an attempt to get some rest (which helps minimize jet lag)

Question? How do your daughter and you spend (kill) time when you are together. Can you play chess? Learn a bit of language. Read about Holland? Knit? Daughter, schoolwork (reading assignments). Best, sleep!

KT, so sorry about waking you up, to avoid such mishaps in the future, please always choose window seats as I go for aisles ;)

Once in a while I bring eye shades, but most of the time I travel without special aids. A sweater or a jacket is essential though as it does get cold.

I take off my shoes as soon as I get on the plane, and that's about it.

Maybe I'm just good at roughing things out. :-)

The nose spray; bottled water (can use on my face and in my eyes as moisturizer) and I like to drag on the travel guides I've chosen. Usually, on the way over is when I settle down on my proposed agenda...what museum's are open what days...settle on my &quot;want to try this&quot; restaurant recommendations, that sort of thing. I'm usually just plain too excited to sleep anyway..adrenalin rush!

I see rucrazy has not been back on this post -- but what 17 year old is going to use nose spray, anti-anxiety medicine, sleeping pills, slippers or eye shades (really not cool!)??? Most 17 year olds can fall asleep ANYWHERE at anytime. I just think most of us forgot this is a teenager - not a burned out adult. :)

...and the number 1 thing to bring on a transatlantic fight is...(drum roll please)... A Business Xlass Upgrade!

rucrazy is the teen's MOTHER. Or maybe father... anyway, a teenager's parent needs all the comforts they can get.

Even if rucrazy never looks at this, I found it helpful. I have an inflatable neck pillow, but now I'm thinking about getting a regular pillow that is inflatable.

Wliwl, believe me, any mom or dad of a teenager need help! All they can get! :)

Especially on a plane where you can't just walk away and shut the door!

I second (third? fourth?) the suggestions for:

BIG bottle of water
chapstick
small tube of moisturizer for face
good book
eyeglasses (if you wear contacts -- you want to be able to see, especially if you have a window seat, but contacts tend to get all dry and sticky)

I got stuck on a trans-Atlantic flight once without my own bottle of water, and even with beverage service, it was miserable.

I would make sure you have a working pen somewhere on you to fill out the customs forms that they give you before you land. I usually also take a travel toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste so I can &quot;freshen up&quot; before landing (I use the bottled water to brush my teeth -- I don't think the airplane bathroom water is potable). Also, remember to stand up every once in a while and walk around. It keeps your legs from getting too stiff and lessens the risk of deep-vein thrombosis.

I'm never able to sleep on the way over; it's way too exciting. It's a good idea to try, but if you can't, just remember to stay up until at least 8 or 9pm local time to help combat jet lag.

Have fun!

Linds

She will definitely need to sleep on the flight over and then stay awake once she arrives until it's bedtime according to the &quot;new&quot; time zone.

I've never had a problem getting something to drink on a flight.

But what I cannot do without: Passport, tickets, credit card, clothes, eyeglasses, Mrs. Fly.

What I can do without but usually take onto the plane: saline nose spray; chocolate; crossword puzzles; prescribed medications.

After dumping an entire (full) glass of ginger ale in my lap during the first beverage service of an international flight, I always bring an extra change of clothes in my carry-on bag. And after having an entire iced tea dumped on his lap by a fellow (not me) passenger, my hubby concurs.

I also wear those travel band things on my wrist to help me endure turbulence.

And, in &quot;too much information&quot; category, I have recently discovered that taking two gas-x pills before a long flight significantly reduce the stomach cramps that plague me on long flights. :)

I always bring earplugs and I have never once used them.

Been reading this everyday and appreciate all the helpful hints. My daughter has no trouble falling asleep, but I do. Thank you all again.

Way Too Much More Information - any gases in your body will expand as the cabin pressure is reduced to about 9,000 feet at cruise altitude. Probably the best antidote is to not consume anything gas-producing in the day before you take off.

I would suggest some sort of padding for the seat armrests. I use 3/4 inch dense foam pipe wrap (Home Depot, etc) cut into 1 1/2 foot lengths. Ugly but works wonders. Take an extra one to share with seat mate.