FainaAgain

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.

KT

Faina, maybe I was the "kind soul" 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.

wliwl

A 17 year old:

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

That's it!

chanad

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!

suze

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)

GSteed

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!

FainaAgain

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

111op

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.

SuzieC

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 "want to try this" restaurant recommendations, that sort of thing. I'm usually just plain too excited to sleep anyway..adrenalin rush!

wliwl

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.

altajoe

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

tuscanlifeedit

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.

FainaAgain

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!

Linds

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 "freshen up" 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

Globerunner09

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

RufusTFirefly

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.

beanweb24

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 "too much information" 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.

rucrazy

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

Robespierre

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.

jabarat

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.