CU

In relation to language I have been in four european countries this year and I have brought a phrase book relative to the counry and I usually point out what I wanted and it really helped.

Desert_Sue

I've flown Delta Coach many times (once for a 2 day business meeting) and have developed a method that results in absolutely no jet lag. I get an Ambien from my doctor. I take half after I eat my dinner on the plane and sleep the whole way there. I stay up until 10 pm that night, and then I take the other half and get a good night's sleep.

On the flight, I wear comfortable clothes and a jacket or sweater, and put a pashmina and pair of socks in my purse. I have my own neck pillow and eye shades. Get a window seat so no one will bother you.

On the way home, I stay up the entire flight watching every movie and go to bed at my usual hour at home. I may take another half Ambien if I think I'll have trouble. The next day I'm back at work.

It's a sweatshop in Coach, but I've found that in every airline. British Airways is the worst I've experienced. American used to be great, but it's cramped now as well.

Sarah

you are funny desert sue "sweatshop in coach".

wheretonext

i have only come back from vertually my first overseas trip. i suffered badly when landing from ear troubles., but in my last few trips i made sure i took a hayfever tablet every day for the three before i flew. no problems. also a good idea to have eucolyptus or lavendar to smell and clear your sinuses. they used to give out small sheets of nose clearing wipes on domestic flights here in aus. dont know if they do over there. westjet(canada ) and hawaii air did not. that is how i got trapped on way over. have fun. dont count on being able to hear see or enjoy the movies. i found i couldnt concentrate or hear them most times. perhaps the airline hires individual tvs. that happened for me. good bet adn time consumer.

momc

my allergist recommends buying a generic over tne counter nasal decongestant. Skurt once in each nostril on the way up and again when the initial descent is announced. Works wonders. Travelling with tots---have them drink their bottle on way up and way down--it will equalize pressure. The tube from their ears to their noses is straight--really hurts.
Relaxing music does help. There will be many on board so very excited about their destinations--as well they shoud be. What waits in Europe is wonderful.

travelphile

Slogdog - for your ears, what the last poster said is dead on. I have a tube in my ear and my doctor taught me to use Afrin (or any other nasal spray) 1/2 hour before landing. It dries out your nasal passages a bit, but is WONDERFUL for your ears, you will have no pressure. For my overseas flight in 11 days ))I will take it when we take off, as Doc told me the pressure builds over time on a long flight.

Enjoy!! (and bring the spray with you, not worth paying $8 in the airport for it!)

wally34949

Bring those $5 bills along because alcohol is $5 on all American carriers across the Atlantic Ocean. But at least they give 100% of the Frequent Flyer miles--unlike BA.

Delta uses a projection TV at the front of the coach cabin on all of their 767's. It should put you to sleep.

William

Just returned yesterday on Delta MAD-ATL. To reiterate, transatlantic coach on any airline is uncomfortable & Delta is on par with others. There was more legroom on the inter-city buses in Spain than on DL transatlantic. Food portions are small, bring snacks. Plane was painfully cold - take a sweater & socks. Also bring water as the pressurized cabin is very dry.

As for the entertainment, outbound is a movie & then a couple of hours of misc t.v. shows. Return is two movies & two hours of t.v. Shows are typically a news magazine, a sitcom rerun (ex. Frasier), a cartoon, & a home & garden type program.

Alcohol is 5 dollars or 5 euros, but headphones are still free.

Enjoy Sevilla!

st2327

Earplanes are great and I wouldn't fly with out them. Enjoy!

tuckerdc

Schmear a little Vaseline in your nostrils! Our recent 4-days in London turned out to be just 1....AFTER I came down with a lousy, lousy cold that basically ruined the rest of our stay. Not the first time for me after a trans-atlantic flight.

All that in-flight dehydration dries out all the mucus, the purpose of which is to.....fight off infection!!

Also...any meds or anti-histamines you might be thinking of taking....buy before your leave the States. I relied on an OTC cold med in the UK - and damned near died from a reaction (throat totaled velcro-ed up; couldn't get a smidgen of air...).

I'm always "nickel-and-diming" when I pack and thinking..."oh for heaven sakes, I won't need THIS!" - to save, what? - two inches of space for a couple of American-brand pills? (Not cuz they're 'better,' lord knows...just that it's what our systems are used to.) Never again. I'm travelling with a mini-medicine selection of anything I can think of...