julieann

My sisters and I are traveling nonstop from ORD to Rome in June. My one sister has seldom flown and only up to 3 hours. She gets nervous and ... I am looking for suggestions to make the flight more manageable for her. I have looked into sleep masks, (rick steves, magellan, etc.) and not sure about how well they work. Any other suggestons? Thanks.

crefloors

I assume you're flying economy? "Comfort" and economy just dn't work in the same sentence!!! LOL And to make matters worse, they usually make you walk through first and business class to get to YOUR seats!! Oh me, oh my.

To the question. Some will suggest "drugs" and some of those may work for your sister but certainly try them out at home to see what, if any the reaction is, before you take them on the plane. Lots of water...you can usually purchase water AFTER you have cleared security..I personally would suggest very little, if any alcohol, ESPECIALLY if she is "medicating".

She might try a sleep mask, taking a book...light reading of some sort or a couple of magazines. Watch the movies. Also, a pair of good earphones..move comfortable than those provided by the airline and will help shut out some of the cabin and engine noise. A small CD player with music of her choice.

My trips from the west coast are a minimun of 10 hours, a little over 11 to Paris and by the time we are an hour or so from landing I'm ready to scream!!! All I want to do is get the heck off that plane!!!!! Also, I HATE to fly, so thinking of the handsome reward I'm going to get at the end of this "torture session" known as a flight, helps me through it.

Were comfortable clothes, nothing pinching, squeezing, or binding. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and something that is easy to slip off but hopefully also easy to slip back on if her feet swell. Also be sure to get up and walk around a little, and stretch out her legs.

Christina

Sleep masks work perfectly to do what they are meant to do -- make it dark. Every international flight I've been on has provided those free, I'm pretty sure, but I do always carry one of my own anyway (I have about a zillion from previous flights). I do have one I bought that is more silky polyester and thus slightly more comfortable than the cotton ones you get on flights, so I take one of each. Ear plugs are also mandatory IMO (some airlines, like Air France, also provide those to everyone), to keep out the plane noise. Don't buy a big bulky type sleep mask -- I got one of those once by mistake, and threw it away as it was uncomfortable.

So, I would suggest carrying a sleep mask and ear plugs in your purse. The rest is more individual, and being comfortable is different from someone being nervous, I think. If she's really nervous a lot and has particular problems with that, I'd suggest she see her doctor or other healthcare professional who may treat her and get some tranquilizer for the trip. That sounds like a good idea if she has never flown that long before (that is a long trip to Rome) and is nervous.

i_am_leech

yes, i agree that ear plugs or noise-reducing head-phones are mandatory if you want to get to sleep on the plane. I can not sleep in the sitting position anyway but it helps to read comfortably. Also, I would take some food if permitted. Lately, airlines were cutting on the amount of food they serve so to be hungry will only add to the stress. ( once I flew with delta from moscow to atlanta non-stop, it's 11 hours, and they served only 2 (TWO!!!) meals, and breakfast wasn't even a meal it was a sandwich)

Rastaguytoday

You might also want to pick out your seats well in advance.

http:/www.seatguru.com is a great site to make sure you are less inconvenienced. My wife visits the restroom beaucoup times, so she gets the aisle.

Bring a deck of cards, a good book, any sleeping aids you can get from a doctor and be prepared to spend a lot of time doing nothing.

Eloise

Have her bring sockettes (a lot of airlines hand them out, but I take my own), so that when she does walk around she isn't doing it in her bare feet or nylons.

And read up on exercises that you can do in your seat to keep blood circulating. Again, some airline magazines have instructions, but it's probably better to get them ahead of time.

WallyKringen

Most airlines seats now have those flaps that you bend forward and lean against, they largely stop your head from rolling off the headrest when you doze off. So carrying a blow-up neck ring or cushion is no longer needed - one less thing to worry about.

Make sure your sister has warm feet after she takes her shoes off - sockettes etc are indeed a good idea. Encourage her to ignore the tv screen, those flickering images are counter to the need to relax and get into a "zone" - a semi-dozing state where time doesn't seem to matter and - more often than people will admit - actual sleep overcomes them.

Mostly it's a mind-over-matter thing - letting go, relaxing, dreaming of the vacation to come, thinking good thoughts about the reason why you're on your way, albeit a bit uncomfortably. If you're both awake, go over the list of places to visit, things to do, look forward, and when you get sleepy, give in.

The noise-cancelling headphones work against the constant drone of the aircraft, but not against loud conversations or baby tantrums, and dozing off with those things pressing against your ears is not comfortable. The good 24-decibel waxy earplugs that the pharmacy sections in grocery stores sell can help a lot, but get used to them before the trip, otherwise the novelty may be more distracting than helping.

Brazilnut

To avoid swelling of my legs I always wear stretch stockings. They make your legs feel relaxed and a lot better!

fishee

i don't get the sockette thing -- do you throw these away when the plane descends? Put them in the puke bag and then put it into your carry-on until you can throw them in a washing machine?

And everyone, please make sure you're not going to stink up the space when you slip off your shoes.

kerouac

When I read the requirements that some people have to counteract the discomfort of a 10-hour trip on a modern aircraft with toilets, meals and entertainment, it sounds like psychiatric treatment is in order -- or the American pioneer spirit has been lost forever.