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Hints needed for making a 10 hour plus flight more comfortable?

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Hints needed for making a 10 hour plus flight more comfortable?

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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 08:25 AM
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Hints needed for making a 10 hour plus flight more comfortable?

Any suggestions for flying economy class that make it a bit more comfortable to survive 10 hours in the air? Thanks.
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 08:32 AM
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A good book, patience, and a neck pillow are all I need.
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 08:35 AM
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AISLE seat! Bring a cheap jr.-sized pillow that you can abandon on the plane. I found a $5 one at WalMart called child's first pillow or somesuch. My attemts at gettng emergency row seats (lots of leg room) have been thwarted. "Oh yes, that is an emergency row seat" says the person on the phone. Then it isn't. Also it is hard for my husband to hide his cane.
Ambien.
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 08:36 AM
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...Anything to keep you hydrated such as lots of nonalcholic liquids and saline spray.
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 08:52 AM
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Oops! No, don't <i>drink</i> the saline spray! Drink the liquids and use the spray to hydrate your nasal passages. quot;&gt;
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 09:06 AM
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We have a tiny travel chess/checkers game that I will bring out on longer flights to keep my mind off the minute hand on my watch. Also a deck of cards for Solitaire.
I get airsick if I read so those movies on the plane can be terrible but I will watch them anyway.
Bring your own shawl/pashmina for a wrap instead of the icky airline blankets and the suggestion of a childs pillow is great!
I must admit, I take a mild tranquilizer for the anxiety of the flight but have never taken a sleeping pill for fear of ruining my first day there..but it is appealing when the flight is SO long~
Where are you flying to?
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 10:18 AM
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Flying to London and then onto France. I,too avoid the icky blankets and on-flght pillows. ( I read somewhere they are changed very INfrequently!) I like the idea of buying an inexpensive pillow. I just wonder if I can squeeze it into my carryon. Some good suggestions. (Perhaps, I should not wear a watch, but then I'd be asking everyone around me the time! It's so hard not to keep looking at it and thinking that there are still 7hours and 45 minutes to go!) Thanks.
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 11:41 AM
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I agree with taking a really great book. If it's a page turner then time will literally fly quickly.
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 02:27 PM
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Oh, music, of course. I have a hard time reading on a plane.. I bring a cassette player that also has a radio in it. I listen to tapes on the plane (or the train), and the radio in my hotel room. Buy the type that has a dial for the radio. It makes it easier to find local radio stations (versus push buttons.)
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 02:33 PM
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A good book of short stories. It can be hard to concentrate on a plane and you will be frequently distracted, so short stories while way the hours without requiring too much memory power.
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 02:45 PM
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I wished that I had a magic wand everytime I flew to Europe..It would make my life much easier..

I read, watch movies, play solitaire, have some wine, try to walk up and down the aisles while the Lucky one are snorings, getting bored etc...,

I keep telling myself that everything pass in life and this long flight will end soon..mostly I make the best of a non comfortable situation..
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 02:53 PM
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Does no one else bring along a book of anacrostic puzzles to solve? Definitely keeps my sis and I entertained for a big chunk of time.
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 03:20 PM
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1. Book/magazines
2. IPod
3. Scrabble/solitaire for PDA
4. Cards and cribbage
5. Vaseline
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 03:24 PM
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Shop for flights with advanced entertainment options - personal screens, all that. British Air 744s, for example, have several movies, games, TV... more than enough visual distraction for an intercontinental flt.
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 03:28 PM
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Ear plugs
Travel-size pillow with a cotton case - down compresses easier for packing in my tote.
Pashmina
Valerian tablets to help me sleep; also some lavender oil (don't use so much that it bothers your neighbours)
water
magazines
Good book with lots left to read so I don't finish it too soon!!
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 03:29 PM
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pillow talk-
&gt;&gt;I just wonder if I can squeeze it into my carryon. &lt;&lt;
Yes. Mine squished up so well, I still have it. Waiting for the next trip.
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Old Jul 17th, 2004 | 03:34 PM
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Pace yourself... Magazines, meals, a book, beverages, movies, music. The BA planes with the seatback screens are a lifesaver for me (who can't sleep on a flight). I watch all 3 movies, use the headphones for music to filter out sound, don the eyeshades, spritz myself with water, walk around the cabin when permissable, visit the bathroom often. I dress very comfortably in stretchy knit clothes. I bring some snacks of my own. I use a prescription from my doctor for Valium.

Your plan might not be the same as mine, but it definitely helps to have one. If you think a watch is bad... don't tune into the map that shows how far your flight has gone, until it's close to the end. And if you do wear a watch, set it for your destination time mid-flight and don't look back!
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Old Jul 18th, 2004 | 01:17 AM
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Having just got off a 22 hour flight from London to Melbourne this morning (now trying to stay awake until night time), I would agree with all of what Suze says, and add to that - avoid alcohol &amp; caffeine, and don't eat too much before the flight - much kinder on the digestive system.
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Old Jul 18th, 2004 | 08:26 AM
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Suze, I was just kidding about the watch. I could not bear to be without one. The problem is resisting the urge to look at it constantly! I do set my watch forward for the new time which confuses me about how long I've been up in the air. I think having lots of things to do, several books, magazines, cards, games,a pillow and a sleeping pill will all help. Thanks everyone.
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Old Jul 18th, 2004 | 08:33 AM
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neck pillow
water (several bottles)
saline spray
slippers
earplugs
book of short stories


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