How do you endure a 12hr flight?
 

What are some tips for making a long flight more comfortable?Food/Water/Sleep/Pharmaceuticals....help

Bring your own water and snacks, lay off the drugs, you'll feel bad later.

Isometrics (clenching, tensing, etc. muscles even if seated) and small-area exercises in the aisle or the lav (rise up on toes, knee bends, wall-pushups, etc.) make it possible to arrive not totally kinked up. <BR> <BR>Books and/or books on tape help pass the time, esp. if the movie is dumb. I sometimes search out comedy routines by stand-up comics for a change of pace. Mysteries pass the time, if they are truly suspenseful. <BR> <BR>Sleep but not all the time. <BR> <BR>No drugs. <BR> <BR>Crossword puzzles, even if you never do them at home. <BR> <BR>If you are even a little bit of a writer or sketcher, take a small notebook and start writing or sketching. <BR> <BR>

Reading material and Hydration. I agree, bring you own food. <BR> <BR>Good Luck

OK so that's two votes for no drugs. I just can't sleep on a plane and am looking at a flight coming up that puts me in London at noon. I don't want to waste the first day, since I'll only be there for 2 before moving on. And I don't want to be awake at 2 am and asleep again at 10 am. So please... how do I sleep? Any good tips?

I am also interested in sleep aids that do not have harsh effects after you wake. <BR>Thanks

jeff, If you want to try an otc sleep aid (like nytol, or melatonin, or whatever) try it at home a couple of times to see if it helps at all, and how you feel when you wake up. Water on the plane is a must. Eat your own food on your own schedule, so that they don't have to wake you if they're serving while you're sleeping. Set your watch to the current time at your destination--I find that helpful. <BR> <BR>Unless you are Superperson, I can't imagine arriving after an all-night flight and not feeling tired. Even if you are a good plane-sleeper, it's not as much, and not as good, sleep for most of us as sleeping in our jammies at home. <BR> <BR>Katherine, I try not to count my first day for any serious sightseeing or other commitments, but if you have to, then my advice is just keep moving. <BR>Drop your bags at your hotel, take a shower if your room is ready, but head right out again. I avoid museums on the first day--I just can't do most of them justice, unless it's a small and easy museum. Bus or boat tours make me sleepy--if they don't do that to you, then take a bus ride in London for an orientation, either one of the tourist buses, or a public bus. I take long walks, and/or do something that really interests me and that isn't entirely indoors. The Tower comes to mind.

Use your ff miles to upgrade to business class. Well worth it.

On our recent trip to Rome, my husband and I both ate the meal, then took tylenol PM. We were both out like a light and each got about 5 hours of sleep. When we woke up we felt fine and with all the adrenaline of being almost there, we were wide awake. We got to Rome at 9:00 am and we were able to make that first day a very full day with plnety of activity.

I´dd go for no drugs. If you start to feel your nose running dry, you can always buy in advance those sprays with sea water. <BR>Drink plenty of water, and do walk around once in a while and make some movements , again one in a while. <BR>Then...a good book, and some magazines are ok.

If traveling West-&gt;East, then sleep on the plane. Use whatever you can to knock yourself out. Skip the plane food, eat before you get on. This way you'll be drowsy right away (take a half dosage if you're overly sensitive to the nighttime sleep medications). Keep the water with you, and take off your shoes. Your feet swell during the flight. When you land, do some yoga and drink some juice. Vitamin supplements put a strain on your digestive system and can be unpleasant. I agree with observation about not going to museums right away. Walk about a bit, eat lightly, and go to be "reasonably" early the first day.

<BR>I am always amazed at those passengers I see in steerage <BR>who look as bright and shiny afer nine hours of torture as when they got on. <BR>No matter how <BR>close I shave before the flight it feels like I have three days worth of stubble when I stumble off. <BR>My clothes--usually nicely pressed and stainless on takeoff look like I had been living in them for a month---and because of the inhuman amount of space the seat offers I always manage to spill a drink on my pants (yeah you wouldnt want to sit near me) <BR>And then when we disembark I see these clean shaven men in neat as a pin clothes and women who look like they just stepped out of Helena Rubensteins <BR>How do they do it? <BR>AH

Did you ever notice how you never want to wear the clothes you flew in again!? <BR> <BR>Good tip on trying the sleep aid first to see how you feel afterwards. Anyone find melatonin helpful? I took a couple 4 years ago and am still waiting for them to kick in!

I'd vote against drugs - what happens if you have to get off the plane early for some reason? On a red eye the other night, the plane had to go back because of mechanical problems, all the heavily drugged people planning to be asleep had to get off the plane and get on another one about an hour later. It was a surly and drooling crowd. Can't imagine what would have happened if we would have needed to evacuate the plane in a hurry - people did NOT shake off the effects of their drugs quickly.

How to endure a 12hr flight? I'm in Sydney Australia - I wish my upcoming trip to Paris would take only 12 hours! <BR>It's going to take me 24 hours of flying time to get there, and the thought of enduring that is already making me feel ill! <BR>A word of advice to anyone planning on upgrading to Business Class for a one-off upgrade...if travelling Business Class is not going to become a regular future travelling event, consider not doing it at all. I was lucky enough to be upgraded to Business on a flight to Paris last year- absolute heaven. Fantastic food, chairs almost as good as a bed, luxury. The flight back was miserable. Back in cattle class, I felt like I had been sent back to hell, and now that I knew how good others had it in Business and First, I was all the more aware of the injustice faced by the poor! ;-) The only things that I have found help me endure these 'marathon' trips are: <BR>1. wearing the most baggy tracksuit pants you have (loose waistbands) <BR>2. drinking ONLY water <BR>3. aspirin to thin the blood and reduce inflammation. <BR>Regards <BR>Esti

Melatonin is a myth as far as I'm concerned. I take it and NOTHING happens. But I've found that Donormyl, purchasable at any French pharmacie, is a wonderful drug. After years and years of never sleeping on planes, I take one of these (or even a half) and get great sleep for 4-5 hours with no effects whatsoever. I never travel without it now.

Regarding to sleep, or not to sleep: <BR> <BR>If I am arriving in the evening, I do not sleep on the plane, that way I have no trouble getting to sleep that night. If I am arriving in the morning, sleep on the plane is a must (even with mild sleep aides)or I will never make it through the day. <BR> <BR>Once I have arrived, I won't sleep until bed time. That way, when I get up the next morning, I'm on local time. Good luck!

Sorry but I vote for drugs. Well, not illegal ones. I always take 1 or 2 Excedren PM. It usually knocks me out for a few hours. Oh yes, I wake up groggy but considering I am on a plane for 12 hours cramped in an uncomfortable seat with no room for my legs, being served crummy food and barked at by elderly flight attendants, I will probably be cranky and groggy anyway. Face it, you are suffering a complete time change. Your body says its time for bed but the captain says, "Bienvenue au Paris". I know that they say not to have alcohol and drink a lot of water but I never follow the rules. I like to have a cocktail or a glass of wine with my crummy meal and I am not a big water drinker. I usually drink about 8-18 oz while I fly. I'd rather not use those slimey toilets on the plane anyway. Or better yet, watch the movie! The quality of the films shown on airlines latey is horrid. It will put you to sleep for sure! Last month on a United airlines flight cross country they actuall showed "Pretty Woman". Who hasn't seen that one three times! <BR> <BR>There is no easy way to do this! <BR> <BR>By the way, have you seen my travel websight? <BR> <BR>http://home.earthlink.net/~richardab

St Cirq--- what is DONORMYL.. generic name?? Can it be purchased in US. nothing seems to help and I quite agree with you on Melatonin, complete waste of money on my part. if I'd won the Powerball you now what class I'd be flying in!!!!!!!!well maybe not, Fly cheap, sleep cheap and eat great is my motto!!

Boy am I glad someone asked this question. My flight will only be 7/8 hours, but I dread it so. I'm prone to severe panic attacks and just the thought of being cramped in the midst of all those people in such little space with no way out is not a pleasant one! I am going the drug route...self-induced coma...lol. My question is how long does it take the body to acclimate to the time difference?

As an aviator with many flights over 12 hours (and some over 20!), I have a few tips... <BR>1) Stay hydrated. <BR>2) Dress in layers. If the cabin temp is not to you liking, strip down or add a layer. <BR>3) Take over the counter medication if it will help you sleep. <BR>4) Grab a pillow and blanket every time you board. If nothing else, you can use them for lumbar support in those terribly designed seats. <BR>5) Bring a good book. <BR>6) Bring ear plugs for the screaming kids behind you and one of those eye shades for the person next to you that insists on having the lights on. <BR>7) Get up and walk around every few hours. Sometimes after I use the lavatory, I just stand back there for 10 minutes or so to stretch out. <BR> <BR>Good luck!

Hi everyone, <BR>long flights are painful in economy class, theres no escaping that - but at least you don't have to do 24 hour flights like us Aussies & Kiwis if that makes you feel any better! I'm already dreading my one to Paris in 25 days...

I live in China and travel quite a bit, so 12-hour plus flights are the norm for me. <BR> <BR>Thus far, Paul's advice (directly above) most closely matches my personal system - thus, my list is almost identical to his. <BR> <BR>* Take sleeping pills if you can (Good advice above on testing pills before you leave) <BR>* I always travel with a kit containing good ear plugs, eye shade, inflatable neck pillow, toothbrush & toothpaste, and thick socks for walking around the cabin <BR>* I always dress in layers - cabin temp. seems to hit both extremes in every flight <BR>* I always gather up pillow & blanket when I first board <BR>* I always pack my own snacks - carryover from when I was a nanny & still comes in handy (plus my food is typically better than theirs!) <BR> <BR>Also, my life saver has been my e-book. I'm a voracious reader, and can easily finish 2-3 novels on a long flight. With an e-book, I can take 10 books with me on the flight in ONE book-sized device. It also comes with a backlight, which is much nicer to have on a plane than using the overhead light (and your neighbors will think so, too). Well worth the initial investment. I use the RocketeBook. <BR> <BR>I also keep a travelling kit that contains good ear plugs, eye shade, neck p

I have flown many a red eye flight between the US and europe and also on flights between australasia and europe and always have a standard pack I take with me. This includes: <BR>sleeping mask <BR>ear plugs <BR>2 or 3 bottles of still water <BR>sleeping pills <BR>comfy layered clothes (usually tracksuit) <BR>I know that people have strong views on the sleeping pill issue but I personally find the flight so much more enjoyable sleeping when you're supposed to as well as being well rested when you arrive at your destination. The sleeping pill I use does not leave you feeling dead but invites a natural state of sleep as well as natural waking. The drug name is Imovane and it's in the Zopiclone family, presently available in Canada but not the US to my knowledge. <BR>Happy Travels.

A First Class ticket helps....

Shrooms man, Wow. hehe.

Jane: what is Donormyl you aske ? <BR> It is a wonerful otc sleep medicatins sold in France. In the United States it is called Unisom and even tho it is the same generic medicine it doesn't seem to work the same way. That's why i stock up while in paris. It's only about 38 francs a package

Try to get a prescription for Ambien,it is an amazing sleep aide.One pill will allow you to sleep a full 8 hours, split it in half and sleep 4.My husband who travels internationally every month swears by it, and the groggy effects are very minimal.

Jody: <BR> <BR>Donormyl is a "sleep aid" sold only in France as far as I know. Sandra has said that it's the same as Unisom, but if so I agree with her it doésn't work the same way at all. Unisom left me feeling like someone had filled my arteries with lead during the night. Donormyl allows me to get just enough sleep (2-4 hours - hey, it's a LOT more than I ever got before I found the stuff; I'm terrible at sleeping on planes) to get through the next day feeling normal and with absolutely no side effects whatsoever. Next time you're in France, get some. They'll happily sell you several little containers of it. <BR>And I agree with whoever said who ARE these people who get off the plane looking like they just rolled out of their own bed and did a 40-minute beauty routine? I have to use lots of Visine and makeup to look even half-decent.

ONLY 12 hours? Is that all? Consider yourself lucky.

People, <BR>I would also like to know how all those people do it in "cargo class." I agree with some of the responses, when I get off the plane I look horrible, as if I had not shaven or showered for days, my clothes are wrinkled and I feel unclean. And then I see people getting off "cargo class" with me wearing perfectly neat clothes, and their faces look fresh as if they slept for 9 hours in the most confortable bed, HOW DO THOSE PEOPLE DO IT, ANY ADVICE, PLEASE SHARE? <BR> <BR>James

topping

Surviving 12-16 hour flights? Easy. Book a First Class ticket, have a good meal, a glass of port, slip into the pajamas that are provided, climb into the 6"6" sleeper compartment, and wake-up in time for a hot breakfast prior to landing. To use Western Airline's tag line...Its the only way to fly!<BR>

I agree with the over-the counter sleep medicine, Tynerol PM or something like that. Once you arrive in the morning, do not take a nap. Try of stay awake until your regular hour of sleep based on local time. I take a sleep medicine the first night to ensure a full night sleep. I have less jet lag with that method than anything else I have tried.

Here's what we do (and we travel cross Altantic often)<BR>Upgrade, if possible, don't eat, bring neck pillow so head won't wobble, sit on aisle if possible to allow occasional stretch of feet, cover eyes, plug ears, and take 1/2 ambien. You will get there feeling pretty good. We get to hotel, lie down for not more than two hours,then get up and finish the day. Fine from there on.

Well I never had taken a prescription sleep aid, but on our recent trip to Africa, (and we are talking 18 hours of REALLY cramped economy seats in 100% full planes) I waited until we were off the ground and the first drinks had come round (in other words, we were really on the way) I got out my neck pillow, eye patches, ear plugs, and popped two Ambien.. whew! It was wonderful, I woke up just as we were decending.. it was great! I felt wonderful upon landing, and it was much easier for me to get into the local time. My poor husband does the drink thing and ended up missing the evening entertainment 3 nights in a row, he was so jet lagged!

This is what I do...flown to Thailand three times (24 hours of flying/layover), Bali Indonesia (30 hours flying/layover) and London two times (7 hours flying). Board plane, read a little, eat the meal, have some wine, watch the movie, sleep as long as I can. When I get to my destination, I stay awake after arriving at my destination until normal bedtime according to the local time. Then I go to bed at a decent hour (on local time) and I am pretty much on local time the remainder of my trip. Flying to Thailand was a little easier than Bali or London because we arrived at night...only had to stay awake a couple of hours. In Bali (on my honeymoon) made it until about 9:00pm local time before dozing at the table in a restaurant waiting for the waiter to bring us the check :)

Where do you get the pillow and blanket on the plane? I know that sounds like a dumb question, but I've really only flow fairly short flights (5 hr or less), so never got these. Do you have to ask the flight attendant as soon as you board? They're usually busy... Or is there a secret location I can find them in on my own?<BR>

They are usually in your seat when you board the plane for a long flight. However, the cleanliness of these items is always in question since it is not clear if they are sanitized between flights. For this reason, I would advise bringing your own pillow and some type of jacket/sweater, etc. and skipping the airplane blanket.

Sleepyhead, the blanket and pillow are usually on your seat when you board the plane.