Thank you all for your kind response and no sarcasm!

a 12 hour+ flight in coach, no chance of upgrade and the flight is full. What do I do?<BR><BR>Well simply I deal with it. You KNOW how long it takes and so what I do is split the time into distinct periods. Mathematics is the way forward. Example:<BR><BR>Take-off<BR>drinks No 1<BR>movie No 1<BR>snack and drinks<BR>halfway point<BR>lunch<BR>movie No 2<BR>snack and drinks<BR>filling out immigration card depending on where you are going to<BR>the 1/2 hour before landing<BR>landing<BR><BR>split them all up and give them a % value. Works for me.<BR><BR>

forgot to mention, stick in 3 or 4 toilet breaks too, each of 5-10 min duration. Stand in the toilet evaluating your stubble/makeup, kill some time readind that FAA notice about smoking fines etc . . .

Masterbation does it for me

The way I cope is resignation to the fact that I will be on the plane for a long, long time, and then give thanks that I am able to fly across the USA and then the Atlantic Ocean. My ancestors come over on a old, leaky boat and it took weeks and weeks. They came around the cape of South America and up the West Coast to San Francisco from Scotland. So in comparison 12 hours isn't so bad.

I always ask if the plane is full - if not, I ask if I could possibly be seated in a row all alone. <BR><BR>Many times the rows in the very back of the plane are empty because everyone wants to be as close to the front as possible. <BR><BR>Stay up late the night before you travel, have a beer or a glass of wine and sleep the entire trip spralled out over 3 seats.<BR><BR>The other advantage to this is that you are the last one of the plane so your luggage is already sitting in the baggage area waiting for you when you arrive.<BR><BR>I was on a newer plane when returning from Amsterdam last week. Each seat had it's own TV. I watched 3 movies and read for 1/2 hour, then we were home....the time flew!!

Xanax and wine did me fine! Its a wonder I ever woke up.

Well, if you're unlucky to fly economy class especially on Air France's old 747's from San Francisco to Paris nonstop, you can't fall asleep as the seats are so uncomfortable. Not much entertainment to speak of either to endure the 13 hours unless you count their projected flight map. At least you can see how long you're flying over the Faroe Islands.

When I fly home to Australia from Europe (~24 hrs) I make certain that the airline that I pick have those tv-screens at the back of economy seats.<BR><BR>They are great - your own movies channel, games etc.. usually with all the watching I do, I tend to fall asleep easier than if I kept tossing and turning, mentally trying to get myself to sleep.<BR><BR>For economy class most 777s, 747-400 have them. Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Lauda Air are the ones I know have them. <BR><BR>But it's always worth asking your travel agent. <BR><BR>

When I arrive in Europe, I am always wide awake and have enough energy to last me until the next night. These are the steps I follow:<BR><BR>1. Avoid carbohydrates on the plane: For example, when you have dinner, skip the rolls and skip the dessert. For breakfast have protein (e.g. yogurt), fruit, and coffee. Do not eat any breads.<BR><BR>2. Bring a blindfold on the plane (one that completely blocks the light), and wear it all night. The purpose of this is to trick your body's biological clock into thinking you are asleep. This works, even when you do not really sleep!<BR><BR>Do not take drugs, because they will stay in your body, increase your fatigue the next day, and make it more difficult to get your body synchronized with the new time zone.<BR><BR><BR>

I'm going to be shot down in flames for this but here goes....<BR><BR>The only thing that makes a long flight more comfortable for me is the alcohol. The trick is knowing when to stop as altitude makes it much easier to get drunk! Usually a whisky first then some wine with the meal is enough - the whisky calms me down and the wine's just nice.

More, please.....

Prescription drugs (but make sure you try them at least once before if you do not normally use them to know their effect)... i have never had any difficulty with waking up or fatigue the next day (Xanax, Halcion, Valium are a few options). Earplugs or headphones, pillow, blanket. A few cocktails/wine early on, but not too many. Honestly I still don't sleep but it helps pass the time more peacefully.<BR><BR>I can't take/stand over the counters like Tylonol or Excedrin PM, bad both immediate and residual effects.

Stay up all night and pack. Then go out for an early-morning run or brisk walk.<BR>Take a long shower, end with cold rinse (yow!). This will get you to the airport on time, and also will get you on the plane so exhausted you just fall asleep immediately. It worked for me on an 11-hour L.A.-Paris flight.

Jonathan,<BR>-no alcohol<BR>-have bottled water<BR>-orange juice helps<BR>-Blindfold, earplugs help<BR>-arrange your schedule so that you get to the plane a little tired.<BR>-On arriving, usually a two hour nap helps to revive one.

Xanax is a great sleep aid with no hang over...it is very addictive, but a couple of pills on your trip will not be a problem.

Xanax is a great sleep aid with no hang over...it is very addictive, but a couple of pills on your trip will not be a problem.

Jonathan...<BR>Drink (wine with dinner then a Baily's or a port)<BR>Watch movie and sleep (window seat or one of those u shaped pillows) <BR>Sober up<BR>Drink some more. Shave & brush your teeth before you get off the plane.<BR>You will feel like crap the next day but you're a guy. No matter how bad you feel smile and say. "I'm fine, why do you ask."

Donormyl is the exact same chemical as Unisom tablets, but Unisom gel tabs are a different chemical. Donormyl is a lower dosage, however, only 15 mg of doxylamin succinate and Unisom is 25 mg of that.

any more ideas?