Everyone says (as do I!) to drink a lot of water. Even when you're walking around on the streets, drink a lot of water! If I drink a lot of water, I inevetably have to go to the bathroom a lot! I guess that kills a lot of time right there, hu?

I have a routine that just developed over a lifetime of travel. I usually have a drink (one) asap, then spend some pleasant moments reviewing my life, my loved ones, all that matters to me, then I eat lightly, listen to the best music available, go to potty, and settle down with 1/2 Ambien tablet. With any luck, I awake as we are landing. This routine works especially well on night flights (to London) etc.

I don't sleep on planes so I take at least 3 magazines and 3 paperbacks. (Whatever I finish I leave on the plane). I do seat exercises, walk every hour, and attempt origami.

Read, watch the movie, do cross stitch. Last trip I brought along a small cross stich bookmark kit and finished quite a bit on the flight.

Whatever you do don't fidget in your sleep on British Airways. Their "Zero Tolerance" policy gives them just about any excuse to have you arrested at Heathrow Airport. If you don't believe me watch the special they have been running on "Air Rage" on TLC. <BR> <BR>Granted some people do deserve the long arm of the law to intervene in order to save the rest of the sane travelers. But, they seem to have a guilty until proven innocent attitude. <BR> <BR>My comment above refers to a traveler that had to spend upwards of $25,000.00 to prove his innocence. He had taken a sleeping tablet and was moving about in his sleep. The FA's decided he was unruly after grabbing him while in his sleep. He was subsequently arrested upon landing. It was their word against his.

I see a lot of folks who spend their time constantly opening the overhead compartment to rifle thru their carry on luggage. They generally sit in front of me, and need to get in their carry on luggage through most of the movie <BR> <BR>I take books that I can leave, watch the movies, & read my travel books again.

You're kidding about BA, right? Was that sleeping pill he took called Ambien? I have another post about sleeping aids on travel and have heard this one causes "air rage". I wondered if that's the latest "trend" now. <BR>Was he flailing his arms around and busting people in the nose? poor guy.

Could it be that he grabbed his neighbor in the sleep expecting it to be his other half? <BR>I am a flying addict, cannot live without planes (actually trips) for more than 6 month. But recently I noticed that my legs are becoming numb, swollen, bloated, and actually feel like something foreign - is it called crumps? I tried to drink a lot, not to drink at all, nothing helps. I usually sleep very little, but because of tired legs I cannot sleep at all. Then I cannot fit into my shoes for 2 days (it used to be a couple of hours. It is not an age problem, but it is bothersome. <BR>I do try to walk, exersise them a bit, it helps only a little. <BR>Anyone knows the better way to fight it? I would appreciate suggestions. <BR>Also, what is the best over-the-counter tablet for sleeping? Never used before, but I need it now, cannot afford not to sleep, too tired afterwards.

Felicia actually no I'm not kidding. This was on "The Learning Channel". <BR> <BR>As far as Ambien goes, you couldn't grab your wife on your wedding night after popping one of those little beauty's. <BR> <BR>It just worries me that the amount of liberty they have concerning the issue of "air rage" in prosecuting their detainees. <BR> <BR>Yep, I'm a card carrying member of the A.C.L.U. These kind of gestapo tactics were used during the era of McCarthyism. <BR>Just kinda' spooky to me.

Lets put it this way. At the end of a long trip I'd be able to pick every stewardesses butt out of a line-up.

Hey Hugh, <BR>The last 4 flights I took, 3 stewardeses were male and the other 3 were in their 50's and would never see size 12 again. Age has it's privilges on the good routes. Maybe you haven't flown recently, are a little off center or just being PC.

If you want to kill time, enter the <BR>mille high club.

Larisa, try wearing support hose on the plane to curb the swelling. That's what my doctor suggested about flying when pregnant. I suspect it would work any time.

What's the Mile High Club? Oh yeah, that's the thing that kills about 2 minutes. Yahoo, only 9 hours, 58 mins left. <BR>

Iliza, that's a good idea, and I need to have it. Where is the best place to buy it: pharmacy, department store. medical supply? <BR>Thanks for answering

Larisa: <BR> <BR>When in France a few weeks ago, I went to a pharmacy (Lord, I love those French pharmacies! Treasure troves of interesting stuff) and bought in the homoeopathic section some "marron d'Inde," which translates literally to "Indian chestnut," and indeed there's a picture of a chestnut tree on the bottle. It is specifically for "jambes lourdes," or "heavy legs." I don't have problems on planes, but I bought it because after two days of walking miles and miles and miles in Paris at a pretty fast clip my legs were feeling tired. It worked wonders! I have no idea where or how you might find it outside France, but on the off-chance it would be useful, I offer this tip.

StCirq, thanks for passing that on. It's supposed to be a chemical component from the oil of the chestnut tree that gives relief to circulatory problems. As I'm planning a major pharmacy shop in Paris in October, I will make certain to seek this product & obtain some for my dad. As always, you are a wealth of info! <BR>Merci Beaucoup, <BR>BC

St Cirq- I thank you also, after 42 years on my feet as a pharmacist and running and not too long ago taking a "HUmpty dumpty" , I am just going to walk from now on!I, too, will be looking for this . My favorite thing to bring back from France are bottled chestnuts and we eat them all year but maybe I need the concentrated !!! <BR>Bookchick , maybe we will meet up in the pharmacy!!

JOdy, you are on! I'll be the one with the tube of Ibuprofen gel in my hand! <BR>BC

And I'll be the one at the counter with 2 bottles of Dornomyl and salmon oil pills for my husband's cholesterol problem! See you there!