I usually go bonkers on any flight over 5 hours if I have not managed to use my miles to upgrade. I get RLS (restless leg syndrome) and have tried everything even down to NyQuil. I think I hit it on the head last flight - I got some Valium from my doctor and avoided the wine (which was very difficult) and had orange juice and brought a large bottle of SmartWater which has electrolytes. I also took some Tylenol PM, avoided coffee for a couple of days before. I bought a little air bed from www.magellans.com site "First Class Sleeper" and a square shaped flat carry on bag which doubled up as a leg rest. Worked great. All this because I hate flying with a passion - its SO uncomfortable that it borders on something from the dark ages. I really think the airlines need to improve for long flights - the seats they use for business class on trans Atlantic are what they should be using for economy passengers. I'm really sick of them. My husband laughs at me and says "all you have to do is sit there" arrrrghhhh!

Somebody already mentioned it, but get a prescription for Ambien from your doctor. You'll sleep well and wake up without the "hangover" effect many sleeping pills give you. I always travel with a dozen or so for the flight and for those occasionally noisy European hotels or uncomfortable beds. I rarely take more than two or three ambien a trip, but I'm always glad to have them.

Zeppo Hi - does Ambien put you "out". I have taken a sleeping tablet before but still could not get to sleep.

I always do last minute trip-planning. My wife and I think about what we want to do during the first couple of days. I would sleep if I could, but it is not in the cards. Then there is the two-hour movie and meals.

I cant take anything..I tried different types of supplements,from melatonin to Anacin Pm etc.., Nothing works on me and leave me space out during the flight..
I just make the best and try to spend time by reading magazines, playing cards ..Long airplanes flights are very boring for me..but is the only way to go and I accept it for better or for worse..( just like a marriage, i am kidding)..

Think about "what to do on 8 hr international flight".

I've thought about it, m_kingdom. Do you mean why not include 8 hour domestic flights as well as 8 hour international flights? If so, I guess he didn't include domestic flights because he's flying internationally.

Well, hmm. I am normally bored silly coming back because it is a longer flight and it is daylight. I am an afternoon person and when the sun looks like mid day most of the flight I keep revving up. So then what? I cannot go for a walk outside. I cannot watch TV; just those movies I don't want to see.

The best flight I had back was when I sat next to a medical doctor from Spain who spoke no English. He spoke fluent German, and he was so bored he actually put up with my putrid German.
We at least had something to do. I kept looking up words in the dictionary so I could answer his questions, and he kept helping me express an answer. It turned out to be a language lesson. He was really helpful and full of knowledge.

My wife is one of those placid personalities who can read, sleep, people watch, design her next quilting project, draw plans for the house rennovation, write letters, eat, sleep some more, talk to me a little bit, and generally enjoy her quiet time.

I am temped to buy one of those BOSE ear phone systems for playing music.
Anybody know just how transportable those things are? Give me a few CD's, particularly Mozart, and I can snooze a little. Mozart is good because if you go to sleep in the middle of a symphony, it sounds the same when you wake up, and it all blends right in.
I am not sure if soporific or hypnotic are accurate descriptive terms, but I think soothing might apply.

And if worst comes to worst, no one actually dies of boredom in the short term. There is not a lot you can do to make the airplane go faster.



I like the one about drink alcohol and lots of water. That should keep one going to the little room and standing in line.
That way you get to talk to people.

I use the word ""international"" I'm curious as to how that implies a domestic connection. As for your comment - eight hours spent on any flight is eight hours whether it is international, domestic, or stood still on a runway!

Thank you for your hints. I too suffer from restless leg syndrome while in flight. It's so hard to sit still. I've never taken a sleeping aide while flying but you can be sure I will on my trip to England and Paris in May. Enough is enough. I will be flying over business/first and at this time coming back coach. Hoping to be upgraded with my miles. Read a book in flight? Can't do it. Yet at home I find it to be a wonderful past time.

I guess it needs to be repeated "I guess he didn't include domestic flights because he's flying internationally."

m_kingdom, come to think of it - Where would one end up if flying 8 hours domestical ?
From Philly to LA it is 4-5 hours.

Are there no flights from Miami to Hawaii? From anywhere on the US mainland to Guam or US Samoa?

How long would it take from Anchorage - or a really remote bit of Western Alaska - to the Florida Keys?

I would hardly consider Hawaii domestic flight ! 10 hours from East Coast.
The point was not to look for fleas...

Madison: For RLS start taking Magnesium and calicum and avoid caffine and sodium. A support website advised me to try take a codine based painkiller also (I did not do this yet). If you can get a couple of valium they helped. You can look up alot of websites on this by doing a search and you will get more tips. Good Luck. A

To answer a couple of posters, yes Ambien seems to be the best sleeping pill out there. It does not have the hangover effects of some earlier products. But, as always, different medications work differently on each individual.

There are several medical type of sites that go into this subject (and jet lag) in much more detail, so just type in a few words to the Google search engine to get the latest scoop. But I thought everyone knew by now to avoid alcohol and all beverages except water on airplane flights. Read the medical flight sites to find out why.

m_kingdom--yes, 8 hours are 8 hours no matter where you are flying. But since he is flying internationally, he just threw the word into his title. Does this cause some big problem?

Get some interesting books on tape. You don't have to concentrate as much as reading and its like someone telling you a story.

I would like to sleep, however since all seats are thoroughly uncomfortable, I spend 7 hours trying to find a comfy position and then for the rest of the time i read a good novel or browse through magazines.

If you like puzzles, etc, you could buy a crossword book and use your time doing the crosswords.