Must Have's For Long Flights
 

First time traveler to Hawaii (Kahului)on Feb 7th from Ind thru Phx. Not as worried about the trip there, as we're flying during "normal" hours (Lv 8 am, Ar 3 pm), but the trip home is a dif story (Lv midnight, Ar 4 pm) again thru Phx. Any words from the wise to make the trip easier? Will be back home at 4 pm Tues and have to go back to work on Wed!

Thought I should add that I'm flying Amer West on a single aisle aircraft (757). Trying to upgrade to 1st Class for the return trip, but if not ....

It really all depends if you can sleep on a plane I think. We fly overnite from PHX to London and that is no thrill either, but I do think long night flights are more tolerable then long daytime ones (for example coming "this way" from Europe is a real killer). Getting up and walking around is not that easy (on any plane) let alone single aisle so if you can upgrade go for it.

Aside from that, drink plenty of water (of course that makes you get up more :-) wear VERY comfortable clothes (elastic waist, no wrinkle) and easy on/off shoes. If you can't sleep be sure to have a good book with you. You might consider taking a Tylenol PM which is what I do on a long flight if you want to try and sleep.

There is no real way to make a long flight great, but hopefully it won't be too bad on you. Breaking it up in PHX might not be too bad, you will be walking around which is good for the muscles, etc.

Too bad you have to go to work the next day, I would normally suggest having at least 1 day off before going back to work.

A first class seat. ;)

Tylenol PM is great if you get headache/backache while on the flight, but if not, try Simply Sleep. It is Tylenol PM w/o the pain reliever.

I also love using ThermaCare heat wraps for when my back gets tense (like on a long flight).

Grab pillows and blankets once on the plane to help you sleep, bring a good book, knitting, ipod, sudoko puzzles, whatever to keep you occupied!

I pack a high thread count pillowcase(s) to stuff airplane pillows in and/or my bulky jacket (which you won't have going to Hawaii). Pick up the latest magazines at the airport. Make sure I have a good book, water and snacks I like in my backpack under the seat in front of me. Usually, I read until I'm sleepy (on my own pillowcase and not on others' cooties) and have what I want to eat and drink in case I sleep through the snack/bevarage service)

earplugs,natural fibre clothing, socks, and bottled water. I think starrsville's suggestion of her own pillowcase is a great idea. The pillows and blankets on planes are not cleaned between uses and hygiene is iffy.When flying to Hawaii I wear a sweater twin set. Easy to adjust to the warmer air when you land. Aloha and enjoy your trip.

I have a couple in the suitcase as well for my "favorite" hotel pillows. I love coming in from a day of sightseeing and seeing a touch of home in my hotel room. Pretty, floral pillowcases and my travel candle are the first things I unpack. I spent a week at the Hilton on the BI and 4 nights at the 4S and the maids always put "my pillow" in front of all the others when they made the bed.

Lovely thought, starrsville. You are right, no matter where I am I love seeing a bit of home. For me it is a tiny alarm clock which "rings" with a recording of one of my dogs barking.

Mine include:

iPod
several books and magazines
bottled water
Ambien

My husband now rents DVDs and watches them on his laptop. He also loves the iPod.

Wow this is the first time I've even looked at this site, and am amazed at all the great subjects and all of your quick responses. Can't tell you how much I appreciate it! Most of the things you've mentioned are things that I wouldn't have remembered to think of but the Simply Sleep is probably the one thing that I would've never thought of. I travel often for business, but within the continental US and usually the longest flight is 3 hrs. We have arrangements at the Ritz-Carlton and everything I've read sounds like we'll be pampered. Any other ideas regarding what to do as far as where we'll be, must do's, etc.? I also saw another chat about what to bring - sunscreen is a must I see, but anything else considered a MUST? Also, I love shopping - what kinds of trinkets will I want to look for and price shop to bring home?

I like to carry an inflatable neck pillow for long flights. Easier than a regular one, I think, because it allows you to curl up in the corder by the window, if you have a window seat, and if not, it doesn't slip away from you. Also, for long flights get some compression stockings...travel store catalogs sell them, or at least get up and walk around every so often. For night flights I like to have my own lightweight blanket, small enough to fit in my carryon, but warm.

I have nothing to add to above responses - except to comment on your screen name - not any better day for you than for our son yesterday - whose screen name on other message boards is patsfan plus a number.

Two Xanax and wake me up when I get there!

I recently decided to try compression socks for a long flight, and they made my legs feel more comfortable during the flight. They feel very tight when you first put them on, but in the air they perform almost as if you're getting a passive massage. I also use an inflatable pillow as a foot rest. I bring snacks and reading material, and the Dramamine I take for potential motion sickness makes me drowsy enough to sleep.

This summer I am also flying from Boston to Hawaii, via Phoenix, and I must say, I am dreading the long flights, no matter what I do to make the best of them!

I will add an eye mask. Give me a sleeping pill, ear plugs, eye mask, blow up neck pillow and I am pretty good to go. Other things sound great, like your own blanket and pillow case, but I travel super light.

One person mentioned snacks, and I can't tell you how far favorite snacks, and maybe even a great sandwich, go toward making me more comfortable on a long flight. A choice of two goodies, plus a gourmet sandwich, and I am happier.

My little comfort bag also includes moisturizer, lip balm, and soothing eye drops. Sometimes those little pressure devices called Earplanes. Gum and mints. Toothbrush and a hand sanitizer.

I have meds with me for headache, stuffiness, and things like that.

Lots to read.

Ok, by now you know that I hate to be uncomfortable on the plane. And with my little goodie bag, I seldom am too uncomfortable.

We fly to Europe once or twice a year, and we aren't in the class of upgrade type flyers. Since it is strictly cattle class for us, with a miracle upgrade every ten years or so (like the time the plane's door collapsed on me, and threw me down the stairs), I would rather be prepared for the worst.

I've seen really disappointed and grumpy folks get on a long haul flight after not getting their hoped for upgrade. If they had my goodie bag with them, they might have been able to say "oh well."

Coltsfan - Sorry.

I would suggest focusing your time on ensuring you have good seats. Getting an exit row and an aisle can really make your trip better. A frequent traveler can also get an upgrade, but that might not apply to everyone.

Hi, colsfan! I was once trapped on a flight to Maui next to an 18-year-old guy drenched in cologne. Bring allergy meds!

I always feel skanky on such long flights. Antibacterial wipes and hand cleanser halfway through really help. Also, on some first class flights they hand out a bag with lightly scented facial spray to re-hydrate skin.

A neck bone pillow, as previously mentioned, and an eye mask, are essential.

Also, for some reason you can't get an entire bottle of water - only a little cup or glass. I pack a couple of my own bottles.

Don't pack a novel that will be all-absorbing, if you're a compulsive reader. I spent two days of my trip to England reading "Memoirs of a Geisha," and whenever I try to remember London, I think of Japan. I like to print out a bunch of the Fodor's forums related to my destination, and read/highlight them on the flight.

Enjoy your trip!

Stay away from all those salty snacks they pass off on you. The salt will just help you retain water and you'll be really uncomfortable. ABSOLUTELY take your own bottled water. The airlines now are rationing it so you might get tap water, which may not be very clean, if you read tripso.com.

Great suggestions: can't really add anything ( I also do thermacare wrap for lower back, bottled water, IPod, (screaming babies, altho I probably blow my ear drums) magazines, snacks, have own travel pillow and eye pillow or sunglasses). To avoid jet lag, for me anyway, is this: I force myself to get 7 hours for at least 3 nights before I'm leaving, I set my watch to the time zone where I am flying the minute I get on plane, if I can't sleep I at least shut my eyes for one hour (eye pillow or sunglasses), no alcohol, lots of water, walk the plane and stretch in the back every 90 minutes. When we land, we never lay down, unpack, walk and have early dinner and bed by 10 for a good nights sleep. On way home, I do the same and get to bed by 9 or 10 and the mail will still be there, I pretend I am still away for another week. For the next 3 or 4 days I again force myself to get as close to 7 hours a night as I can. Once, and I can't figure out why, except we were on the move a lot that trip, we returned from Budapest/Prague and all of a sudden 3 days later I hit the wall and was a zombie for 3 days after...go figure. GOOD LUCK and have fun, you wiull love Hawaii.....if you get jet lag, it will be worth it.

upgrade!!! also, take along a guidebook to read on the way over. I'm a frequent flier, and i am so happy to hear the suggestion of the high threadcount pillow case. I am packing mine in my carryon as we speak. Also, I always check with the airlines to see the outbound and inbound movie schedule, so I'll know whether or not I need additional time fillers..Enjoy Hawaii...don't forget to 'get leid' as soon as you get there :)Even though unless you're going on a tour, you'll have to purchase the lei yourself...but you can right at the terminal..and it's worth it!!!! :)

What a great thread! I'm flying in March for the first time since 1982. To Ireland, no less! So I can use all the "long flight" tips I can get! I've also been following the two fear of flight/travel anxiety threads!

Love the pillow case idea, Starrsville! And I'm intrigued by your "travel candle". Is this a special candle or just one you happen to take when you travel?

I think I'll post a separate message under this forum, but my chances of an upgrade are apparently very slim. The travel agent made the reservations through America West instead of US Air, where I hold LOTS of dividend miles. Do people sell, trade or give away their free upgrade certificates? Is it worth putting out a posting? What a let down that was - it really burst my bubble yesterday when I received the news.

For our long trips, we carry on the following:

1) Noise cancelling headphones.
2) MP3 or CD player (much better choices than the airline fare).
3) Bottled water.
4) Snacks in ziploc bags.
5) Books, games, puzzles to pass the time.

This April, we will be in the back of the "bus" also for our long trip to Hawaii. We fly through Atlanta and direct from there. I am not looking forward to the lengthy flight. I bought the kids a portable dvd for the ride for Christmas. We have exit row seats. Be careful to check if you book exit rows that they don't drop you from them. We booked our trip 9 months ago and every time they change the flight number(4 times already), I have to call and rebook the seats. The kids are going to be squashed. My daughter is now taller than me so she may have to take my seat for a while.
I plan to bring a good book, some tabloid magazines, guide books, snacks, and water bottles. Some snacks that we like to bring are cheese and crackers, grapes, and yogurts.

seats,.....which reminds me...make sure your seat RECLINES on this long a trip - usually, the last row doesn't (and being so close to the toilets on a long leg can bring some strange scents.....I don't happen to like the back 10-12 rows, if you have to be in coach - you get all the toilet lines, people stretching (like me:)) etc.... do all exit rows recline? or is it the row in front of them that doens't or only a little? somehow I remember something about which seats recline and which don't.....

Cashmere - socks, 2 pc. tank/cardigan top and pashima. So soft and breathable - good for most climates. The pashima is great for a coverup or as a pillow.
Magazines or easy reading material and drugs - ZZZZZ (:.
Sherry

Two words to remember: EXIT ROW

I am 6'2" and in the normal row I had maybe an inch on American before the guy in front of me reclined. On the way back we got an exit row and it was fine.

Water, comfortable clothes, and a good book. Sometimes two good books.

I forgot one essential, for me. A pair of arcopedico shoes, the ones with the sretchy open weave uppers. I put them in my carryon (they fold flat) and change on the plane. Swollen feet no longer bother me. They look dressy enough to wear off the plane and then you can change back in the airport.

I saw a few threads about taking a sleeping pill enroute to Europe. If you are traveling alone or planning on doing the driving, you might want to give your sleeping pill a test run prior to your trip. I took a full dose of a Rx before my trip my husband had to wake me the next morning. After talking with the pharmacist and scored my tablet in two and took a half dose on the plane. No problems.

My Panasonic portable dvd player (model LS50) has an optional 12 hour battery. Now I never have to worry about finding a plug. And you can usually take a ton of movies from your library for free or very cheap. If the due date is for before you come back, you can usually work something out with the librarian as long as they are older movies.

JT, can you explain a little more about these shoes please, such as brand name, where to buy them, etc. They sound terrific. Thanks

I seem to recall reading that it's dangerous to take any kind of medication that makes you sleep on long haul flights. Reason: if you're asleep, you don't move much, you don't move much, flight-related Deep Vein Thrombosis more likely.

Don't the airlines and medics nowadays advise us all to keep doing those in-flight exercises as preventative measures against DVT?

I do long-haul to the US from London regularly and although I dread the flight and how tired I am at the other end, I am not inclined to take a 'sleeper', just in case. I do, however, take 1 low dose aspirin for 3 days before travel, 1 immediately before the flight and 1 for 3 days post flight. That seems to be some of the the medical advice in the UK.

MaryJo

I take a little "beauty kit" with me that includes:

Olay face cloths
Toner
Moisturizer
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Cuticule pusher
Cuticle cream
Nail file

I always find that I sleep better with a freshly washed face and clean teeth, and with the dry air, the moisturizer really helps my skin stay comfortable. And then after I wake up, it is really refreshing to brush my teeth again and wash my face. If I am not sleeping, all the extra time is a good opportunity to give some extra attention to my cuticles and finger nails.

A tylenol PM is just tylenol with Benedryl, and you write simply sleep is "without the pain reliever," then it`s just benedryl? Why not just take the benedryl in that case, it`s probably cheaper.

For the flight - snacks, water, list of in-flight exercises and a horse-shoe type pillow to blow up.

I don't understand how some passengers can use those small pillows - no, I am not a germophobic, it's just that mine always ends up on the floor and some "samaritan" wakes me up handing it to me.

CAPH52, I keep a look out at Stein-Marts or similar for candles in metal tins with lids. Just saw one at Tuesday Morning this weekend for $4 with a yummy scent - "Tahitian Vanilla". I didn't get it because I have some stored for future trips already.

If I forget to pack the candle, I stop by a grocery or drugstore and just buy a small votive candle. It's amazing what a difference the scent of the candle can make in a hotel room.

I also buy fresh flowers if I am going to be in my room for more than 2 days. A manager I worked for would buy a small houseplant if he were going to be in a hotel room for a few days. He swore the plant helped with the smell and dryness (via transpiration) of the hotel room.

Can you tell I'm a nester?

FainaAgain - that's why I pack a high thread count pillowcase to put the yucky airplane pillow in. The thought of where it's been makes me shudder!

I'm about to travel from New Jersey to London then to Newcastle. Where can I buy one of those blow up neck pillows? I like the horse-shoe shaped ones that cradle the neck. Thanks!