Time killers in long flights, Dealing with Jet lag, Airline tips and recommendations

edwardseco

You may end up the gainer after all. Women often have poor leg circulation have a risk of health hazard from not moving around enough on a long flight.

Just in! Canadian courts have just ruled that an obese passenger has a right to a free extra seat. Consider it your duty to suffer..

Hal

I have a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. They really help to deaden the sound of the plane's engines and background noise, and make it easier to sleep.

Alifay

Great thread!! I am just about set with everything I need for my stay in India, and now just looking for ways to survive the 17 (?) hour flight from JFK.

My friend (who has been all over the world) gave me some great advice: Think of it like a sick day on the couch, with lots of TV to watch and someone bringing you food every few hours. Only you aren't sick (plus), and the seat isn't a couch (minus).
This seemed like a good way to look at my upcoming flight. A lot of time to be lazy without feeling bad about it

kivrin

I so echo many of the other posters. Every hop over the pond seems to result in some story for me! Things that are essential to me:

Fuzzy socks
A shawl, duppata, scarf -- easy to cover head and hide from annoying passengers!
An eye mask
A GOOD book (not something you have read, but you know you will like .. I am saving a couple from favorite authors for my flight!)
A snack
EmergenC or the like .. something to help the immune system
A washcloth! Moisten it and drape over your face .. dark and helps the breathing passages, also handy to freshen up with before deplaning.
Glasses if you wear contacts
Ipod
Comfortable pants!

Eastern Mind

I searched for answers to this but couldn't find anything. I can't sleep on planes, going from Canada to India can be a double whammy. On the way home last time my daughter went 72 hours straight with no sleep. So we get a poor sleep (she had none) in Tiruvanamalai, next day we travel to Bangalore (no sleep) and catch the 3AM flight with Lufthansa (no sleep in airport) so by the time we start our journey, we're already exhausted. No sleep on 9 hour flight to Frankfurt, then 3 hours (no sleep) in Frankfurt, then 7 hour flight to Toronto (no sleep), 4 hours in Toronto airport (no sleep), 4 hour flight to Edmonton. So by the time we arrive in Edmonton ... well.

So here's the question. Which, if any, airlines would allow a 27 hour stopover in Frankfurt (or London, or Brussels, or Tokyo going west) without penalty? Instead of a 3 hour stopover, why not do a 27 hour stopover, go crash at a hotel, do a bit of sightseeing, walking, and get ready for the next leg. Has anyone tried this, and if so, how did it work out? Obviously you'd have to book flights in a different manner like calling the airline directly.

nycank

Depending on the fare basis of your ticket, airlines do allow one or more stopover. It is based on the Origin and Destination.

Here is an example from LH on a ticket bought under the VRCAAW fare basis.

and on 9W, ticketing under H2RTAS fare basis.

Remember, if you want a rock-bottom, el-cheapo ticket many restrictions apply. This is the irony of web-based bookings. Many airlines do not list the full details of the fare rules, which are uploaded to the GDSs and Airline reservation systems.

__________________
bade bhaisaheb is outsourced

Eastern Mind

Thanks. Next time I'll be putting in a larger effort directly with the airline. Also sometimes with a search you just find a decent stopover time. Like right now from Edmonton to KL (Malaysia) there is a 14 hour stop in Hong Kong both ways. Sounds about right for a decent sleep.

welsh_exile

...urges too strong....must release naughtiness!!

If you are of the naughty persuasion there are a few things that can keep you occupied and amused on long haul flights:

1. Ask the same steward/ess random mechanical questions about the plane at 20 minute intervals for at least two hours

2. Reach and press the 'bell' of the passenger (when they are asleep) in front of you and then hide...

3. (if sat next to a nervous passenger) periodically look out the window towards the engine and give a 'concerned' face

4. Join the Mile High Club!!

5. Scream and dive under your seat for no apparent reason

6. Bring a cellular phone. Call God. Say, "The reception is much clearer up here...."

7. Look out the window and yell out "Look, it's Superman"

BEWARE: Certain airlines seem to lack a sense of humour and can result is you getting into BIG trouble, so risk assess before you unleash your bored bad side...thinking about it, reading a book is probably safer...

Exiled (and you wonder why...)