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How I survive 12 hour flights

eftegarie.com

21–30 of 43 posts

Re: How I survive 12 hour flights

#21

OK, this got funnier the longer I read. > Buy a Big Mac before boarding the plane, and eat it whenever you want. Bring chocolate and other snacks. If I ever end up sitting next to somebody who brought along a Big Mac...well, the plane better have empty seats somewhere else... (I was touring NSW, Australia via rail some years ago and sat across from another tourist who was calmly consuming a large chocolate bunny. It'…

> Buy a Big Mac before boarding the plane,

I rather prefer the smaller Mac Air, the big one is too heavy and bulky for long flights. And I would never eat it.

Re: How I survive 12 hour flights

#22
post #5

I used to do a regular 15h flight (MEL-LAX or LAX-MEL, I forget which was the longer one). I'd add: Get on board tired. Stay up late a few nights before you leave, get up early, do a bunch of exercise, whatever it takes. Be ready to sleep. Book a window seat. You've got a decent chance of having only two people in the 3 seats for a start, which means extra leg room, and a blanket/pillow/headphones/etc dumping area on…

> After you've had the final meal, you've got about 2h left.

spooky

Re: How I survive 12 hour flights

#23
I used to fly all the time and yeah that list is legit.

Noise cancelling headphones, batteries, cables and OFFLINE stuff is a must. It’s so boring, the only thing I dread more than the 12+++ hours from Hong Kong to Miami is the return trip. With connections it can easily be 20+ hours. I found breaking the trip up between continents helped with the jet lag so much better. Planes suck for sleeping.

Re: How I survive 12 hour flights

#25

This is a lot like how I made my first long distance train ride tolerable, and if your 12h flights are this spacious and relaxed... bring a deck of cards or a guitar or something recreational you enjoy. Yeah it’s a hassle to get more stuff through security and lug around but you might make ”survive” into fun memories.

> bring a deck of cards or a guitar

GUITAR!? Please, no. That would be the second worst thing on a flight after crying babies.

Re: How I survive 12 hour flights

#26

(I see I’m not the only one triggered by the Big Mac comment. PLEASE do not do this.) Anyway, as the veteran of a bunch of 15hr flights, many of them part of longer 25-30hr hauls, here is my one tip.... 1. Accept that you are on a plane for a lengthy period of time. That’s it. Most of the unpleasantness comes from resisting the reality. Stop resisting it. You will be in a plane for a length of time. Accept it.

I’ve done this so many times I can’t count it. Most domestic flights I’m on that go longer than 2 hours I’ll have a Big Mac with me.

Can someone explain why this is so bothersome to other people? Is it cuz you’re hungry and want to have one too but can’t?

Re: How I survive 12 hour flights

#27

This is a lot like how I made my first long distance train ride tolerable, and if your 12h flights are this spacious and relaxed... bring a deck of cards or a guitar or something recreational you enjoy. Yeah it’s a hassle to get more stuff through security and lug around but you might make ”survive” into fun memories.

Can you even fit a Guitar in the overhead luggage bins in economy on a full international flight? It's difficult enough to get one suitcase up there.

Re: How I survive 12 hour flights

#28
* Bring a pair of socks only for the flight, and throw them away afterwards (Uniqlo has decent ones that aren't too pricy). The bathroom floors get so sticky after 10 hours.

* Boeing 777s have the loudest jet engines you can encounter. Choose an A380, 787, or A340 flight if you can manage. If you must ride a 777, the front of the cabin is a little quieter.

* If you are seated next to somebody who needs a little more space, try to politely and subtlety ask an air hostess if another seat is available. Both you and the passenger whom you were seated next to will both have a better flight experience.

* Quite a few airlines will let you choose your meals online if you have dietary preferences. Make sure to check the airline website page in your reservations section.

* Try to grab a few Ursa Major face wipes off of Amazon to freshen up mid- and post-flight. Burts Bees wipes are great too, but a little bulky.

Re: How I survive 12 hour flights

#29

* Bring a pair of socks only for the flight, and throw them away afterwards (Uniqlo has decent ones that aren't too pricy). The bathroom floors get so sticky after 10 hours. * Boeing 777s have the loudest jet engines you can encounter. Choose an A380, 787, or A340 flight if you can manage. If you must ride a 777, the front of the cabin is a little quieter. * If you are seated next to somebody who needs a little more…

"* Bring a pair of socks only for the flight, and throw them away afterwards (Uniqlo has decent ones that aren't too pricy). The bathroom floors get so sticky after 10 hours."

Or just put your shoes back on to walk to the bathroom

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