My question is, aisle or window? Aisle lets you get out, but Window lets you lean against it for sleep...

join the mile hile club...?

Bring a special treat for the flight attendants. I bought a box of those awesome milk chocolate/macadamia nut cookies for the crew and received the royal treatment in return (free cocktails included).

Johannes

I agree with those who said, if there is anyway to upgrade out of coach, do it. I flew a lot on business in my past so I still have a "bank" of FF miles that I use to upgrade. The seats are so much more comfortable, and there's also a nice un-written rule: almost nobody talks to each other. It's heaven. Also, for long flights, I find those "neck things" really make it a lot easier to sleep. If I can't get upgraded out of coach, I beg borrow steal for the exit row, aisle. Have to get up and walk. Also, toothbrush and paste. Water, of course, and books.

NTF Travis

i always bring my own water and more importantly my own food (especially now that the airlines have quit offering veggie fare!). i have to admit though, i always carry some crappy magazine (cosmo, vogue, maxim), drink stupid amounts of alcohol, and watch the movie. and court, i'm with you on being cold. i always dress like it's winter.

oh, as far as getting rx drugs...you'd have to have a real problem with anxiety to get a prescription, but i know people who have them just for flying.

how much does it cost to upgrade to business class anyways if you dont have any FF miles?

quote:

---

Originally posted by tom carr:
People talked about prescription drugs, beta blockers and percocet.

What drugs do you get? Will most docs write you a valium perscription if you just tell them that flying makes you nervous? What are beta blockers?

---

I don´t know about the doctors because I´ve never tried, but vicodin/valium/percocet are all readily available on the black market. Since you´re in Atlanta I don´t think it´d be challenging to acquire.

Beta blockers are drugs that are usually used to control high blood pressure, in general they usually just calm you down. Lopressor´s still the most commonly used I think.
Usually, I take along plenty of valium or valium to get me through. But this time, my longest flight ever being around 16 hours (broken up), I gave all my vicodin to my friend who was on the verge of a nervous breakdown due to stressing out over mundane things (silly girl´s a traveler at heart but doesn´t want to admit it, pray for her soul), so I just took a lot of Benadryl and thought everything was fucking great, so much so that two Nicaraguans on the plane thought I was the best thing in the world and took a picture of me and had me autograph one of their books. But I also bring my eye mask, to block out light, gum for breath and to relieve altitude pressure in the ears, and an easy-to-read book. And one of those gadgets you can get at those science stores that are really hard to unravel, usually made out of metal.

lol... I got prescribed a drug called Tramal to relieve the migraines I sometimes get. I had never had to take it before though but on the Buenos Aires -> Sydney leg of my last trip I felt like shit - I was sobbing like a bitch without a lolly-pop from leaving behind Thiago, and felt very sick.

I thought screw it, these are pain killers, and I'm in pain. So I took two. Half an hour later I felt as if I was floating on air, it was like ecstasy but without the frantic, excessive energy. I gave out my address to far too many people on the plane and invited them to come and stay with me anytime.

I later told this to my flat mate who's a nurse and she shook her head in disbelief that my doctor actually gave it to me - it's given to patient's in hospital after they come out of surgery to get them high and forget about their pain. Mmmm, dodgy Inala doctors.

I don't ususally like to take prescription drugs cos too much of any drug is bad for you, but in this case, benefits out-weighed the cons - it made the flight infinitely better.

Thus far, no random Argentinians have showed up on my doorstep to take me up on my offer of free accomodation

Can I ask a few newbie questions?

I'm not the best on airplanes so I avoid them if I can. What's this about thick socks? Why do you wear them? I have a foot that swells due to an injury and had heard flying makes your feet swell. I had planned on wearing pressure stockings on the flight.

Also, why all the water? Doesn't that make you need to get up and go to the bathroom alot?

Just curious.

Thick socks or a second pair: you can ditch the shoes as soon as you take your seat and then your feet stay cozy. That and I've learned from flight-crew friends just how rarely they clean the floors on any airplane, so there's not telling what's growing down there.

As for the water: Typically commercial jets are pressurized at 10,000 feet and the relative humidity in the cabin is kept at 5%. This is done to minimize corrosion of the aluminum fuselage. What it means for passengers is we get dehydrated quicker and many people get headaches, etc.

Interesting fact of the day: Boeing's new 7E7's fuselage will be constructed from a carbon composite rather than aluminum. This will allow the relative cabin pressure to be lowered to 6,000 feet (think Denver) and the relative humidity to be raised to 25%.

About a month before I leave, I stop reading all of my magazines and start saving them. I carry a ton of them on the plane with me and when I'm finished with them, I leave them there for somebody else to enjoy. And I have less to carry on my way back.

Music and snacks are also essential.

quote:

---

Originally posted by tom carr:
What are beta blockers?

---

Something I take for a minor heart condition-helps regulate blood pressure-a bit anyway.
Percocet is a lot stronger-a narcotic analgesic used for pain-I've never tried it.
Talk to your MD-he knows you better than we do he may have a great idea for something that works for nervous types.
I'm not nervous but sometimes my body is-thus the Beta Blocker.

People like wuffie2 should be damned careful about staring at/gossiping about/pissing off other passengers.
You never know who you're sitting near-a word dropped into the 'right ear' can really wreck someone's trip.
It's something I've done when someone pissed me off-for all I know that asswipe is still locked up in Mazatlan-at least I hope so.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sam Salmon:
People like _wuffie2_ should be damned careful about staring at/gossiping about/pissing off other passengers.
You never know who you're sitting near-a word dropped into the '_right ear_' can really wreck someone's trip.
It's something I've done when someone pissed me off-for all I know that asswipe is still locked up in Mazatlan-at least I hope so.

---

I was kidding! I just read or watch the movie, and drink as much water as I can. Sheesh!

I generally get drunker than strictly necessary (or advised)....zone out to movies....listen to the cheesy jazz radio stations on the plane....have a wander around when I'm bored - try to sneak a look at how the other half live in business/first (xoom: for the upgrade i think it's a good £1000 extra each way for long haul )
I'd always go for the window seat - it's a pain to get out of but the head rest and view out is always worth it for me.

Water, sweatshirt, and a valium.