Easy to read books and magazines.
Water.
Snacks.
Candy.
I like the neck brace type things so your head doesn't get really stiff.
Comfy clothes.

quote:

do hindu squats

Wow, what planes are you flying on that you have room to do Hindu Squats? And without getting strange looks? Eh, who cares what they think, Matt Furey would be proud.

I sleep on planes. I try to read and write... but I inevitably turn on music and sleep. Doesn't even matter how long it is, I'll sleep through it. Last trip back from Europe, when I was plane hopping my way back, by the 3rd flight of the day I was out before we even taxied away from the gate. Both ways to NYC last weekend I was out. It's probably partly due to a tendency to either catching late flights after a full day and tiring myself out, or catching early flights that I'm always afraid of not waking up for, and thus staying up all night and tiring myself out.

quote:

Originally posted by markus:
There's a health store here that sells some pills that are supposed to help with jet-lag... anyone have experience with these?

Yup, ' Melatonin'. I use it for insomnia, and I am planning on using it for jet lag when I go to Europe this summer. In a nutshell, it helps trigger your sleep cycle when your body won't do it on it's own for whatever reason. Just be warned, it's not like the hardcore prescription stuff a lot of other people around here are pushing. It doesn't make you drowsy, it only makes you able to sleep if you facilitate it with other factors like darkness, quiet, relaxation. It's effects are very slight, but definately very real, trust me on that. It's been a life saver when dealing with my insomnia. I think anyone who travels without it to deal with jet lag once they get to their destination is crazy.

i hate flying. I hate it with the passion of my soul. I suggest alchohol, narcotics, anti-anxiety meds, beta blockers, or whatever the hell keeps one from freakng out while being enclosed in an aluminum tube for 12-20 hours.
But personally for me it's percocet or valium. If nothing else and I have the doe to spend, alcohol will do the trick too, just then i get chatty with my seatmates who dont always feel like discussing the epic of gilgamesh.

On my last flight (including the lay over, 23 hours..) I brought silk pajama pants, flip flops, and my pillow. I was able to curl up into my seat and pass out in comfort for a bit. My iPod chose to die during the first half hour, and when I got back home I had to get it replaced, but sometimes I get sick of it anyway. I can't help thinking it would be nice to get one of the video iPods though.

I'm the weird person who likes chatting on the plane. I'm kinda shy about it, but I'm always really glad when the other person starts talking.

in video mode ipods last about 2-3 hours max, i'm pretty sure

...and yeah, i wasn't exactly doing streches and exercise in my chair. you have to walk, sometimes a "long" way to the front or back, wherever the restroom is with that 5'x5'-ish area where the antsy people (like me) seem to congregate.

but drugs are always the best. lots of drugs.

Kinda late to the game, but here is my advice on How To Make A Flight More Pleasant:

If it's a long flight, say, from London to Toronto, you need to 1)Get a seat that doesn't recline 2)Have the guy in front of you decide he wants to recline ALL THE WAY BACK, and (most important) 3)Decide you will rot in hell before you stare at this guy's bald head for the next 8 hours, get your knees up against the seat, and push back.

I did this for the entire flight from UK to Canada. That guy was pissed at me for sure, his only problem was I was more pissed at him for being a douchebag. My legs from the knees down were numb by the time we landed, but at least that SOB got even less rest than I did.

I use my FF miles to upgrade to business. (or just use FF's to "buy" business in the first place) This often requires lots of FF's, but if you fly/use credit card/look for bonuses often, you can rack 'em up quickly.

Short of that, comfy clothes are key for me. And a nice fluffy pair of socks to keep my feet warm and allow me to take off my shoes and wander in peace.

You should just drive next time. London to Toronto is only 190km.

Two fun but abbreviated stories ... on a flight from NYC to Toyko, I was in between two very portly men ... the outwardly gay attendant said "You look very uncomfortable. I'll take care of that." Thinking the worst, I was a bit fearful what that meant. In reality what it meant was the entire back row of the plane was empty, he had "reserved" it for me, complete with three pillow, two blankets and the evil stares of several other passengers who had coveted those empty seats in their minds before he got them for me And no favors were passed ... although he did ask me if I was doing anything in Toyko and I had to let him know my girlfriend would not like me dating around

2nd one shorter -- going from SF to Mexico City -- they were bumping passengers, I noticed a pretty girl wanted to be bumped, but was nervous about landing in Mexico City at night with no place to stay ... I told her that could be taken care of, as I had been there many times before ... first leg of the later flight to Tempe, we kissed and had a bit of fun ... second leg to Puerto Vallarta, we got off the plane, had some beers and rolled around outside ... 3rd, and final leg, she whispered into my ear "are you feeling gutsy?" -- yes, the MHC finally and, to my surprise, not with a girlfriend, but a stranger ... when we landed many people asked us if we were on our honeymoon ...

I guess my point is you don't always find the great flights ... sometimes the great flights find you ... I am off to the galapagos on Thursday ... hope a great one is waiting yet again!!!

AaA

quote:

Originally posted by nerokerr:
You should just drive next time. London to Toronto is only 190km.

I thought about that, but my car doesn't have a propeller.

I used to live by the ditch your shoes and wander in peace in your socks rule until on my last flight the flight attendant burst my bubble by telling me she thinks of the airplane bathrooms as port-a-potties in the sky.

EW! Maybe next time I will bring an extra pair of socks and get rid of them at my destination.

Gotta love it when the movie(s) is something you had been wanting to see.

Perhaps I haven't done enough of them but I just tend to live the moment and find them plesant anyway. The sheer incredulity of being 30,000 feet above the earth hoping the flight will never end. Get a focus on what's below and then perhaps think through another 8,000 mile to the ocean or land on the direct opposte of the world. Then you might think about the earth's journey around the galaxy whilst your flying around the earth.

Still got in by the magic of it all. Although perhaps not coming home. That's a little more mundane as you know what is in front of you but I tend to not want flights to end. Love 'em. Although must admit had toddlers on the last one and was hoping the thing didn't crash.

I've posted this before, but I'll totally chime in again on working an airline or airline alliance's FF program to rack up the miles. Use the cash for the coach ticket, & the miles for an upgrade.

I don't think anyone's said this yet, but if you're in biz. (or, first) on an international flight, you'll get to use that airline's "vip" lounges at your departure AND arrival airports. That's AWESOME. There's usually free food & beverages (leave space in your carry on), travel supplies, showers, etc.

A handful of international flights in a year may even snag you "elite" status with said airline's FF program, then the perks (incl. upgrades!) really start pouring in.

Scott, or anyone else who has used Melatonin: What strength (how many milligrams) did you use?

Re: the pair of socks to be discarded upon reaching your destination is a good idea!