What do you do to make your flight more pleasant?

I bring -something to listen to plus -something to read plus -something to write in.

I also have a set of clothes just for the flight which I trash when I get to the airport: a sweatshirt, comfy socks, maybe a scarf or hat, a flannel sheet. Stuff I dont want to lug around but it makes that first leg of a flight so much more comfy.

What do you do?

Prescription drugs. Discman. Ear plugs. Eye mask. (all geared towards blocking out your surrounding environment )

Decent snacks. Pashmina (to use as a blanket or pillow or wrap). Warm, cushiony socks (and warm, cushiony clothes in general).

Oh, and a compact water pistol to sneakily squirt water (add sugar for sticky fun) at fellow passengers in times of extreme boredom

too many books, a journal or two, and socks. And I request an aisle seat for long flights, window for when I'm tired and won't be moving much.

And water. LOTS of water. And something to wash with before we land, so I don't come off the plane looking like I've been flying for the past 17 hours.

ask to see the cockpit. It doesnt matter how old you are its still fun. I dont know if it is harder to do post 911 but i managed to do it last year on a perth-sydney flight. Or a colour in book, they can be quite the challenge durin turbulance.

PS im 23

i almost forgot. make faces at children. make sure there parents dont see. the best bit is that you will never get into trouble. if there parents see it going on, the kid will most likely get a "Leave that man alone". It also helps if you have better lollies than him

A copy of Baseball Weekly, fat socks, and long sleeves.

A Beta Blocker and a book.

fly business class....
unfortunately I don't have any more airmiles left for free biz class flights Going back to cattle class is going to be hell.
Water is a must. I bring 2L worth (for trans-Pacific flights)
Liz

oooh i didn't know you could ask to see the cockpit!?

you know how your face gets all dried out but yet greasy at the same time and it's all and crappy feeling.. what do people do for that?

WATER and lots of it!! Magazines, books, and few scooby snacks. Moisturizer for my face face and hands. I don't like those face spritzers I find them too drying. I like Kiehl's Moisture Mask, its greasy, but I have dry skin and its great on long flights. I try and organize everything so its easy to get inflight.

Check what you don't need!!!!!!

OH!! and layer your clothing..sometimes its hard to get the temperature just right for everybody. There is nothing worse than baking in a sweater you can't take off!! Or freezing in short sleeves!!

percocet for long flights over oceans, because i'm a nervous flier...
a good, thick, engrossing book.
clean socks, so you can take your shoes off without feeling like an asshole.
whiskey...

Despite the warnings about thinning hte blood etc, alcohol makes the time fly. Movies and books. Staring at people to psyche them out. talking to the stewards in their little bits too. Making fun of people if you're travelling with a mate. Making fun of people anyway. Making fun of foreign people and wondering if they secretly understand you. Wondering if they really are all out to get you.

But best of all, my music. Minidisc it up and tune the @#*&£$%s out

I love long flights - its my time when I can be alone, think, not worry about things etc...its the only time I can turn my phone off and do what I want (note: to the woman who tried to talk at me for 11 hours coming back from SFO last week - DONT!)

My top tips are

1. a 2l bottle of water - this way you know how much you have drunk and dont need to wait for the cabin crew to come around
2. Gum - to get rid of that 'someone just shat in my mouth' feleing when you wake up
3. Lo-brow reading - any thing fat, gold lettered and blockbusterish will do - I hate to say this but Dan Brown rules (if you feel ashamed by being seen with his book feel free to slip it into a porn mag...)
4. Stick with the same airline - I always fly United and often get upgraded - this helps a lot. A few long hauls and they soon start treating you a little better
5. Have someone meet you when you land - nothing is nicer than getting off a long flight and seeing a smiling face waiting for you.
6. I also carry my MP3 player - not to actually use but to put on in case anyone should dare to talk to me...

Philip

For international flights, I bring a journal, mazagine for when I'm bored but I don't want to focus on reading, a book that requires little focus (trashy romance novel or John Grisham-type stuff), tylenol PM, the warmest socks I can find, toothbrush and toothpaste, water and a small thing of lotion. And two blankets, if I can snag em...I'm always cold!

court

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?