Boredom on long flights

[cbd2cai 0]

I like the suggestion about the "easy to read" magazines . . . something mindless to use up some time and be entertained.

I guess I'm an odd duck. My airplane ritual always includes getting a copy of the economist

Make that two odd ducks. . .

I think my desire to read "dumbed down" material has to do with my "travelling consultant" life. Things get quite intense with the computer and programming stuff . . . so my work life of coding and problem solving/debugging leads to a huge desire to relax in my off time. This got particularly acute when flying back and forth to Hong Kong this past summer. I even got to the point where I didn't want to watch any movies on those little screens in the seatbacks because my eyes were tired after hours of sitting in crapped conference rooms with too many ppl and staring at the small laptop screen for waaaaaaaaaaay longer than I wanted to. B)

Hmmmm, now why am I on VJ when I should be doing some more coding?? Oh, well, back to work!

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Books, magazines, music, a laptop if you have one, foreign language studies, in-flight movies -- these are all very good suggestions. Boning up on the tourist info or culture/history of your destination is also time well spent. Puzzles or games can really come in handy, or even a deck of cards if you care to play with other passengers in your row.

You might plan to do some shopping if you have enough time during your layover -- duty free can get you some nice bargains on perfumes, etc. And it's the perfect place to pick up those last-minute gifts of candy and chocolate.

I also have a hard time sleeping on planes -- the best I can do is just lightly doze, but I am jolted awake by any tiny noise or movement in the seat next to me, or the slightest bump in the ride. And I ususally can't sleep much the night before a flight. Never tried a sleeping pill -- makes me nervous even to think of being asleep while travelling

Do remember to get up and walk around a bit on the plane, or you can even do simple leg stretching exercises while sitting in your seat. Long flights and immobility in a small confined space, combined with a pressurized cabin can increase the risk of forming deadly blood clots -- so DO remember to move those legs, at least for 5 minutes every hour.

Have a safe flight, and a wonderful trip !

-MK

[melly 0]

Thanks everyone, you've had some great suggestions!!

I wish I took drugs (boy does that sound wrong!), I'd be more than happy to take a sleeping pill or even some nyquil, but I just don't take any of that kind of stuff.

I wonder how irritating it would be to all of the other passengers if I listen to a language tape and I'm trying to pronounce words over and over??

[doodlebug 3]

I like the suggestion about the "easy to read" magazines . . . something mindless to use up some time and be entertained.

I guess I'm an odd duck. My airplane ritual always includes getting a copy of the economist

Make that two odd ducks. . .

I think my desire to read "dumbed down" material has to do with my "travelling consultant" life. Things get quite intense with the computer and programming stuff . . . so my work life of coding and problem solving/debugging leads to a huge desire to relax in my off time. This got particularly acute when flying back and forth to Hong Kong this past summer. I even got to the point where I didn't want to watch any movies on those little screens in the seatbacks because my eyes were tired after hours of sitting in crapped conference rooms with too many ppl and staring at the small laptop screen for waaaaaaaaaaay longer than I wanted to. B)

Hmmmm, now why am I on VJ when I should be doing some more coding?? Oh, well, back to work!

So lemme ask ya..since you read the junk stuff that I glance at while I'm waiting in line at the checkout:

1) Is Farrah Faucet really dying of cancer?

2) Is Pres Bush really getting a divorce?

3) Is Tom and whatshername really splitting up and was their baby an alien?

[natty bumppo 297]

My previous job had me doing hemisphere dancing … globe trotting … etc. quite a bit (100k+ per year). (DC to Singapore … ATL to Dubai … etc … etc … God what long trips). The suggestions given are all good. A few good paperback books (captivating and/or mind expanding … yes even the classic books I didn’t read in school are now read) always works. Also for me, Unisom (OTC) takes the edge off so I can sleep.

Just find something that works for you. Keep it relaxing. Being in the plane is like being a little kid again … riding in the back seat … letting the parents drive. Also, sleep makes the trip faster … and there is nothing you can do to help fly the plane … so .. relax.

Some important tips:

Be careful with alcohol. At altitude, the alcohol hits you harder unless you live at a higher elevation. Consider one drink on the plane equal to two on the ground. Alcohol also may dehydrate you … so beware.

Drink water. Don’t be afraid to get up … visit your appropriate galley (class of service) and ask for a cup. Don’t hang out in the galley … share a few brief words with the flight attendant ... drink up … toss the cup … and walk back to your seat. (Always remember and respect current security regulations … especially for US based carriers).

Wear comfortable clothing (especially shoes) and relax. For me … on long international trips my feet swell a little (no .. I’m not overweight or have blood circulation problems). About 15 minutes on the ground … and my feet are back to normal.

For layovers, try to stay awake. Its safer, you won't miss your connecting flight, and you just might be tired enough to sleep on the plane.

[cbd2cai 0]

So lemme ask ya..since you read the junk stuff that I glance at while I'm waiting in line at the checkout:

1) Is Farrah Faucet really dying of cancer?

2) Is Pres Bush really getting a divorce?

3) Is Tom and whatshername really splitting up and was their baby an alien?

Hey, you know as much as I do . . . lol, I really only read these when I am sitting in the hair salon and forgot to bring a book!! I am trying really hard to bring a good book for times when I am waiting since I am trying to keep my brain functioning . . . regardless of my comment about the "dumbed down" reading.

So I read murder mysteries . . (interesting series of books that I devoured recently with a police inspector in Shanghai - now I want to visit there) . . . science fiction (4 volume series by George R.R. Martin and I am on Vol 2 of the re-read to get into Vol 3 then 4). Recently got some books by a Turkish author that won a Pultizer prize I believer . . . he has an interesting auto-biographical book about growing up in Istanbul . . . love this city!!! Just finished an interesting read about life in Cairo (fiction), The Yacoubian Building, got it on Amazon.com but it is a publication of the American University in Cairo. speaking of which, they have a great bookstore - I went to both the one in Zamalek and the one on the main campus. bought some great maps of Cairo and other parts of Egypt . . . love to look at maps and know where I am going.

Sorry for the long blurb about books . . . I really am a book-aholic!!!!

[maggieNomar 0]

British Air has those tv's in the back of the seats and offers tons of movies.

I don't plan on watching them though since I"m downing an Ativan before getting on board so that I'm not a total freaked out nutcase focusing on the fact that this large metal thing that weighs tons is able to stay in the air over a HUGE body of water where no one will be able to find us for months on end if we crash.

Thanks Doodle..Just what I wanted to read mere days before MY flight I had just convinced myself all would be ok...now you owe me some fast paced therapy!!!

[~Jess~ 0]

okay i am flying home in a few weeks and was wonderin a few things.......i was gonna take royal jordanian cause i like how small the airport is and can navigate it.......but the planes kinda suck with no tvs in the seats....................what airports are small enuf for an idiot like me to naviagate during a layover?? help me out yall!

[ya falaha! 0]

Frankfurt is easy to navigate. Whatever you do...don't go through Heathrow. Too huge.

Jess..I'm happy to hear you'll be spending Christmas with your little man. That's wonderful!

Edited November 7, 2006 by moody

[~Jess~ 0]

im not seein an option for lebanon on Lufthansa's thingy. grrrrrrrr

[doodlebug 3]

Frankfurt is easy to navigate. Whatever you do...don't go through Heathrow. Too huge.

Jess..I'm happy to hear you'll be spending Christmas with your little man. That's wonderful!

You know I remembered last night that you said it's hard to navigate through Heathrow but then I looked up my flight info and I'm both arriving and departing in terminal 4, so even with that will I still get lost??

British Air has those tv's in the back of the seats and offers tons of movies.

I don't plan on watching them though since I"m downing an Ativan before getting on board so that I'm not a total freaked out nutcase focusing on the fact that this large metal thing that weighs tons is able to stay in the air over a HUGE body of water where no one will be able to find us for months on end if we crash.

Thanks Doodle..Just what I wanted to read mere days before MY flight I had just convinced myself all would be ok...now you owe me some fast paced therapy!!!

Hmmm....I'm not a therapist but you can have some ativan or a valium if you'd like. I actually have a panic disorder so I'm a weirdo case when it comes to stuff like this. He had to talk me into flying there for months before I agreed 'cause I would literally make myself sick just *thinking* about it!!!

[ya falaha! 0]

You won't get lost it's just a lot of walking to do. You'll get off the plane and have to take the tram to terminal 4 then walk way the hell across to your gate. Since you have such a long layover I'm sure you'll be fine. There is so much in that terminal to do as far as places to eat and shops that you can just hang around there all day. Start walking to your gate about an hour before your plane leaves.

[jordanianprincess 0]

I'm so happy to see this thread, because this is one of the hardest things for me. I don't even know how I got the time to pass when I went to Jordan.

I have terrible Motion Sickness and I can't even read on a plane. My Ipod was ok for like an hour, then I got bored of that. I watched a couple of movies but that also made me kinda sick. I couldnt sleep at all. I found myself staring at the back of the seat most of the time on the way there.

The way back was worse beause I cried most of the time. To this day, it is beyond me how I survived that flight.

Is there anyone else here that gets bad motion sickness?

[doodlebug 3]

Is there anyone else here that gets bad motion sickness?

ME!!!!!

I usually take bonine before flying or going on a cruise and so far so good.

I REALLY hope I don't get stuck with a middle seat between two smelly people. That's one of my biggest fears. I'd rather have an aisle seat or a window. Unfortunately I can't choose until 23 hours before my flight.

[ya falaha! 0]

That's weird that you couldn't choose when you bought the tickets. I chose when I bought mine and I got all window seats and close to the front of the plane. Of course I did get that upgrade on the way there.