I'm venturing on my first ever long haul flight in June and I was just wondering if anyone has any tips to stop me getting bored senseless on the flight and how to cope with sleeping etc?

cheers!

iPod, neck cushion, crappy in flight movie.

Try to time sleeping with when you'd be asleep where you're going

Assuming you're in economy - does the airline have seatback on-demand IFE? If they haven't, take a laptop and load it with films (a tablet is superb for this). Makes sure it's fully charged. Kindles are also great if you're a reader.

Actually, you might be better off without seatback screens. Last time I flew economy long-haul was San Francisco - Frankfurt and the fecking sod behind me was jabbing at the screen for hours. He stopped after I gave him a glaring look after about 7 hours.

For sleeping - invest in a little travel pack. I got one for a few dollars in San Francisco before that flight, contained a decent inflatable neck pillow, and earplugs and eye mask (which I already had). Makes sleeping much easier. Take your shoes off and an extra pair of socks to keep your feet warm. Oh and if it's an overnight flight and you're losing hours (eastbound transatlantic, for example), try and sleep as soon and as much as possible. I normally try and have some consideration and don't recline my seats much, but on long-haul it's a must.

Truth is, long-haul economy travel is crap. You'll be bored and frustrated after a couple of hours and won't sleep well. There will always be a whingey brat keeping you awake and the PA system will 'BONG' every time you're drifting off.

Of course, if you're business class don't worry and just enjoy! In my job I tend to get Business Class and it's an absolute world of difference. Plus the cabin crew chuck loads of booze down your neck to try and get you to sleep.

No, Im flying with Emirates to far the far east with a stop over in Dubai, luckily the first leg to Dubai I leave Manchester at 9pm, get some kip, arrive in Dubai wait around for 3 hours to connecting flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

I think a new Ipod may have to be purchased as my current one the battery wont last longer than an hour or so

Set your watch to the time of the city of your destination as soon as you get on the plane.

I don't know why it works for me but it just does, have never had what I'd class as jet lag, nothing that an hours extra kip wouldn't shake off anyway.

You'll be fine. Emirates, even in economy have a great entertainment system on the back of seats. If you're on an A380 it's quieter and smoother than on flights of old. Drinks are free, but you may have to ask for them as they only tend to give you a drink with your meal. I flew on one last friday to Auckland from Sydney. Nice plane, nice flight.


If you look up your flight numbers and see what plane you're on, you can see the seat configurations at:
seatguru.com

that way you may be able to choose the best seat, if you can choose it online.


Oh and you'll be able to look at the internet on your laptop as they have wi-fi on board A380s.

Buy it in Dubai if you can.

Don't forget to get up and move regularly to keep your circulation going to prevent a DVT. There are some very fetching flight socks out there to help with circulation.

Go by steamer, far more relaxing

onanism... The pastime of kings

Check what you get for free on the flight as well - stuff like sleep masks, neck pillows etc may be available on the plane rather than having to buy them in advance.

If you get the option to upgrade to economy seats with additional legroom or by the emergency exits, take it. I know you've not got the longest of legs, but it really does make a difference.

its not the first flight on split long hauls that kills you its the second one. I've often found this travelling to the west coast of the US. The first flight to Philly or O'hare is not so bad but after a couple of hours transfer the second 4-6 hours flight is knackering. An ipad is the ideal in flight companion but you will need noise cancelling earphones if you want to hear anything. I also use my kindle on most flights.

It would be very selfish of the Hobbit to take up one of those additional legroom seats, especially when his legs won't even touch the floor.

PS Loz, When you get to Vietnam don't go out into the country side, not even on organised tours, there is a good chance that when uneducated peasants see your hair they'll take you for a god and not let you return.

Go into it with the right attitude. I really enjoy long haul flights nowadays and actually look forward to them. I know I can watch loads of movies (new releases but also loads of films from the far east not generally shown over here - I am normally flying to Bangkok or Singapore) and catch up with reading books and magazines I haven't had time for as in that 12 hours I will not be disturbed by work, family etc. No point in worrying about everyday life when you are up in the sky as you can't do anything about any problems. It is like being in a cocoon from reality and I enjoy that. If you go into the flight thinking it will be long and boring, it will be. Instead be organised and don't keep checking your watch!

Having done a few trips to Australia on my own, and I hate flying, my own personal strategy is to take advantage of the free booze, always helps the time go for me.

1. See if they offer extra legroom seats in economy. I upgraded for 20 quid coming back from China last week on Virgin - it's well worth it.

2. Get an Aisle seat - far less claustrophobic and there are sometimes clips under the seat arm that allow you to lift the arm up on the aisle side - loads more room.

3. Don't drink any alcohol at all. Seriously, this is the biggest tip I can give you. The tempatation (Christopher

) is to have a few and think this will send you off to sleep and you'll wake up at your destination with nothing more than a bit of a dry mouth. Wrong. You'll sleep for 2 hours and then wake up mid flight with a stiff neck, and a hangover. You will then travel the bulk of you journey unable to sleep feeling pooh. If I wanted to torture someone I'd get them pished and then put them on a flight to China in economy. You should only dirnk when you know you can go to bed and sleep it off for 10 hours. I have seen so many guys on long haul flights puking and moaning with hangovers mid journey (I may have done it myself as well I admit).

4. Noise cancelling headphones. Best 50 quid I've ever spent. The ones on the plane let all the aircraft noise through so you have to crank the volume up on the film you are watching up to 11 to hear anything. Try putting a power drill at full tilt next to ears for 11 hours and imagine the headache (combine this with a hangover and you really are in Hell). Noise cancelling headphones will kiil all the engine noise and sometimes I just sit with them on not even listening to anything for the quiet.

5. Forget trying to adjust to destination time. Takes your body a week to do that, it won't happen on a plane flight.

6. Sleeping pills. I got some off my missus and even if they don't knock you out they will relax you and you end up less stiff.

7. ALWAYS ask for an upgrade when you check in (don't check in online - do it when you get to the airlport). You never, ever know when they might just say...YES!

Where are you flying from?

They charge a fortune for those now, but Virgin have banks of seats with extra legroom - unless you're 6'6" they are great. Also, the seats by the bulkhead partitions which have free leg space infront put you right next to the "Baby" seats. The central seats by the bulkhead where they put families with babies. Babies do only one thing on long haul - cry. Even noise cancelling headphones are useless against a baby wailing. You need to be at least 4-5 rows back.

Alwayts get the aisle seat on the middle row of 4, this has always been great for me. My last return flight from Aus I had the whole row of 4 to myself for both legs of the flight.

Also dont pick a seat near a 'bulk head' as that is usually where they have the sky cots, sky cots means noisy sprogs - not good on a long flight

1 (a). If nothing else, get the best noise-cancelling earphones you can. I have some in-ear Sennheiser ones. The nearest to the model i have that i can see is the CX500. Comes with a volume control on the cord, different size earplus and if it still has one, an on-off switch for the noise reduction.

I haven't tried any of the over-ear ones, but they can be £200-250 so presume they must be as good or better; but the sheer luxury of sticking the rubber earpiece in your ear and that drone disappearing takes a hell of a lot of stress away. The number one tip. Bar none.

(b) A snazzy sweatband/headband/buff thingy, if choosing in-ear earphones, to stop them slowly working their way out - or being pulled out when you nod off!

(c) Obviously, you chosen music device!! the point with the noise cancelling earphones is, use them all the time, even when NOt listening to music, as you don't realise how stressing the constant drone is until after it has stopped. But if you forget your ipod you'll be sick!

2. (a) A good, long book that you have always meant to read.
(b) don't forget your bookmark!

3. A fleece jacket, for when it gets cold on the plane.

Did I mention noise-cancelling earphones?

I always opt for a window seat in economy, for the simple fact you get something to look at occasionally and more importantly you can rest your head against the cabin interior (I always take a jacket as a cushion). Far easier and comfier than that awkward moment when you nod off, your head drops sharply and you crick your neck. Did myself some neck damage on a Heathrow-Manchester flight last month falling asleep like that on the looooooong taxi out at Heathrow.


Getting bladdered is a stupid idea, agreed, but I find a glass of wine or two or three before departure helps, and it shouldn't make you desperate to wee. As I said earlier, in business class the crew tend to plough you with booze to get you off to sleep anyway. Works for me.

Yes, I would say having a regular tipple will make your journey that bit ore pleasant, though I'd recommend some soft drinks in between to counter headaches. Peeing is not an issue, they have plenty of dubs, and the occasional walk to the dubs and back you'll find means suddenly when you get back to your seat you are much more comfortable, for that little bit of movement and exercise.

But back to my list - only wished i'd followed this advice once, but wish I had-

4. Your choice of HEADACHE pills. Aspirin, paracetamol, whatever. They aren't allowed to give you anything on the plane and if your head chooses those hours to ache (and I think the changes in pressure, the noise etc do tend to cause headaches) you'll wish you had a couple of pills to pop. My personal choice is Nurofen.