What to do on a long flight.....

[MsDisney23]

I have a six hour flight on Wednesday.... trying to figure out what to bring with me to stay busy!

 

[lemondog]

The longest flight I ever took was about 10 hours (NYC to Moscow). They showed continual movies and TV shows, which helped pass the time. I also love to read, so I brought several books.

Don't know if you're used to taking such long flights, but i cannot stress enough how important it is to stay hydrated!!!! I am used to flying, but usually no more than 2-3 hours at a stretch. 10 hours about killed me! My contacts kept threatening to fall out, my nose got bloody, and I was extremely thirsty. And naturally, they ran out of water early on so I was miserable. Pack some bottled water in your carry on. Buy it after you go through screening if you have to!

Also, I packed a pair of comfy slippers to wear on the flight and stowed my shoes. Made it much more comfortable for me, especially since they made us get up every so often and walk around to keep blood flow okay to the legs.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

Well, I love Jetblue because of the TVs...nothing beats it on a long flight. However, if you are not flying Jetblue, do you have an iPod? You can put some video podcasts (or audio) on it, and it's like watching a TV show. I would break it up with reading and listening to the iPod. Not very original, but there aren't a lot of choices!
I am planning a trip to Hawaii in May....I am very daunted by keeping my kids busy for the entire LONG flights.
Good luck, happy travels!

 

[ICF]

if you have a laptop with you, you can watch DVD's on it.

 

[Dodie]

Bring a really, really good book.

 

[Darcy03231]

Books, magazines, ipod, cross word puzzles, word search books, dvd player or laptop and dvds, cards, and travel size games if you're traveling with someone else.

 

[Tumblwd501]

I know not everyone can, but I always try to take a nap if a I can. That always makes the trip a lot shorter! lol Of course, having younger kid(s) may hinder the opportunity for a nap.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I flew to New Zealand in the fall - 12 hour flight from LA, after a 5 hour flight from Toronto. And back three weeks later.

I'm a reader, so I bring several books, crossword puzzle books, Sudoku books, and usually a magazine or two. I also like Games magazine - it has a variety of puzzles in it.

I would repeat what others have said - get up and walk around frequently, and drink enough so you stay hydrated. I tend to make myself a little schedule: I'll read for 30 minutes, then have a drink (of water!), then do some puzzles for a while, then get up and walk around, then sit down and have another drink, then read some more, get up and go to the bathroom, etc.

Teresa

 

[CathrynRose]

I have a six hour flight on Wednesday.... trying to figure out what to bring with me to stay busy!

Benadryl. I'd sleep.

 

[Uuaww]

personally, I have taken some brutal flights (San Francisco to Melbourne, San Francisco to St. Croix) over the past few years. After about 6 hours I lose all concept of time and just sort of sit there motionless for hours dozing in and out of sleep. That is the way to go imo.

 

[Chicago526]

I can't sleep on planes, even in really comfortable seats (13 hours in business class Chicago to Seoul and I barely nodded off!) so I always try to bring things to do. One trick I have is to bring along a book that I've already read and realy enjoyed the first time around. I find I enjoy reading things over again (it's amazing what you missed the first time!). I think it's perfect as you already know you'll enjoy the book, you don't have to worry that you'll discover it wasn't as good as you first thought at 30,000 feet. Plus you won't mind so much if you're interupted for something, as it's easier to put down and pick back up again.

I also agree about the ipod or mp3 player, if you have one or if you have the money to buy one before you go (and the time to download everything!). I love music on flights, since I can't sleep I find that it helps me relax at least. I lean back an close my eyes and really listen to the songs for a change, rather than have them as background music or sing along to them in the car.

Also, most airlines have what movies they have showing on their websites, go look yours up, I find that airlines have some pretty decent movies these days, you could be surprised and they're showing something you really want to see.

And ditto that other poster, make sure you get up about once an hour and walk around, get the blood flowing again. But becareful taking off your shoes, I find that my feet swell and I have a hard time getting them back on again!

 

[Disney Doll]

I like word search books myself.

 

[xPrincessSmilesx]

The flight from the London to Orlando is just over 9 hours, the last time I took it was a while ago but I remember it passed surprisingly quick, especially for an excited 12 year old!

On long journeys I'm quite good at sleeping which helps! But normally it's my ipod all the way, I'm just praying the battery on my ipod will last the whole 9 hours come March for our flight to Orlando. Theres nothing like just shutting your eyes (even if you don't drift off) and just listening to the music. My ipod being a touch I've also got games and stuff downloaded onto it.

I imagine with 6 hours you'll get a meal which will split the time a bit, and it's a good idea to maybe get up and have a walk every now and then.

You might even be lucky and get seatback tvs and stuff, like Virgin Atlantic play music and films etc the whole way.

If all else fails there nothing like a good book.

 

[JessR]

Ipod touch, loaded with TV shows.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I'd take an iPod, a magazine and a dvd player with a disc of a TV show I like.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Books and/or magazines to read. Crossword, cryptogram, sudoku or kakuro puzzle books. Knitting or crochet (I know I've taken the needles aboard post-9/11, but can't remember if there's a size limit or something, so look into that if you're a knitter.)

Ditto what others said about keeping hydrated and getting up to walk around once in a while to keep the blood flowing.

Have a good trip!

 

[Pakey]

On interntional flights, ambien is my best friend but on those cross country flights, I always bring 2 books (just in case one does not grab my interest), a sudoko book, my ipod and my laptop for movie watching. I tend to spend a bit of time on each activity rather than sticking to one for the entire duration.

 

[JCJRSmith]

If you bring an MP3/video player (iPod, Zune, whatever), you may want to invest in a decent set of noise-cancelling headphones. Really good ones can run in excess of $200, but I got a decent pair at Best Buy for about $50. They are great for train rides and planes.

 

[Barb D]

I knit. Not only does it pass the time, but I accomplish something too!

 

[dismom2]

Books, magazines, ipod, cross word puzzles, word search books, dvd player or laptop and dvds, cards, and travel size games if you're traveling with someone else.

These are amongst the things I take on the plane. I also take an eye mask, one of those neck pillows, a small blanket, ear plugs, slippers or socks so I can take my shoes off, candy, chapstick, gum (not that those last few items will entertain you, but they are good to have), and I also recommend podcasts on your ipod. I have some comedian routines on mine, but sometimes you laugh out loud and people look at you funny. One more thing...I also take pain medicine (back pain), something to help me sleep depending on how long the flight is and what time it is, and other medications I might need. I'd rather have it and not need it than vice-versa.