What keeps you busy on a 16 hour flight?

[SingleDad318]

Just the thought of it sounds tiring but I figure I will brush up on my Chinese and take a plethera of self educational items. I can imagine stock purchases of Duracell.
I am in the process of gutting this website and printing printing printing anything relevant to my venture.
Any tips, tricks or good old fashioned advise from the well heeled travelers in this forum?

I hope I dont sit next to a rotundulary challenged person!

Jody

[Jeff S]

... in response to What keeps you busy on a 16 hour flight?, posted by SingleDad318 on May 27, 2002

But don't bother bringing too much stuff like extra film and toiletries. I prefer travel sizes of toiletries - that much less to hump. Beijing is a big, international city and you'll have no trouble finding these items there for about the same cost or less than in the USA. As many have said try to sleep on the plane of you can. I find it difficult, especially on outbound legs. Too much anticipation, I guess, but as Don said, first or business class makes it much easier. One thing that no one has mentioned, though, is to drink lots of water on the plane. They say 8 oz per hour is about right for most people, but big guys like you and I need quite a bit more. The air in the cabin comes from the engine compressors and when you start with -60 degree air, then warm it to 72 F, the relative humidity is absolutely zero, then lower the pressure to an 8500 foot density altitude, and your body loses water about the same rate as when you're crawling on your knees in the desert at midday. It's no big deal for a couple hour flight, but get on those longer flights and it can be a real problem. Your body can lose a gallon of water on that flight. The plane will have potable drinking water. Every time you get up to stretch your legs, swing by for a cup.

Another thought, if your sweetie is meeting you at the airport, make sure you have some personal hygene things with you on the flight. You'll want to freshen up a bit just before the plane lands. Your pits, breath, hair, and five oclock shadow can get pretty funky being crammed in a cramped metal tube with a bunch of strangers for that long.

Your idea of studying up on Chinese language & culture is good. Pick up a travel guide of Beijing and read through it too. You'll be able to impress your sweetie with bits and pieces, like "Isn't this the statue, the Han dynasty emporor had erected to commemorate..." She'll think you're a genious.

-- Jeff

[outwest77]

... in response to What keeps you busy on a 16 hour flight?, posted by SingleDad318 on May 27, 2002

I read their magazine, etc, sleep when i can,
try to get a seat near the aisle on that long flight,
otherwise you will be trapped , and the aisle you can stretch out your legs more.

Depending on what airline you fly, i recommend this.

1)DONT CHECK ANY BAGS, if you do you will regret it,
get a 22 inch rolling carry on bar with a telescopic
handle , this is accepted by all the major airlines. I carried a huge gym bag type for carry on , on my most recent trip and i REGRETTED IT. LAX is huge so are most of the asian airports, and you will love having the rolling bag.

2)PACK LIGHTLY. 5 shirts, 4 or 5 shorts, socks, underwear,
pair of dress slacks or long jeans, Comfortable sandals with a nice heal(i bought a very nice pair at Walmart, leather with great heels for $20), Toiletries,

3)If you carry a camera , dont carry a nice 35mm, i carried a cheap 30 dollar 35mm on my belt, with extra film, it was always handy, lightweight, and i prefer a regular 35mm over a digital since you can develop the pics and make copies.

4)The airlines usually always allow a backpack with your carry on, and this is a great idea. I carried anything i needed access to in the backpack on the airline, Magazines for reading, etc, I zipped the airline tickets, passport,
boarding passes etc in one convenient pocket in the backpack and kept the backpack at my feet. That way when you get off the airline, you grab your backpack sling it over your shoulder, and roll your small carry on, and you are off through the airport, No waiting to retrieve your luggage for airline transfers , you carry it all with you.

5)Carry snacks on the airline you never know when they are going to feed you , and even if they do it takes forever.
Take chips, cookies, or whatever you want to snack on,
the next trip I'm taking 3 canned sodas and a plastic cup
also since i did not like thier choice of beverages and they give you tiny cups , and you have to wait till they walk past, That way , with my sodas and cup i will just ask, please give me some ice in this cup, and im set. Its
a LONG FLIGHT and china airlines fed us once one hour into the flight and guess how much later they wanted to feed us again? .............NINE HOURS LATER, .............try waiting nine hours between meals, and you know why i am not carrying snacks and drinks.

[outwest77]

... in response to Re: What keeps you busy on a 16 hour fli..., posted by outwest77 on May 28, 2002

Forgot to mention some other stuff

1)Pack earplugs and eye sleep covers for the airflight if you have trouble sleeping , as i do.

2)Pack asprin, immodium AD in case of food irregularities,
and also Dramamine for sea sickness or air sickness.

Most stuff is cheap there, if you are going to the phils
china i think may be more expensive, so film might be a good idea to bring before you go. If you buy fuji film, like I did, make sure you buy Fuji Superia XTRA 800, its
been rated the best film overall on the market by many websites.........You can get a 4 pack at walgreens for 13dollars.

If you want to see the travel site i made feel free to go there.

http://www.world-class-babes.com/travel.html

[The Walker]

... in response to What keeps you busy on a 16 hour flight?, posted by SingleDad318 on May 27, 2002

Depends on what class and what airline you are flying. If you are flying first class on SAL for instance you have an in-seat screen with full internet access and satellite TV just like at home. And if you are really bored, the FAs will come over and talk to you if they are not busy.

But for any class, I recommend sleeping as much as possible. Going east to west isn't as bad as the reverse, but sleep will help. Take a sleeping mask for your eyes, a small pillow for your neck and ear plugs. I admit sleeping in the tourist class seats isn't as easy as in the reclining sofa/bed seats in first class, but try it anyhow. If they let you bring Sominex or some other non-prescript sleep-aid, try it.

If you can't sleep, bring books you have been wanting to catch up on (disposable paperback versions). Crossword puzzle books are cheap and disposable. I usually catch up on letter writing. People like to get letters postmarked from China or somewhere "exotic".

Because face it, sex isn't an option and you don't have a lot of room to wander or stretch out unless you are flying first class. If you make too many trips walking around you'll be suspected of something these days.

So try to sleep. You are excited and all but I bet you didn't sleep well the night before or else it will be a long day and worse hassle even before you get on the plane. Six or eight hours of nod will do you a world of good, trust me.

-Don
(way experienced flier)

[Tim]

... in response to What keeps you busy on a 16 hour flight?, posted by SingleDad318 on May 27, 2002

I just wanted to thank everyone for remembering me and pointing Jody to my discussion group. I just approved his subscription, hopefully our collective experiences can help him (and vice versa).

Regards, Tim