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Post by ingrid6 on Jul 21, 2014 21:07:21 GMT
Drugs.
That's all I've got. I'm right there with you... Flying is evil, scary, no fun, traumatic, nerve wracking, blah, blah, blah... hate it. There, I said it! It's my only phobia but it's a biggie. My attitude is not good or helpful. My mom and sister still live in Europe - wish I could just take a train across the pond When I do fly, I wear super comfy clothes - yoga type pants, tee shirt layered with a fleece or light weight jacket. I also wear very comfortable shoes. Hope you have a great trip!
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Post by AN on Jul 21, 2014 21:12:57 GMT
5 hours is not a long flight lol,! Buy a magazine at the airport , you'll be there before you know it! It isn't the one 5 hour flight, it is the whole leave at 10pm, fly 5 hours, have a 1'ish hour layover, fly 5 hours, have a 1'ish hour layover, and the a 1.5 hour flight to get home. But, we typically only fly 1-2 hours. Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I wish we could upgrade to the economy plus seats, but with 4 of us flying, that adds up. I try to read, but that depends on the smoothness of the flights, I get motion sick pretty easily. Anyone use a neck pillow? Do they help or hinder? I have this neck pillow - Evolution. I only take it on long flights, but I do think it is worth if for those long flights. It compresses down pretty well, maybe to about the size of a cereal bowl/medium tupperware bowl ( I can't think of anything else), so that is tolerable for me. I find myself using it behind my back as much or more than using it around my neck. It is nice when sleeping though because it fastens and will keep you from doing the head droop thing. It is flatter on the back so it doesn't make your neck stick out from the headrest awkwardly. Having four of you flying will be nice. Have you booked your seats already? What is the arrangement of the seats? Check on SeatGuru.com. If you can get 2 sets of 2 seats (no middle seat), you'll be golden. Sitting only next to people you know is so much better than sitting next to strangers.
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Post by AN on Jul 21, 2014 21:15:03 GMT
Oh, I also like Tom's type of shoes (Skechers Bobs is my preference, but they are basically Toms knockoffs). I like them because they are comfy enough to leave on, easy to slip on and off if needed, and they do have some give for if your feet swell. But yet they still have rubber tennis-shoe like bottoms which are good for walking through an airport/parking lot/etc. After that I like tennis shoes. If I wear sandals on a flight I'm usually pretty uncomfortable.
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Post by papersilly on Jul 21, 2014 21:18:46 GMT
I've done mostly 15 or 18 hour flights so you would think that a 5 hour flight would be a breeze but for me it's not. I get terribly bored and antsy. it also gets hot and very dry on flights so, as far as comfort, I wear loose, breathable clothes. I like to wear shoes I can kick off too. I like to sit by the window so I can lean against it instead of the person next to me.
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Post by birukitty on Jul 21, 2014 21:40:29 GMT
Wear clothes that are natural fibers and breathe. Or sythetic fibers that wick sweat. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a polyester shirt having a hot flash and no way for the heat to escape. I like to dress in layers so I can add and subtract because the temps change constantly-either from where I leave and arrive or simply from being on the plane (it can get chilly). Dress for comfort but consider where you are travelling to also. If you are going to Paris please don't travel in your PJ bottoms with Micky Mouse all over the design especially on the bootie part. I know all of the excuses about "I'll dress how I like and f everyone else" but consider that you are representing the USA when you travel overseas. I like to dress comfortably and dress up a tiny bit when I fly internationally-it makes me feel better about myself. travelsmith.com is a great place to shop for travel gear and clothing. If I fly in the USA it's different. Drink water not alcohol. Water is what your body craves and needs. Alcohol will make you feel worse both in the air and when you land. I bring my purse (it's huge and carries my reading material, ipod, and other necessities) and that goes on the floor by my feet. My carry on bag contains a change of clothes, my toiletries (in case my suitcase gets lost) and my camera bag. That goes in the overhead compartment. I do bring my own blanket (the airline one's are gross and not comfy or warm) but skip the pillow. I can never, ever sleep on a plane. Ever. Not even on the flight from Maryland to Japan. That was a long one.(12 hours) I always think I have to be awake in case something goes wrong, so I can do whatever I can to save myself. If I'm asleep it's the same as being unconscious. I can't react instantly and do what I need to do. Yeah, I know-ridiculous because there is nothing that can be done when you are that high in the air, but that's me. And yeah, I got a hell of a case of jet lag when I landed in Japan. Debbie in MD.
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Post by colleen on Jul 21, 2014 21:42:01 GMT
I just was on a couple flights like the OP, so the experience is still fresh. For some reason I was very worried about food, lol. I made turkey sandwiches and brought almonds, string cheese, and these little sesame things. And bought a big bottle of water at the airport. More than adequate on the flight from LAX to Miami. On the flight from Miami to Barcelona they fed us all the time: a meal, than a pizza snack, then some other little munchy snack. Glad to have another bottle of water though. If you were having a longer layover I would suggest paying to get into the Admiral's Club (American Airlines) -- its so nice to have a good place to regroup, have something to drink, and recharge all your devices. But for an hour -- not really worth it.
I have one of those neck pillow things and sometimes its nice to have, its just bulky.
As far as clothes -- I wore the same things both ways (had them laundered in between!) and I froze on the way over and roasted on the way back. Yoga pants (nice ones, but still basically stretchy pants), short sleeve tee, thin, stretchy hoodie and a pashmina.
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Post by Flibbertigibbet on Jul 21, 2014 21:50:31 GMT
Ask your doctor for a tranquilizer prescription : ) What she said.
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tiffanytwisted
Pearl Clutcher
you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave
Posts: 4,538
Jun 26, 2014 15:57:39 GMT
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Jul 23, 2014 3:09:03 GMT
tiffany i was thinking about the bulk of your pants hitting the floor and i will have to look the next time i have on pants...how much comes in contact with the floor i guess i could tuck the bottom in my socks!! Lol - I was wondering why you were wondering! Now I see the picture you had in your head. Guess I should have said cuffs. The only reason this even occurred to me was because my boys leave puddles all over the bathroom floor after they shower (they like to air dry, God help me). More than once I have ended up w/wet cuffs after using the *facility*.
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aacey
Junior Member
Posts: 72
Jul 1, 2014 3:59:25 GMT
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Post by aacey on Jul 23, 2014 3:17:05 GMT
I agree with everyone above, comfortable clothes, small sips of water, etc.... Just flew to Africa and it was long and brutal. Stocked up my iPad with all the seasons of Gilmore Girls and just plowed through them when not trying to sleep.
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Post by penny on Jul 23, 2014 3:32:51 GMT
I love flights so I'm not the best person to ask... I do treat myself to a couple overpriced magazines at the terminal bookshop though...lol
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Post by pastlifepea on Jul 23, 2014 3:33:40 GMT
I always bring a pair of fuzzy socks if I am not wearing shoes with socks already. I also bring a small, soft blanket, kindle loaded with some good books and a season or two of tv shows. Most importantly, my prescription of xanax. Flew from SF to Ireland last summer and flying to Rome in September and those are some long flights. Oh, and snacks...I'm hypoglycemic and turn into the devil or fall down if I don't eat regularly.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Jul 23, 2014 3:38:18 GMT
2. I like an eye mask. Get one with molded cups. I am a very good plane sleeper, but an eye mask makes it easier to fall back asleep when you wake up. It sort of disorients you and makes you feel rested even if you don't have deep sleep. This was my biggest tip. I use one at home because we have high windows that don't have curtain/blinds. I put the eye mask on around 5:30 and it is wonderful. I highly recommend one for traveling on a plane and for home use.
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Post by Basket1lady on Jul 23, 2014 3:49:19 GMT
I was going to suggest socks, too. I often don't wear socks in the summer, but like them for flights, as I like to take my shoes off. The others all had great ideas. I always bring empty water bottles from home and fill them from a water fountain after we go through security. It's nice to have your own water on a flight.
My kids bring neck pillows on overseas flights, but I bring a small pillow and use a compressible bag that I bought in Target's travel section. It cuts down the bulk of a pillow and I use it behind my back, on my lap, and also for a pillow for my head. I being my own blanket, but recently have found the in flight blankets to be just fine. And definitely cleaned between passengers.
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linda~lou
Pearl Clutcher
Keep calm and eat crumpets
Posts: 2,744
Location: Motown but my heart is in San Francisco
Jun 25, 2014 21:57:08 GMT
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Post by linda~lou on Jul 23, 2014 4:04:18 GMT
Drugs.
That's all I've got. Yep, Xanax is my drug of choice. And if it's anytime after noon, a cocktail before I board makes it even better! zzzzzzzzz
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bklyngal62
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,227
Jun 26, 2014 12:16:11 GMT
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Post by bklyngal62 on Jul 23, 2014 5:13:06 GMT
I like to dress comfortable..stretch pants with a comfortable shirt and comfortable shoes that I can easily slip off. I like taking my shoes off during the flight. I also take a bottle water and a good book to read.
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Post by cmputerdazed on Jul 23, 2014 5:14:23 GMT
Are the compression socks just to the knee or above the knee? Do you get swelling at the knee with them?
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craftchickapowpow
Full Member
My Circus My Monkeys
Posts: 206
Jun 26, 2014 16:12:18 GMT
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Post by craftchickapowpow on Jul 23, 2014 5:50:00 GMT
Ambien.
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Jul 23, 2014 6:20:06 GMT
I like to keep sanitizer available so I'm comfortable once I arrive. I will bring wipes, too, if I think I'll be eating. I'm most comfortable in loose fitting pants or capris.
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Post by KiwiJo on Jul 23, 2014 6:48:36 GMT
When we fly to Europe, we have two 11 or 12 hour flights, with a layover of a few hours in between. (Our travel from Auckland, New Zealand to Tromso, Norway a couple of years ago took a total of 35 hours).
i always wear a comfy long skirt, and layers on top which I can take off or put on as required. i have a journal to write in, and a book to read. And my ipad loaded with a couple of games. Other than that, the in-flight entertainment is always pretty good with plenty of movies and television shows to watch. i just have a small carry-on bag which stays under the seat where it easily accessible. Much easier than having to get things in and out of the overhead.
DH and I always try to get the spot where there are just 2 seats - means we don't have to disturb anyone else if we want to go for a walk, and no-one has to disturb us. On some planes, the 2 seats are right down the back next to the toilets, but it is worth it to us.
We usually have a shower during our layover between flights. The secret during the layover is to do lots of walking - good exercise and makes them into 2 completely separate legs, instead of one long endurance test.
We always travel on Asian planes and they are always spotless, even the toilets. Usually Singapore Air, but we have also used Thai and Malaysia (coming back from Norway, we were on MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur; makes the current crisis very real and scary). We are booked on Korea Air this Christmas, Auckland to Prague).
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LouWho
Full Member
Posts: 109
Jul 9, 2014 0:52:15 GMT
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Post by LouWho on Jul 23, 2014 6:50:00 GMT
I have the same neck pillow as AN. I bought it for a flight to Germany and it was comfortable. It is kinda big tho so I too only use it for long flights. I put in ear plugs, don an eye mask and neck pillow and sleep thru most of the flight.
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Post by I-95 on Jul 23, 2014 7:36:58 GMT
I regularly fly to and from the US - Israel, which is 24 hours door to door. I am a good airplane sleeper but I am also never without an Ambien just in case. I'm sure with 4 of you traveling that 1st class is out of the question so...wear comfortable clothes, do not drink alcohol, stretch your legs as often as possible (the inflight magazine will have exercises you can do to help circulation without leaving your seat) take a good book, maybe a board game if your into those, catch up on letters you need to write, use the inflight wifi to read these threads and post to FB (I LOVE inflight wifi!)
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