Wasting time during flight over?

[BatigoL5]

If this thread has been done before, I apologize in advance.

So how are some of you going to spend your time during the flight to Germany?
For me from Chicago, it's going to be to an 8-9 hour flight.
I'm still not sure how I'm going to do it.
The longest I've been on a plane is maybe 4½ hrs tops.
My legs were getting restless and I was getting ancy.
Music can only tide me over for so long.
Reading... eh, I'm sure I'll get bored quickly.
Puzzles/game book maybe?

Anyone else with ideas?

[Ultra Peanut]

Longest I've done was 19 hours, Boston to Seoul. Flight left here at night, so the easiest thing to do was to sleep through as much of it as possible. If your flight is an overnight one, I recommend this as a first choice of in-flight activities. I've got one of these (http://www.rei.com/product/4626.htm) and it's pretty great. Of course, if you're a big guy like my spouse, the nature of airplane seats might prevent this, so...

A Nintendo DS is on the household shopping list, since we're also looking at multiple 2-4 hour train rides while in Germany (we're looking to do the "rent house in the countryside, commute to games" deal). We've already got a Game Boy SP. Both of our laptops have DVD drives, and we've got a portable DVD player on top of that; watching movies or TV shows on the way over would certainly pass the time. You could also look into getting a PSP, which would give you tunes, movies, and games all in one handheld.

How about audiobooks? Load up on weird-ass podcasts?

I bought a pair of these suckers (http://www.shurestore.com/earphones/eseries_e2c.html) after getting back from MLSCup and highly recommend them.

[Palermo10]

I made the trip from Atlanta to Amsterdam last month. I tried to sleep but it was tough, the flight left at 7pm local time... how the hell was I supposed to go to bed at 7? Nevertheless I was DEAD the following day.

Music, games, its best if you can make friends with the people around you, or take some NyQuil :)

[soccerelvis]

I like to draw stick figure sketches of great moments in US Soccer History.

Repeatedly ask the flight attendants "are we there yet?".

Here is one my dad taught me for partys and obnoxious bartenders, never tried it on a plane....When the bar cart comes by I like to ask if they can make a ......... (make up a fictitious drink name), when they ask what is in it come up with some typical drink ingredients then at the end, throw in something that you know that they don't have. When they say they don't have it, do it all over again with another drink name. After three or 4 in the end say you will just have a water. My dad always asked for Green Lighning which was various alcaholic ingredients then the odd ingredient at the end was Lime Kool Aid (which nobody ever had).

Try to lead your section of the cabin in a sing song (We are the US, ... Ole.. Ole, .. Super power.. Super power.. U S A, or just U S A.. If they are a slow bunch)
Or just drink a bunch and knock yourself out!

Hang around the cockpit door and see how long it takes you to spot the air marshall.



Elvis

[branko97]

When I flew to Asia in 2002 (10 hrs) I asked my doc for a mild tranquilizer. Made the trip quite easy.

[roadkit]

I fly a lot. Just made the Frankfurt - Dulles flight two days ago. Since the flight over will be at night, here's what I would do:

Get up earlier than usual the day you leave - like at 4:00 a.m. if that's possible. You should be really excited about going to the WC, so it shouldn't be too hard.

As soon as you get on the plane, set your watch to Germany time. Ask the flight attendant to wake you up at around 7-8 a.m. Germany time (depending on what time the plane lands, just ask the FA to wake you up an appropriate amount of time before landing.)

Don't get hammered, but have some food and few cocktails after the plane takes off. Take an excedrine PM or some melatonin (ideally you'd take an Ambien, but that's prescription only) and try to get at least 4 hours sleep. When you're not sleeping, get up and walk around a bit - drink a lot of water and you'll stay hydrated and you'll also have a reason to walk around a bit. ;-)

Some tunes on the IPOD, a few magazines, a laptop with movies - it's whatever you like to do. If you're lucky enough, some airlines now have high-speed internet. I actually listened to the live streaming audio and chatted on BS during a DC United game as I was flying to Copenhagen on SAS last summer!

Most important thing - no matter how beat you are the next day, DO NOT "take a nap" at 2 in the afternoon or the next thing you know it will be midnight and you'll wake up totally rested.

Remember, if you can sleep for 4 hours on an 8 hour flight - you cut your flight in half! Also 4 hours is around the normal sleep cycle for most folks - you'll feel more rested with 4 hours than 5 or 6 in most cases.

Your mileage may vary.

Good luck!!

[dfb547490]

http://astac.gourmetsafari.ch/images/Jack%20Daniels%20300.jpg

[JoeSoccerFan]

I fly a lot. Just made the Frankfurt - Dulles flight two days ago. Since the flight over will be at night, here's what I would do:

Get up earlier than usual the day you leave - like at 4:00 a.m. if that's possible. You should be really excited about going to the WC, so it shouldn't be too hard.

As soon as you get on the plane, set your watch to Germany time. Ask the flight attendant to wake you up at around 7-8 a.m. Germany time (depending on what time the plane lands, just ask the FA to wake you up an appropriate amount of time before landing.)

Don't get hammered, but have some food and few cocktails after the plane takes off. Take an excedrine PM or some melatonin (ideally you'd take an Ambien, but that's prescription only) and try to get at least 4 hours sleep. When you're not sleeping, get up and walk around a bit - drink a lot of water and you'll stay hydrated and you'll also have a reason to walk around a bit. ;-)

Some tunes on the IPOD, a few magazines, a laptop with movies - it's whatever you like to do. If you're lucky enough, some airlines now have high-speed internet. I actually listened to the live streaming audio and chatted on BS during a DC United game as I was flying to Copenhagen on SAS last summer!

Most important thing - no matter how beat you are the next day, DO NOT "take a nap" at 2 in the afternoon or the next thing you know it will be midnight and you'll wake up totally rested.

Remember, if you can sleep for 4 hours on an 8 hour flight - you cut your flight in half! Also 4 hours is around the normal sleep cycle for most folks - you'll feel more rested with 4 hours than 5 or 6 in most cases.

Your mileage may vary.

Good luck!!


Absolutely spot on. In addition, I try to make it until 8-9pm on my first night.

I take an actifed and drink a quart of water before the plane touches off.

[OldManAndThePitch]

I have been flying San Fran - Europe 4 or 5 times a year for many years.
Bottom line success factor is sleep.
I first tried drinking myself to sleep - disasterous.
Then I tried melatonin. Wound up eating them like M&Ms. No effect.
Finally settled on a prescription drug from my Dr. (temazapan) I get on the plane, have a drink or 2, eat the meal, pop the pill, & 6 hours later wake up refreshed when they are serving breakfast. (I also take a pill the first night I am in Europe.)
Other techniques: noise cancelling headsets (they're great) & avoiding the movies. I don't know why movies are so bad on airplanes but most times that I watch them, I ask myself why I just wasted 2 hours.
I don't have good suggestions for the 11 hour flight home - all in daylight. It gets longer every time I make it.

[soccerelvis]

Here is some good information provided by my employer.

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/healthwb/public/en_gb

Cheers
Elvis

[nowherenova]

Above posts all good advice. Especially the NO NAP rule on the day of arrival. You gotta make it until at least 7 or so...

[roadkit]

I don't have good suggestions for the 11 hour flight home - all in daylight. It gets longer every time I make it.

Same here - if you come up with anything, let me know! :D

[rksehga]

If you're flying Singapore air, I would suggest whispering sweet nothings in the ears of their flight attendants. Maybe lock yourself in a bathroon with one or two of them. That would be f*cking awesome.

[JoeSoccerFan]

If you're flying Singapore air, I would suggest whispering sweet nothings in the ears of their flight attendants. Maybe lock yourself in a bathroon with one or two of them. That would be f*cking awesome.

Richi - I would have been terribly disappointed if your post content would have been anything else!

[Kernel KlinK]

I've done quite a bit of traveling (Argentina - 12 hours, Australia - 24 hours. Italy. 10 hours, etc.)
Get up early the day you leave.
Get a couple hours of down time on the plane - -i know "experts" suggest no drinking on the plane but I usually put 3-4 drinks down - -it helps sedate me.
Get up and walk around the time you aren't napping.
Absolutely no napping when you arrive in Germany. Tough it out, go to bed around 9 or 10, wake up totally ready.
Talk to all the other US supporters on the plane.

[The Magpie]

I've done quite a bit of traveling (Argentina - 12 hours, Australia - 24 hours. Italy. 10 hours, etc.)
Get up early the day you leave.
Get a couple hours of down time on the plane - -i know "experts" suggest no drinking on the plane but I usually put 3-4 drinks down - -it helps sedate me.
Get up and walk around the time you aren't napping.
Absolutely no napping when you arrive in Germany. Tough it out, go to bed around 9 or 10, wake up totally ready.
Talk to all the other US supporters on the plane.

Pretty much my plan, and good advice.

[jorge805]

I read somewhere that taking sleeping aids is not recommended, since, in case of emergency, you want to be fully awake...However, I'm hoping we won't experience any of those so that I can get about 5 or 6 good hours of sleep. Also, it's recommended you get outside and catch some natural light, as it'll help you acclimate.

I plan to stay awake the day we arrive until the end of the Opening Game.

Now, if I can just secure tickets to a game...

[primusux]

[QUOTE=jorge805]I read somewhere that taking sleeping aids is not recommended, since, in case of emergency, you want to be fully awake...QUOTE]


I'd rather be asleep when we slam into the Atlantic than awake ;)

[dfb547490]

I read somewhere that taking sleeping aids is not recommended, since, in case of emergency, you want to be fully awake...

If your plane goes down in the middle of the Atlantic, I'm not sure how much you'll be helped by the fact that you didn't pop an Ambien

[jorge805]

I'd rather be asleep when we slam into the Atlantic than awake ;)

Funny 'cus it's true. Time to call my doctor...or head to the homeland and buy it across the border :)