Surviving an 11 hour flight?

Surviving an 11 hour flight?

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MitchT

Original Poster:

15,788 posts

208 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
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The OH and I keep mulling a holiday in Sedona (Arizona). The issue I have is that I can't settle enough to sleep on flights - I even struggle to read - and LHR to PHX is almost 11 hours. Initially I thought I'd just take my laptop and work on some electronic music, but my MacBook Pro battery will struggle to last more than three hours when I'm running Logic Pro and BA's 747s that are used on this route don't have at-seat power in the peasant seats. What strategies do PH's restless travellers have for surviving long haul flights?

NoVetec

9,967 posts

172 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
quotequote all
Booze.


MitchT

Original Poster:

15,788 posts

208 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
quotequote all
I think that's most likely the answer hehe

audidoody

8,595 posts

255 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
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Day flight to LAX. Arrive knackered. Night at an airport hotel. Fly to Arizona early next morning.

Simon Brooks

1,517 posts

250 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
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Check with the airline you may use. They may well have inseat power supply

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
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Upgrade. Simple as that.
Whenever we've done the western USA we've gone Virgin Premium Economy.
There are entire threads about which airline has the best options, but the extra cost (which isn't actually that much when you consider the overall cost of a holiday and how easily it can be ruined by a crap flight) it was well worth it, as much for the pre-flight perks as for the:
Bigger seat (I'm 6'2 and had loads of room in all directions)
Additional baggage allowance.
Better food with real cutlery on china plates.
Lack of screaming kids (as they all tend to get shovelled in to cattle class)
(Plus you'll have in-seat power for devices)

Sedona's lovely by the way. First night stop on our big Harley tour last summer. Does go a bit quiet after 9pm though.

tim0409

4,354 posts

158 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
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Having booked a sale price business class ticket (flat bed) last year I would really struggle to do it any other way now, but then I suffer from a bad back so it's even more painful in economy. I had a work trip in April to Rwanda and my strategy was simple - I got on the 9 hour AMS-KGL leg at 10.30am, ordered a large glass of white wine and took a diazepam - fell asleep within 30 mins and woke up 7 hours later.

Super Slo Mo

5,368 posts

197 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
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It's not that difficult, watch a few movies, read a bit. Take an iPod or similar if you want to listen to music.
I always try and get an aisle seat if I can, so I can get up and walk around when it suits me.

Last year though I had a 12 hour flight from Rio to Paris and was stuck by the window. I survived, it isn't that difficult.
24 hours of travelling door to door was the bigger difficulty (and forgetting where I'd put my car in Birmingham, like an idiot), but ultimately you just have to get on with it.

Having said that, an emergency exit seat isn't a bad option for little extra cost, but personally I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Driver101

14,376 posts

120 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
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There really isn't much you can do other than keeping yourself busy.

I'd imagine most long haul flights will have a good choice of in flight entertainment. Make sure the gadgets are all charged and have an extra power bank if the flight doesn't have USB ports.

Upgrading seats does help a bit. You're still restricted for 11 hours which can be frustrating no matter how well you try.

Grin and bare.

AJS-

15,366 posts

235 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
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I'm exactly the same as this. Can't sleep when travelling.

Smart phone ia a great help and most I've been on have a USB slot even if they don't have a power plug.

Books.

Get absolutely blotto.

I also find for the east to west flights booking a morning flight is best as you make a long day of it rather than wrecking two days.

Bangkok to France via LHR with a 3 year old in August! Oh joy

boxst

3,699 posts

144 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
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If you are on your own then alcohol and sleeping tablets. I landed about two hours ago from San Francisco and don't really remember the flight! Which is a shame as I got upgraded to business class.

Otherwise, normal entertainment like movies and books are good.

ecsrobin

17,019 posts

164 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
quotequote all
Crossflow Kid said:
Upgrade. Simple as that.
Whenever we've done the western USA we've gone Virgin Premium Economy.
There are entire threads about which airline has the best options, but the extra cost (which isn't actually that much when you consider the overall cost of a holiday and how easily it can be ruined by a crap flight) it was well worth it, as much for the pre-flight perks as for the:
Bigger seat (I'm 6'2 and had loads of room in all directions)
Additional baggage allowance.
Better food with real cutlery on china plates.
Lack of screaming kids (as they all tend to get shovelled in to cattle class)
(Plus you'll have in-seat power for devices)

Sedona's lovely by the way. First night stop on our big Harley tour last summer. Does go a bit quiet after 9pm though.
Definitely this. Except if it's royal Jordanian as standard class offers nearly all of the above as standard.

Driver101

14,376 posts

120 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
quotequote all
I hate drinking on a plane. I always get a sore head and there's nothing worse than someone needing the toilet all the time after breaking the seal.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
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Driver101 said:
I hate drinking on a plane. I always get a sore head and there's nothing worse than someone needing the toilet all the time after breaking the seal.
Good advice. I usually have the one you get offered when getting on, one with the main meal, and then something afterwards. Being even slightly st-faced on an aeroplane simply isn't pleasant, for anyone.
I know, I'm so not PH.

justanother5tar

1,314 posts

124 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
quotequote all
I usually take iPod, iPad and my phone, fill em with music & movies. Charge them all up preflight and run them out one by one.

Recharge & repeat for return trip.

ecsrobin

17,019 posts

164 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
quotequote all
justanother5tar said:
I usually take iPod, iPad and my phone, fill em with music & movies. Charge them all up preflight and run them out one by one.

Recharge & repeat for return trip.
Ah you just reminded me I always take an extension lead in my hand luggage, there is always a shortage in the terminal and nearly always in use I rock up ask politely to put the extension lead in and move their plug to the extension with all my devices. That way you don't drain the battery's in the terminal for a few hours.

justanother5tar

1,314 posts

124 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
quotequote all
ecsrobin said:
justanother5tar said:
I usually take iPod, iPad and my phone, fill em with music & movies. Charge them all up preflight and run them out one by one.

Recharge & repeat for return trip.
Ah you just reminded me I always take an extension lead in my hand luggage, there is always a shortage in the terminal and nearly always in use I rock up ask politely to put the extension lead in and move their plug to the extension with all my devices. That way you don't drain the battery's in the terminal for a few hours.
Thats not a bad idea!

I usually just try to entertain myself without using my batteries. Go for breakfast/lunch or shopping in the terminal.

NNH

1,515 posts

131 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
quotequote all
I like to treat long-haul flights as a short break from reality: no phones or emails, and no expectations of me. I look up the onboard film list a few weeks ahead of time, and choose two or three that I've either just missed in the cinema, or would never get round to.

BA has some amazing historic aviation documentaries on its AVOD system, ranging from check flights on a VC-10 to the process of getting ready for the overnight stay of a pre-war flying boat in Arabia. I thoroughly recommend working through them!

Scantily

394 posts

170 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
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Benzos, an iPad loaded with films, noise cancelling headphones and a usb power pack.

smack

9,727 posts

190 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
quotequote all
MitchT said:
BA's 747s that are used on this route don't have at-seat power in the peasant seats. What strategies do PH's restless travellers have for surviving long haul flights?
When are you thinking of going? The 747's from August will have IFE upgrade which includes USB power in sardine class. It will be pot luck for a while to get an airframe that has had it done.

Personally I do booze and sleeping pills - go see your doctor for some, rather than the over the counter ones which don't work.

NNH said:
BA has some amazing historic aviation documentaries on its AVOD system, ranging from check flights on a VC-10 to the process of getting ready for the overnight stay of a pre-war flying boat in Arabia. I thoroughly recommend working through them!
Never found those - will have to have a look next week, that sounds interesting!