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[BenitoChavez]

Any tips for surviving a 15 hour flight? I'm going to New Zealand in August and anticipate going stir-crazy on the flight. I have audiobooks, regular books, and the airline offers inflight movies for entertainment options but just sitting in one seat for that long isn't going to be fun.

Also any recommendations for a set of noise cancelling headphones?

 

[Broken_Erika]

Any tips for surviving a 15 hour flight? I'm going to New Zealand in August and anticipate going stir-crazy on the flight. I have audiobooks, regular books, and the airline offers inflight movies for entertainment options but just sitting in one seat for that long isn't going to be fun.

Also any recommendations for a set of noise cancelling headphones?

a set of earbuds with these on top?(industrial-grade earmuffs)

 

[Bamspeedy]

Any tips for surviving a 15 hour flight?

Arrive at the airport tired so you fall asleep on the flight (just not too tired that you fall asleep at the gate....). Depends if you're nervous of flying and even being tired will keep you awake. I've flown 17 hours with no sleep then spent 5 hours driving home, but not everyone can do that.


China Eastern had movies (a couple good ones, but mostly cheap B-movies), but also games so that kept me and my kids busy.[/quote][/quote]

 

[warpus]

I usually try to get in a couple adult drinks before a long flight like that. I have a horrible time sleeping when I fly, but when I'm tipsy it's easier. You just gotta balance it right, because if you drink too much the flight will not be very pleasant.. Other than that I watch a couple movies, nap in between then, try to get some reading in.. it's not a pleasant experience, but you gotta do what you gotta do.. Sometimes at airport duty free shops they will give out samples of Bailey's or other drinks. It doesn't happen very often, but it happened to me once, so if I have a couple hours to kill waiting for my flight, I always now check. The Bailey's made my (14+ hour) flight more pleasant. I just kept going back for samples.

A lot of flights will keep bringing you free beer, if you ask for it. I'm not sure how to figure that out other than just to ask for a beer when they're going around offering drinks. If they give you one and it's free, just keep asking for more beer. On a flight 14 years ago now the stewardess pointed to the back and said I can just "help myself". So I did. I also always try to sit in an aisle seat so it's easier to go to the bathroom when other people are sleeping.

Bring one of those travel pillows that goes around your neck. I have a blow up one that compacts to almost nothing when I'm not using it. It will help you get your head in a more comfortable position. Other than that I usually bring regular ear buds with me, find some relaxing music that they have in their onboard entertainment system, queue a bunch of it up, and use that to try to drown out some of the noise around me so I can fall asleep

If I have a long flight like that I always book a comfy hotel room for at least one night, so I can relax and get over the jetlag and travel exhaustion in a comfortable place. After 1-3 nights in that comfy bed I switch over to hostels and guest houses

It's also key to know exactly what you're doing when you land. You don't want to have to figure out how to get to your hotel after such a long flight. You want to have a plan in your head and be on more or less autopilot, so you can check in and crash

 

[Lexicus]

Any tips for surviving a 15 hour flight? I'm going to New Zealand in August and anticipate going stir-crazy on the flight. I have audiobooks, regular books, and the airline offers inflight movies for entertainment options but just sitting in one seat for that long isn't going to be fun.

Get an aisle seat so it's easy to stretch your legs if need be.

 

[Silurian]

Since I have one and there hasn't been a thread for this that I am aware of, it seems appropriate.

I have a friend going to Glasgow next month and is looking for less known, but good hiking opportunities in the area. If you know of some please post them. Thanks.

I use this site for planning my walks here in Devon.
It has some routes marked on it around Glasgow.


https://www.plotaroute.com/routeplanner

 

[warpus]

How many UK hikers do we have? I have yet to visit that country... What if we organized some sort of a hiking meetup? So far the only place in the UK on my radar are hiking trails in Scotland, specifically on the island of Skye, though.

 

[BenitoChavez]

a set of earbuds with these on top?(industrial-grade earmuffs)

Those look good. Do you have a link?

Arrive at the airport tired so you fall asleep on the flight (just not too tired that you fall asleep at the gate....). Depends if you're nervous of flying and even being tired will keep you awake. I've flown 17 hours with no sleep then spent 5 hours driving home, but not everyone can do that.

I usually try to get in a couple adult drinks before a long flight like that. I have a horrible time sleeping when I fly, but when I'm tipsy it's easier.

I've always had a hard time sleeping on planes but hopefully booze + sleep deprivation helps. Thanks

 

[warpus]

Are you flying Air New Zealand? I found their seats the most comfortable out of any other I have ever flown with. There also seemed to be more room, but I could have been imagining it. All in all Air New Zealand was my all time favourite flying experience ever

 

[BenitoChavez]

Qantas Airlines. They have slightly lower online reviews though still pretty good, but the tickets were cheaper.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I've been on four 12-14 hour flights since March (two going and two coming).

Get an aisle seat so it's easy to stretch your legs if need be.

Absolutely try to get an aisle. You can get up and down whenever you want and on't have to worry about disturbing those sleeping, An aisle anywhere is better than a forward middle or window seat. Know what time it will be when you land what you will need to do, if anything, when you land. In both my flights to China I landed early morning and had to transfer to another flight so I had to be awake and alert enough to make connections and arrive at a second city and meet people.

The planes on all my flights were kept dark during the flight and most people were trying to sleep except for meal times. I was served two meals plus snacks as needed/wanted. I stayed up until after the first meal, then I tried to doze, sleep, sit with my eyes closed for 4-6 hours. If you wear glasses, have a case handy so you can take them off and use the provided blindfolds. While the plane was in sleep mode just before or just after the second meal, I spent 20-30 minutes walking the aisles and galleys in a circle. I did it twice on each flight. Not only do you get some exercise, but those sitting next to me (middle and window seats) can get up and down without worrying about disturbing me. They always took advantage of my absence. After the second meal I watched movies or read my book until we landed. After landing, I tried to go to bed early that first night and get up at the local time appropriate for breakfast.

You can get pillows and blankets on these flights, I never used my neck pillow and didn't carry it on my second trip. Also, the seat head rests will fold in to support your head and keep it from flopping around.I always ask for an extra pillow and blanket since I get cold easily.

I flew Cathy Pacific and Air China. Both provided fabulous service

 

[Lexicus]

If you can't get an aisle try for an emergency exit row seat. It's like flying with an elite ticket for the cost of a regular ticket, all you have to do is agree you will help facilitate evacuation in the event of an emergency.

While we're on this subject, last flight I took from LA to DC my two rowmates never showed up, so I had an entire row of three seats to myself, which I took full advantage of by raising the armrests and sprawling across all three.

 

[Lemon Merchant]

If you can't get an aisle try for an emergency exit row seat. It's like flying with an elite ticket for the cost of a regular ticket, all you have to do is agree you will help facilitate evacuation in the event of an emergency.

In Canada, you now have to pay extra for the privilege of having that seat and the awesome responsibility that goes with it.

On the topic of long flights. Absolutely do get up and walk to the bathroom now and then. The possibility of having an embolism due to a blood clot in the leg is very real. Sitting in a cramped seat for that long at altitude and in a pressurized environment can all contribute to leg clots. Walking every so often helps to minimize that possibility.

 

[Lexicus]

In Canada, you now have to pay extra for the privilege of having that seat and the awesome responsibility that goes with it.

tfw you find this out

 

[Silurian]

How many UK hikers do we have? I have yet to visit that country... What if we organized some sort of a hiking meetup? So far the only place in the UK on my radar are hiking trails in Scotland, specifically on the island of Skye, though.

I live on, (1km from) the South West Coast Path which has many good walks on it with lots of hard sections.
The cost path is quite hilly in places.

https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/

But if you prefer the hills

https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/pennine-way

 

[Broken_Erika]

Those look good. Do you have a link?

i just googled "Industrial grade ear muffs" and looked under images
They're the one you see a lot of industrial/factory factory workers wear.

 

[Snerk]

Regarding long flights. Ask your doc for some light sleeping pills. More effective than alcohol and pretty harmless as an occasional usage.

I'll be spending some weeks in Barcelona this summer and I'm looking for some tips for locations good for snorkeling in the area.

 

[Mechanicalsalvation]

Good thread idea! Been in my own head but glad that someone decide to start it. I am currently touring central Norway and the country is amazing! The prices too btw...
I will be in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia next month. Anyone here has done the Baltics? I could use few tips...

 

[yung.carl.jung]

Oh, crap, yeah, actually true. Very valid, also for me, since I plan to go for a quick trip to Copenhagen in September, and would have forgotten that .

Then again...I managed to survive for a half week in Scotland without being prepared. Having enough money to buy an adapter on the spot (or like...just anything) helps though ^^.

If you have some money to spend and like good food, try out Fiskebar. Aditionally, if he is still there, there was a talented chef selling sliders and buttermilk fried chicken in a food stand in the city center that was to die for.

 

[Aiken_Drumn]

I am travelling to Madrid tomorrow, and then onto Seville after for for a few days. Any advice out there?