First International Flight - What to do while in the air?

[phule]

I'll be taking my first international flight (ORD-->IAD-->LHR) in March, providing things don't go sour for United Airlines.

I am curious about what people do/have done for "entertainment" on long flights. I don't have a laptop or a PDA and I'm probably only going to be bringing a carry-on for the trip so a cd player may not make it with me.

Sleeping should be done but knowing me (and I think I do) I'm not able to sleep a whole lot on planes (or in cars, or buses, or trains...).

Thoughts?



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: phule on 2001-11-12 10:53 ]</font>

[phule]

I'll be taking my first international flight (ORD-->IAD-->LHR) in March, providing things don't go sour for United Airlines.

I am curious about what people do/have done for "entertainment" on long flights. I don't have a laptop or a PDA and I'm probably only going to be bringing a carry-on for the trip so a cd player may not make it with me.

Sleeping should be done but knowing me (and I think I do) I'm not able to sleep a whole lot on planes (or in cars, or buses, or trains...).

Thoughts?



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: phule on 2001-11-12 10:53 ]</font>

[afang]

phule I just did a DFW-SJC-TPE run post 911. I usually do 3-4 trips back to Asia, and I usually try to sleep and read a really really long book.

The trick is to find a row of seats that are empty so u can use it as a bed /forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

If everything fails, you can always watch the movies till you are tired.

[afang]

phule I just did a DFW-SJC-TPE run post 911. I usually do 3-4 trips back to Asia, and I usually try to sleep and read a really really long book.

The trick is to find a row of seats that are empty so u can use it as a bed /forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

If everything fails, you can always watch the movies till you are tired.

[Nugget]

I don't know about United, but the movie selection on Continental reliably consists of movies which will put you to sleep quite effecitvely. /forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[Nugget]

I don't know about United, but the movie selection on Continental reliably consists of movies which will put you to sleep quite effecitvely. /forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[tycoonjack]

The movies are always bad. Bring a good book or a cd player, or else you will be sorry. The only thing that will pass the time quicker is hard liquor.

[tycoonjack]

The movies are always bad. Bring a good book or a cd player, or else you will be sorry. The only thing that will pass the time quicker is hard liquor.

[chodson]

First of all, any flight under 8 hours is easy. /forums/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif

My only real advice is to watch out with the drinking. I had a couple of double martinis before heading to London. By the time the plane landed at 8am I was hungover. Not a good way to start a vacation. /forums/images/smiles/icon_redface.gif

[chodson]

First of all, any flight under 8 hours is easy. /forums/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif

My only real advice is to watch out with the drinking. I had a couple of double martinis before heading to London. By the time the plane landed at 8am I was hungover. Not a good way to start a vacation. /forums/images/smiles/icon_redface.gif

[dbaker]

Delta can't afford new movies anymore and is showing old films.

[dbaker]

Delta can't afford new movies anymore and is showing old films.

[phule]

Now if the airlines started offering prostitutes....

Actually a book is probably a good idea. I can usually read on planes and my stack of "needs to be read" is growing by leaps and bounds.

[phule]

Now if the airlines started offering prostitutes....

Actually a book is probably a good idea. I can usually read on planes and my stack of "needs to be read" is growing by leaps and bounds.

[Nugget]

I'm terrible about overestimating what I'll be able to get done during a flight, especially internationally. I usually grab two or three magazines from the bookseller at my departing airport and bring along a book that I've been meaning to read. I find that it's important to have at least two categories of reading, sometimes I'll feel restless and want to just flip and browse rather than actually concentrate on a novel.

I like taking a laptop, too, with EmPower cable (for planes equipped to deal with that) as it provides me with mp3s to listen to and I find that my ITYT trip reports are more detailed and interesting if I type them up during the trip instead of trying to remember everything afterwards.

I usually just end up drinking three sam adams ales, watching a bad movie and falling asleep, never touching the books and magazines I brought along.

[Nugget]

I'm terrible about overestimating what I'll be able to get done during a flight, especially internationally. I usually grab two or three magazines from the bookseller at my departing airport and bring along a book that I've been meaning to read. I find that it's important to have at least two categories of reading, sometimes I'll feel restless and want to just flip and browse rather than actually concentrate on a novel.

I like taking a laptop, too, with EmPower cable (for planes equipped to deal with that) as it provides me with mp3s to listen to and I find that my ITYT trip reports are more detailed and interesting if I type them up during the trip instead of trying to remember everything afterwards.

I usually just end up drinking three sam adams ales, watching a bad movie and falling asleep, never touching the books and magazines I brought along.

[tycoonjack]

For the EmPower cords, how can I find out which planes have them? (I have a dell, and my battery power sucks)

[tycoonjack]

For the EmPower cords, how can I find out which planes have them? (I have a dell, and my battery power sucks)

[dbaker]

It depends on the airline and aircraft. Continental publishes that information on their Fleet information (http://www.continental.com/dash/build_dash.asp?corporate_05) web page.

[dbaker]

It depends on the airline and aircraft. Continental publishes that information on their Fleet information (http://www.continental.com/dash/build_dash.asp?corporate_05) web page.

[mauld]

Aside from a good book, I'll collect the sections of the newspaper I'd really like to read in depth for the week or so prior to my flight (in my case the NYT's Sunday Travel section,Wednesday's Food, Friday Leisure section of WSJ etc)-- also sometimes the airport itself will have some free magazines out. This way, you can read them, then toss them.

[mauld]

Aside from a good book, I'll collect the sections of the newspaper I'd really like to read in depth for the week or so prior to my flight (in my case the NYT's Sunday Travel section,Wednesday's Food, Friday Leisure section of WSJ etc)-- also sometimes the airport itself will have some free magazines out. This way, you can read them, then toss them.

[daa]

in addition to a book or 2 i bring a few trade rags that i never seem to get time to read

[daa]

in addition to a book or 2 i bring a few trade rags that i never seem to get time to read

[phule]

What are the rules about walking around the plane during the flight? I know with domestic flights, it's pretty much "in your seat strapped in" but with longer flights, how much movement does one get. I imagine that in FC things are more liberal than in coach but how much more.

On a side note, have there been any noticable changes in said policy since 9/11?

[phule]

What are the rules about walking around the plane during the flight? I know with domestic flights, it's pretty much "in your seat strapped in" but with longer flights, how much movement does one get. I imagine that in FC things are more liberal than in coach but how much more.

On a side note, have there been any noticable changes in said policy since 9/11?

[chodson]

I don't know if/how things have changed, but after the DVT panic, the airlines generally recommend you either get up and walk around a bit, or at least do some stretching.

[chodson]

I don't know if/how things have changed, but after the DVT panic, the airlines generally recommend you either get up and walk around a bit, or at least do some stretching.

[dbaker]

On 2001-11-13 22:58, phule wrote:
What are the rules about walking around the plane during the flight? I know with domestic flights, it's pretty much "in your seat strapped in" but with longer flights, how much movement does one get. I imagine that in FC things are more liberal than in coach but how much more.

On a side note, have there been any noticable changes in said policy since 9/11?



You can move around all you want.

I've heard about flights to the DC area having restrictions about moving in the last thirty minutes before landing, but nothing in general.

You can change seats after take off (within the same cabin) pretty freely. It's polite to ask the FA if it's okay to do so first, though.

[dbaker]

On 2001-11-13 22:58, phule wrote:
What are the rules about walking around the plane during the flight? I know with domestic flights, it's pretty much "in your seat strapped in" but with longer flights, how much movement does one get. I imagine that in FC things are more liberal than in coach but how much more.

On a side note, have there been any noticable changes in said policy since 9/11?



You can move around all you want.

I've heard about flights to the DC area having restrictions about moving in the last thirty minutes before landing, but nothing in general.

You can change seats after take off (within the same cabin) pretty freely. It's polite to ask the FA if it's okay to do so first, though.

[dbaker]

On 2001-11-13 23:13, chodson wrote:
I don't know if/how things have changed, but after the DVT panic, the airlines generally recommend you either get up and walk around a bit, or at least do some stretching.


I've never had a problem with this. Every couple hours, I either go to the lav or want to get a drink from the galley or chat with the FAs or something.

Just be active. /forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Maybe I'm like this becuase I can't sleep on planes, though.

[dbaker]

On 2001-11-13 23:13, chodson wrote:
I don't know if/how things have changed, but after the DVT panic, the airlines generally recommend you either get up and walk around a bit, or at least do some stretching.


I've never had a problem with this. Every couple hours, I either go to the lav or want to get a drink from the galley or chat with the FAs or something.

Just be active. /forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Maybe I'm like this becuase I can't sleep on planes, though.

[tycoonjack]

And don't take any medication that will keep you up.

[tycoonjack]

And don't take any medication that will keep you up.

[daa]

and drink lots of fluids ( water is best , booze worst) to keep from getting dehydrated.

the air in the cabin is < 10% humidity at about 8500 ft equivalent pressure

[daa]

and drink lots of fluids ( water is best , booze worst) to keep from getting dehydrated.

the air in the cabin is < 10% humidity at about 8500 ft equivalent pressure

[tfung]

definitely reading and watching the movies is the best pasttime on a long flight... I would usually read until I get tired and fall asleep.. otherwise, I usually spend a lot of time chatting with the FA's, and time usually passes by quick quickly when you do a combination of those things...

[tfung]

definitely reading and watching the movies is the best pasttime on a long flight... I would usually read until I get tired and fall asleep.. otherwise, I usually spend a lot of time chatting with the FA's, and time usually passes by quick quickly when you do a combination of those things...

[Nugget]

Has anyone ever actually played (or seen another passenger playing) the goofy tetris or tic-tac-toe games in the seatback entertainment systems? Aside from some brief experimentation on my first flight featuring the system the games have yielded zero entertainment value to me.

[Nugget]

Has anyone ever actually played (or seen another passenger playing) the goofy tetris or tic-tac-toe games in the seatback entertainment systems? Aside from some brief experimentation on my first flight featuring the system the games have yielded zero entertainment value to me.

[tycoonjack]

Generally the games a pretty bad, unless you are on a Virgin flight. Most of the other systems have games such as Tetris, while the Virgin planes have games such as Super Mario Brothers and other high quality games.

[tycoonjack]

Generally the games a pretty bad, unless you are on a Virgin flight. Most of the other systems have games such as Tetris, while the Virgin planes have games such as Super Mario Brothers and other high quality games.

[dbaker]

On 2001-12-04 12:02, Nugget wrote:
Has anyone ever actually played (or seen another passenger playing) the goofy tetris or tic-tac-toe games in the seatback entertainment systems? Aside from some brief experimentation on my first flight featuring the system the games have yielded zero entertainment value to me.


Then again, I see people pull out notebook computers just to play the regular Microsoft Windows Solitare. /forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[dbaker]

On 2001-12-04 12:02, Nugget wrote:
Has anyone ever actually played (or seen another passenger playing) the goofy tetris or tic-tac-toe games in the seatback entertainment systems? Aside from some brief experimentation on my first flight featuring the system the games have yielded zero entertainment value to me.


Then again, I see people pull out notebook computers just to play the regular Microsoft Windows Solitare. /forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[tfung]

singapore and cathay both have excellent in seat entertainment... their games aren't exactly exciting, but they do the job quite well in making time pass by quickly....

[tfung]

singapore and cathay both have excellent in seat entertainment... their games aren't exactly exciting, but they do the job quite well in making time pass by quickly....

[chodson]

I played the games on Virgin for a while. The biggest problem was that we had a blabbermouth pilot, and the game would stop every time he wanted to hear himself talk.

The redeye to London is not the time to tell passengers "you can Greenland to our left"

[chodson]

I played the games on Virgin for a while. The biggest problem was that we had a blabbermouth pilot, and the game would stop every time he wanted to hear himself talk.

The redeye to London is not the time to tell passengers "you can Greenland to our left"

[tycoonjack]

Just made plans to go to HKG in March. My trip duration will be 23hr and 3mn. I hope I can find something to do for that long. :-) Longest commercial flight in existence.

Don’t worry dbaker, there will be pictures.

[tycoonjack]

Just made plans to go to HKG in March. My trip duration will be 23hr and 3mn. I hope I can find something to do for that long. :-) Longest commercial flight in existence.

Don’t worry dbaker, there will be pictures.

[afang]

I just sleep:)

If i ever get the DVD player i'll watch a few good movies as well 8)

[afang]

I just sleep:)

If i ever get the DVD player i'll watch a few good movies as well 8)

[dbaker]

I just sleep:)



What if it's not night time? :)

[dbaker]

I just sleep:)



What if it's not night time? :)

[Nugget]

What if it's not night time? :)

Then you drink first, which induces sleep.

[Nugget]

What if it's not night time? :)

Then you drink first, which induces sleep.

[phule]

Thanks everyone for the discussion. Watch for my trip report later next week :)

[phule]

Thanks everyone for the discussion. Watch for my trip report later next week :)