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

phule · 11-12-2001, 10:53 AM

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 · 11-12-2001, 10:53 AM

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 · 11-12-2001, 06:15 PM

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 [img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

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

afang · 11-12-2001, 06:15 PM

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 [img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

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

Nugget · 11-12-2001, 07:33 PM

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

Nugget · 11-12-2001, 07:33 PM

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

tycoonjack · 11-12-2001, 07:41 PM

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 · 11-12-2001, 07:41 PM

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 · 11-13-2001, 12:55 AM

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

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. [img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_redface.gif[/img]

chodson · 11-13-2001, 12:55 AM

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

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. [img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_redface.gif[/img]

dbaker · 11-13-2001, 12:56 AM

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

dbaker · 11-13-2001, 12:56 AM

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

phule · 11-13-2001, 09:31 AM

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 · 11-13-2001, 09:31 AM

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 · 11-13-2001, 09:49 AM

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 · 11-13-2001, 09:49 AM

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 · 11-13-2001, 10:43 AM

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

tycoonjack · 11-13-2001, 10:43 AM

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

dbaker · 11-13-2001, 11:38 AM

It depends on the airline and aircraft. Continental publishes that information on their Fleet information web page.

dbaker · 11-13-2001, 11:38 AM

It depends on the airline and aircraft. Continental publishes that information on their Fleet information web page.

11-12-2001, 10:53 AM	#1
phule Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: ORD Posts: 188	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> __________________

11-12-2001, 10:53 AM	#2
phule Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: ORD Posts: 188	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> __________________

11-13-2001, 11:38 AM	#19
dbaker Senior Member ITYT Captain Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: IAH/HOU Posts: 2,354	It depends on the airline and aircraft. Continental publishes that information on their Fleet information web page. __________________

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11-12-2001, 06:15 PM	#3
afang Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Plano,TX USA Posts: 388	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 [img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] If everything fails, you can always watch the movies till you are tired.

11-12-2001, 07:33 PM	#5
Nugget Senior Member ITYT Navigator Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 610	I don't know about United, but the movie selection on Continental reliably consists of movies which will put you to sleep quite effecitvely. [img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

11-12-2001, 07:41 PM	#7
tycoonjack Senior Member ITYT Navigator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: AUS Posts: 690	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.

11-13-2001, 12:55 AM	#9
chodson Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: EWR - Newark, NJ Posts: 117	First of all, any flight under 8 hours is easy. [img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] 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. [img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_redface.gif[/img]

11-13-2001, 12:56 AM	#11
dbaker Senior Member ITYT Captain Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: IAH/HOU Posts: 2,354	Delta can't afford new movies anymore and is showing old films.

11-13-2001, 09:31 AM	#13
phule Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: ORD Posts: 188	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.

11-13-2001, 09:49 AM	#15
Nugget Senior Member ITYT Navigator Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 610	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.

11-13-2001, 10:43 AM	#17
tycoonjack Senior Member ITYT Navigator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: AUS Posts: 690	For the EmPower cords, how can I find out which planes have them? (I have a dell, and my battery power sucks)