What to take on a long haul flight?

Bennifred

katieclampet wrote: »

If I ever win the lottery, I would only ever travel Ist class!

katie

Even if I won the lottery (crosses fingers and toes) I'd choose business class - I don't think the difference is worth it.

ferf1223

zagfles wrote: »

There's usually a massive choice of films and TV programmes to watch on the in-flight entertainment system so there's no need to download stuff unless there's something you specifically want to watch...

Even on planes with decent IFE, one 11 hour flight with non-functioning IFE was enough to convince us to ALWAYS have our own...just in case...many times we never even turn our tablets/media players on (except for music)...but when there's an IFE tragedy, we are still sorted.

silvercar

ferf1223 wrote: »

Even on planes with decent IFE, one 11 hour flight with non-functioning IFE was enough to convince us to ALWAYS have our own...just in case...many times we never even turn our tablets/media players on (except for music)...but when there's an IFE tragedy, we are still sorted.

11 hours flight with no functioning IFE translates into lots of avios in compensation

Mr_Wang

ferf1223 wrote: »

Even on planes with decent IFE, one 11 hour flight with non-functioning IFE was enough to convince us to ALWAYS have our own...just in case...many times we never even turn our tablets/media players on (except for music)...but when there's an IFE tragedy, we are still sorted.

We all know alcohol was invented as a precautionary measure in case the IFE stops working

DUKE

Going back to the reclining thing, I actually find reclining quite uncomfy & only recline if the one in front reclines to give myself a bit of extra room. My husband who has the longest legs in the world always ends up in behind the person who's permanently reclined I always tell him to say something but he never does, if it was me I wouldn't sit there squashed. On my last flight I managed to bag extra leg room & it was heaven, or I try & get those seats at the front so no one can recline on his oh so long legs, or just a 2 seater, or an aisle seat for him. Maybe people with short legs don't understand this issue.

paddyrg

I hate long haul in economy. It's like being beaten up, naked , in public.

I wriggle like a disco worm - if I sit for over 90 mins, I get incredible pains down my left leg, same whether in a car, train, plane, anything. This means sleep basically isn't going to happen, and that if I don't get an aisle seat, it's bad news for everyone!

Not sleeping makes me grumpy, being grumpy makes me poor company. My Mrs and I have a blanket agreement that whenever we fall out during a long-haul flight (and we will, thanks to me at least) we're not to take it personally...

So what would I suggest taking longhaul? A Hammock and/or as much valium as you can snaffle.

zagfles

paddyrg wrote: »

I hate long haul in economy. It's like being beaten up, naked , in public.

I wriggle like a disco worm - if I sit for over 90 mins, I get incredible pains down my left leg, same whether in a car, train, plane, anything. This means sleep basically isn't going to happen, and that if I don't get an aisle seat, it's bad news for everyone!

Not sleeping makes me grumpy, being grumpy makes me poor company. My Mrs and I have a blanket agreement that whenever we fall out during a long-haul flight (and we will, thanks to me at least) we're not to take it personally...

So what would I suggest taking longhaul? A Hammock and/or as much valium as you can snaffle.

We just try to time the flights so as not to need to sleep on them. The transit hotel in Singapore is brilliant if flying to Aus/NZ. Last time we had an 11 hour layover in Singapore, flight in arrived about 10am Singapore time (2am UK time), and out to NZ left at 9pm arriving about 10am NZ time.

So even though both flights were overnight, we didn't need to sleep on them, we had a good 8-9 hours sleep in the transit hotel. Could then spend all night watching films and eating/drinking!

Helped with the jetlag too - like having a couple of late nights and then almost onto NZ time!

A much better and far cheaper option than doing something crazy like paying business class prices!!

Doshwaster

zagfles wrote: »

There's usually a massive choice of films and TV programmes to watch on the in-flight entertainment system so there's no need to download stuff unless there's something you specifically want to watch...

I don't watch films on board any more. I've lost count of the number of movies I'd watched on board then had to rent when I got home as I'd fallen asleep and missed the end of.

Instead I just pop on the MP3 player and self-medicate with G&T until I'm unconscious.

Tojo_Ralph

...
On the subject of IFE systems, that's when NR headphones really come into their own and you soon realise that the sound quality isn't carp

But I digress as I have been working some more on my masterplan to conquer Eco travel this week and have been plonking my Sat nav sucker thingy on my netbook, which also works a treat for short haul flights with no TV. Also, having loosened the ball joint off a tad so that it rotated freely, it makes a damn fine arcade style steering wheel!!