How to survive a long haul flight?

stefejb

On wednesday i am flying to the Cayman Islands (ooh get me! ... actually a freebie from my sister's company) and would welcome some survival tips as I am (a) a bit nervous and (b) easily bored and (c) mildly claustrophobic.

The last tiem I flew I was allowed to take knitting needles on board with me but I guess that's out now - if I didn't take scissors do you think they would allow me a blunt sewing needle?

What do others do to relieve the boredom/panic. I will be flying alone and meeting my sis there so won't even have someone to talk to/slap me about the face

TIA

paulinespens

Can I ask which airline your going to be flying with?

I don't think even a blunt needle will be allowed.

What class you flying in?

Fen1

Don't risk taking any sort of needle on board.


Take a couple of apples/grapes to nibble on during the journey - only enough for the flight as you will have to bin them before you get to quarantine on arrival. The fruit will help stabalise your blood sugar, helping you feel calmer. Ditto a packet of oat cakes/ good quality cereal bars. Cattle class don't get fed that often, and certainly nothing fresh.
Unless you are travelling first class, of course, and just scoff the canapes.

Good books. A walkman. Nintendo game thingy.

Stand up in the gangway and do your exercise routine/ yoga/ stretching. It'll stop DVT and help you make new friends!

PandaPants_2

I usually get p i s s e d .. :rotfl: :rotfl:

trets77

PandaPants wrote: »

I usually get p i s s e d .. :rotfl: :rotfl:

:rotfl: :rotfl: that works for me too.

a investment in a good MP3 player and about 20 of your fav albums on it is a good idea.

if you know someone with a old Nintendo Game boy and you have never played Tetris take that for definate or buy one on ebay


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nintendo-game-boy-with-Tetris_W0QQitemZ200114113236QQihZ010QQcategoryZ18809QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

£5 very very well spent no matter what your age is , just get some back up batteries as well.

, the first hours after discovering that game are a blur to me, i think i played about 15 hours non stop, and was seeing thoose blocks in my sleep.

photome

Hopefully there will be some sort of film entertainmemt that will keep you going for a while, then there is the walking round the plane every so often...sleeping, talking to the person next to you could keep you amused the whole journey if they are interesting or tearing your hair out if not...more sleeping..reading.

Def no needles!!!!!! or scissors.

not relevant I know but when i was in the Navy I did a parade through the streets of Grand Cayman for the queens birthday...god it was hot!!!!!

ChasingButterflies

I would second a nintendo ds with tetris /the monopoly, boggle, yatzee, battleships combo/ card games.... once you get into these the time flies, also it gives you something to focus on other than where you are... If you know anyone that has one try and work some magic and see if you can borrow it.

A good book - or two?

A walkman and some "chiil out music"

A regular puzzle book/magazines

Might be an idea to have a few activites - I always take a book on the plane and never in the mood to read it.

Stay up the whole night before so you sleep the whole way there? (not advisable you might fall asleep and sleep through your alarm - silly idea!)

When you start to get nervous take some deep breaths - you can do it!!

I am like you - I hate flying and get very nervous (ok I am putting it mildly!) However most of the time I have to keep 3 young kids occupied so that takes my mind off things for the most part - recently flew without them and my nintendo ds was the only thing that kept me cool!

Have a fab time once you get there!

hollydays

Books to read,parecetamol just in case

avfc4life

There should be some sort of inflight entertainment so you could occupy yourself with this. I went to Australia before (via Singapour) and the flights were 12 hours & 8 hours and the entertainment was excellent. All the latest films, screen each, inflight phone each & the best thing was that the inflight phone was also a SNES (super nintendo entertainment system) where you could play loads of games. Also like other people have suggested mp3 players, also maybe crossword book or something like that. If i were you i would take a couple of magazines as they are not too much to read as sometimes when you read too much on a plane you start to feel sick.

If you get nervous just keep thinking posative thoughts:rotfl:
And also remeber you are more likely to have an accident in your car/house than on an aeroplane. Also i would make sure that i had at least 2 less hours sleep than i usually have so i would be tired before the flight so i could get to sleep for a bit.

How long is the flight?

When you get there if its the day dont go to sleep else you will not adjust to the time zone. If it is night go to bed at a normal time and try to sleep. The best way to shake off jet lag is to just go immediatly into the time zone you are in even if you are really tired.

Have a nice time;)

hollydays

Which airline air you with?

stefejb

thanks guys for the suggestions - I'm going with British Airways. I'm not really scared of the plane crashing or anything like that and I know that I'm statistically very safe. I don't kow what it is really - a combination of not knowing how it works, mild claustrophobia, fear of heights, not liking being tied down to one place, stuff. the only reason I'm going is that it's free and will give me a chance to see my dsis who lives in Canada. For her it's something like a three or four hour flight but for me it's quite a drama for a five day break - I think the total flying time is about 11 hours