What to do in 20 hour flight

[Nick1994]

Do a lot of sleeping. Once you' get to Asia, you will not get any jet lag

This is a good point, I forgot to mention sleeping.

When I went to the Philippines I was sleeping maybe 5 hours a night and I felt great while I was there.

Coming home was horrible. I slept for 18 hours the first night, 6 the next, 2 the next, then about 12. I was wiped out with the time zone change when I came back for over a week.

 

[loneryder]

definitely do not shower 48 hours before, and be constipated when boarding

You want him to cause trouble on a long flight

 

[Astro14]

Mix whiskey and ambien.

Sadly, many people actually do this.

It doesn’t go well for them. I haven’t had the airplane met by law enforcement in the past couple of years, but when I do, it’s often the result of drugs and alcohol.

PSA - your constitutional rights only apply in this country. LE in other countries will treat you very, very differently.

 

[Astro14]

Thanks for all the replies .Don't drink so that is out. i don't get too nervous on domestic flights and can usually sleep . now the compression socks i am definately going to get .

For you folks more experieced with flying, how do i upgrade to biz? do i ask the cost at the counter?

Check with the airline on which you have booked. Typically - the farther out you are, the less it costs. But close to the flight, it can get very expensive.

E.G

In November, I booked Mrs. Astro in Polaris (United first class lie flat seats) Newark to Geneva, for $3,000 round trip. Economy was $2,000. $500 each way. Totally worth it.

But this week, going to London, the upgrade to Polaris, last minute, was $3,000 going over, and $5,000 coming back.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Sleep.
I'd love to have nothing to do but sleep for 20 hours

 

[edyvw]

Sadly, many people actually do this.

It doesn’t go well for them. I haven’t had the airplane met by law enforcement in the past couple of years, but when I do, it’s often the result of drugs and alcohol.

PSA - your constitutional rights only apply in this country. LE in other countries will treat you very, very differently.

If I had a $ for every time I saw it on non-civilian flights. People who do many times zones a week bcs. job, regularly do one drink and Ambien to knock themselves out. Overdo it, and there is a problem.

 

[4WD]

Been flying the since 1991 - have not touched an Rx sleep aid and never will …

 

[Urshurak776]

I had done a few flights back and forth from Texas to Scotland early in my Navy days. That was 1990-1991 time frame. Back then, you read and slept. That was about it. LOL

A couple years ago I flew to Dubai from Charlotte, NC. 10 hours or so to London, then a 4 hour layover, then 9 hours to Dubai. Flight to London I was in the middle of plane with people on both sides of me. Miserable...... Met my boss in London and he told me to go upgrade my seats to aisle seats. It was like $100 per "leg" but WORTH IT! Company paid so I was happy.

American Airlines to London, then British Airways to Dubai. Same on way back. AA can learn a thing or two from BA. Significantly better.
A lot of people have hit all the highlights I agree with. Walk around as much as you can, noise cancelling headphones without question. Don't forget your power adapters for when you get to your destination!

 

[Vil_Riker]

Going to Asia next month . last time i went was almost 30 years ago. This was before the internet and common computers and tablets . Flying United. So what do folks do on these long flights these days . is there free internet ? Just keep watching the movies? Going to be a fun and interesting trip

sleep... walk around when you can... hydrate...

you will need the rest to deal with the jetlag.

 

[Astro14]

If I had a $ for every time I saw it on non-civilian flights. People who do many times zones a week bcs. job, regularly do one drink and Ambien to knock themselves out. Overdo it, and there is a problem.

Fairly common military trick. Works great for 20-somethings who can’t get more than one drink, are closely supervised, and have iron constitutions. Know a few SEALS who used to travel that way…but…

Not so great an idea for the average passenger on a long haul with access to more alcohol.

 

[Astro14]

1. Hydrate
2. Compression socks
3. Walk when you can
4. Sleep when you can
5. Upgrade if you can
6. Noise canceling headphones or ear buds
7. Blue screens on iPads and phones interfere with sleep, bring a book, or magazine to unwind before attempting sleep.

Note - Power adapters need only be the plug adapter. Any charger can run on 110-220V and 50-60hz.

 

[edyvw]

Fairly common military trick. Works great for 20-somethings who can’t get more than one drink, are closely supervised, and have iron constitutions. Know a few SEALS who used to travel that way…but…

Not so great an idea for the average passenger on a long haul with access to more alcohol.

Absolutely.

 

[1444buicking]

For jet-lag

- I fast on the flight (no food or sugar).

- Lots of water on flight to avoid dehydration.

- Sleep target city "evening" hours when on plane. And several days before the trip slowly adjust my sleeping to target city time.

- Don't nap on arrival or you will never catch up. Adapt to target city meal and sleeping hours ASAP.

Make sure to get up and move around a from time to time. You can do some small exercises in seat to help prevent circulation "problems".

Alcohol dehydrates and I have heard horror stories about flight drugs. Avoid.

 

[k1xv]

SING "100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" once an hour.

 

[GON]

1. Hydrate
2. Compression socks
3. Walk when you can
4. Sleep when you can
5. Upgrade if you can
6. Noise canceling headphones or ear buds
7. Blue screens on iPads and phones interfere with sleep, bring a book, or magazine to unwind before attempting sleep.

Note - Power adapters need only be the plug adapter. Any charger can run on 110-220V and 50-60hz.

Might add eye covers to your list. Definitely helps with sleep when a neighbor is watching videos.

 

[Skippy722]

Pop 3 or 4 1mg microdose edibles and take the best nap of your life…. Assuming it’s legal in your state and you don’t have to worry about a drug test in the next 90 days. Works for me at hotels, otherwise I’m wide awake all night.

 

[Astro14]

Pop 3 or 4 1mg microdose edibles and take the best nap of your life…. Assuming it’s legal in your state and you don’t have to worry about a drug test in the next 90 days. Works for me at hotels, otherwise I’m wide awake all night.

That worked out great for Brittney Griner…

Look, what you suggest is illegal in most states, probably illegal in the airport in which you’re changing planes, and most likely illegal at your international destination. I see drug dogs at airports all the time.

It’s a great way to get arrested and put in prison for a long time. Brittney Griner had a prescription, but she still got caught by the drug dogs, tried, convicted, and imprisoned. The prescription, and the laws of her home state, meant nothing in a foreign country, and this thread is about travel to a foreign country.

And if you’re not a famous basketball player, your odds of getting extradited are pretty close to zero.

It is also illegal for anyone in the service, anyone in the transportation industry, and a variety of other fields, no matter where they are.

There is a lot more to it than “legal in your state“.

Colorado was the first to legalize, and Airlines had to fire literally thousands of people in Colorado who did not understand that federal law still applied to them.

This may work for you if you drive to a domestic hotel, don’t work in a field, where it is prohibited, and in which you are tested, and don’t get caught in a place where it’s illegal, but when flying through airports in foreign countries, your odds of getting caught are quite good.

Don’t even think about it, OP.

Try melatonin instead.

 

[4WD]

I had done a few flights back and forth from Texas to Scotland early in my Navy days. That was 1990-1991 time frame. Back then, you read and slept. That was about it. LOL

A couple years ago I flew to Dubai from Charlotte, NC. 10 hours or so to London, then a 4 hour layover, then 9 hours to Dubai. Flight to London I was in the middle of plane with people on both sides of me. Miserable...... Met my boss in London and he told me to go upgrade my seats to aisle seats. It was like $100 per "leg" but WORTH IT! Company paid so I was happy.

American Airlines to London, then British Airways to Dubai. Same on way back. AA can learn a thing or two from BA. Significantly better.
A lot of people have hit all the highlights I agree with. Walk around as much as you can, noise cancelling headphones without question. Don't forget your power adapters for when you get to your destination!

All about what route and class of service. I fly business class and if I take AA transatlantic it’s 1-2-1 and I book a single window. Then it connects on what BA (and LH etc) calls business class where they basically block the center seat on what are the same cramped seats …
Monday this will play out like that only I have UA’s Polaris - then connect on BA - so just loaded a new book on the iPad …

 

[Skippy722]

That worked out great for Brittney Griner…

Look, what you suggest is illegal in most states, probably illegal in the airport in which you’re changing planes, and most likely illegal at your international destination. I see drug dogs at airports all the time.

It’s a great way to get arrested and put in prison for a long time. Brittney Griner had a prescription, but she still got caught by the drug dogs, tried, convicted, and imprisoned. The prescription, and the laws of her home state, meant nothing in a foreign country, and this thread is about travel to a foreign country.

And if you’re not a famous basketball player, your odds of getting extradited are pretty close to zero.

It is also illegal for anyone in the service, anyone in the transportation industry, and a variety of other fields, no matter where they are.

There is a lot more to it than “legal in your state“.

Colorado was the first to legalize, and Airlines had to fire literally thousands of people in Colorado who did not understand that federal law still applied to them.

This may work for you if you drive to a domestic hotel, don’t work in a field, where it is prohibited, and in which you are tested, and don’t get caught in a place where it’s illegal, but when flying through airports in foreign countries, your odds of getting caught are quite good.

Don’t even think about it, OP.

Try melatonin instead.

Brittany Griner had 700mg of cannabis oil on her. What I suggested is 3 in the shape, smell, and taste of 3 M&M’s. Yes, just as illegal. One is a heck of a lot less suspicious though.

I didn’t say bring it with through the airport and onto the plane, that’s a god awful idea and one I thought was implied. Though my idea if he decided to go with it wouldn’t help him on the return flight.

I also don’t know what he does for a living, hence mentioning the drug test. Maybe I’m placing too much trust in internet strangers knowing what they can and can’t do with regards to their chosen vice

 

[Astro14]

Brittany Griner had 700mg of cannabis oil on her. What I suggested is 3 in the shape, smell, and taste of 3 M&M’s. Yes, just as illegal. One is a heck of a lot less suspicious though.

I didn’t say bring it with through the airport and onto the plane, that’s a god awful idea and one I thought was implied. Though my idea if he decided to go with it wouldn’t help him on the return flight.

I also don’t know what he does for a living, hence mentioning the drug test. Maybe I’m placing too much trust in internet strangers knowing what they can and can’t do with regards to their chosen vice

Well, your advice was for the OP. Who is traveling round trip to Asia.

How would he avail himself of your advice without packing a few for the return trip like Brittney Griner?

Recommending a plan that is illegal in many jurisdictions, and will get you hard time as well as potentially fired, just isn’t great advice.

Melatonin works quite well.

It’s also legal.