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At 78 long haul flights have become a nightmare. Like you we did a 7 hour flight into Hawaii. The economy class seats nearly killed me. There’s just no way you can get comfortable with your knees jammed up against the back seat of the person in front of you.
And the TSA. The only saving grace was going through the security line they are letting people 75 and older keep their shoes on. They even confiscated my brand new packaged tooth paste because the tube was too large. We were in Lahaina just 8 hours or so before the fire.
Applying for TSA Pre-check reduces all the TSA hassles. No shoes come off, no pulling out the plastic baggie of toiletries, or electronics. Basically just empty the pockets and plop your bag on the xray machine. 5-10 minute line, TOPS. As I get older (65 now), I'll spring for business class, or at least economy plus.
International flights - as long as I can. But redeyes? I gave those up in my 20s. I have a fear of flying so really don't sleep on flights. I budget in time and a hotel stay when I land to adjust before getting started, rather than wasting a few days of fatigue.
I've never gotten jet lag. I'm usually so excited by the travel I can't get to sleep anyway, on a plane or elsewhere, so I'm awake at least 19 hours a day. I'm an early riser and that never seems to change no matter the time zone. One recent trip we were up for over 40 hours straight with our long flights (4) and the fact that we arrived in the am and our people there expected us to be awake all day with them. I passed out for about 4 hours sometime about midnight the second day (hour 40), woke up at 4am and walked down the road for an ocean swim, then got everyone up at 7 am for our morning whale watch tour. Everyone's tolerance is different.
Agree! I fly economy but always select an aisle seat so I can control my movements without asking seat mates to let me out. At different times, I stand and do stretches and walk the aisles. Works going across the pond and when I did a 17 hour nonstop to Sydney. I could not sit on my rear end that long!!!
Compression stockings are good too. I'm still relatively young (65) but have gotten 2 DVTs (none were flight or sitting-related) so long sit times are said to be a factor for many, so I use the stockings when I fly or ride a train for hours. DH and I do as you do and book aisle seats, across from one another, so we can get up as needed. I like to go to the area near the rear restrooms and there's usually a bit of room there to stretch and bend and get the kinks out. I've even hung out with the FA back there and she gave me an extra drink.
I'm done with it. This past summer my mother and I went to England for her last trip back home to celebrate her 90th birthday. We took a daytime flight from JFK that arrived in London at 8pm in time for us to drive to her hometown about two hours away. I'll do that from now on. Even with the overpriced night at the TWA hotel inside Terminal 5, it was still cheaper than the business class seats on the overnight flight.
The jet lag is almost non-existent, as you get to London or Paris well before bedtime. It's not as difficult now to go to bed early as it is to stay up too late. Our time difference is six hours and we didn't even notice it this past time.
Delta partners with Virgin and Air France for these day time flights. The Paris flight will begin in a few weeks, I think. I strongly urge anyone who can't stand the thought of another overnight flight to give it a try.
Compression stockings are good too. I'm still relatively young (65) but have gotten 2 DVTs (none were flight or sitting-related) so long sit times are said to be a factor for many, so I use the stockings when I fly or ride a train for hours. DH and I do as you do and book aisle seats, across from one another, so we can get up as needed. I like to go to the area near the rear restrooms and there's usually a bit of room there to stretch and bend and get the kinks out. I've even hung out with the FA back there and she gave me an extra drink.
What caused the DVTs in your case? Are you more prone to it?
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