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Keep popping Dramamine and sleep the whole way. That was me from Norfolk to Kuwait. Best flight ever. Really need an open seat beside you to make this the best. Or a good travel pillow?
Not if you take enough of it! I take my Tylenol PM's on long trips and the only time I'm awakened is by someone nudging me, complaining if I snore!
I also take crossword puzzle books along and I always take night flights!
thanks for all the suggestions, and i am open for more, now that my return flight to the US will be in winter. hopefully i won't be hit with delays due to weather, but i'm expecting the worst.
whereas i was on philippine airlines on my trip to the philippines, this time i'll be flying united. it had the cheapest flight with the most reasonable flight and layover times. will be going through guam, then houston (tx) before making my last trip to austin. unfortunately, all the window seats were booked on my guam to houston flight i just picked an aisle seat. anyone's experience with united on such long-haul flights? how are their entertainment systems like? do they have charging ports on their economy seats? do they provide blankets and pillows? how's the food/drinks?
I haven't traveled long distance with United, only 3-4 hour flights (which I do at least twice a year), but I come prepared, because they don't have blankets available anymore, at least not on shorter flights, and I have yet to travel on a United flight that isn't chilly. I bought one of those lightweight throws (big US airports usually have them, but who knows whether they're available where you are), and that little throw has made a huge difference in my comfort level. It hardly takes up any space in the carry-on. As for pillows, I would recommend one of those foam/stuffed half donuts or whatever they call them. That really works. And an aisle seat is a good idea, especially if the plane is a 3x3 seats layout.
These days you'll be paying for drinks in flight except for water, basic sodas and coffee (maybe also wine and beer on long-distance flights). I assume United doesn't serve food anymore, either--be prepared to pay for a snack/sandwich box in flight, or simply buy a sandwich or some other handy lunch-type food in the airport and take along, and once you're past security, absolutely buy a bottle of water.
One piece of advice that pops up often here is to take sleep-inducing medication. To each his/her own, but I would never do that. In case of an emergency you need to be able to wake up quickly and stay sharp. I'd rather keep my wits about me, and pay the price of boredom on the flight, and jetlag later on (which is alleviated by Melatonin). But if you follow the to-do lists that other experienced travelers have prepared for you here (take notes, write stories, read e-books, sleep some, play games on your smartphone, snack, watch a movie, etc.) then time will pass more quickly than you think.
The OP is flying an international flight into the US. He will have plenty of free food and drinks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast
These days you'll be paying for drinks in flight except for water, basic sodas and coffee (maybe also wine and beer on long-distance flights). I assume United doesn't serve food anymore, either--be prepared to pay for a snack/sandwich box in flight, or simply buy a sandwich or some other handy lunch-type food in the airport and take along, and once you're past security, absolutely buy a bottle of water.
My flight to India felt faster than some domestic flights, simply because I was prepared for such a long trip. However I got pretty lucky because I was on a Boeing777 with the entire row free so I could lay down like a bed.
However, on the way there.. I just watched a bunch of movies.
The OP is flying an international flight into the US. He will have plenty of free food and drinks.
I realize that, but I usually fly United and transfer to a European international airline, and very little is free on domestic United flights. Good to know they're less stingy with food and drinks on international flights!
I realize that, but I usually fly United and transfer to a European international airline, and very little is free on domestic United flights. Good to know they're less stingy with food and drinks on international flights!
well, now that that flight with united is done with, here's a few things i could say with flying home to the philippines and getting back to the US (phil. airlines on my way to the philippines, united from manila to austin):
1. philippine airlines certainly had better amenities and services than united on long-haul flights (better wi-fi and entertainment systems, better seats, more accommodating attendants...) at least with their economy seats. the "wi-fi" on united meant access only to their entertainment system, no internet access whatsoever. united didn't have the built-in tv behind the seat that phil. airlines has, but of course it also has its pros and cons.
2. on the shorter international flight (6 hours from guam to hawaii), we were served two free meals on top of the free basic drinks. on the longer one (10 hours from hawaii to houston), only drinks were free.
3. united indicated a stop in hawaii (not a layover, just a stop) in the "nonstop" flight from guam to houston. they didnt indicate that the stop will involve rechecking of the bags and another check with immigration after the customs check in guam. of course, for the well-travelled, this is probably nothing.
4. blankets and pillows were free on both airlines, but phil. airlines also gave free socks and hygiene kits to all passengers
I've taken a couple of nonstop flights from the US over to Asia. They were usually around 18 hours. What to do? Most of the planes on those types of international routes have good entertainment systems. The seatback in front of you should have a entertainment screen with many movies and TV shows available. If nothing else, you could watch movies nonstop for 18 hours. Of course, they usually feed you three or four times during the flight, so that also kills some time. Some people seem to actually be able to sleep.
I've taken a couple of nonstop flights from the US over to Asia. They were usually around 18 hours. What to do? Most of the planes on those types of international routes have good entertainment systems. The seatback in front of you should have a entertainment screen with many movies and TV shows available. If nothing else, you could watch movies nonstop for 18 hours. Of course, they usually feed you three or four times during the flight, so that also kills some time. Some people seem to actually be able to sleep.
not sure if you read my post above yours
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i just picked an aisle seat. anyone's experience with united on such long-haul flights? how are their entertainment systems like? do they have charging ports on their economy seats? do they provide blankets and pillows? how's the food/drinks?
