what do you do during long flights?
By XiaoLin
@XiaoLin (289)
Italy
October 15, 2009 3:29am CST
Next month I'll be flying to China from Italy, and it will be a ten hour flight, more or less.
I usually get asleep as soon as I sit on a plane, and that works with short flights, but I don't know how to use the time during long journeys.
I'm so excited about the long awaited departure that I guess it will be impossible to get asleep at all this time. And I find it very unconfortable not being able to stretch my legs for such a long time.
What could I do during that 10 hours?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@allknowing (136430)
• India
25 Oct 09
I have undertaken travel, longer than 10 hours several times but somehow time passes. Some time is spent on eating and drinking (lol), some time watching movies, reading, chatting with your seat companion, walking up and down the isle which is highly recommended, ofcourse visiting the loo (lol), trying to sleep and dreaming, just dreaming, dreaming of whats in store after arrival into a new place!!
@XiaoLin (289)
• Italy
25 Oct 09
Well, its true that time passes by somehow, but, to me it seems it does very very slowly. If the direction is to the place I am eager to visit, it almost never goes by. The way back, well, it's way too short though. I hope during the next flight they will show some nice films. And I hope I'll have a gorgeous asian neighbour who will help me review grammar. :o)
@allknowing (136430)
• India
26 Oct 09
Thats a nice thing to say about Asians. I am an Asian!! So when do we travel together?
@XiaoLin (289)
• Italy
26 Oct 09
:o) I guess I have a sweet tooth for asian guys, even if my husband is Italian. When I spent some months in China for studies I discovered I liked more than one of my classmates. There were Koreans and Japanese. And I liked some Chinese friends, too. I wish I were born there. I'd like my chid to be half asian. I guess it's too late now...
@thaMARKER (2503)
• Philippines
2 Dec 09
I don’t like long flights with nothing to do. I always bring my music gadget with me. I seldom read because I don’t it when someone’s talking in front or at my back – I easily get distracted. I sometimes open my laptop.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
16 Oct 09
My last flight that I did was 12 hours long from Cape Town to London. I was 19 weeks pregnant with my daughter and I was traveling with my toddler son. I got some sleep on that flight, read my book and looked at the airline magazine. I like to look out of the window at take off and landing. I enjoy stretching my legs in the galley. Happy traveling.
@XiaoLin (289)
• Italy
16 Oct 09
Was it difficult to travel 19 weeks pregnant? Or you were more sleepy because if it? I also like to look out of the window when the plane is landing. I don't remember a lot of taking off because I'm often asleep.
But If they ask me to choose where to sit I prefer to be near the corridor, so that I can move around without disturbing the people sitting near me. I have this bad memory of man sitting near me, that only woke up twice during aaaaall the 11 hours flight. So annoying.
Tnx for answering
@CJay77 (4438)
• Australia
15 Oct 09
I guess it all depends on the plane that your going to fly with, some of the planes has games, movies and music that will keep you busy in the flight and if not, maybe bring some books to read and hopefully you will be able to sleep during the flight. One of my problem when flying is getting some sleep and I wish I can and I would probably just sleep, lol. I can't read as well because I get dizzy, so most of the time I just watch movie if its available and sometimes I just close my eyes and relax. And about your legs, maybe it'll better if you can get an isle seat, so you can stand up and stretch your legs. Have a safe pleasant trip. 
@XiaoLin (289)
• Italy
15 Oct 09
Thanks CJay,
I'll ask for a comfortable seat when I check in, but I'm usually not lucky on this kind of things. Last time I was squeezed between my husband (1.87 meters high, even less confortable than me) and a mister that was even stinky.
I'm flying with AirChina, and I hope there will be games and good films as you suggested. The good thing is that they usually show films that at home haven't come out in cinemas yet.
@involved62 (790)
•
15 Oct 09
Funnily, I have more troubles sleeping on land and sea than on the air. I just fall asleep in planes and with long haul flights, I have no problem at all sleeping. I also want to read and watch the films they are showing but cannot even finish one because I am falling asleep already...Must be that droning, boring sound of the plane's engines which makes me sleepy. I wish though that I can fly business (which is not the case whenever I am flying, it is usually cattle class)then I can sleep more comfortably and I don't have to wait for the food and drinks to be served. At any rate, sleeping is the best thing to do. Once you land, you need all your energy to cope with the jet lag.
@XiaoLin (289)
• Italy
16 Oct 09
I so agree... the sound of the plane getting ready to fly and all also make me sleepy. During short flight, one or two hours long, I usually get asleep as soon as I sit and wake up when we land. That's quite useful, since they don't show films on that flights.
The problem occurs during 10 hours and more ones. Even if I succed in getting asleep, it usually happen in the beginning of the journey. After some time I am well woken up and I don't know what to do. That's the time other passengers usually get asleep.
I don't usually like all of the films they show. I whatch two or three and after I get bored.
And since I don't get the chance to go to China as often as I would like to, I'm always very excited about it. That's not helping me relax.
Tnx for sharing your experience
@Hazelrose (2179)
• Philippines
15 Oct 09
Hi XiaoLin,Well! During long flights most of the time i just close my eyes to relax or to sleep.Then sometimes reading magazines too.More power!
@XiaoLin (289)
• Italy
15 Oct 09
Yes, I guess that's wat I should try to do... long flight means arriving in a different time than the one you are used to, so you have to adjust to the jet lag, too. I'm just afraid I'll be so excited that it will be impossible to get asleep.
And I'll always get bored by the magazines in the planes.
I watch all the films they show and after I get bored again.
I would bring a book if the luggage weight weren't so scarce that I'm afraid it will not be enough even for the things I need.
