Trans Atlantic flight coming up. How to get comfy on the plane?

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by TimT

Ambien

Sounds good but doesn't do much for a back problem. A muscle relaxer would be better and they make you drowsy. Myself, (when I did fly) I get up and walk to the back as often as practical. I do a couple of quick stretches and go back to my seat. I don't drink anything so I don't need to pee. But, I've never flown more than 5 hours.

[vash]

dont drink?!

i find staying hydrated on a plane super difficult. those tiny cups of water just dont do it. my pee is orange on long flights.

i found on super long flights, the attendants keep a tray full of filled cups. i head there all the time..slamming fluids.

staying hydrated is super important..you dont want a DVT or anything of that magnitude.

[PorscheGAL]

The inflatable pillow work well because it can adjust to you. If you download the US customs app, you can skip the line coming back into the country or just apply for Trusted Traveler. Costs $100 but you can skip the shoe removal, electronic removal as you are going through US security and you can skip the customs lines.

Have a great trip!

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by vash

dont drink?!

i find staying hydrated on a plane super difficult. those tiny cups of water just dont do it. my pee is orange on long flights.

i found on super long flights, the attendants keep a tray full of filled cups. i head there all the time..slamming fluids.

staying hydrated is super important..you dont want a DVT or anything of that magnitude.

We carry a back pack and load up on bottled water in the gift shop to supplement the meager water hand outs.

I honestly did not think 9 hours was bad I heard horror stories and was ready for the worst, I felt like it was bearable. We are also in good shape and exercise a lot so the sitting sucked a little but we shook if off pretty quick.

We made sure to not sit at all waiting for the plane as well and did a lot of walking around in the terminal just laps taking turns sitting with the carry on stuff.

By the time we boarded, after parking, walking through security, to the gate and the laps, we were ready to crash for the flight over.

[Rinty]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I’ll be flying to Cork Ireland at the end of October...

Check out Kinsale and Land's End when you're over there. They're both close by.

Good luck with your flight.

[MRM]

On Delta their premium economy or Economy+ seat offers international travelers nothing more than a slightly greater recline than regular economy. You don't get more room and the food and drink service is the same.

The best advice is to get an exit row or bulkhead seat in regular economy so you get extra leg room and can stretch out. Business class is nice but I didn't think it was worth it for a seven hour trip. More than that and I would pay the price. Going to Asia I think business class is worth it, depending on how great the price differential. But going to Europe, just do whatever you can to get an isle seat in a row that has extra leg room. That's what makes the difference between cattle car class and being able to get somewhat comfortable.

[mgatepi]

Delta Premium Select is the way to go. Not sure if it is offered for European routes. It is offered for trips to Asia.

Agree with most of what's been said, but I recommend you avoid alcohol--it really dries you out. Don't worry--they'll have some in Cork.

For your back, get your doc to Rx cyclobenzaprine. A good muscle relaxer, will knock you out, but won't dry you out like benadryl. Take that, 600mg ibuprophen, 3mg of melatonin, and drink some milk (buy at the airport). The flight will still suck, but you'll miss a lot of it.

[porsche4life]

Thanks for all the tips guys. Going over for work, so not a ton of time for sight seeing. Delta is the company’s preferred carrier, and we get priority boarding etc with them by default, hopefully I can get a decent seat.

Sleeping on a plane isn’t a problem for me, if I can get comfortable. Hell I can sleep pretty much anywhere if I can get remotely comfortable. I’m planning to go to the chiropractor a few days before I leave so my back is in the best shape possible as well.

[red-beard]

If this is next month, you will not have time to apply for Global Entry. GE is great, as you go to a kiosk and do a biometric entry immigration and you use the crew lines after in customs.

Check the carrier about economy plus seats for your flight. You might simply phone in. The other advantage is that you use the business class lines. On Air France, we had "pods", better food and since I was traveling to Brussels, the service continued on from CDG using the TGV in first class.

[Pazuzu]

Since you have a month, the trick is to practice.

1) Go down to the local Greyhound station.
2) Buy a ticket...to the coast. The East coast.
3) Ride the bus to the coast
4) Ride another bus back.

Should be about 40 hours each way. After that, a plane flight is NOTHING.



I'm kinda serious, I've done over 100 hours in a bus over an 8 day period. It puts EVERYTHING into perspective. I'm a firm believer that everyone should do it once in their life.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by red-beard

If this is next month, you will not have time to apply for Global Entry. GE is great, as you go to a kiosk and do a biometric entry immigration and you use the crew lines after in customs.

Check the carrier about economy plus seats for your flight. You might simply phone in. The other advantage is that you use the business class lines. On Air France, we had "pods", better food and since I was traveling to Brussels, the service continued on from CDG using the TGV in first class.

Trip is last week of October. I’ll look into it.

Edit.... earliest available interview date is in November!


Still may apply, I know we have to go to Barcelona for work in April, and I can see a trip to Costa Rica coming up soon to help out with some projects there.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Lastly, find out the pilots names - text me: If they are a few bubbas I know, get off the plane.

Ha! You kill me!!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Trip is last week of October. I’ll look into it.

Edit.... earliest available interview date is in November!


Still may apply, I know we have to go to Barcelona for work in April, and I can see a trip to Costa Rica coming up soon to help out with some projects there.

You can do your interview at most major international airports upon re-entry to the USA. I did mine at ATL upon return from Heathrow.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

1) Go down to the local Greyhound station.
2) Buy a ticket...to the coast. The East coast.

I did Greyhound to the Pacific side. Mi->Ga->Ca.
Five days.
A few naps but no sleep.
Saw a young man lose to a three-card monte hustler in the station and cry.
The longest jog was sitting next to a sad case middle aged industrial soap salesman from Ohio with incredibly bad personal odor who was going to risk all and surprise his ex-girlfriend from five years previously with news about how successful he'd become.
He talked non stop. I listened.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by john70t

I did Greyhound to the Pacific side. Mi->Ga->Ca.
Five days.
A few naps but no sleep.
Saw a young man lose to a three-card monte hustler in the station and cry.
The longest jog was sitting next to a sad case middle aged industrial soap salesman from Ohio with incredibly bad personal odor who was going to risk all and surprise his ex-girlfriend from five years previously with news about how successful he'd become.
He talked non stop. I listened.

Everyone that gets on a Greyhound is either insane, a criminal, or destitute.

Everyone that gets off is insane. Period.

Good character building! Better than a flight across the Atlantic!

[Outback Porsche]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I’ll be flying to Cork Ireland at the end of October. As this is my first flight longer than about 6 hours I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to get comfy as a 6’+ tall guy with back problems. One pillow I’ve seen that looks good is like this. Any feedback on these? Or any other solution to help in getting comfy on a long flight?

Travel Pillow, Portable Head Neck Rest Inflatable Pillow from HOMCA, Design for Airplanes, Cars, Buses, Trains, Office Napping, Camping - Includes FREE Eye mask (Gray) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071NZ8VNT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_iVoHBbR9K0519

Business class. Get flights that have you leaving at night and arriving in the morning if you can, but you'll probably be flying against the sun rather than with it and that'll make it difficult. I love my noise cancelling headphones. Best sleep is when they're on but unplugged.

I once slept 10hrs from Dulles to Heathrow - induced by a 5hitload of Bloody Mary's and a layflat bed.

I wish I could take melatonin https://www.timeshifter.com/melatonin-for-jet-lag/ but it interacts with my blood thinners for AF. I'll put up with the jet lag rather than a stroke.

[porsche4life]

Looking at the flights today. Looks like I’ll be leaving mid day on Saturday, change planes in Atlanta, overnight to Paris, then change again to cork. Getting to cork early evening Sunday.

[john70t]

Ask for extra pillows. Take off shoes (and put them up between the seats to share after kicking them in the back). Get something to do like research the guide book until rote. You're at the office. Get busy. You don't want to be doing this lost on some side street. Time is up. Take a nap. Drink water. Individual peanuts are a delicacy. Count fabric patterns. I gotta get out of here. Walls closing in. Where is that guide book again? repeat.