What Is the Best Way to Fly?

[123Stodg]

Long-haul flying: it’s either an exciting part of your trip or a grim exercise in survival. So, what’s your best strategy? Do you pop a pill or three, crack open a bottle, and have a 10-hour solo party in the sky? Or do you white-knuckle your way through it? Maybe you whack in some noise-cancelling headphones and chill with a big bag of pork-skin crisps and a neck pillow shaped like a lopsided donut?

I’ve seen it all, though. A guy next to me once downed six vodka miniatures, popped a handful of green olives in his mouth and ate a smashed liverwurst sandwich he “found” in his carry-on, then burped, and passed out mid-sentence. Is that the secret?
 

Or maybe it’s the lady who handed me a vial of CBD oil and said, “Trust me babe, you’ll be weightless before we hit cruising altitude.” Then there was the guy sneaking hits off a nicotine vape in the lavatory and the couple who got a bit too handy under the blanket.

To be honest, there’s a million ways to tackle a flight it seems. Maybe you load up on shots of free Jäegermeister and attempt to flirt with the flight attendants, or you’re the type who downs a handful of "gummies" and wakes up drooling in a different time zone? Or perhaps you’re the model flyer: stays fully hydrated, strapped into your compression socks, lumbar support pillow, and then practice in-seat yoga and deep breathing.

For me, flying from Bangkok to Europe or the US is always a test of my patience and endurance. I usually prep with snacks I’d never admit to eating on the ground (beef jerky, dried squid, and Doritos) and a playlist of questionable 80s power ballads. Add in a stiff drink before takeoff, and that puts me somewhere between comfortably numb and wondering if the in-flight magazine has ever won a Pulitzer. If it’s an extra-long haul flight, like to LA or New York, I might go for a little something “extra” in the form of a blue pill to knock me out even before the first meal cart rattles by.

But hey, that’s just me. How do you fly? Are you a disciplined planner with a Kindle full of Dickens classics, or the kind who takes two Xanax with a double whisky and lets the chips fall where they may? Any hacks for picking the perfect seat, avoiding a stiff neck, or managing those in-flight farts?

[HappyExpat57]

I used to fly economy-plus. Then China air gave me a free upgrade to business class. Since then, it's always business.

 

Like any successful pusher, "the first one's free."

[jippytum]

By aeroplane is recommended

[Bruce Aussie Chiang Mai]

Airplaneis still best option unless you a bird.😀

[ronster]

If possible on long flights I fly business class and book a flight that usually leaves Thailand around midnight so it's near my sleeping time. On the plane I don't drink anything apart from water and after the first served meal I put earplugs in and sleep mask on and sleep for next 6-8 hours usually, just in time to wake for breakfast.

[Lacessit]

I drink plenty of water, and read books until I nap.

 

I always have aisle seating. Makes toilet access easy.

[degrub]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

I drink plenty of water, and read books until I nap.

 

I always have aisle seating. Makes toilet access easy.

second that.

followed by getting out in the sunlight for a walk as soon as possible to reset the old clock

[harryviking]

......with wings.....🤣

[novacova]

Personally, no alcohol, take muti minerals for water retention and drink a lot of starting water two days before so not to interfere with my sleep on the flight, and not so much water during travel unless there’s a long layover. Window seat as not having to accommodate other passengers pee routine, earplugs and eye cover. Though everyone has their own peeves about flying.

[Dionigi]

Just throw yourself at the ground and miss.

Think pleasant thoughts.

[suzannegoh]

4 hours ago, jippytum said:

By aeroplane is recommended

Statistically that is the safest way.

[lanng khao]

A380 business class,, cant be doing with some bellwiff Infront of me reclining his seat as soon as he's finished chomping on a load of beef jerky and Doritos...

[Celsius]

I promised myself that when I turn 50 and the flight is longer than 6 hours I will always book business. I am 195cm and while I was always happy to fly economy in my younger days I refuse to do it now. Premium economy only if the tickets are unusually stupidly priced on the dates I fly.

 

 

[RSD1]

Nothing like a good fluff-off mid flight in the lav. 

[LukKrueng]

4 hours ago, jippytum said:

By aeroplane is recommended

I just spread my wings

[richard_smith237]

So many variables involved with such a question which is so very multifaceted and subject to:

- class of travel

- travelling companion

- distance of travel / destination

- ease of getting to sleep

 

1) Business class - great for some, others don't want to or can't pay that 

2) Travelling companions - Business is very expensive when paying for the whole family

3) Distance -  shorter flights with layovers with a nap in a hotel can be great, or a stopover with a short city break.

4) Or if you sleep well - an over night business class is great (if can be afforded)

5) Ease of sleep - some just can't sleep at all and need 'medical aids' (i.e. **[caveat] Benzodiazepines etc), work great, but its still not a comfortable flight in eco - but it takes the edge of, or if in Business can help a person sleep for 9 hrs straight !!

 

 

---------

 

Personally - When with the family: We go Eco, take day time flights and use a stop over for rest.

Either use the hotel in the Airport, or better still, a hotel close to the airport - chill, have dinner, wake up, back to the airport refreshed) for another day time flight.

We often extend the lay-over to a stop-over and have a look around the city (i.e. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Istanbul)... 

 

 

Important things to take: 

- Noise cancelling headphones - Good ones (such as Sony MX-3s (4's or 5's) critical against crying babies - there is always one and it is a parents right to travel as much as it is anyone else's - but some struggled to handle their baby - the noise cancelling headphones turn that noise into nothing)....

- iPad with your own movies - especially if you travel a lot, you may have seen many of the movies already.

 

 

 

[**Caveat - the legality of some medication which can aid sleeping is often questionable - the risks when transiting through some countries of the middle easy while small, is associated with draconian penalties].

[G_Money]

Nothing particularly special other then business class.

 

If I can’t sleep even with full bed recliner seats I look for the hottest Japanese stewardess, get a good mental picture and rub one out.

[Tom100]

1. eat + drink alcohol at airport lounge. More rather than less.

2. have hot shower at airport lounge

3. Wear loose fitting clothes

4. use wax ear plugs

5. eye shades

[thaibeachlovers]

12 hours ago, 123Stodg said:

But hey, that’s just me. How do you fly? Are you a disciplined planner with a Kindle full of Dickens classics, or the kind who takes two Xanax with a double whisky and lets the chips fall where they may? Any hacks for picking the perfect seat, avoiding a stiff neck, or managing those in-flight farts?

I flew a lot and the only problem for me was the BS writ large before boarding with all the "security checks" that don't keep us secure but just irritate.

For me, I always had an aisle seat as far back as possible, so first onto the plane before the idiots trying to put an oversized bag into the overhead lockers and holding everyone up.

The flight consisted of reading the provided newspaper and watching as many movies as possible.

 

I have no idea why so many people apparently have a problem with sitting in a seat for a few hours. Most will do that in their every day lives any way.

[thaibeachlovers]

42 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

5) Ease of sleep - some just can't sleep at all and need 'medical aids'

I've never understood why that is a problem. I have never been unable to stay awake for 36 hours, which is far longer than a day and a flight.

Read a good book or watch movies. what is the problem? Are people so set in their ways that they can't accept a break in their boring lives for one day?

 

Mind you, when I saw the way everyone on arrival got up and stood in the aisle for 15 minutes before allowed off the plane, I had to wonder about humanity. Baaaah.

 

Best comment on flying I ever heard was the Monty Python sketch about going on holiday. So true.

[thaibeachlovers]

52 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

- Noise cancelling headphones - Good ones (such as Sony MX-3s (4's or 5's) critical against crying babies - there is always one and it is a parents right to travel as much as it is anyone else's - but some struggled to handle their baby - the noise cancelling headphones turn that noise into nothing)....

People with sprogs should be restricted to certain flights so their brats don't disturb others that don't expect to have an annoying infant next to them. Or at least put at the very back of the plane out of sight.

[jori123]

12 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

I used to fly economy-plus. Then China air gave me a free upgrade to business class. Since then, it's always business.

 

Like any successful pusher, "the first one's free."

Will be miles better than China Eastern,  but one night in Shanghai put me off

[PeterA]

I can never sleep on a plane, even in business class. I drink plenty of water, have maybe one drink of whisky, but keep it to only one. Too many studies show it is terrible for you with diminished air and moisture on a plane. Also need to avoid the possibility of a migraine or hangover. 

I take a good book, and some snacks. I get up and walk the isles and stretch as often as possible. Shoot for the isles as well so I don't need to climb over anyone. But the drawback there is people climbing over me. It is a toss-up. 

[jori123]

16 minutes ago, PeterA said:

I can never sleep on a plane, even in business class. I drink plenty of water, have maybe one drink of whisky, but keep it to only one. Too many studies show it is terrible for you with diminished air and moisture on a plane. Also need to avoid the possibility of a migraine or hangover. 

I take a good book, and some snacks. I get up and walk the isles and stretch as often as possible. Shoot for the isles as well so I don't need to climb over anyone. But the drawback there is people climbing over me. It is a toss-up. 

Direct would drive me mad, a stop over every time

[gamb00ler]

Definitely South!

[AlexRich]

I try to break the time into chunks, and have something to do during these periods. Two chunks involve eating - normally a lunch/dinner followed by a breakfast before the flight comes into land. That covers about two hours at least.

 

The other time chunks are taken up by a movie, a documentary or tv show. The rest of the time I am on my Amazon Kindle app reading a book, or jumping between two books. I might also buy a couple of magazines at the airport. I break up time with trips to the bathroom, and use that as an excuse to walk around and stretch my legs.

 

I'm not one for engaging with others but occasionally you get an interesting person sitting beside you, but not always. So you might talk for an hour over the course of the flight. I drink plenty of water but try not to eat too much rubbish as it doesn't help. I pretty much avoid alcohol. 

 

I envy people who can sleep, because I never can, but occasionally you get an hour or two if your body is just too tired and you nod off. 

 

The happiest part is actually disembarking and getting to walk to the baggage hall.  

[georgegeorgia]

9 hours ago, G_Money said:

Nothing particularly special other then business class.

 

If I can’t sleep even with full bed recliner seats I look for the hottest Japanese stewardess, get a good mental picture and rub one out.

Disgustingly, 

[georgegeorgia]

I bought two economy seats last time ended up cheaper than the business class 

But unfortunately the two in front decided to put down their seats so I couldn't watch the screen 

 

Business class now 

 

[richard_smith237]

9 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I've never understood why that is a problem. I have never been unable to stay awake for 36 hours, which is far longer than a day and a flight.

Read a good book or watch movies. what is the problem? Are people so set in their ways that they can't accept a break in their boring lives for one day?

 

Mind you, when I saw the way everyone on arrival got up and stood in the aisle for 15 minutes before allowed off the plane, I had to wonder about humanity. Baaaah.

 

Best comment on flying I ever heard was the Monty Python sketch about going on holiday. So true.

 

Even when coming back from work... exhausted...   Sat in Eco...  2am flight, I've been up since about 5am... 

I'll drift off until someone bumps my seat, turbulence or the food / drinks trolley passes...   any form of semi-decent sleep is a no goer - I find it impossible no matter how exhausted I am (I've never been able to sleep in a car either)... 

 

But...  Same scenario...  Business class...   I'll sleep, but barely and get disturbed a lot... 

'Drop a sleeping aid' (Benzo) and bang, I'm out... FA is waking me up with a coffee just before landing (flight feels like its an hour long and I have a decent sleep)...   Its a different world (the Benzo-Biz class combo).

 

 

So.. no night flights for me (unless doing B&B)...  Or its day flights and just chill, read, watch the iPad etc...   but after 6 hours or so those seats are uncomfortable so I'm ready for a little break (18 hr break into a city, have a meal, a sleep) then back to the airport and off again... 

[thaibeachlovers]

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 but after 6 hours or so those seats are uncomfortable so I'm ready for a little break (18 hr break into a city, have a meal, a sleep) then back to the airport and off again... 

Your friendly travel accessories store will be able to supply you with a natty inflatable seat cushion to make those seat woes fly away. As they are inflatable won't take up any space, and weigh next to nothing.

 

Going for a walk around the cabin every so often helps too. Seems most people not AN posters are able to go to sleep on planes. Those inflatable neck pillows avoid a sore neck and I found putting the supplied pillow behind me helped.

I can sleep on a plane, but I never wanted to when there were so many movies to watch. I just had to be careful I didn't start one when there wasn't enough time to see it all.