If you’re going to fly from Bangkok to Europe in cattle class, and at least one of your flights will be 10-12 hours long, what kind of things do you try to do to make your flight experience more tolerable?

Do you bring a neck pillow or a seat cushion? Your own extra food? Wet wipes in case you want to take a dump on the plane? Your own hoodie to avoid freezing? Your own bottle so that you can fill it up when needed and have plenty of drinking water? Or do you survive on coffee and wine and go the full dehydration route?

I see some people who do absolutely nothing except take a bag of pills after the fasten seatbelt sign goes off, snore nonstop, and then wake up 12 hours later with their head buried on the shoulder of the bloke next to them.

One thing I try to do is stop myself from the temptation of watching too many terrible movies on the flight, ones that I would never watch if I were not stranded in the air for 12 hours. Actually, I bring my laptop so that I can watch a movie or two of my own choosing.

And nothing beats the bliss of great ANC from a pair of high quality blu tooth earbuds to drown out the engine noise. I travel with two pairs so that when the battery dies in the first pair, I can switch to the other while the first one recharges.

Select a bulkhead or exit row seat. Dress warm, and binge watch moves that you downloaded to your laptop. Bring some munchies.

59 minutes ago, TedG said:

Select a bulkhead or exit row seat. Dress warm, and binge watch moves that you downloaded to your laptop. Bring some munchies.

I at times used to get an economy exit row sat on a 747 from US to (usually) Tokyo. One problem is people who choose to use the exit row space to do their mid-flight calisthenics and come close to kicking you and sometimes, if there is a bump in the air, they do.

Another is the escape chute on the exit row door with a DO NOT SIT sign on it. Problem is you don't see the sign if you are sitting on it. One flight there was a woman who interpreted that as 'no sitting' EXCEPT FOR THE GRANDMA WITH THE BABY. And she was determined to sit there no matter how many times an attendant told her she could not.

NB My last 3 flights all before COVID were in Korean Air business class BKK to ATL and I will never (if at all possible) fly economy again.

Strong sleeping pills.

There is quote a lot of entertainment in most flights, especially new movies but it's still going to take the time. I watch the new movies, usually three, and we're still only about half way to the destination so sleeping comes next, as long as I can without missing a meal. then it's another 2 movies and we're usually there. The only real way you get lucky is if you are the only one in the three seats across, so you can stretch out, but that's been only a couple of times, as most seats are booked. Some more times you can have no one sitting next to you so you get a little more room.

I have a couple of 10-12 hour audio books on my phone - George Orwell (Burmese Days), with a real narrator and which I have listened to many times and never get bored hearing it again. Plus some Buddhist meditation music. It keeps me relaxed. Plus continual wriggling of my toes to avoid IVT.

Comfy shoes and pants, extra T-shirt, hoodie, Bluetooth adopter for my noise cancelling headphones (I love this one, no more cable, and better sound as well silence), aisle seat in the middle row, so I do not need to be disturbed if the middle guy need to get out, and especially Emirates do have a excellent 2. Floor with few seats big toilets, thats a plus. And I do upgrade to premium if price is affordable and available. I used to by priority boarding, but seriously, the plane do not leave without, and these days you usually get space for your bag in the top locker above you, unless you are in one of the front rows. I do buy a water bottle so I do not need to ask everytime I need or want water. Another thing, if I fly out in the night, I always book an airport hotel so Im well rested before my flight.

One red wine with the food, and one cocnac with coffe, and that used to be the magic, but with these new planes with upgraded clean air, and maybe the age, sleep only an hour or at most two hours now and then on a long haul flight,

1 hour ago, gargamon said:

Strong sleeping pills.

Harder and harder to obtain these days whether obtaining via own Doctor (blanket no no at our practice) or in Thai Pharmacies

Personally my own "tolerance" to these types of drugs is ludicrous. Taking 5 times the recommended dose might work on occasions !

This was a NT Times published comment from me about 10 years ago on roughly the same topic:

The key to surviving long haul 12 to 18 hour flights?

You have to be very good at doing absolutely nothing.

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

There is quote a lot of entertainment in most flights, especially new movies but it's still going to take the time. I watch the new movies, usually three, and we're still only about half way to the destination so sleeping comes next, as long as I can without missing a meal. then it's another 2 movies and we're usually there. The only real way you get lucky is if you are the only one in the three seats across, so you can stretch out, but that's been only a couple of times, as most seats are booked. Some more times you can have no one sitting next to you so you get a little more room.

You can buy the seat next to you now ;-) I considering doing that on my next flight now.

3 hours ago, Kyoto Kyle said:

If you’re going to fly from Bangkok to Europe in cattle class, and at least one of your flights will be 10-12 hours long

... then you started off in the wrong direction !!!....

Edit: BKK to AMS is now 13 hrs !!! - is that re-routing... Its been a while since I had a direct flight BKK to Europe - but I recall AMS to SIN being about 11-12 hrs back in the day.

5 minutes ago, Hummin said:

You can buy the seat next to you now ;-) I considering doing that on my next flight now.

That would give you a little more room but at $1200 USD average I'll just try to sleep longer.😀

3 hours ago, Kyoto Kyle said:

Do you bring a neck pillow or a seat cushion?

Never thought about that - but after 6 hrs on a economy seat - my backside aches !!.. Its one of the reasons try to layover and over night midway - flying is too boring, too painful, I'm not in a hurry - stop off, have a beer and a meal, a good nights sleep half way through (IMO).

3 hours ago, Kyoto Kyle said:

I see some people who do absolutely nothing except take a bag of pills after the fasten seatbelt sign goes off, snore nonstop, and then wake up 12 hours later with their head buried on the shoulder of the bloke next to them.

On Business class flights - great - the sleeping tablets to a cracking job of taking the edge off the disruptions - drugged up, I've slept very well on flights lying flat - in Eco - it just take the edge of being pished off that the comfort sucks.

3 hours ago, Kyoto Kyle said:

One thing I try to do is stop myself from the temptation of watching too many terrible movies on the flight, ones that I would never watch if I were not stranded in the air for 12 hours. Actually, I bring my laptop so that I can watch a movie or two of my own choosing.

Load up on a good series and 'try' to get locked into it before the flight - watch it on your own tablet with good headphones - IMO, other than lying flat and dropping a roofie - its the best time killer.

3 hours ago, Kyoto Kyle said:

And nothing beats the bliss of great ANC from a pair of high quality blu tooth earbuds to drown out the engine noise. I travel with two pairs so that when the battery dies in the first pair, I can switch to the other while the first one recharges.

100% - Sony WH-1000XM's (over ear) + backup in ear noise cancellers.

I take 320 mg of aspirin about 30 minutes before a flight. It helps thin the blood for a week and may reduce the risk of DVT, as well as muscle pain and lactic acid buildup. Occasionally, I also take a muscle relaxant.

The biggest improvement, however, comes from using a memory foam seat cushion. Sitting on one for a long flight makes a noticeable difference in comfort. It reduces pressure on the lower back, which tends to build up over extended periods of sitting on a poorly made seat. It is something I always bring.

There are several quality levels available for these cushions on Shopee. They appear similar externally, but the internal material varies. The options range from Basic to Standard to Upgraded and Advanced. I chose the Upgraded version, which cost ฿400, and it has been well worth it.

I do not use neck pillows, as I have not found them useful.

24 minutes ago, Chivas said:

Harder and harder to obtain these days whether obtaining via own Doctor (blanket no no at our practice) or in Thai Pharmacies

Personally my own "tolerance" to these types of drugs is ludicrous. Taking 5 times the recommended dose might work on occasions !

A short trip to Cambodia to pick up bromazepam works for me.

4 minutes ago, gargamon said:

A short trip to Cambodia to pick up bromazepam works for me.

Am sure going in Thai Hospital would produce results as regards a prescription but I find nothing effectively works whether proper sleepers or Diazapam etc

Of the latter I took 50mg (no alcohol) on one occasion and whilst it did produce after 15 minutes a slightly dozy effect subsequently 15 minutes after that I was back to normal lol

Will have a look at the med you suggested..thanks

12 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

That would give you a little more room but at $1200 USD average I'll just try to sleep longer.😀

Not that expensive, I think it was around 60 usd last offer I had.

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

Not that expensive, I think it was around 60 usd last offer I had.

60 USD from where to where? I'm guessing that's one way from Bangkok to your home country? I wish it was that cheap flying international. The average price I find, using Justfly or Cheapoair, from Bangkok to Texas, has been $900- $1200 USD.

11 minutes ago, gargamon said:

A short trip to Cambodia to pick up bromazepam works for me.

Did bro enjoy it as much as you ??

(I know - serious topic - sorry).

4 minutes ago, Chivas said:

Am sure going in Thai Hospital would produce results as regards a prescription but I find nothing effectively works whether proper sleepers or Diazapam etc

Of the latter I took 50mg (no alcohol) on one occasion and whilst it did produce after 15 minutes a slightly dozy effect subsequently 15 minutes after that I was back to normal lol

Will have a look at the med you suggested..thanks

2mg Clonozapam - '60% of the time, it works all of the time'...

Be careful - mg dosages are not comparable....

16 minutes ago, Harry Tuchas said:

I take 320 mg of aspirin about 30 minutes before a flight. It helps thin the blood for a week and may reduce the risk of DVT, as well as muscle pain and lactic acid buildup.

& wear flight socks (calf compressions) - risk of DVT while highly know for some reason is still widely ignored.

DVT risk while travelling and immobile is very very real.

16 minutes ago, Harry Tuchas said:

The biggest improvement, however, comes from using a memory foam seat cushion. Sitting on one for a long flight makes a noticeable difference in comfort.

As silly as the imagery of someone taking their own 'asspillow' on a flight is - it makes more sense to me than a neck pillow - a lot more sense !!!

16 minutes ago, Harry Tuchas said:

I do not use neck pillows, as I have not found them useful.

100% agree - I never figured out how to get comfortable with a neck pillow.

28 minutes ago, Harry Tuchas said:

I take 320 mg of aspirin about 30 minutes before a flight. It helps thin the blood for a week and may reduce the risk of DVT, as well as muscle pain and lactic acid buildup. Occasionally, I also take a muscle relaxant.

The biggest improvement, however, comes from using a memory foam seat cushion. Sitting on one for a long flight makes a noticeable difference in comfort. It reduces pressure on the lower back, which tends to build up over extended periods of sitting on a poorly made seat. It is something I always bring.

There are several quality levels available for these cushions on Shopee. They appear similar externally, but the internal material varies. The options range from Basic to Standard to Upgraded and Advanced. I chose the Upgraded version, which cost ฿400, and it has been well worth it.

I do not use neck pillows, as I have not found them useful.

They sound like a worthwhile idea, but can you change your seating position using them or need to sit upright and straight? It takes me awhile to get comfortable if people are sitting next to me for 12 hours, with a little twisting here and there along the way.

17 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

60 USD from where to where? I'm guessing that's one way from Bangkok to your home country? I wish it was that cheap flying international. The average price I find, using Justfly or Cheapoair, from Bangkok to Texas, has been $900- $1200 USD.

It is an offer to free the neighbour seat if available capacity, and reserve that seat as long as possible when they open for check in. You are not buying a ticket.

Free neighbour seat offer.

https://www.lufthansa.com/az/en/advance-seat-reservation

14 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

& wear flight socks (calf compressions) - risk of DVT while highly know for some reason is still widely ignored.

DVT risk while travelling and immobile is very very real.

As silly as the imagery of someone taking their own 'asspillow' on a flight is - it makes more sense to me than a neck pillow - a lot more sense !!!

100% agree - I never figured out how to get comfortable with a neck pillow.

Yes, DVT risk is high, especially once you’re into your 50s. But taking the aspirin before the flight and getting up to move around, including going to the bathroom fairly often, helps lower that risk a lot I think.

Here is the link to that seat cushion on Shopee if you're interested:

https://shopee.co.th/product/1451104974/29876184110

It comes in a shrink wrapped bag, so it is very compact when it arrives. It weighs about 600 g. You can keep it in the bag until you get on the flight, which makes it easy to carry in your backpack. Once opened, it takes about 15 minutes to fully expand into its proper shape.

19 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Did bro enjoy it as much as you ??

(I know - serious topic - sorry).

2mg Clonozapam - '60% of the time, it works all of the time'...

Be careful - mg dosages are not comparable....

The 6mg bromazepam is breakable into 4 1.5mg chunks. I rarely need more than 2 chunks.

3 minutes ago, Hummin said:

It is an offer to free the neighbour seat if available capacity, and reserve that seat as long as possible when they open for check in. You are not buying a ticket.

Free neighbour seat offer.

https://www.lufthansa.com/az/en/advance-seat-reservation

Okay, I didn't know that but is that limited to Lufthansa or other airlines? I always book through Justfly or Cheapoair and get whatever seats are available, without knowing about the seats next to me until I arrive. I'm guessing booking with the airline directly isn't the same.Most seats international seem to be booked, and I've noticed very few free seats on the flights I've taken back and forth from here to Texas.

54 minutes ago, Chivas said:

Harder and harder to obtain these days whether obtaining via own Doctor (blanket no no at our practice) or in Thai Pharmacies

Personally my own "tolerance" to these types of drugs is ludicrous. Taking 5 times the recommended dose might work on occasions !

Story of my life: I'll try something to help me sleep for the first time, and it works. Try it again a week later, and then on, no go. This has been pharmaceuticals as well as herbs. I'm over 70, I first noticed this when I was in my 20s.

I wouldn't think of taking more pills, heard too many death by sleeping pill overdose stories. I once took an, err, recreational drug that took more than 24 hours to hit -- does this happen to everybody?

2 minutes ago, Harry Tuchas said:

Yes, DVT risk is high, especially once you’re into your 50s. But taking the aspirin before the flight and getting up to move around, including going to the bathroom fairly often, helps lower that risk a lot I think.

Here is the link to that seat cushion on Shopee if you're interested:

https://shopee.co.th/product/1451104974/29876184110

It comes in a shrink wrapped bag, so it is very compact when it arrives. It weighs about 600 g. You can keep it in the bag until you get on the flight, which makes it easy to carry in your backpack. Once opened, it takes about 15 minutes to fully expand into its proper shape.

I actually have one of those cushions from back when 'when working from home' was a thing....

Breaking one out of a flight though - I'm just not there yet - not matter how much I want to take one on a flight with me !!!...

7 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

They sound like a worthwhile idea, but can you change your seating position using them or need to sit upright and straight? It takes me awhile to get comfortable if people are sitting next to me for 12 hours, with a little twisting here and there along the way.

No, you do not need to sit upright and straight. It helps, but the nice thing about it is that it is contoured and form fitting, with a slight lip at the bottom of the back. So if you start to sink down, it still supports your lower back. And it's made of memory foam, which means that it should adjust to your own shape a bit over time.

These pillows are not just great for flights. You can use them on any chair where you sit for a long time. A desk chair is perfect. It is a game changer if you spend a lot of time at a computer.

I would say it is not just about the comfort of the pillow itself, but about how it takes pressure off the lower back. Try one at home first, then see whether you think it would be good for a flight.

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Breaking one out of a flight though - I'm just not there yet - not matter how much I want to take one on a flight with me !!!...

Why not? Worried about appearances? When I fly, all I care about is comfort. I couldn't care less about anything else.

I always do a stop over in Dubai if I would not be able to do business class and then add lounges as i have unlimited access (for booze and food). Right now direct economy flights are more than business class usually is round trip lol. Not flying further than Singapore rn.

With covid it all started innocent too until there was suddenly a global lock down, perhaps under the excuse of oil shortages and safety. Klaus Schwab WEF always said that covid was just a 'warm up lock down' and clearly Trump licks his balls too.