International flights

[Chisoxfn]

US to Mumbai? Yeah that's rough. What carrier are you flying? My suggestion would either be Singapore Airlines or Qatar Airlines if you have a choice. They blow the US carriers (namely AA and United) out of the water. Better than British Airways in my opinion, as well.

 

Lie flat seats are always nice - the ones on the new Singapore Airlines planes (basically any of the airbuses 360 and 380 I believe) are HUGE. Again, there's no comparison, except for Qatar from what I hear, but I've never flown them.

 

Good point about the water as well, just make sure you've got easy exit from your seat if you're drinking a ton of water for obvious reasons. Haha.

 

I will also recommend using a tiny travel toothbrush mid-flight - if you're flying business they usually provide these for you or you can pick them up in the lounge pre-flight. Gives you a reason to get up and walk around, makes you feel less scummy toward the end of the flight, and furthermore, should refresh you a bit if you need to be awake.

I'm flying Emirates on one of the bigger airbuses (relatively new plane, ~2 years old), but not the A380 unfortunately. That thing is massive. But the biz class of Emirates is supposed to be top notch. I'm flying LAX to Dubia and than have a short layover before having a nice 2hr flight from Dubai to Mumbai.

 

Brushing of the teeth is definitely nice. It gets pretty nasty if you don't up there. Especially because of how dry and crappy it is. I always grab aisle seats (whether coach or biz class) so that a I don't bug anyone by getting up 15 times during my long-haul flight and B because If I didn't have biz class I can at least kick my feet out into the aisles.

[Chisoxfn]

Mumbai can be flown direct from JFK or IAD. Delhi direct from JFK or ORD. If I ever have to trek back there again, I'll find a way to fly direct from the states.

That would be one long flight from JFK. I'm flying the route over Asia, which from LA, I have the shortest flight avaiable via any of the commercial carriers (Thankfully). I would have to imagine that there might eventually be a non-stop LA to Mumbai flight in the next couple years. Basically once Mumbai opens up its new international airport (which I imagine would actually be nice).

[Fotop]

I'm flying Emirates on one of the bigger airbuses (relatively new plane, ~2 years old), but not the A380 unfortunately. That thing is massive. But the biz class of Emirates is supposed to be top notch. I'm flying LAX to Dubia and than have a short layover before having a nice 2hr flight from Dubai to Mumbai.

 

Brushing of the teeth is definitely nice. It gets pretty nasty if you don't up there. Especially because of how dry and crappy it is. I always grab aisle seats (whether coach or biz class) so that a I don't bug anyone by getting up 15 times during my long-haul flight and B because If I didn't have biz class I can at least kick my feet out into the aisles.

 

Emirates is great from what I hear as well. Again, haven't flown them, but I've come to the conclusion anything is better than United or AA. I hate having to bug people so I can get out of the row, so I'm an aisle person as well. Many people I know, who travel often, prefer window because no one climbs over them and they get to choose when they climb over someone. It's always uncomfortable for me to bug someone so I can step out so I avoid it all together.

 

I'm flying econ for the first time on a long haul flight, from Singapore to Chicago in October for a wedding - United, too. Can't justify ponying up for the buisness seat out of my own pocket (it's about 4x the price!). Should be an adventure.

Edited September 29, 2010 by Fotop

[DBAHO]

Investing in some noise cancelling headphones if you have trouble sleeping on the flight could be a good idea.

 

Bose usually have some pretty good ones you can get.

 

I've flown internationally for longer than 20 hours about 4 or 5 times in my life now. It definitely gets easier the more you do it. Just try and watch some good movies, try to get an aisle seat (so you can stretch your legs out more b/w the rows) and keep moving around every couple of hours as others have said.

[lostfan]

I don't understand how someone can't fall asleep on an overnight flight that's longer than 5 hours. If I get tired then I fall asleep, longest flight I had was Atlanta to Rome (or Frankfurt whichever one was longer) and that wasn't as stupid long as Miami to Johannesburg or LAX to Sydney, but still almost a half a day. If I didn't sleep on that I'd probably slit my wrists.

[Rex Kickass]

I don't understand how someone can't fall asleep on an overnight flight that's longer than 5 hours. If I get tired then I fall asleep, longest flight I had was Atlanta to Rome (or Frankfurt whichever one was longer) and that wasn't as stupid long as Miami to Johannesburg or LAX to Sydney, but still almost a half a day. If I didn't sleep on that I'd probably slit my wrists.

Fear of flying.

 

The last time I fell asleep on a flight was in 2006 when I was flying home from Rio on a 13 hour flight. We were over the Venezuelan coast when we hit some moderate turbulence and I felt like I was plummeting to the ocean below with my eyes closed. Woke up and the call attendant lights were being reset and freaked out. Was convinced we were crashing for the next 5 hours until we passed Bermuda.

 

Haven't been able to sleep on a plane since.

[NorthSideSox72]

I don't understand how someone can't fall asleep on an overnight flight that's longer than 5 hours. If I get tired then I fall asleep, longest flight I had was Atlanta to Rome (or Frankfurt whichever one was longer) and that wasn't as stupid long as Miami to Johannesburg or LAX to Sydney, but still almost a half a day. If I didn't sleep on that I'd probably slit my wrists.

 

 

Fear of flying.

 

The last time I fell asleep on a flight was in 2006 when I was flying home from Rio on a 13 hour flight. We were over the Venezuelan coast when we hit some moderate turbulence and I felt like I was plummeting to the ocean below with my eyes closed. Woke up and the call attendant lights were being reset and freaked out. Was convinced we were crashing for the next 5 hours until we passed Bermuda.

 

Haven't been able to sleep on a plane since.

 

I can't speak for Rex, but its not fear of flying for me. I actually like flying (though I hate the current affair of getting TO the plane). Problem is, I've never been able to sleep in cars or planes. I think its that I just can't sleep sitting up. Also, being 6'3" with broad shoulders, I'm usually pretty cramped into my seat, which doesn't help.

 

I've probably done an overnight flight a couple dozen times in my life, and I was able to actually fall asleep for two of those.

 

 

[Milkman delivers]

Fear of flying.

 

The last time I fell asleep on a flight was in 2006 when I was flying home from Rio on a 13 hour flight. We were over the Venezuelan coast when we hit some moderate turbulence and I felt like I was plummeting to the ocean below with my eyes closed. Woke up and the call attendant lights were being reset and freaked out. Was convinced we were crashing for the next 5 hours until we passed Bermuda.

 

Haven't been able to sleep on a plane since.

 

I don't know why people are so afraid of dying in a plane crash. I mean, it's gotta be one of the quickest/easiest ways to go, plus it's something that will be remembered.

[Chi Town Sox]

hopefully you didn't book your flight to Amsterdam yet

 

http://www.travelzoo.com/airfare/europe/89...ing=&tppct=

[bigruss]

hopefully you didn't book your flight to Amsterdam yet

 

http://www.travelzoo.com/airfare/europe/89...ing=&tppct=

The blackout dates kill me though.