# How Do You Pass the Time During Long Flights? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 19, 2005, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861 "2005-02-19T05:39:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RFBluesValentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@RFBluesValentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RFBluesValentine)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/21 "2005-02-19T16:40:21Z")
My plan for flying from Dulles, VA to LA in 2-3 weeks (which will be my second flight EVAR omgwtfbbq): Crime novel, magazine, try to get away with ordering rum and coke (I’m 20). …Does American check IDs? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/22 "2005-02-19T16:51:55Z")
> [@citrus x paradisi](#): > > My dad thinks it’s silly to bring water, but I’m packing two bottles all the same. Oh, there’s absolutely nothing silly about bringing water along. Definitely bring it. Two bottles is fine. I easily go through drinking about 1.5 liters of water on an international flight (then again, I do drink more water than most people.) But I would definitely have at least a liter on hand. You get dehydrated pretty easily and the flight attendants don’t come along nearly often enough. I very rarely travel without packing a bottle of water. To bad you can’t bring your Gameboy and mp3 players. Maybe your teacher is under the mistaken impression that these devices aren’t allowed on planes. They are, but are asked to be turned off during take-off and landing. I would ask her why you’re not allowed to bring them, because they do make the time go by much more smoothly. It’s a boring 7 hours, but between the music, the movies, some books and or the zen-like state of half-consciousness you tend to reach on these trips, you’ll be fine. For all the traveling I’ve done, no matter how tired I am, I’ve never slept more than an hour on a flight. (And even that was when I had a whole row to myself, so I could get into a prone position.) I am insanely jealous of those talented people that can nod off at the drop of a hat. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/23 "2005-02-19T16:59:18Z")
Crucial for an overnight flight - thick socks. Nothing worse than taking your shoes off and trying to sleep, only to have cold feet. Then again, I don’t think school parties tend to get much sleep on such journies 😛 . And they’ll probably seat a school group right at the back of the plane, keeping you out of view of all the important businessmen, so you’ll get your food last. So depending on the time of the flight and on how much you like your food, you may want to eat before boarding. > [@](#): > > I’ve consistently found inflight movies disappointing. It’s rare that I’m much interested in what is showing, and rare that the screen location and picture quality are much above mediocre. There is a trend toward individual screens and “select your own” movies, but this is not yet widespread. Virgin are pretty good in this respect - I’m fairly sure they’ve got all their planes fitted with these. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/24 "2005-02-19T17:21:44Z")
Eat. Drink. Sleep. Read. Stretch. Walk. Talk. Mix’em up any way you like. Repeat as often as needed. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/25 "2005-02-19T18:39:00Z")
Noone has mentioned yet that you SHOULD NOT drink the water on the plane, unless it it bottled. This sometimes goes for the ice cubes they give you and the coffee and tea. The water tanks on airliners are frequently contaminated with tricky hobbitses…er… fecal and other coliform bacteria. Bring a few bottles of your own, or a Nalgene, or only drink the water they give you in bottles. And make sure you see them open the bottles, sometimes they’ve been known to refill them from the plane’s tap. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/26 "2005-02-19T19:03:42Z")
Mainly doing puzzles, especially crosswords, that are all done by the time the plane lands. I also bring along reading that comes in short pieces like science mags. If the flight is showing a movie I haven’t seen before, I’ll watch it until I’m bored with it. I usually bring along my own music, mp3 player, and headphone. And sleep of course. Yeah, I take out some work to look over, but almost always only give that my cursory attention. ---
**Author:** ![LuckiestGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@LuckiestGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LuckiestGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/27 "2005-02-19T19:11:56Z")
Definitely take off your shoes since the swell during flight and it’ll make you fell more comfortable. My whole fmaily swore by Virgin up until 3 years ago when someone went on BA and said they’d definitely stepped up to the plate. Actually when we all fly to England later this year we will be flying BA. BUT Virgin has the movies, video games (yes they are older like another poster mentioned) and great staff. Don’t drink that much on board since flying dehydrates you anyway and in the end its just harder to sleep. So enjoy the movies take along some magazines and even play some Mario! and just pray the strange person sitting next to you isn’t much of a talker:) My Blog _[Don’t laugh so hard, it may be funny but it’s also my life](http://luckiestguy.blogspot.com/)_ Lucky ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/28 "2005-02-19T19:47:06Z")
> [@citrus x paradisi](#): > > 7 hours? I’m relieved, I’d heard much longer travel times mentioned. Actually flying _to_ the UK might even be shorter than that. I’ve made it there in 5 something. Coming back is usually 7 (and I won’t dishearten you be telll you about the Virgin flight that took a full ten hours, station to station. But that was mostly on the tarmac.) Hey…Virgin started out as an entertainment company. If you don’t like the movie, a Simpsons rerun, or better yet, learn something about British culture by watching one of their cheesy sitcoms (I think The Office is overrated). And if that doesn’t do it for you, watch the little airplane icon winging it’s way across the Atlantic. Virgin is fun :). But bring a book anyway. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/29 "2005-02-19T20:02:52Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > Noone has mentioned yet that you SHOULD NOT drink the water on the plane, unless it it bottled. This sometimes goes for the ice cubes they give you and the coffee and tea. The water tanks on airliners are frequently contaminated with tricky hobbitses…er… fecal and other coliform bacteria. Bring a few bottles of your own, or a Nalgene, or only drink the water they give you in bottles. And make sure you see them open the bottles, sometimes they’ve been known to refill them from the plane’s tap. I can’t help but think ‘urban myth’ about some of this. Not about whether the tap water is drinkable - it certainly isn’t. But you simply won’t get served it. Ice is supplied in huge great bags by the catering companies. And I doubt there’s even a tap available on board that the crew could fit a bottle under if they tried. > [@LuckiestGuy](#): > > My whole fmaily swore by Virgin up until 3 years ago when someone went on BA and said they’d definitely stepped up to the plate. This is very true, because they’re head-to-head rivals on some very lucrative routes. > [@betenoir](#): > > Actually flying _to_ the UK might even be shorter than that. I’ve made it there in 5 something. Coming back is usually 7 (and I won’t dishearten you be telll you about the Virgin flight that took a full ten hours, station to station. But that was mostly on the tarmac.) Flight time to Heathrow airspace is probably about 5 hours. But you can guarantee you won’t land straight away. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/30 "2005-02-20T01:09:32Z")
I always have to smile when I hear Americans describe the flight to Europe as a “long flight”. Seriously though, I take lots of reading material on board with me. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/31 "2005-02-20T01:49:27Z")
A neck pillow. One of those funny blow-up U shaped neck pillows. The pillows on planes are inadequate and germy. Did I mention tht they are not cleaned/shucked of their crappy little papery cover as often as they want you to beleive. I don’t have a cite. I use to read the inside the industry reports for the airlines. They also recycle the air in the plane , so finding some [SinoFresh](http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=92039&catid=10&brand=38941&trx=PLST-0-BRAND&trxp1=10&trxp2=92039&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-BRAND) might be beneficial. It’s about $14 or so at stores. Worth every freakin’ penny, IMHO. Yeah, I’m a germophobe. It’s more of a hobby, really. Lip Balm, too. Can’t live without it. Especially at 30,000 ft. ---
**Author:** ![pasunejen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@pasunejen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pasunejen)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/32 "2005-02-20T02:49:31Z")
I can never sleep on planes, so this is always a particularly interesting problem for me. Generally I read until I start to feel sick, listen to music or watch the in-flight movie for a while, then read some more. Occasionally I make an attempt at dozing. Once in a while I even manage to pass out for an hour or so. If you’re prone to dry eyes/nose, take something to deal with that. You will thank yourself if you do, and curse yourself if you don’t. I have to say: the fact that you’ve got companions is a huge benefit; you’ll be able to play games or just converse for at least part of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/33 "2005-02-20T04:17:38Z")
Dramamine (Gravol to you Canucks)\*. Sleep. Failing sleep, NY Times Sunday crossword puzzle book. I did 5 of 'em in a row one day during a tarmac incarceration. It was almost tolerable, especially after hour three when the free booze started flowing. \*I first learned this tradename from a car attendant on VIA Rail during a layover in Alberta. I’d been slightly trainsick the night before. I was outside the train staring at the roadbed when I thought I heard her say “take some gravel.” I said, “How am I gonna wash THAT down?!” ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/34 "2005-02-20T07:06:10Z")
The only time I’ve ever managed to actually enjoy the 15-hour L.A.-to-Hong-Kong flight was one time on Cathay Pacific, when they had individual entertainment centers on the backs of the seats. I slept for four hours, and otherwise managed to entertain myself by watching a half-dozen movies, playing a few computer games, and reading from my cache of paperback books. I’d _hate_ to make that trip again without the in-flight distractions… ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/35 "2005-02-20T07:45:33Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > I can’t help but think ‘urban myth’ about some of this. Not about whether the tap water is drinkable - it certainly isn’t. But you simply won’t get served it. That’s what I thought too, then an hour later I heard the news on the radio. [Here](http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20050119-1444-airlines-unsafewater.html) is an article on the same information. To quote: > [@](#): > > Among 169 randomly tested airliners, most of the 29 that tested positive for coliform bacteria had them in lavatory faucets, but **some also had them in galley water taps.** There were no cases of the more serious E. coli bacteria, which can cause diarrhea and nausea, an improvement from two cases found in previous testing. > … > EPA advised passengers with compromised immune systems or others concerned with the quality of onboard water to ask for canned or bottled beverages and to refrain from drinking tea or coffee unless made with bottled water. (emphasis mine.) I think you’re right about ice though, that wouldn’t come from the galley tap water. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/36 "2005-02-20T11:29:13Z")
> [@](#): > > How Do You Pass the Time During Long Flights? Regular and copious farting. (Also known as frequent flautus.) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/37 "2005-02-20T12:20:30Z")
I usually fly dressed in a pilot’s uniform, cap and all. Usually other passengers like to pass their time talking to me about my “experiences”. So I make some up. If anything unusual happens - hitting a downdraft, experiencing turbulence, I leap to my feet and shout out, “DO NOT PANIC, there is no need for alarm.” Usually this causes one of the cabin crew to approach me, which allows me to call out, “I MAY HAVE BEEN TOO HASTY, one of the crew seems to think there IS need for alarm.” Generally the trip passes pretty quickly after I have been sedated. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861/38 "2005-02-20T18:58:33Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Regular and copious farting. > > (Also known as frequent flautus.) This is another reason why I never use the on-board pillows. Some peoples out there use them as butt cushions and they become by default Fart Mufflers. Nothing like high altitudes pressing down on the intestines…PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPFFFFT. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pass-the-time-during-long-flights/290861.md?page=1)