Favorite ways to pass time on a LONGGG flight?

We're not novices when it comes to long flights (our record now is 16 hrs to Hong Kong!) but I feel like we need new "tricks" to help pass the time on a long flight.

Taking a 14 hour flight to Tokyo next week.

Of course, there is sleeping, reading, and movies. We also bring Uno cards sometimes.

What do you do on long flights to make it a little more bearable?

Re: Favorite ways to pass time on a LONGGG flight?

we always play 500 Rummy

or the usual
puzzle books (my fav)
read
listen to music

Re: Favorite ways to pass time on a LONGGG flight?

Since I can't sleep on planes and I hate flying, I always bring a lot to do. Our longest was 12 hours non-stop to Tahiti and since I didn't sleep a wink (and everyone else was sleeping on the flight) here's what I did:

-brought a few good books and read a lot
-brought an electronic poker game we got as a gift
-card games (I know a few solitaire games)
-people magazine crosswords
-DH and I brought travel scrabble and some other board games so that passed a lot of time when he was awake
-watched a movie or two
-on the way home I looked at all the pics we took on our digital camera, which was a lot!
-also on the way home I got a few pieces of paper and wrote down our entire itinerary... where we were each day, excursions we did, where we ate, etc. while it was still fresh in my mind

-I also got up a few times to walk around and got talking with the flight attendants, since I was basically the only one awake and obviously they were too.

Re: Favorite ways to pass time on a LONGGG flight?

17 1/2 hours to Bangkok was our longest (so far!)

Books (I usually bring two on the plane - a serious one and something fluffy.)
Magazines and The New York Times
Ipod - Download some podcasts! I like This American Life and Speaking of Faith.
They now make this little magnetic travel games of Gold Fish and Hangman as well as others.
I also am a big believer in sleeping pills.

Have fun in Japan!

Message edited 9/2/2008 2:41:34 PM.

Re: Favorite ways to pass time on a LONGGG flight?

In addition to the great suggestions above, I sometimes write letters and birthday cards... use the time to catch up on correspondence.

Re: Favorite ways to pass time on a LONGGG flight?

if you are bringing your laptop you could bring some dvd's...

also..tylenol pm is a friend!

Have a great time!

Re: Favorite ways to pass time on a LONGGG flight?

definitely portable dvd player

good books/magazines (totally into the enquirer on long flights, crazy mags like those)

mad libs are always fun

Re: Favorite ways to pass time on a LONGGG flight?

i do a lot of what the pp said ...i also do suduko, bought a game boy advance!!, and i usually lay out what i will be seeing on vacation-i read a travel book and take notes!

Re: Favorite ways to pass time on a LONGGG flight?

Play games on the laptop
Watch the movies on the seat in front of me
Listen to music
Drink
Read magazines

Re: Favorite ways to pass time on a LONGGG flight?

Sleeping and movies always get me through.

Are you flying Korean Air? Their new planes are terrific- each seat has its own tv with a huge selection of movies.

Re: Favorite ways to pass time on a LONGGG flight?

Re: Favorite ways to pass time on a LONGGG flight?

Great thread. We are flying to Germany in January and I am dreading the long flight. I can't sleep either, and I get so bored after 2 hours.

Like another poster said, Tylenol PM will be my new friend!

Re: Favorite ways to pass time on a LONGGG flight?

Great post!!!!!


We are traveling to China at the end of October

Re: Favorite ways to pass time on a LONGGG flight?

i wrote in my journal for hours on our honeymoon -- during the long flights to and from. i wrote about the wedding going and about the trip coming back b/c that was the longest flight (the interislands were short)...

then, i listen to my ipod a lot.

i can't sleep b/c i am too nervous.

so, i just break up the time w/ different activities -- magazines help a lot and i *NEVER* look at the time or ask how much time we have left. i always wait until they are like "we are going to be making our decent - please buckle your safety belts" and i'm like YES!