Things to do on an airplane - Page 2 - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**expatben** · 05-09-2006, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheJake@May 8 2006, 07:38 PM
all i know is that next time i fly, im wearing a leg cast or something cause i can't do coach... freakin cramped when your 6'3" and built like a water tanker...

[snapback]119151[/snapback]

Man I hear that! I get so cramped when I fly, and I can never sleep on planes. Probably why flying is my least favourite mode of transportation

**omisan** · 05-09-2006, 02:13 AM

God, once they introduce Wi-Fi in all classes, I'll be all set.

I think Lufthansa has that on a few routes now. All my geekiest fantasies will come true when the airlines I fly have that.

**worldwidemike** · 05-09-2006, 03:50 AM

If you're the type who has trouble sleeping on planes, here's my suggestion:

Get some of those little, cushy foam earplugs that go inside your ear. Get one of those cloth masks that go over your eyes. Between the two of them, you'll be amazed at how much you can shut out the rest of the plane. It's what works best for me, at least. A glass of wine with dinner doesn't hurt, either!

worldwidemike

olabueno · 05-09-2006, 08:00 AM

Good question Juli. I think the plane ride can go two ways depending on how you feel. If it’s your first big trip you’ll prob. be really excited and anxious to touch down. My absolute favorite distraction on intl. plane rides is to chat up the people all around you. It’s even better if you talk to someone that you perhaps would not approach at your school, workplace, bar, etc. I make a game of trying to draw a shy/boring seatmate out of their shells. It makes for really interesting stories and possibly new acquaintances. For instance, I’m welcome to a cabin on/near Mt. Hood because I took the time to chat up a stranger (I have it all to myself for a week in July).

Plus, it’s good practice for your trip. Backpacking is so much more enjoyable when you make the first effort w/ the locals. They can be chilly sometimes but just like a boring seatmate, they will warm up and hopefully invite you to dinner or point out a hidden, local travel gem.

Or…you can always take one or several sleeping aids and konk yourself out. This is awesome because when you land you feel like your ready to take on the entire city/culture, etc.

ch3cooh · 05-09-2006, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheJake@May 8 2006, 08:38 PM
all i know is that next time i fly, im wearing a leg cast or something cause i can't do coach... freakin cramped when your 6'3" and built like a water tanker...

[snapback]119151[/snapback]

On my last two trans-atlantic flights I had the exit rows with the bathrooms in front of them. I go about 6'2" to 6'5" depending on the convenience store that I'm leaving and I could stretch out and not touch anything in front of me. I got the dirtiest looks from people.

oh_juli · 05-09-2006, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Somnambulation@May 8 2006, 11:01 PM
Back in my day all we had were black and white Gameboys, and you had to have the overhead light on to see the screen and the tiny little blocks moving around. But we liked it like that dagnabit

[snapback]119214[/snapback]

Yeah, man! I still have my nintendo! I have Tetris and Ducktales Adventures for it and it kicks frigging ass. Kids gawk when I pull it out, like "whaaa! That's not handheld!"
4 batteries lasting 1 hour. That's the way it oughta be.

thatgirlwholaughs · 05-09-2006, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bellelass@May 8 2006, 09:10 PM
I like to pick up books or magazines I wouldnt normally bother with at all (things like Lucky magazine or People, the Da Vinci Code or my latest airplane book was "Memoirs of a Geisha" that I literally finished in one sitting) and I glory in reading CRAP that no one will catch me with.* I also write write write write.* Working on one or the other of my stories.* Music doesnt do much for me, and Ive never slept in a plane without taking toxic amounts of sleeping pills.* And ditto the movies- if they're good you're set for at least a few hours.
I do NOT reccommend getting sloshed on the plane, but if you do then realize that the altitude makes drinks more potent.* So take it easy.* But getting drunk on a plane is terrible, you are jetlagged and hungover and it eats the first two days of your trip.* Just dont do it.

[snapback]119129[/snapback]

hehe, if you're worried about keeping yourself occupied, flying WITH someone getting sloshed and then babysitting them 'til the landing is all sorts of "fun" tends to make flights quicker. landing is also more amusing, mainly as you spend the obnoxious hours getting through customs watching miss/mr drunkard act sober.

thatgirlwholaughs · 05-09-2006, 03:52 PM

i however am quite keen on music and movies. books put me to sleep, and are therefore a must.

**Rozza** · 05-09-2006, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Canadian Dude@May 9 2006, 12:47 AM
*cough* mile high *cough*

* * *

[snapback]119076[/snapback]

*cough* you would know *cough*

*cough* or would you *cough*

any way, i just sleep, and sleep, and sleep

**joanofarc** · 05-09-2006, 04:35 PM

i'm with belle for reading pure trash on long flights... i try to take it as far as i can go too by buying it at one of the airport kiosks - you know, for the ultimate rip off.

**beergal** · 05-09-2006, 04:35 PM

i can fall asleep anywhere lol the amount of times i have fallen asleep on a plane with my mouth open and the little snoring noises i make ha ha ha

the only thing i would reccommend is staying as near possible away from any kids!

**LostFarmboy** · 05-10-2006, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheJake@May 8 2006, 07:38 PM
all i know is that next time i fly, im wearing a leg cast or something cause i can't do coach... freakin cramped when your 6'3" and built like a water tanker...

[snapback]119151[/snapback]

hehe, flights are one time when it's actually beneficial to be only 5'6"

**LiveFreeorDie** · 05-10-2006, 07:18 PM

Quote:

the only thing i would reccommend is staying as near possible away from any kids!

That's for damn sure. My last flight back from Hong Kong, I had a mother sitting next to me who carried her baby on her lap the entire f'ing flight (they do not require babies under a certain age to have their own seat - BUT THEY SHOULD!!). So, the kid was constantly crawling on me, throwing cups around, grabbing me, screaming his bloody head off, crapping in his diaper, etc. That was the flight from hell. Karmically speaking, in the future I should have nice peaceful flights for awhile with an occassionally hot seat mate, right??

Don't get me wrong....I love kids.......but I don't want to have to deal with a baby on a continual basis on a 13 hour flight!! :greenguy:

**expatben** · 05-11-2006, 06:40 AM

Had the same thing on a flight back from Beijing. This baby who cried constantly. She did stop eventually though. Its the cabin pressure, little kids hate cabin pressure.

**Joker** · 05-11-2006, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by expatben@May 11 2006, 06:40 AM
Had the same thing on a flight back from Beijing. This baby who cried constantly. She did stop eventually though. Its the cabin pressure, little kids hate cabin pressure.

[snapback]119919[/snapback]

Imagine a situation worse than a screaming kid, since eventually they will cry themselves to sleep...

A woman painting her nails.

Now, ladies, I'm not completely a Neanderthal, though there are occasions where my knuckles get scraped up from the pavement.... but I notice things. The little ladies at the nail salons wear hospital masks for some goofy reason when they're working on your cuticles, right? Apparently that stuff in highly concentrated doses is pretty toxic. Imagine being stuck on a flight with an ignorant bitch painting her nails behind you. In that recirculated air its worse than being across the room from that going on...

**omisan** · 05-11-2006, 07:42 AM

I don't mind if it's a little baby - I mean, what can you do? I've been lucky enough to be reseated just about every time I've been near one of the little tear-and-poop machines. What can I say? I have great airline crew karma.

The problem is with slightly older kids (i.e. ages 3-8) over whom the parents have NO control. Or little desire to exert control. And they think it's the FA's job to babysit them. There was this disgusting couple on a Virgin flight from London to San Francisco (they were neither British nor American before that fight ensues...) and they sat a row BEHIND their kids on purpose (in those 4-wide 747 aisles), letting the two little boogers scream, throw stuff and generally run amock the entire flight. Whenever we asked them to do something about it, they'd just roll their eyes and say, "Hey, we're on vacation, too" and then ask the flight attendants to "bring them some toys or some candy." Right, like f'in candy is what a couple of hyperactive little shits like that need.

By the end of the flight, half the airplane was giving this couple the evil eye. Several of us offered the FAs some medicine to spike the kids' food/drink with. (Response: "We've been talking about that in the galley but we might lose our jobs.") The crew asked them never to fly Virgin again. Of course, with all the threats, bad vibes, and staff cursing, the couple didn't seem to care. They should be put on the TSA's no-fly list. Fuckers.

**worldwidemike** · 05-11-2006, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by omisan@May 11 2006, 02:42 PM
They should be put on the TSA's no-fly list. Fuckers.

[snapback]119945[/snapback]

Agreed. Bastards. My own personal flight from Hell was Detroit (yo, shout out, Sijuki!) to LAX on Northwest Airlines. I get back to my row and see a woman who's strapped a carseat into the middle seat. She's sitting in the aisle seat. My seat is supposed to be the window. I ask her if she wants to switch, and I'll take the aisle. Oh no, she says, she might have to get up during the flight. I'm thinking, "Uh, what about me, bee-atch?" So, I look to the flight attendent and ask, "How am I supposed to get to my seat?" She shrugs and walks on. The dumb woman tells me just to squeeze on past, despite the fact the kid is big enough that his feet are touching the seatback in front of our row.

So, I "squeeze on by" to the howls of the kid (can't blame him), and wonder how it could get worse. Well, we take off and the woman (who turns out to be the sister of the mother, who is sitting about 10 rows up), and she pulls out a portable DVD player for the kid. She turns it on, and...you guessed it...I get to watch Barney for the next 5 hours! AAAAUUUGGHHHH!!!!

worldwidemike

**omisan** · 05-11-2006, 09:18 AM

Dude, you didn't have to elaborate that it was the flight from Hell. Once you mentioned Northwest, it was all over...

thatgirlwholaughs · 05-15-2006, 05:12 PM

paper rock scissors...with the families on both sides of you

**TERI** · 05-16-2006, 09:16 PM

What about taking some of those puzzle books with you? like a crossword book or a wordsearch, or anything else like that to keep your mind busy.