Long flight

[chazza]

I'm going to be going on quite a long flight (well the longest I've ever done) soon on my own and am worried I'm going to be bored!

I'm not good at sleeping on the plane and will take the usual books, magazines and puzzles but what else is useful for passing the time? (I don't own an ipod or anything like that)

They will probably show a film or two but sometimes I find it hard to settle to watch them, and any other suggestions would be well appreciated!

[Wop/tpo]

Can you not strike up a conversation with the person in the next seat or seats. Perhaps not too easy if you are female.
I have made eighteen flights to the States and Canada, but have had wife with me.
If you are male check out the trolley dollies.

[jno]

that's about it, really. Get up and walk around when you can (helps to avert blood clots), watch the video map showing where you are and count down the minutes; but a mixture of sudokus and a really good novel usually does it best for me.

Incidentally, if you check the airline's website, some of them will tell you which films you'll be able to watch.

[tigwig]

i like to do some colouring in kids colouring books or those small pattern thing books!! People might look at me stupid as I am 31 but I have always liked colouring and it passes the time on for me! (I do now have a child with me so I look less stupid)
maybe it would be worth splashing out on a Nintendo DS or other hand held games console or your airline may have its own games on the tv

[chazza]

Thanks all, I might see if I can borrow a handheld games console of some description!

I tried to check the airline website but couldn't find any mention of onboard entertainment (I'm flying Aer Lingus)

[vehelpfulguy]

If you got an ipod you could copy some audio books on there (they are not just for music).

I have downloaded a number of books in mp3 format read by all sorts of people and you can sit there with your eyes closed listening to a person reading a book.

[vehelpfulguy]

I forgot....

You can also download "podcasts" from the internet to play on an mp3 player (I know you said you did not have one but maybe this is a good time to get one).

Podcasts tend to be short items on all sorts of subjects, just search for podcats in google.

Here is a list of BBC podcasts

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/4977678. stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/directory/ station/worldservice/

This may help you find some podcasts

http://www.podcastalley.com/

[keyplus90]

Best thing I always found to pass time was,

1 - Talk to the person sitting next to you. But that depends on the nature of that person.
2 - talk to the air hostesses. Go and stand where they sit at the back of the aircraft.
3 - Close my eyes and listen to the things around me.
4 - read a book, watch a movie, listen to music.
5 - Think about something you like doing.

[Clanad]

While I'm usually firmly ensconced in the best seat in the house, which is the furthest forward left seat, I've occaisionally had to inhabit a seat in the cattle section. On those occasions, I always select a seat as far aft as I can. Depending on the aicraft make and model, the aft seats are quieter and, most importantly, closer to the all important galley area. Although I'm familiar with most of the cabin crews (being a pilot) even the tourista can make friends with them through friendly banter and acquire some extra goodies. Often, there are left over, unopened, of course, meals that someone didn't want or soft drinks and the all important water bottles. (Airplane humidity is less that 20%).
I've friends that travel extensively and they say one of their best investments is in a device like this: http://www.archos.com/products/gen_5/archos_60 5wifi/index.html?country=global&lang=en ... Watch some of those old movies you always said you wanted to review.
As jno and others have suggested, walk as much and as often as possible. Be sure to secure an aisle seat!
Best of luck...

[chazza]

Thanks again everyone! My PC is running slow so I can't rate all your answers but cheers for all the advice and I'm off on saturday with all my bits and pieces to keep me amused!

[heathfield]

I usually find it very difficult to sleep when sitting upright, which makes a long haul flight something I don't look forward to. But the last couple of times I've taken my wife's advice and used earplugs and a sleeping mask, and apart from feeling rather a wimp, I've found I can actually get some decent sleep. Though the cabin may seem quiet, there's actually a surprisingly high background noise level that you're just not aware of on modern aircraft - hence the earplugs. And there's a lot of very bright light coming through the windows from the clear atmosphere on a daytime flight - hence the mask.
Works for me!