Comments

SLEEP ...

Posted by Gauri at March 23, 2005 12:51 PM

Read Margaret Thatcher's speeches to identify one second of humour - that will safely take care of your 15 hours, Tom.

Have a good trip.

Posted by Trevor Gay at March 23, 2005 12:54 PM

I do some Detroit to Narita flights--anywhere from 13 ~ 15 hours depending on the wind. I read, read, and read some more. I can not sleep on planes, especially fully loaded planes (and I have to fly coach), but I can zone out the world with a good book. Aisle seat so it's easy to get up and move around, good books, and take advantage of the free liquor.

Posted by Mike at March 23, 2005 12:56 PM

Don't have the salad in the airport just before the flight! Last year, I flew 18 hours from Johannesburg, South Africa back to Atlanta. Just before boarding, I ate something "healthy" -- a salad in the airport. Began feeling queezy a few minutes before boarding, and spent the next 18 hours (and six days) miserable against the window in coach. Thank God for Ambien! I was able to sleep through half of it.
Have a great trip! New Zealand's on my list.
David
www.WorldWantingPeace.com

Posted by David Perdew at March 23, 2005 1:44 PM

iPod... books on the iPod... Mad Libs... sketchpad.

Posted by shua at March 23, 2005 1:44 PM

Change your watch to arrival time zone. Read. Write. Think. Eat. Sleep. Read. Write. Think. Eat. Sleep. Disembark.

Posted by Stuart Jones at March 23, 2005 2:12 PM

Keep in mind, you eventually have to fly back. I usually save my magazine subscriptions (HBR, Computer, Fast Company, etc.) and bring two books. I pack half of them in my luggage and carry the rest in a carry-on. I also have a travel laptop with 6 hour battery life which got me through the 19 hour flight from Atlanta to Sydney last year. (I recharged in San Fran.). I make a list of tasks like monthly columns, patent applications, lesson plans, etc. Sleep for a few hours and the time will fly. It’s amazing how much you can get done when you’re tied down for a long flight. For those of us like Mike, get a laptop with a small foot print the Toshiba CF-W2 is great for working in the tight confines of coach.

Posted by RTodd at March 23, 2005 2:44 PM

About 3/4 of the way through several long flights I have found myself writing business plans and proposals to revitalize the old SST program. Sure it was cancelled in the early 1970's, but if it's possible to find a way to halve the time I spend in the big aluminum tube in the sky I'm up for it. Enjoy the trip!

Posted by Andrew Hayden at March 23, 2005 3:17 PM

Plenty of Diet Snapple and a bit of melatonin.

Posted by John at March 23, 2005 4:21 PM

Assuming you fly coach at times, come to the airport a bit early and ask for the EXIT seat (an old trick, which I am sure you know). Also, if you fly to Israel (which I do often) then try to be nice to these lovely El-Al flight attendants and they will make sure your 11 hour flight from JFK will go much smoother. Finally, if you are like me – can not possibly sleep on flights – then try the "magic trick" (a.k.a Ambien). Have a safe flight.

DSL

Posted by DSL at March 23, 2005 5:18 PM

Bose QuietComfort 2 Noise Cancelling Headphones

They are expensive but this easier to justify living in New Zealand where flying anywhere means enduring at least a 4-12 hour flight.

One benefit of noise cancellation is that you can reduce the volume of in-flight entertainment. You are not battling to drown out the background noise with extra volume. That alone means a significant reduction in fatigue.

Hope you enjoy NZ!

Posted by Robin Capper at March 23, 2005 7:24 PM

Slightly off topic, but a 3 hr flight with kiddos can seem like 15hrs...

I hereby present:

TR's Sanity Solution for Flying with Children:
For each hour of flight time, purchase $10 worth of new toys. Keep toys hidden in carry-on. As necessary, present new toy. Sell toys at 100% markup to envious parents.

There's gotta be an adult equivalent... $20 worth of new software per hour? $50 worth of Sharper Image gadgets per hour?

Posted by Terry Rock at March 23, 2005 9:32 PM

Find out the number of ways biz class is better than the economy and first classes? And if the steep fare is worth the money?
If you travel on economy(like me!!), try to get the aisle or the window and avoid getting stuck in the middle! You can work the above problem in a different way too sitting in the economy class, just that you have other important things to take care of..

Posted by Mahesh at March 23, 2005 10:55 PM

Terry just gave me a great idea!

If you like kids (and you've gotta like kids), jack up your nanny fees by 200% and 500% for the screamers. :> If your mate wants kids and you don't, have them babysit the kids in cramped spaces. That'll cure the biological clocks!

Perhaps I should write a business plan on this one. If any one does, please credit me.

Posted by EC Stewart at March 24, 2005 12:32 AM

iPod...iPod...sketchbook...sketchbook...and something more...try to have a chat with a nice hostess...This will make your trip feel better...

Posted by Tms at March 24, 2005 5:09 AM

Tom, you are flying Air New Zealand. Relax. Great food, great wine and terrific service. This is one of the easiest long-haul flights your will do. Long enough to eat well and chill, and get a good nap. It isn't 15 hours - closer to 12 and a half. Leaves late and gets in early. Hope you are staying at the Hilton on the Wharf - stunning hotel. Be sure to eat at the French Cafe and Vinnies. And be sure to drop in at the SeaMart, down in the viaduct, for some fresh seafood. And... drink lots of Sav Blanc and NZ Pinot...

And if your desperate to sleep there is nothing like a class of scotch and two Tylenol PMs to knock you out... oooops, probably shouldn't say that kind of thing in a public forum...

Posted by andy at March 24, 2005 12:36 PM

i have done a lot of US to India and back trips now . all over 18 hours of total flying. and except for the first time, I never had a jet lag..

BEST PRACTICES:

- drink AS MUCH WATER AS you can
- sleep when you are supposed to sleep - so DONT CHANGE YOUR WATCH until you disembark!!! Your body needs to be taken easily into the new time-zone.. and mind plays a HECK OF LOT of role in that.
- in fact sleep as much as you can..
- read something light so your mind is not over-working.
- Do take a set of Pyjamas with you and change into them frm your trousers.
- wear sandals on such a flight .. shoes SUCK BIG TIME!
- whenever awake - take a little walk on the aisle.
- and when you land ... even if your body screams .. DO NOT sleep unless it is night!!
- and if you can .. try and get a seat away from a family .. specially a family with an infant.

thanks,
-desh
personal blog: www.deshkapoor.org
spiritual blog: www.innerguru.org

Posted by desh at March 24, 2005 12:50 PM

and contrary to other suggestions: AVOID ALCOHOL!!!

also AVOID Greasy stuff.. not worth it!!

cheers,
-d.

Posted by desh at March 24, 2005 12:54 PM

Say "Hi" to the person in the seat next to you and strike up a conversation. Mightn't last 12 hours but it's good to talk. Otherwise, I too take a pile of magasines; some Action Plans from my various warehouse operations to start figuring why we're doing some stuff and why we're not doing other stuff; and an iPod.

Posted by Mark JF at March 24, 2005 2:18 PM

Hotwash Re-imagine.

Posted by Troy Worman at March 24, 2005 6:00 PM

Ambien and vodka.

Posted by J D Duncan at March 31, 2005 3:58 PM

Ambien and vodka.

Posted by J D Duncan at March 31, 2005 3:59 PM

Ambien and vodka.

Posted by J D Duncan at March 31, 2005 3:59 PM