Staying sane on a cramped longhaul flight ?
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Staying sane on a cramped longhaul flight ?
Hi,
My wife & I have just booked a week in Cancun for next weekend, and I've today discovered that it's a Monarch A330 in a 'sardine tin' configuration of 3-3-3.
I get very stiff, achey and grumpy sat in cattle-class on european destinations, but this one's ELEVEN hours from LGW. I predict I may explode or go insane.
I've only ever flown longhaul once before to Cuba in a DC10 and that was almost unbearable - and that had better seat pitches than what I'm about to endure.
Anyone have any tips on keeping comfortable, sane or unconcious ?
My wife & I have just booked a week in Cancun for next weekend, and I've today discovered that it's a Monarch A330 in a 'sardine tin' configuration of 3-3-3.
I get very stiff, achey and grumpy sat in cattle-class on european destinations, but this one's ELEVEN hours from LGW. I predict I may explode or go insane.
I've only ever flown longhaul once before to Cuba in a DC10 and that was almost unbearable - and that had better seat pitches than what I'm about to endure.
Anyone have any tips on keeping comfortable, sane or unconcious ?
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Make sure you don't sleep to much before the flight. Have a few double Brandy and Bailey's early onto the flight, just to make sure, then pass out.
That seems to be the only way to endure the unpleasant experience, that air travel has become.
That seems to be the only way to endure the unpleasant experience, that air travel has become.
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> If cattle class bothers you so much, suggest you book an upgrade.
...alas, I would have already done so if it weren't so prohibitively expensive.
- an additional £458.
...alas, I would have already done so if it weren't so prohibitively expensive.
- an additional £458.
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Two beers in the lounge (oops, sorry, charter so in the bar) before boarding, two G&Ts before the meal, a glass or two wine with the meal... Bingo - don't usually manage to stay awake long enough for them to take the meal tray away! 
And with luck, wake up about an hour out from arrival WITHOUT a head-ache! 
Andy
And with luck, wake up about an hour out from arrival WITHOUT a head-ache! Andy
Alcohol is only partly effective for me, and enough to do the job rewards with a cat3 hangover due to altitude/dry air/dehydration etc.
I have found the best way to endure such an experience is (a) Find a seat map for the aircraft, (i've googled it but nothing appears on Monarch's site, except a generous offer of a pre-allocated seat for just 30 quid!) and find a row beside an exit (or similar) to give more legroom. Can be very worthwhile. And (b) Get your doctor to prescribe some industrial power sleeping pills. (not recommended to mix with alcohol, but I had 2 wines with dinner on top of 2 pills, and woke refreshed well over halfway home.)
Provided you are able to sleep, this can work well. If you can't sleep, the effect of the pills will be to make the flight seem longer, though.
I have found the best way to endure such an experience is (a) Find a seat map for the aircraft, (i've googled it but nothing appears on Monarch's site, except a generous offer of a pre-allocated seat for just 30 quid!) and find a row beside an exit (or similar) to give more legroom. Can be very worthwhile. And (b) Get your doctor to prescribe some industrial power sleeping pills. (not recommended to mix with alcohol, but I had 2 wines with dinner on top of 2 pills, and woke refreshed well over halfway home.)
Provided you are able to sleep, this can work well. If you can't sleep, the effect of the pills will be to make the flight seem longer, though.
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This might help with your seating arrangments!
http://www.uk-air.net/seatplan.htm
http://www.uk-air.net/seatplan.htm
Aisle seat, please.
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If, like me, you can't sleep on aircraft, then a pair of noise cancelling headphones will make the flight a lot better. You don't generally notice the whining of the engines but when you cut it out the whole flying experience improves greatly.
NewForest,
Checked that link, out of interest, unfortunately the evil gnomes at Monarch have removed the plans. You need to visit the airline/check in to access them.
I usually use seatguru.com; Monarch isn't there either.
Sorry to be unhelpful, OP, you might have to visit them to choose a seat, if you want that option.
Checked that link, out of interest, unfortunately the evil gnomes at Monarch have removed the plans. You need to visit the airline/check in to access them.
I usually use seatguru.com; Monarch isn't there either.
Sorry to be unhelpful, OP, you might have to visit them to choose a seat, if you want that option.
Originally Posted by Gouabafla
If, like me, you can't sleep on aircraft, then a pair of noise cancelling headphones will make the flight a lot better. You don't generally notice the whining of the engines but when you cut it out the whole flying experience improves greatly.
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Take a good book. There should be in flight entertainment. Try talking to your wife 
. Walk about frequently. As has been said, try to be very tired by the time you fly. Alcohol is OK but you will feel $hite for a while.
I find the mixture of reading/sleeping/talking/watching movies and walking will help things along.
. Walk about frequently. As has been said, try to be very tired by the time you fly. Alcohol is OK but you will feel $hite for a while.I find the mixture of reading/sleeping/talking/watching movies and walking will help things along.
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The wonderfully-named BellEnd Bob said
and that does it for me. I too can't sleep on flights so I fight to get an aisle seat so I can have a potter around while everyone else is kipping.
I've flown from Sydney to London twice with just a transit. Never again. I always stop over. The first flight I tried a 'no alcohol' policy and was jet lagged for a week (I had been in Sydney for nearly two months). The second I tried a 'lets get pissed out of my brain' tactic. I was jet lagged for a week.
Good luck and enjoy your holiday!
I find the mixture of reading/sleeping/talking/watching movies and walking will help things along.
I've flown from Sydney to London twice with just a transit. Never again. I always stop over. The first flight I tried a 'no alcohol' policy and was jet lagged for a week (I had been in Sydney for nearly two months). The second I tried a 'lets get pissed out of my brain' tactic. I was jet lagged for a week.
Good luck and enjoy your holiday!
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How about pretending to have a fit or some kind of seizure on board, & get the bloke next to you removed - so you can eventually have 2 seats to yourself
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Originally Posted by angels
I fight to get an aisle seat so I can have a potter around while everyone else is kipping.
Andy
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In cattle class, I am definitly a big fan of a 2 glasses of wine before I board and another one or two on the aircraft. Normally a couple of hours into the flight I am sound asleep! It's personal preference really, a couple of glasses of red and I'm sleepy on any occasion, so it works a treat flying. If I am travelling with work I get to go business so normally can doze off without any alcohol! If you not a drinker than it's all about entertaining yourself. Lots of books, a laptop with a couple of spare batteries and plenty of DVD's. I got through the entire first series of Lost on a flight to HK recently - that was immensely enjoyable!
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It's best to avoid alcohol completely, it will not help. Deal with the jet lag once you arrive, it's not too bad travelling west. Try to read for a couple of hours then watch a movie for a couple hours, then move around the cabin for a while. Plan what you will do and when as best you can.
Good luck and drink lots of fluids
Good luck and drink lots of fluids
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You do have my sympathies. If you want to sleep (to avoid much of 'the experience'), my best suggestion is a set of earplugs (usually sold in airport chemist shops like boots for a quid or so), and a good eye shade (again in airport shops - some airlines give them out on charters). I emphasise that it needs to be a good eyeshade, as some given out in economy are not much use (they let light in - BA for example). The total complete darkness from the eyeshade will actually trigger your brain to sleep.
You will be amazed at how much good earplugs a good eyeshade and a couple of drinks can be to get you to sleep. On the point of alcohol, it suits some people, but with many folks, it actually causes them to wake up a few hours later.
Failing all that, do as I do no matter what class I fly in, and wander around.
You will be amazed at how much good earplugs a good eyeshade and a couple of drinks can be to get you to sleep. On the point of alcohol, it suits some people, but with many folks, it actually causes them to wake up a few hours later.
Failing all that, do as I do no matter what class I fly in, and wander around.