Flying home tomorrow. 19 hours in the air!

[Mai72]

Tomorrow morning I fly back to America. My flight is going to look like this…

Thailand to Japan: 5 hours
Japan to LA: 9 hours
LA to Philadephia: 5 hours

:|

I hope I can make it to the Philly airport before the big storm hits. I should arrive Tuesdy night at 7pm.

 

[Rinaun]

Why is it that flying sounds so fun to me but everyone else around me says its a nightmare? Maybe it's because I've never had to deal with business trips.

19 Hours is a long haul. Better have some movies and hope for no 400lbs snoring dude.

 

[Printer Bandit]

trying flying 16 hrs non-stop.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wow that's a long flight, hopefully you have half decent leg room. I love flying but I can't imagine being in a plane for more than 2 hours at very most. Window seat is nice because of the view but the curvature of the plane decreases leg room.

I think the part that people say is a nightmare is going through TSA. I've heard some pretty crazy stories like the agents yelling even at kids. They are basically drill sargeants. Once you pass that though I think everything else is ok. Here in Canada going through security is a brease though compared to the states. I don't fly a lot, but when I do, I always get randomly selected. I thought it was funny. Maybe they're scared I'm going to go all ginger rage on them and blow something up. Though I think the randomly selected thing really is random, the machine beeps, it's not like they just point at you.

Also flying is 10x more convenient if you don't check any luggage. Find out the max size for a carry on and just put all your stuff in there. Of course, don't bring stuff that would be questionable. Just clothes and toiletry stuff.

 

[EagleKeeper]

trying flying 16 hrs non-stop.

At least one can get up and stretch their legs as well as use the lav in the commercial jets.

 

[Pulsar]

Why is it that flying sounds so fun to me but everyone else around me says its a nightmare? Maybe it's because I've never had to deal with business trips.

19 Hours is a long haul. Better have some movies and hope for no 400lbs snoring dude.

Flying itself is fun. If you fly in First Class, it's not bad at all. Flying normal coach class? Two adults next to each other will have their arms on top of one another and their legs against each other's. This is only desirable if you're next to a hot chick. Which you won't be. If you have an under-seat carry-on you won't be able to move your feet. Literally. The tray tables will not sit down if you have even a small beer-gut, so eating is impossible and using your laptop is nearly so. And if the guy in front of you reclines to go to sleep, you're screwed. In all likelihood you'll end up next to a 300 pound unshowered person who smells of curry and BO and has a horrible case of halitosis. After 30 minutes he'll fall asleep and his head will end up on your shoulder while he snores into your ear. Later, he'll fart while asleep. Then his hand will fall into your lap.

It's a blast. Really.

 

[Maleficus]

beat my most recent flight

9.5 hours belgium to chicago
3 hours chicago to houston
1 hour chicago to home.

 

[John Connor]

Longest I've been on a flight was about three hours. Can't imagine what hell it would be for anything longer. Pass me the Jack Daniels. Too bad that they don't have a smoking section. LOL

 

[RossMAN]

trying flying 16 hrs non-stop.

I've done 14 hours non-stop (LAX to SYD) it was painful. Next time I'm bringing portable gaming, ultrabook with movies, and a few good books or magazines. As long as I have something to keep me occupied I'll do fine.

 

[Mai72]

I'm halfway around the world. Has anyone tried flying to Asia lately? I'm a long way from home.

Pulsar, I am flying coach on all three flights. My flights to Asia in coach have been decent so far. No 400 lb fat guys have sat next to me yet. I do remember Flying from China to Thailand last year, and I had a scary looking Arab ask me what my religion was. I was the only white man on the flight. I don't know why but 9/11 kept going through my mind.

 

[John Connor]

I would have said none of your fucking business!

 

[Svnla]

I'm halfway around the world. Has anyone tried flying to Asia lately? I'm a long way from home.

Pulsar, I am flying coach on all three flights. My flights to Asia in coach have been decent so far. No 400 lb fat guys have sat next to me yet. I do remember Flying from China to Thailand last year, and I had a scary looking Arab ask me what my religion was. I was the only white man on the flight. I don't know why but 9/11 kept going through my mind.

I have been to Asia a few times.

Here is my trip (coming up soon):

From Houston to LA, then to Japan, then to Thailand, then Cambodia or Laos, then to Vietnam, then to Indonesia and could be to Australia. All coach because it is out of my own company/my pocket. The flight across Pacific Ocean is the worse one, so long and worn you out from the jet lag.

You are right about no fatties or rude folks during the flights in Asia.

 

[Pulsar]

The only bright spot is once you've done that much flying, you should be qualified for upgrades through frequent flier programs. I know when I flew regularly I was a platinum member and got free upgrades to First Class if there were available seats.

Nowadays I have to spend 5000 frequent flier miles on an upgrade, since I don't fly enough to be platinum anymore. It's still so worth it.

 

[Svnla]

The only bright spot is once you've done that much flying, you should be qualified for upgrades through frequent flier programs. I know when I flew regularly I was a platinum member and got free upgrades to First Class if there were available seats.

Nowadays I have to spend 5000 frequent flier miles on an upgrade, since I don't fly enough to be platinum anymore. It's still so worth it.

You would think so, eh?

Latest news: Airlines will raise (in 2014) their mile requirements to redeem or upgrade. For example, United will make you pay 80K miles to get a coach seat (from US to Asia round trip), up from 65K. Other airlines are following the same path. Bastards.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I've done the trip to Hong Kong a number of times. 3 hours from Orlando/Chicago then 15 hours from Chicago/Hong Kong, though fortunately the Hong Kong/Chicago legs were business class. The 1st trip is cool because it's a new experience. By the 3rd or 4th time you are dreading it. 15 hours in a glorified tin can, even with virtually unlimited alcohol, is not a joyous experience.

 

[Via]

Are you a gamer?

Do you have an ipad?

Baldur's Gate:EE it is. See if you can finish a whole game in one flight.

 

[Michael]

Longest single flight I have done is Singapore to NYC (Newark). I generally go SFO to Shanghai these days.

Michael

 

[TallBill]

Meh, aint that bad.

 

[RossMAN]

Are you a gamer?

Do you have an ipad?

Baldur's Gate:EE it is. See if you can finish a whole game in one flight.

Here's another suggestion if he's a Super Mario Brothers fan, check out Leps World 3 available for Android and iOS.

Freaking addicting.

 

[Mai72]

I have an Acer 500 Iconia tablet. I'm going to watch the in-flight movies and play some games on my tablet. I was playing Plants vs Zombies 2 until their in game purchases pissed me off.

 

[JManInPhoenix]

Not a big fan of flying. The exception was when my company sent me to the UK a few years ago they paid for business class going over & back (on the way back, I got a free upgrade to 1st class). Both of those flights were long (10 hours or so) but very comfortable with good food.

The other 99% of the time I fly it is miserable. Crowded planes with douchebags taking on rolling duffelbags they cant even lift into the overhead bin. They should charge for carry on bags (anything other than laptop bag or similar sized item that can fit under the seat) rather than checked bags.

 

[walkur]

Longest flights I had were non-stop from Amsterdam to L.A. (and back), about 11 hrs
I usually manage to board the plane sleep deprived, i'm one of those blessed with the ability to get a normal nights/days sleep on a plane...

 

[rsutoratosu]

that storm was support hit wed.. hope you get home in time tue !

 

[sdifox]

Why is it that flying sounds so fun to me but everyone else around me says its a nightmare? Maybe it's because I've never had to deal with business trips.

19 Hours is a long haul. Better have some movies and hope for no 400lbs snoring dude.

You haven't flown long haul huh.

longest haul for me was backin the 80s

Kaoshiung-Taipei
Taipei-Tokyo
Tokyo-Vancouver
Vancouver-Lima
Lima-Santiago
Santiago-Buenos Aires

And I have done that round trip...I think it was 1.5 day of actual flight time. Each way.

 

[John Connor]

Play SimCity while you fly. Before you know it the trip will be over! LOL!