Comments on: Long-Distance Flying 101: Music, Reading, Eating, Friend-Making, Drinking, Sleeping and Conquering Fears

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:16:50 +0000

So glad I read this before my return flight from Dublin to the States. Sad that I didn’t get to read it before my flight from the States to Oslo however.

By: lia

lia — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:17:39 +0000

“Asian/Oceanic airlines tend to be tons better with customer service” I second that!On their flights is just a lot more smiling going on:)

but never ever order the malasian/korea/chinese/vietnamese/etc breakfast option.
doesn’t matter how cosmopolitical you want to appear or how much you enjoy asian food back home!
you don’t want rice,fish and seaweed for breakfast.

By: sloan

sloan — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 07:33:10 +0000

If you have a fear of flying can’t befriend a flight attendant, try asking around for a flight student on the off chance there is one on your plane. We’re more than happy to explain precisely what those noises are and why, exactly, we won’t be falling out of the sky any time soon. I miss the days when you could just go and up through first class and talk to the first officer.

My mother has problems with claustrophobia on top of a fear of flying, and she’s found that sitting towards the front of the plane in an aisle seat does a lot to help relieve the feeling of being trapped, even more so than the extra space the exit row gives you. Or maybe that’s just the Xanax.

Always bring gum. If nothing else, offering someone else a piece is a good excuse to talk.

By: Edilma

Edilma — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 01:27:05 +0000

I’m gonna fly to Montreal this saturday and I’m going to be trapped in the Atlanta airport for 8 hours, so if any of you pass through ATL and want to drink with me, let me know!!!

And I love Taylor. I might try the bar thing, since I’ll be living in the airport for 8 FUCKING HOURS! Ok I’m calm now.

By: Nic

Nic — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:39:04 +0000

As someone that used to be a gate agent, I cannot agree with this comment more! If anyone was nice to me, they got whatever they asked for (as long as it was possible). The agents are so used to being yelled at, they will trip over themselves helping you! And really, when is it a bad idea to be nice? This is especially true during bad weather and cancelled flights! If you are mean/rude, you will not get as much help.

By: laneia

laneia — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:47:10 +0000

i feel like taylor’s bit might need to be syndicated all over the internet. or made into a brochure? with cartoons…!

By: laneia

laneia — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:40:59 +0000

hi opinion! i want to make a joke about how ‘opinions are like assholes,’ b/c that’s the name you chose to use here and it would be SO FUNNY, but instead i’ll just say that you’re special and i love you.

By: Paper

Paper — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:28:50 +0000

My parents have 100-200 days of travel per year, and they don’t really like to leave us behind… so I’ve lived on three continents and left a horrendously big carbon foot print.

How I think you all should fly (w/your sister):

1. Music: Invest in one of those plugs that give you two audio-outlets on your iPod/Discman/whatever. Pros: The power last longer + discover new music. Cons: Your sister’s taste in music might suck.

2. In-flight entertainment: Those personal entertainment screens? BEST INVENTION EVER. Use them. Synchronize with your sister, so you laugh/cry/jump/scream at the same time.

3. Reading: Buy at least one magazine for the articles and one for the pictures (we’ll get back to that). Bring (physically) light books and coordinate both books and magazines with your sister so you don’t permanently injure your back/have to check in you carry-on luggage.

4. Sleep: Put your seatbelt on so you don’t wake up beneath your chair. It’s terrifying.

5. Draw: Bring a sufficient amount of pens and paper. Draw. The previously mentioned pictures are good for references that you can build upon. Good conversation starter + you can leave them in the pocket in front of you for someone else to find. When I was younger, I used to collect the drawings discovered. I still have some of them.

Oh, and bring gum. Always bring gum. They save your ears.

By: Lou

Lou — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 22:19:21 +0000

I would highly recommend going to the vet and telling her/him what you’re plans are. Im studying to be a vet myself and id highly recommend knocking them out for as long as you can, otherwise the whole thing would only stress them out. Imagine being cooped up in a tiny carry case for that long, you’d freak out…so yeah, dope them up!! But ask the vet about hydration and all that seeing as it’s such a long period of time.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 19:47:40 +0000

This may just be me, because I have an irrational fear of asking flight attendants for anything, but I think the worst part (you know, putting aside the sleep deprivation/incredibly cramped seats/boredom/shit food) is the layover in a country which you don’t have currency for and so you can’t stock up on snacks/drinks for the next leg…

By: wildhunter

wildhunter — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 13:57:02 +0000

bookmarked this page. pretty much covered all things. great job

By: via

via — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 12:48:02 +0000

after this comment, I feel as though the realities of how long that flight is just hit me. I feel as though I will need anti-anxiety meds not for a fear of flying, but for my fear of being stuck in an aluminum tube with a random selection of the general population for 24 hrs.