With just 10 days until I head to the US for BlogHer, I'm starting to get a little antsy about the 15 hour long haul flight.
I love flying.
I don't mind travelling on my own.
But we're talking a 4 1/2 hour flight from Perth to Sydney, then 15 hours to LA, followed by 4 1/2hrs to Atlanta and another 2hrs to finally get me to Chicago.
Over 26 hours of flying, not counting all the airport transit time.
All done solo. On my own. Party of one.
I just know I'm going to get stuck sitting next to a snorer, talker, cougher and sneezer, personal space invader, farter.
And my TV screen or headphones won't work.
Such is my luck.
It's the 15 hour flight from Sydney to LA that has me the most anxious.
Entertainment issues or irritating seatmates I can deal with for 5 hours or less. But 15 hours?
In order to try and reassure myself, I've been tooling around on Google looking for long haul travel tips or products to make the arse numbingly long flight easier.
Which is how I came across this 2010 article from the news.com.au website, highlighting "the 10 most ridiculous travel products ever".
Did you know that you can actually get a fart filtering cushion?
I am now going to eye with much suspicion and disgust, anyone who dares board my flights with their own floral cushion and buy one for #1Pop's Secret Santa gift.
How about a blanket and eye mask in one, that effectively serves as a cover for your entire upper body?
Way to discourage the chatty, sneezy, coughing passenger next to you.
If, like me, you're prone to sporting a bit of food debris by the time you disembark, then fear not - the BeltzBib could see you stain and spill free, thanks to its 'genius' design clipping in to your harness and going all the way down your front, to your lap, where a handy pouch will catch whatever misses your mouth.
On a plane full of people.
With babies and toddlers sporting less conspicuous bibs.
While these inventions are indeed....unique, I feel that there are only two fail safe ways to ensure my 15 hour Sydney to LA flight is as smooth as possible.
Alcohol or an upgrade.
While I live in hope of an upgrade to the pointy end, I expect it will be the wine that sees me through the epic journey.
What about drugs? A friend recently flew to London and I'd given her one of my Valium. Nine hours of blissful sleep. Sounds to me like a great way to fly.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds perfect, only I don't have a prescription for Valium! Also, if the plane was to go down, I am travelling solo and no bastard would think to wake me!
DeleteI like Char's idea best !!! How long are you away for ? Sounds like it should be lots of fun !
ReplyDeleteHave the best day !
Me
Just 10 days - it was meant to be longer but my travel companion had to cancel, and then Hubby's work conference was scheduled at the end of my trip (for the first bloody time ever, they changed it from the start of July to the end of July...bastards).
DeleteWeird that you have to fly to Atlanta before Chicago. It adds an extra 2 hours of travel time for no reason! I flew Melbourne to LAX, then straight to Chicago. That was a 14 hour flight + a 4 hour flight. You'll probably fall asleep from sheer exhaustion once you get onto those last two flights anyway!
ReplyDeleteIt was the cheapest option and best flight time available at the time I booked. At least I'll be able to say "I'm Georgia IN Georgia" for a few hours, anyway. Heh. Here's hoping that comedic gold gets me through the epic travel time....
DeleteiPad! And if you don't have one, now is the best time to get one. I'm sure it is a business expense... Hire a heap of movies on your iPad, and then you always have a handy fall-back position if the in-flight system goes wrong. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm taking the iPad, don't you worry. Miss7 and #1Hubby have been beside themselves over the fact that IT is coming with me. Not me going away, just the iPad.
DeleteMelatonin - can get at any vitamin shop. Take about an hour half before you want to sleep and your golden. Flight attendants use it to counter act jet lag. Go for the 5 mg just to make sure you fall asleep. Works like a charm.
ReplyDeleteGenius! Thank you - I am off to get me a supply of the good stuff
DeleteA great big stonking thick novel. I can easily lose myself in a good book for hours on end! Have a great trip, loking forward to reading about it!
ReplyDeleteYou say novel, I say Candy Crush Saga and the various restaurant simulation games Miss7 has on the iPad. I can start a game and look up and suddenly I've lost 2 hours. But most importantly, my restaurant is running effciently ;-)
DeleteSeriously - sounds like a DREAM TO ME - a few days without 3 kids talking me to death, wine on the plane and a booze-induced sleep - what are you complaining about BIATCH?!!!
ReplyDeleteHave a ball, wish it was me, blah blah blah :)
You're right, it is actually going to be quite delightful! I'm just actually quite terrified they'll monitor my wine intake and suddenly refuse my next top up - within the first 3hrs of the flight! Now that, my friend, is a nightmare!
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