Your Long Haul Flight Protocol?

[chasy]

2 hours ago, madandana said:

 Don’t try this at home but it’s what I do:

• 3 hours early drink in the lounge - A lot 
• Get to gate, stand in line panicking that someone else will be first to board
• Board and toast champagne. Take selfie with Dana
• Drink A lot more and watch a movie or 2 until I’m 8 hours from landing
• Take sleeping pill - get 5 hrs of sleep. ( I know they aren’t supposed to mix)
• Breakfast and coffee
• Land and meet whoever we’re meeting for cigars and drinks.

I have immense respect for this.

[Ford2112]

17 hour flight to Athens. There's no way I ever go coach anymore on international. The difference is huge with 1st class business.

[El Presidente]

......and I am away 

 

[JohnS]

1 minute ago, El Presidente said:

......and I am away 

Bon Voyage!

[madandana]

34 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

......and I am away 

We always sit in row 3 as well. Close to the front but not so close that we hear the noise from the bathroom and such.

[westg]

2 hours ago, madandana said:

Don’t try this at home but it’s what I do:

• 3 hours early drink in the lounge - A lot 
• Get to gate, stand in line panicking that someone else will be first to board
• Board and toast champagne. Take selfie with Dana
• Drink A lot more and watch a movie or 2 until I’m 8 hours from landing
• Take sleeping pill - get 5 hrs of sleep. ( I know they aren’t supposed to mix)
• Breakfast and coffee
• Land and meet whoever we’re meeting for cigars and drinks.

 

Ha. I have seen you in queues a couple of times...well the front of the queue. 💪

[westg]

I never think about it too much. I fly alot for work. Always take full advantage of the lounge as I know the plane ride is going to be absolutely intolerable for me for work related flights. I am always the very last person to board the plane. Travelling for leisure as Mike said, I don't mind going to the lounge a little earlier than normal especially flying Singapore Airlines, again I am always the last person to board the plane. I usually download a couple of feel good movies, have at least a couple of drinks 🍸 and hope the food is edible even in business. Just kick back, relax a little and enjoy the flight.

I do remember getting a good six hrs on a flight back from LA with Clive (Miner), a 14 hr flight.  We were pretty smashed when we boarded and had a few more drinks once we were underway.  I remember waking up looking at Clive saying, "damn it man, I missed dinner."  Clive looked at me and said,  no no West, you had dinner about 6 hrs ago." That was a good flight.  😎🌴

Have a safe flight.  All the best on the business side. 💪

[chasy]

35 minutes ago, westg said:

I never think about it too much. I fly alot for work. Always take full advantage of the lounge as I know the plane ride is going to be absolutely intolerable for me for work related flights. I am always the very last person to board the plane. Travelling for leisure as Mike said, I don't mind going to the lounge a little earlier than normal especially flying Singapore Airlines, again I am always the last person to board the plane. I usually download a couple of feel good movies, have at least a couple of drinks 🍸 and hope the food is edible even in business. Just kick back, relax a little and enjoy the flight.

I do remember getting a good six hrs on a flight back from LA with Clive (Miner), a 14 hr flight.  We were pretty smashed when we boarded and had a few more drinks once we were underway.  I remember waking up looking at Clive saying, "damn it man, I missed dinner."  Clive looked at me and said,  no no West, you had dinner about 6 hrs ago." That was a good flight.  😎🌴

I’ve been a couple trans Atlantic party flights. 12+ buddies on the same trip. It becomes a bit of a scene. All bets are off when traveling with mates.

[Boss Hog]

14 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Qantas.

 At least you’re not flying Air India. 🤣

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/air-india-urinating-passenger-flight-delhi-bangkok-b2730768.html

[LaoFan]

See ya up there pres 🍾

[tbelle7]

What works for me:

• Hydrate
• Avoid alcohol on the flight
• Xanax x2 pre-takeoff
• Airborne (or some other vitamin C supplement)
• Shower in the lounge if you have any stops along the way (surprising how this helps)
• Stay up as long as possible once you arrive NYC.

[sudoslash]

If you like history and/or storytelling, Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcasts. They are extremely long format and really, really good.

[MossybackR]

On 4/23/2025 at 5:00 PM, MickVanWinkle said:

Compression socks and preemptive hydration.

Bingo! — (1) the socks, (2) preemptive hydration, and I’d add (3)  to avoid alcohol and caffeine. Especially with a relatively quick turnaround— no need to add “recovery” time to your agenda.

[hoffmr3]

I have to fly SG-NYC direct a couple of times a month, so I started using the Timeshifter app about a year ago. It helps you to shift your circadian rhythm a couple of days in advance of your trip by telling you when to avoid caffeine and bright light depending on whether you are a morning person or night owl.

It definitely helps a lot, but I think the sweet spot is for 8-hour time differences, rather than 12 or 15. I have no doubt it would work even better if I followed it to the letter, but I find it hard to avoid daylight at noon on the day before the flight. Might be worth a try if you need to hit the ground running.