8 and half hour cross-country flight. Things to do?

[Love]

Later this month, I will be taking a flight on Air Canada across the country to St. John's, NL. With the stop in Montreal, it's a 8 and a half hour flight. What do you people do for long trips on planes? The plane I'm going on has an entertainment system on it, and I'll be bringing my laptop, but the battery is limited on my little Aspire (although I'll most likely end up bringing my MacBook, but it probably won't last through the first connection). I have lots of iTunes content, but I've seen it all. What are some suggestions to stay entertained?

[imaketouchtheme]

Me personally, I could play some NES or SNES games for eight and a half hours and be perfectly fine. I would suggest trying to beat Super Mario Bros 3 without using the whistle, and if you succeed with that, try doing Super Mario World without using Star Road. :)

[brax.j]

I always just do stuff on my laptop on long flights to solve the battery problem go to seatguru.com (http://www.seatguru.com/) and lookup the seating on your plane and try to get a seat with a power plug you can get an adapter at the Apple Store. Also, sleeping is something a lot of people when flying.

[Tower-Union]

Well new iTunes content for one. Also see if you can sleep a little (personally I can sleep anywhere anytime). Also its always fun to sprinkle around some white powder, or to start pressing down on the toe of your shoe muttering "ignite damn you ignite!" Hell you can even just dress up in a turban and long fake beard before boarding. (Too far? :D) Actually the ironic part is most people would mistake you for a muslim instead of a sikh :rolleyes:

[Chundles]

God I wish I had all this fancy technology when I was young doing endless Sydney-Singapore hops. All I had to do was try not to throw up because I had been put in the smoking section. Invariably we'd end up with two lots of two seats together so my folks would sit with my little sisters and big brother would sit by himself. In the smoking section. For 8 hours. I'd never heard of the term "chain smoking" until then.

My first trip over as the plane started it's descent, I turned green, raced to the loo but managed to bring up my lunch over three people in the very back row before I'd got there.

[OutThere]

Having taken 8 hour transatlantic flights a couple of times a year since I was 3 months old my technique has developed into simply sitting and staring into space with my iPod and noise-canceling headphones. I make numerous on-the-go playlists and occasionally read the inflight magazine when bored. I 86'd watching moves on my laptop (doesn't fit on tray table, uncomfortable on my knees, too warm on a stale plane), and have usually seen/not want to see the inflight movies. Crossword puzzles are a good time waster otherwise. :)

[dmr727]

Sleep.

[Legolamb]

First, when you stop at Montreal, see if have time to speed walk through the terminals (don't run; don't want to invite a taser-happy security guard). The exercise will help.
I usually buy one paperback novel, the kind I don't mind leaving on the plane after I finish it. (Usually a Stephen King). I also rip out a few pages of crossword/Sudoko/Kenken puzzles from various newspapers and books to carry on the flight. I travel with 2 batteries for my MacBook Pro, but even for my Vancouver/Montreal flights, one is usually enough to get me through the boredom.
Air Canada food sucks (even in first class) so see if you can grab something at the airport.
Safe flying!

[toolbox]

Me personally, I could play some NES or SNES games for eight and a half hours and be perfectly fine. I would suggest trying to beat Super Mario Bros 3 without using the whistle, and if you succeed with that, try doing Super Mario World without using Star Road. :)

I have done that with super mario world, that second level on star road dam that kicks my ass every time

[NathanCH]

www.audible.com

Audio books are awesome. I'm listening to 1984 right now for the first time and I love it!

[heehee]

Air Canada have some pretty new movies, that's all I did when I flew to Shanghai, 14.5 hours. :eek:

[InvalidUserID]

Ahh, I don't miss the NY to CA flights!

A good book or a few DVDs should help pass the time. If not, you can always sleep.

[Keebler]

do you read? find a book or series you might interested in and give them a whirl. It will go faster than you expect.

i wouldn't wander too far in mtl - i've heard plenty of horror stories revolving around security guards/customs folks who are massive a-holes. (all stories are from different ppl too so it's not the same). power trips is the general theme.

[Love]

I'm not a big reader. The problem with Air Canada is their power plugs only sometimes work. It's kind of odd. I can bring both laptops in case that happens.

[jknight8907]

First, when you stop at Montreal, see if have time to speed walk through the terminals (don't run; don't want to invite a taser-happy security guard). The exercise will help.

I would think swift walking would look more suspicious than running. People are always running through airports. It's hard to be in an airport without seeing people running with a panicked look trying to make a flight.

[jessica.]

Pill + Cocktail = Sleep.
The rest is iPhone/iPod movies, music, & books.

[Love]

I guess I should probably invest in some new media from iTunes. All 5 seasons of The Office are in HD on iTunes... and I could complete my 30 rock collection. I like NBC.

As for reading, there's a book I definitely want to take because it's just funny. "Stuff White People Like" by Christian Lander. Air Canada has a lot of good content. However, it looks like I'll be sleeping a lot. My flight leaves at 1:20 AM.

[G5Unit]

www.audible.com

Audio books are awesome. I'm listening to 1984 right now for the first time and I love it!

Another vote for an audiobook, it will keep you interested throughout the entire flight(abet the story is good:o)

[Cassie]

I guess I should probably invest in some new media from iTunes. All 5 seasons of The Office are in HD on iTunes... and I could complete my 30 rock collection. I like NBC.

As for reading, there's a book I definitely want to take because it's just funny. "Stuff White People Like" by Christian Lander. Air Canada has a lot of good content. However, it looks like I'll be sleeping a lot. My flight leaves at 1:20 AM.

Sleep would be good for most of the trip, I would assume. And both your laptops should last for the remainder.

Like someone else suggusted, get a few emulators and some old game ROM's. You'd be surprised how fast those classics will pass the time.

[Macky-Mac]

.... My flight leaves at 1:20 AM.

in that case you'll regret it later if you don't try to sleep as much as possible....leave all that other stuff in your bag so you're not distracted from trying to sleep

[Dagless]

DS or PSP, maybe some South Park or Spaced on the iPod. Other than that I'd sleep.

[rdowns]

Drink.
Try to join the Mile High Club.
Sleep.

[fireshot91]

Books,Magazines, iPod, Sleep, Laptop.

Lots.

[snberk103]

Get flight simulator game. Just as your seat neighbour is waking up, and still dopey, tell them that you've managed to tie into the camera in the nosewheel of the plane..... just as you crash it. :D

Seriously - sleep. At 1:20am you'll have no problems. I like to bring a light hat so that I can pull it down over my eyes. Your iPod earphones should work with the entertain system (expect to fork out a couple of bucks if you buy the Air Canada pair). Ask for the adaptor (and keep it for future use) - its free.

Happy Flying.

[Scepticalscribe]

Books,Magazines, iPod, Sleep, Laptop.

Lots.

That is pretty much my prescription for long flights, too; I'm an avid reader, so books are a must, and music is a passion so my iPod always travels with me (this is where the good battery life of the iPod classic comes into its own). Sleep is always a good idea and I am fortunate in that I can sleep almost anywhere, anytime.

Cheers and good luck

[Abstract]

Try to toughen up before the flight. :p It's only 8 hours. I suppose if you get headaches from flying, or suffer from back pain, it's a bit tough. :o If you get woken up easily, bring some in-ear earphones.

Otherwise, you'll have a selection of movies to watch. Bring an iPod if you have one. Buy a 1 or 2 magazines as well, even if it's just a gadget magazine. You may not really care since we get tech news on the internet all the time, but it may keep you busy for long enough to be worth it.

I get no satisfaction from using a laptop on flights. They make the small volume of space that I have even smaller.


I have to fly around a total of 25-30 hours in 2 weeks, and I'm buying a UK car magazine (probably Car or Top Gear), and perhaps a copy of FHM/Esquire/New York Times or something. Doesn't matter, really.

[thegoldenmackid]

Fly on Frontier (get free Direct TV, if you purchase classic or classic plus) or fly on AirTran, get free Wi-Fi.

[ucfgrad93]

Do a variety of things. Read a book, watch a movie, play sudoku, sleep, etc.

[trule]

Even though I find that the sleep I get in economy class is not such high quality its still better than being awake.

Other than that, ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones (you don't need to be listening to anything, I use them to stop the noise), water and moisturiser.

[Love]

Thanks for your opinions, everybody. I have a LOT of trouble sleeping on planes, I always try but I usually end up only sleeping for about 30 minutes and maybe 1 hour if I'm lucky. On flights like this, I typically sleep a lot the day before. I always try though. However, if I can't sleep, all of your suggestions are going to be very useful. Thanks so much.

I feel so lucky that this is only a 1 stop flight. One year I had to do CanJet... oh, and the Calgary-Regina/Winnipeg(I forget)-Toronto-Halifax-St.Johns route really sucked.

[iPhoneNYC]

Super Monkey Ball?

[Love]

Tried that earlier this year... turbulence messed with it :p ;)

[jake.f]

Ive got a two hour flight to Cairns soon. I plan on just listening to my iPod or looking out the window.

[Cassie]

Tried that earlier this year... turbulence messed with it :p ;)

Try the iUnicycle app. Have fun being pissed off. :p

[iBlue]

Zolpidem (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zolpidem)

[Melrose]

I always just do stuff on my laptop on long flights to solve the battery problem go to seatguru.com (http://www.seatguru.com/) and lookup the seating on your plane and try to get a seat with a power plug you can get an adapter at the Apple Store. Also, sleeping is something a lot of people when flying.

That is a cool website! Thx for posting the link. :)

[adamerr]

Not to mention there are plenty of things young folk get up to in the plane toilets these days.
;)

Like going to the toilet
:rolleyes:

[iGary]

Xanax.

[yg17]

Not to mention there are plenty of things young folk get up to in the plane toilets these days.
;)

Like going to the toilet
:rolleyes:

There's barely enough room in those things for one person to take a piss, I don't know how two people can fit in a lav and do it.

Do you need a co-pilot to join the mile high club or can you fly solo? Maybe that's how people join :D

[Mike Teezie]

Drink.
Try to join the Mile High Club.
Sleep.

Beat to the punch.

[Love]

My flight over here went well. I got a lot of enjoyment out of the Air Canada inflight entertainment system. Love the touchscreens in the back of the seat in front of you. lots of entertainment.

I watched movies on my computer. As usual, barely slept. I was able to sleep for about half an hour. It was a rather turbulent flight to Toronto - there wasn't a lot of the flight where you could move freely. The 319 is a small plane and wasn't exactly conducive to sleep. The 320 to St. John's was a lot better and I was able to sleep for maybe an hour on that flight. I don't see how people sleep for long periods on planes. A tiny seat, nowhere to lean your head. I guess that's what Business Class is for.

[mogzieee]

Sleep.

My thoughts exactly.

[dmr727]

My thoughts exactly.

I mean, why not? It's what the pilots do. ;)

[MTI]

HNL --> EWR is 11 hours each way, so I've had a fair bit of experience.

I generally have an iPod with music and podcasts (try NPR's "Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me" for laughs, or "This American Life") to kill hour chunks of time; Mrs. MTI has a Touch loaded with "West Wing" episodes and music; noise cancelling headphones work well in airplanes; the seatback tray is fine for a Dell Mini 9 running OS X, coupled with an 8GB SD card filled with ripped and converted DVDs.

[Gonzo3333]

Alcohol. If your bored you mind as well be drunk and bored. It may result in sleep or having an air marshall called on you.