To think I physically can’t do this flight?

[panicky7]

I have no worries about flying itself, but I’m going to NZ in a few weeks to visit a friend.

The longest flight I’ve ever done is 4.5 hours. This time I’m doing a 7 hour flight, stopover, then a 13.5 hour flight.

I am someone who physically can’t sit still and I get so fidgety. I also can’t sleep on planes or any kind of transport. I’m honestly dreading it, I know I’ll have films and music and food but i get restless even in cinemas. I have assessment for ADHD soon.

Does anyone have any tips because it’s gonna be unbearable !!

Don't do yoga or exercises in the aisle, it's really odd and makes other passengers uncomfortable

I agree with this, but I think the PP was asking in general, not suggesting that the OP make an exhibition of herself on the plane.

What's changed since you booked the flight, or did you not think it through?
Or did you think you would be able to learn ways to manage and haven't been able to do those things?

Depending on whether you meet the criteria is it possible to pay the extra for a seat by the exit. Extra leg room and no chance of disturbing anybody if you want to move about. I've just come back from a trip to Australia and having those seats was a Godsend.

If you can’t do business class then noise-cancelling earphones. If you can book the exit seat. It will honestly go much better than you think. Download mindless games like candy crush on your phone if you feel like you need go focus on something. But noise cancelling ear phones are great.

I drank wine. Didn't sleep even though flight was empty and I had a whole row to myself. But did take the edge off.

I have done quite a few long haul flights, have autism & adhd. I usually try and book overnight so that I’m tired and, although I can never usually sleep, but can at least doze but if I do have a daytime flight I always bring lots of different things to do. I download a variety of games on my phone/ iPad plus music and podcasts. I bring puzzle books, regular books plus a newspaper, comics or magazine. I find if I have some things I never usually read/ do then they keep my interest longer. If I choose to watch films I tend to watch the newest kids films as they require less brain power than anything adult, reruns of shows like Friends, The Simpson or shows I watched as a kid (I always look for Rugrats!) are also helpful as they’re short and familiar. Fidget toys are a good idea too, I haven’t done a flight since I was into fidget toys but definitely would bring them nowadays. Sweets and gum help too. I always book an aisle seat too so I can get up as much as I want. Wear comfy shoes or easy to slip on/ off shoes and warm socks if like me you are better shoeless.

Aisle seat as PP have said and I would also make a list of 6-8 “activities” and do them for an hour (or even half an hour) each and then repeat. Then it’s not just one amorphous mass of time. For example - watch downloaded tv programme / film, read (maybe 2/3 different books and some magazines), rest even if not sleeping (eye mask and meditation track), eat, write/journal etc.

I wouldn’t do it. Brutal.

Of course you can physically do it, no one enjoys long haul but it is worth it for the end result. It’s a max 20/30 hours out of your life. Put it into perspective get some drugs and booze and crack on.

Also - Eye mask, noise cancelling headphones, ear plugs, compression socks and a sheet mask to use towards they end and a - very comfy neck pillow. I do this flight a fair bit and in economy and they are my must haves.

I'm really good at sitting still, don't get bored easily and I actually enjoy flying, but even I found flying to New Zealand a real chore. The onboard media weren't working either, so no films! Take lots of little things to do. A book, magazine, crosswords / sudokus etc.

i can’t sit still either (even going to the cinema and sitting through a movie is a struggle for me) I get so fidgety and get a knot in my stomach if I need to sit down too long.

id struggle to do the flights.

we had a 4.5 hr flight this year. I just about made it. With podcasts, meditation and sleep ones including some comedy ones.

Not always!

DD was fine on the outbound leg but had her crochet hooks confiscated by security on the return leg.

I thought it was a questionable decision but didn’t much fancy arguing!

I'm a frequent LHR to AKL flyer. 8 hrs LHR to Dubai and then 17 hours Dubai to Auckland. Often there's just 45 mins between flights too!

It has few redeeming features but there's not much you can do about it. Settle in and the time passes.

Plan some activities to break up the time. I often bring a bunch of skin care samples and spend time applying facial oils in the dark!
Books and magazines
Puzzles
Start watching a tv series you haven't seen
Break up with light comedies
Listen to some music or a podcast
Bring interesting snacks like cheese and crackers
Visit the galley regularly for gin and tonic top ups. They really don't mind and prefer you do that over ringing the call bell. If they aren't busy and it's well after or well before food service the cabin crew are often up for a chat. (Take their lead though!)

If you are on an A380 there is room at the back to stand for a bit and do some light stretches that isn't in peoples way or disturbing. I've had DVT (not from flying) so have to get up and walk frequently and stretch. If you are in emirates you are able to walk the entire lower deck in a loop.

Bring a change of clothes and toothpaste etc to freshen up a couple of hours before landing.

Hopefully at some point you will nod off

Long haul flights are hideous. I take a sleeping pill.

Aisle seat, take lots of snacks with you. Don't buy at the airport! Headphones, kindle, puzzle books, podcasts, fidget spinner, pay for WiFi on the plane (although from my experience it only worked for a few minutes)
Films on a laptop/tablet. Get up to stretch every hour. One of those blow up head rests but put it at the front of your neck for sleep, not behind your neck (if you attempt to sleep)

Maybe one of those acupuncture bracelets to keep you calm or kalms tablets?

And an eye mask!

I have never slept on a plane either - maybe ask your gp if there is anything you can take that might help for the flight. Otherwise books, music, make sure you have aisle seat.

I'm a massive fidget on planes too, with RLS which gets about 1000x worse the minute we're in the air, and tbh for long haul I use a combination of motion sickness medication, wine and CBD gummies to knock me into a semi coma and just drift my way through the flight. Otherwise it's unbearable. I've actually had to ask my husband to help me punch and pummel my legs with his fists to stop them jiggling and writhing around.

I know being drugged up to the eyeballs is not ideal but it's better than squirming out of my skin for hours 😂

I also hate long haul but have to do it quite regularly. I take 5mg of Valium so it’s kicking in when I get on the plane, and try to sleep. I also listen to audio books, which really passes the time and make me quite drowsy so I nod off easily.

My advice is to take some actual food onto the plane with you. The in flight meals are usually not great and little snack foods tend to have lots of sugar/salt and will make your stomach uncomfortable. Sandwiches are your friend 😆

Ditto to getting an aisle seat. Look up chair yoga/stretches beforehand and learn a little stretch routine you can do in your seat.

Repetitive games are useful, such as patience/solitaire. You could buy a small deck of cards and do this unplugged! See also Rubik's cube.

I would also set a (quiet/vibrate) alarm every 90 mins or 2 hours etc to let you know another chunk of time has passed, and then try not to check the time. Constant checking will make it seem longer, whereas a surprise ping letting you know you've done another hour and a half is cheering.

Where is your stop over... you're not getting to NZ in 7+13 hours? We go via Singapore and its 12+12.. sleeping pills work for me.

Get an exit row seat so if you do manage to fall asleep no one is climbing over you or waking you to get past.

Muscle relaxants, get them from your Dr. Hydrate before during and after.

Podcasts, hypnosis meditation, adult zen colouring books, snacks, have a look at the infotainment and see what's available to watch on your flight.

Get up and move about, stretch go and chat with the crew if they're happy with that.

Think of it as 1 day out of your holiday. It'll be over sooner than you think.

I just did my first long haul flight to California. Before that the only flights I had done weee a couple of hours to Europe on easyJet. I was dreading it but it was actually ok.

The planes are much bigger so you can stand up for a bit if need be. I did some stretching a few times and walked around.

I found quite a good series on the tv that made the time pass.

I wouldn't say I enjoyed it but it wasn't as bad as I had expected.

I just did a 12 hr flight and it was tough. This is what helped me. Get an aisle seat and pay a little extra for a bulkhead seat where you can stretch out more. Set your watch to the destination time and plan your journey according to that and sleep at the right times if you can. Walk up and down and round the airplane every hour if you need. Ask the stewardesses for tea/drinks/snacks. . Take some activity like knitting and make a plan at the beginning to watch one or two films/programs at certain times. I find it far easier if I’ve planned how I’m going to fill my time rather than wait around endlessly for the nightmare to end!