Last Updated on May 17, 2020 by Kickass Traveler
15-hours on a flight and how to fill it
What do you do when you’ve been flying for 15 hours? Read? Watch movies? Sleep? Eat? Talk to random strangers? Pace the aisles? (Be strategic or you’ll get in trouble with this one).
I’m on my way to Sydney. Oz. Land of kangaroos and koalas. I started out on the East Coast of the US, so, factoring in three flights and layovers, from door to door I’ll be traveling for 30 hours. Argggh. As I write this, I’ve been sitting in an airport lounge for 4.5 hours, getting ready to board flight #2, trying not to think about flight #3, aka 15 hours. Tip: If you don’t have lounge privileges (I don’t), fork over the cash to enjoy the free food, ability to charge your devices, and the avoidance of incessant flight announcements.
I’ve flown long flights before, but this might be the longest. Initially, I thought the flight from Vancouver to Oz was 11 hours, which felt quite doable. When I actually rechecked my itinerary, I balked! Fifteen hours! What am I going to do for that long? I don’t sleep well on flights and I don’t usually talk to strangers, and if I did it wouldn’t be for 15 hours. My affordable ticket will not include sleeping in a reclining airline bed.
When well-intentioned friends questioned me about the flight and what I would be doing with all that time, my first response was “Solving world peace,” which got an eye roll. My second more realistic response was, “I travel a lot. I’ll get in the zone.” With forced confidence, I would add, “I’ll be fine.” Then I would start to ramble, and that was my cue that maybe I was a little worried.
Strategies for Dealing with a Long Flight
- Move as much as possible. Once you’ve checked in to your flight, walk around the airport as much as possible. Don’t rush to the gate just to sit because there will be time enough for that later. While I’m waiting to board, I stand as much as possible, often stretching as I stand (which does draw some strange looks). Once on board the flight, move around as much possible without upsetting the flight attendants and your seatmates (window seat be damned). Or just stand up in your row and give everything a good, long stretch.
- Bring snacks. I travel with healthy snack bars, like snack bars such as the RX Bar. Healthy, dense (so it doesn’t break at the bottom of my bag), and easy to open, the chocolate and sea salt is my favorite. While delicious, the packaging design allows me to nibble away while leaving most of the wrapper still on (in case I can’t get to sink to wash my hands).
- Talk to strangers. Even if you are an introvert, studies show that human connection is a quick way to lift your mood. So talk to your neighbor, the person across the aisle, or even the flight attendant. Make those connections and time will fly.
- Read. While nostalgically I prefer an old-fashioned book with pages that flutter, ebooks just weigh less. It’s a no-brainer. I usually bring one paperback book that I leave behind somewhere (the empty space will be filled later with souvenirs), but I load as many ebooks on my reader as possible. I load different genres on it because I never know what will grab me. TIP: Download before you go as you never know how slow the airport wifi will be.
- Get your “downloadable show” on. I love my different streaming platforms, so these apps are readily available on my phone. While I don’t actually mind watching shows on my iPhone, a tablet or laptop will make a big difference for some tired eyes. It is all about carrying that extra weight and whether or not you have the room. Note: Don’t trust the airport wifi – download your shows before you go.
- I’m serious about series. If you are on a long-haul flight, you should have access to the library of movies and tv series. I have been introduced to some wonderful shows on long flights, like Killing Eve, I’m Sorry, or Fleabag (Season 2 is one of Obama’s favorites!). With the exception of sleep, nothing kills time better than a good series.
- Speaking of sleep… While an eye patch and earplugs can drown out airplane interference, for light sleepers, free apps like “White Noise” by Tmsoft.com can add that extra level of sound-proofing (I travel with both noise-canceling headphones and Bluetooth earbuds). Add your own comfy shawl/scarf and a travel pillow, and you can hunker down and get some shut-eye. If you are one of those people who can’t sleep on planes, the important thing is to give your senses a break, even if that means just closing your eyes for a bit.
Update (or, What really happened during the flight?)
Thirty hours of travel from door to door and how did I spend my 15-hour flight segment? I talked to random seatmates (a Canadian dance teacher was my favorite), read an ebook, journaled, watched a movie (or three), binged on episodes of Killing Eve, ate a few snacks, and, thankfully, slept.
COVID-19
Please remain safe during this time when few if any of us are traveling. When we do finally hit the road, fingers crossed, I would encourage you to add a few items to your list:
- Hand-sanitizer
- Anti-bacterial wipes
- Gloves
- Face mask
- Scarf (for warmth but also quick face protection)
Please use your gloves and wipes to wipe down the tray table, seat belt, and armrests. Bring your own blanket (or light-weight coat) and travel pillow. And avoid the airline seat pocket! If you would like more packing tips, click here for my ultimate Packing Guide.
