How to survive a long flight

I'm off to Sydney tomorrow night and wondered if the collected members of the V-Flyer forums have any tips for my trip.

Firstly, I suppose the best way of pasing time on a flight (especially at night) is sleeping. However, I'm not good at sleeping on planes and would welcome any tips of how to get some hours shut-eye in.

Secondly, I usually suffer with jet lag on trips coming back from the US so I'm guessing I'll be messed up going to Oz. I arrive at about half six in the morning what's my best strategy for getting my body into the right time zone quickly?

Any other hints would be welcomed, thanks.

Originally posted by Clarkysun

Firstly, I suppose the best way of pasing time on a flight (especially at night) is sleeping. However, I'm not good at sleeping on planes and would welcome any tips of how to get some hours shut-eye in.

Tanqueray No. 10...

Try to adjust to the time zone where you are destined, if you have an arrival time anywhere between early morning and early evening - because the worst thing you can do is go to sleep in the middle of the day when you reach your destination.

Therefore, for this flight, I'd try and stay awake as much as possible for the first sector to HKG (don't forget, you'll have a short night, as you're travelling east, and the sun will come up part way through the flight), and plan to sleep for the second sector down to SYD, as you will then be sleeping during the Australian night.

The idea behind this is that you will be so tired by the time you get on the second sector, you shouldn't have much trouble sleeping.

Like you, I have trouble sleeping on planes as well, so know how you feel.

Mike

I second Mike's good advise. I find sleeping onroute is always a challenge unless you have a suite to curl up in.

I book a hotel in Sydney for the night before when I take the VS200 in Y or PE. I go from the airport to my chosen hotel and go straight to bed for 3-4 hours or until 12:00-13:00ish. I can usually then stay awake until 22:00-23:00 and pickup the the right sleep pattern from day one.

This works for me but it does cost an extra nights accomodation which can be pricey in Sydney..

Originally posted by tallprawn
I book a hotel in Sydney for the night before when I take the VS200 in Y or PE. I go from the airport to my chosen hotel and go straight to bed for 3-4 hours or until 12:00-13:00ish. I can usually then stay awake until 22:00-23:00 and pickup the the right sleep pattern from day one.

That's a cracking idea, Rob. Never thought of that. With mdvipond jr. in tow on our upcoming trip we were a little worried how long we might have to hang around in Sydney before getting into our room. Do you think it's worth doing even if you're travelling UC?

Originally posted by mdvipond


That's a cracking idea, Rob. Never thought of that. With mdvipond jr. in tow on our upcoming trip we were a little worried how long we might have to hang around in Sydney before getting into our room. Do you think it's worth doing even if you're travelling UC?

I can't afford or never have enough miles to do the trip in J both ways. I normally fly out in PE and back in J as the return flights are usually an hour longer each...[:#]

I would think as your travelling with Jnr that it would be advisable to book something the night before. Make sure that they acknowledge that you won't be arriving until the following morning - One of my friends didn't so this and had his room sold because the hotel presumed he was a no-show...[:0]

Waiting around until 12:00-14:00 can be a killer off a 10-12 hour flight, let alone 20 odd hours. Chances are you will be staying in the city so no beach or pool available to lounge by to kill time. I would definitely recommend booking something...

Thanks for that advise, most welcome.

Just one thing on upgrading my flight on the way back. The last time I upgraded on a LHR-LAX flight I didn't earn any miles or tier points even on my original fare. Customer services told me that because it was an upgrade I wouldn't earn antything - is this right? I'm travelling PE and would consider an points upgrade to UC but not if I'm going to loose my earning potential on the flight.

Originally posted by Clarkysun

Thanks for that advise, most welcome.

Just one thing on upgrading my flight on the way back. The last time I upgraded on a LHR-LAX flight I didn't earn any miles or tier points even on my original fare. Customer services told me that because it was an upgrade I wouldn't earn antything - is this right? I'm travelling PE and would consider an points upgrade to UC but not if I'm going to loose my earing potential on the flight.

If you upgraded from a revenue fare (i.e. a normal ticket of any upgradeable fare bucket - but not a miles+money fare), then you can still earn miles for that trip based on the originally ticketed cabin.

The trick is that you have to remember to phone up your Flying Club helpline and claim them after the flight, because Virgin's system (still) cannot tell the difference between a 100% reward or a mileage upgrade from an eligible revenue fare, and therefore they won't automatically accrue.

If someone at Customer Services told you that you weren't eligible for miles and tier points, they were telling you porkies.

Mike

Originally posted by tallprawn
I would think as your travelling with Jnr that it would be advisable to book something the night before. Make sure that they acknowledge that you won't be arriving until the following morning - One of my friends didn't so this and had his room sold because the hotel presumed he was a no-show...[:0]

Waiting around until 12:00-14:00 can be a killer off a 10-12 hour flight, let alone 20 odd hours. Chances are you will be staying in the city so no beach or pool available to lounge by to kill time. I would definitely recommend booking something...

Thanks for that. Never crossed my mind before reading your post. And, of course, the advice on making sure the hotel don't think you're a no-show is most valuable... Just means forking out for another night. Hmm. What time would you normally get into Sydney off the 200? 9ish?

[mitchja]

If yoor looking for a hotel which will allow early check-in (ie as soon as your flight lands at SYD) have at look at the Stamford Plaza Sydney airport hotel

It's very close to SYD and you can just jump on one of their buses from the arrivals area at SYD.

The hotel is quite nice as I stopped there when I arrived in SYD last year.

It's very easy to just jump on one of their buses back to SYD the day after you arrive and then jump on a train from the airport into the city.

Regards

Originally posted by mitchja
If yoor looking for a hotel which will allow early check-in (ie as soon as your flight lands at SYD) have at look at the Stamford Plaza Sydney airport hotel

It's very close to SYD and you can just jump on one of their buses from the arrivals area at SYD.

The hotel is quite nice as I stopped there when I arrived in SYD last year.

It's very easy to just jump on one of their buses back to SYD the day after you arrive and then jump on a train from the airport into the city.

Regards

Thanks James. I don't suppose there's anything in the city that does the same...?

Looks good. Thanks again. We were looking at the Intercontinental, but this could save us the cost of an extra night.

Originally posted by mdvipond
Looks good. Thanks again. We were looking at the Intercontinental, but this could save us the cost of an extra night.

I stayed at the Intercontinental, with a harbour view room. (Real shame about the condo tower, but it doesn't block the main bits.)

Didn't disappoint at all, and they seemed very used to people coming and going at all sorts of hours, and wanting to go to bed when they got there, given that if you've flown into SYD, you've probably come long-haul.

(Though that wasn't my personal experience, as I only flew in from MEL, they seemed to be set up for dealing with weary travellers.)

Mike

We've booked the Intercon in SYD for a few nights for our trip in Dec/Jan - as an RA on the PC/IC scheme, early morning check-in is one of the highly favourable perks.

Whatever you do don't sleep when you get in to SYD. Try to stay awake as long as possible on the LHR-HKG leg, have a shower in HKG airport (about HKD80 I think, upstairs opposite the Clubhouse) then sleep all the way to SYD.
Go straight to your accommodation, shower and have a bit of breakfast then go straight out. Nothing worse than intending to have a few hours sleep then waking up to find its 5pm! I'd suggest going down to Bronte or Bondi for a long lunch by the water, a swim to totally wake you up then after an easy afternoon you'll be sorted to go to sleep normally and wake up on Sydney time the next morning.
Enjoy Oz!

Originally posted by McCoy
as an RA on the PC/IC scheme, early morning check-in is one of the highly favourable perks.

So many letters and so little sense! Sorry, just me being stupid, but could you put that into one syllable words for me?

[Decker]

Originally posted by mdvipond

Originally posted by McCoy
as an RA on the PC/IC scheme, early morning check-in is one of the highly favourable perks.

So many letters and so little sense! Sorry, just me being stupid, but could you put that into one syllable words for me?

Priority Club/Intercontinental Royal Ambassador. A paid loyalty membership level giving extra benefits for members including early check in , guaranteed upgrades and free mini bar use. See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=366846

Originally posted by Decker

Originally posted by mdvipond

Originally posted by McCoy
as an RA on the PC/IC scheme, early morning check-in is one of the highly favourable perks.

So many letters and so little sense! Sorry, just me being stupid, but could you put that into one syllable words for me?

Priority Club/Intercontinental Royal Ambassador. A paid loyalty membership level giving extra benefits for members including early check in , guaranteed upgrades and free mini bar use. See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=366846

Ah. Thanks Decker. From reading that link it would appear that Royal Ammassador status is harder to attain than a peerage (or, at least, about as costly). Think I may just pay for the extra night.

I have done LHR-SIN-CHC in one slog a number of times- thats something like 28hours in the air.

My advice is as follows:
Sleep on both legs. Both are overnight flights so straight after dinner (for ex HKG and about 6 hours in ex LHR) take a sleeping pill and get to sleep. I often find I am ok to SIN but then only can manage about 3-4 hours onto CHC
When you arrive in SYD stay awake as long as possible.
Fingers crossed the next morning you should wake up at early local time.

The trick is to get into the time zone as fast as possible. I have always found within two days I am back on track. Not sure what class you are flying in but I normally do LHR-CHC in Y and have found the sleeping tablets work a treat. Of course it is all trial and error- that is what I find works.

I agree with the others, try and stay awake as long as possible, when going home, I often get home, shower, change, then go out shopping, or something to keep you occupied, then home, I am normally asleep by 2030, then wake up the next morning on SYD time. Try to sleep as much as you can on the HKG-SYD leg, this will also help. I find it harder go home than returning to London!

Have a great time in SYD. [y]

Dominic

Originally posted by mdvipond
So many letters and so little sense!

So sorry! [:I]

Habit I'm afraid. My job is one long charade of acronyms and abbreviations. Today I was treating OU POAG and OHT associated with PXF and PDS, with a combination of PGAs, BBs, SLT, ALT and trabs. A few needed phacos, and some got an OCT and an FFA....

Translated... I did a glaucoma clinic.

As Decker confirmed, the Priority Club program has one 'side' to it, the Ambassador program. You pay $150 per annum, and in return get space-available upgrades, free gifts/water/fruit, late check-out (4pm) and a free weekend night certificate (which easily covers the annual fee).

The top 1% of Ambassadors get invited to be Royal Ambassadors, which has the additional benefits of free minibar for all Intercontinental stays, and early check-in - from 8am. And an almost certain upgrade to Club/executive floors or suites.

Originally posted by McCoy

Originally posted by mdvipond
So many letters and so little sense!

So sorry! [:I]

Habit I'm afraid. My job is one long charade of acronyms and abbreviations. Today I was treating OU POAG and OHT associated with PXF and PDS, with a combination of PGAs, BBs, SLT, ALT and trabs. A few needed phacos, and some got an OCT and an FFA....

PGAs, BBs and SLT?? You bloody fool. You should never mix your drinks.

Thanks to everyone for the tips. I'm writing this from HKG airport (gate 36) and can report that I managed about six hours sleep on the first leg and feel pretty good. I'll try the same strategy on the SYD leg and we'll see how we go. While I'm here does anyone know of any decent places to get food in the terminal? I can only spot a sit down restaurant and want something faster than that.