Flying to California: any tips?

Foxhound5366

Foxhound5366

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So if all goes well, in just over a week I'll be settling into a lengthy SAA flight from OR Tambo to JFK, New York; and then on to San Jose, California.

I don't want to count the number of hours (it's around 30 all-in isn't it?), but rather ask people who do flights like this what tips you guys have to survive.

It doesn't matter how basic, I'm keen to hear it!

Things I'm wondering about specifically:
- Keeping yourself entertained on the plane for that long (there are only that many movies you can watch back-to-back)
- Best way to fall asleep on a long flight
- Anything to do at JFK airport if you're staying air-side
- How to get a prepaid sim card in the US and which one is recommended for cheap data and calls back to South Africa
- Recommended stuff to do in San Jose. That's where I'll be with a few hours to kill on the day before I fly out.

Thanks in advance :)
 
Flew into JFK a few years back.
The dude sitting next to me gave me this advice and every time I went back, it really helped!

When you land, get off the plane and to passport control as quickly as possible- literally run off the plane. You cannot believe how crowded it becomes and how much time you'll save yourself.


While on the plane: Try figure out how you would inflict the most pain possible on the idiot who invented the plane's ridiculous armrest!
 
Set your watch to your new local time as soon as you're on the plane.
Take a sleeping pill at your "new" bedtime and sleep as much as you can on the plane.
 
marlin178 said:
While on the plane: Try figure out how you would inflict the most pain possible on the idiot who invented the plane's ridiculous armrest!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip, will give it a try :)

I'm pretty angry now after checking the pre-booking that our company's travel assistant made and I spotted that it contained a 12-hour layover in JFK. I just asked her to please change that, because that's not workable. I like airport food as much as the next guy, but just no.

Not only that, but she didn't pre-book any seats. Just imagine having to sit in the middle row for an international flight *shudders* Oh the horror!!!
 
Someone told me there's a girl out there
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair.
Took my chances on a big jet plane
Never let them tell you that they're all the same.
The sea was red and the sky was grey
Wondered how tomorrow could ever follow today.
The mountains and the canyons started to tremble and shake
As the children of the sun began to awake.
 
Sinbad said:
Set your watch to your new local time as soon as you're on the plane.
Take a sleeping pill at your "new" bedtime and sleep as much as you can on the plane.
Click to expand...

Interesting idea! Will give that a try :) Don't suppose you can recommend a sleeping pill? I'm looking for sweet dreams, not horse tranquilizer lol.
 
Careful taking sleeping tablets if you're not used to them.

Once took a stilnox on the way to Denmark- finally managed to fall asleep (thanks to that $%#'ing armrest) with about 2 hours till we landed. Before connecting flight had a double espresso (why I did this, I still don't know....). Sleeping tablet vs caffeine is not a good combo!

I thought I was going to die on the tarmac when we were boarding the connecting flight :sick:
 
Foxhound5366 said:
Thanks for the tip, will give it a try :)

I'm pretty angry now after checking the pre-booking that our company's travel assistant made and I spotted that it contained a 12-hour layover in JFK. I just asked her to please change that, because that's not workable. I like airport food as much as the next guy, but just no.

Not only that, but she didn't pre-book any seats. Just imagine having to sit in the middle row for an international flight *shudders* Oh the horror!!!
Click to expand...

What time is your layover? If it's during the day, take the opportunity to tourist a little bit.
 
Pay whatever it costs to upgrade to business class.
 
requiem said:
Pay whatever it costs to upgrade to business class.
Click to expand...
I would do this, recently came back from NY, via Gatwick, across the pond is awesome, but down from Euro to here was hell.

I would suggest you only sleep 3-4 hours the night before.Then you will be comatose in the airplane.I slept 6 hours straight, missed a meal and some drinks.
 
Take a disprin (or half) before boarding - helps to prevent blood clots from sitting for so long.
Fwiw take vitamin C daily a few days leading up to the flight just to mitigate catching something on board.
Set clock on phone/watch to destination time after takeoff and try adapt to it right away (not always possible).
Load up on podcasts.
If possible get a plane headphone adaptor so you can use your own.
 
Last edited:
saor said:
Take a disprin (or half) before boarding - helps to prevent blood clots from sitting for so long.
Fwiw take vitamin C daily a few days leading up to the flight just to mitigate catching something on board.
Set clock on phone/watch to destination time after takeoff and try adapt to it right away (not always possible).
Load up on podcasts.
If possible get a plane headphone adaptor so you can use your own.
Click to expand...

Good advice on the headphone adapter - just make sure they don't pop your ear drums or headphones when they make announcements.

Oh, also, you can try using a bit of tea tree oil by your nose every few hours- helps a lot.
 
Sinbad said:
What time is your layover? If it's during the day, take the opportunity to tourist a little bit.
Click to expand...

In the Big Bad City, on my very first time in America? Not sure I'm brave enough :D

The layover is from 06:30 to 18:30 local time ... so plenty of time in theory. If I've got a US visa they'll let me through and then back no problem, right? It's a change to the declared travel plan when I applied for the visa, but the border agents won't care right?
 
marlin178 said:
Good advice on the headphone adapter - just make sure they don't pop your ear drums or headphones when they make announcements.

Oh, also, you can try using a bit of tea tree oil by your nose every few hours- helps a lot.
Click to expand...

Where would one buy a headphone adapter?

And, more importantly, wtf does tea tree oil do by the nose? Is it like vicks, with a stinging smell, to wake you up?
 
Foxhound5366 said:
In the Big Bad City, on my very first time in America? Not sure I'm brave enough :D

The layover is from 06:30 to 18:30 local time ... so plenty of time in theory. If I've got a US visa they'll let me through and then back no problem, right? It's a change to the declared travel plan when I applied for the visa, but the border agents won't care right?
Click to expand...

You will be fine, I was underwhelmed with NYC.
 
Soul Assassin said:
Now you get to test out Vodacom Wi-Fi calling.
Click to expand...

You'd think so, but no. When my contract ended and I shifted to Vodacom prepaid, wifi calling automatically fell away. Not planning to get it reactivated even if it is possible, it was seriously messing with the quality of my regular calls in South Africa (something I'd reported with no feedback). I'll just be one of the regular sheep on that for now, lol.
 
saor said:
Take a disprin (or half) before boarding - helps to prevent blood clots from sitting for so long.
Fwiw take vitamin C daily a few days leading up to the flight just to mitigate catching something on board.
Click to expand...

Will look into the disprin thing. I'm a young guy and I exercise regularly so hopefully the blood clot thing won't hit me?

As for the Vitamin C, good point. The two times I've flown internationally before I've come down with a killer cold immediately afterwards -> those sprays they use in the cabin don't do a damn thing for regular colds apparently.
 
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