it was bound to happen.....

[icesk8er31]

after many years of being able to keep my flights fairly short (4 hours and less) and in the US, I finally have to fly transatlantic. It's not until February 9th, and I'm already freaking out. I'm going BNA to CDG, then the train to GVA, then back from GVA on EASY JET (does anyone know anything about them??!?) and then back home again from CDG. That's like, 13 hours of flying.

I think I need to go breathe into a paper bag....

Edited to add....:barf

All the best,

Ice

[OnwardandUpward]

Hi there

Easyjet are a low cost, no frills airline. Very strict on baggage and checking in times. There is a UK based program called Airline which they feature in.

Have a look here also for reviews
www.airlinequality.com/Forum/easy.htm (http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/easy.htm)

Also the GVA-CDG should be very short about 40 mins in the air

[mkahanek]

I think once you are in the air you will be ok. As you may recall I was worried about ruining a perfectly good pair of fruit of the looms thinking about my flight from Houston to Tokyo. However once in the air I was cool. Just BORED after 12 hours. For me the worrying about it was much much worse than the actual long haul itself. Look at using miles to get yourself into first class if you company is not paying for it. That makes a HUGE difference

[icesk8er31]

I just booked the ticket...my hands are shaking and my eyes are welling up....

:barf

[Strange333]

Good Luck!

You're doing great!!!!!!!!!!!!
You booked the flight and that is about 10x farther than most FOFs ever get!!!!

Nich

[Passenger Mark]

Ice,

For real there is no real big difference. I'm serious!

Once you are on the plane a few hours, it somehow becomes normal.

I am no head doctor, but my theory is that the mind gets use to it's surroundings. That is just my guess.

When I went over to England, I broke the flight up. First hour was dedicated to sitting there and getting use to my surroundings. Second hour was dedicated to checking out and learning about the entertainment system. Third hour was a tour of the aircraft... walked about, found out where the bathrooms were (ha ha) walked to the back of the plane and back up... Fourth hour was flirting with the Flight Attendants :tiphat Then books and magazines I had brought aboard, maybe a nap, and of course there were the dinners, breakfast, etc.

And think about this...

How many times have you wanted a few hours that you could have to yourself? No phone, no work, no nothing, just some time to read that book you have been wanting to read, watch a movie... just your time!

The last time I had 13 hours to myself was on my flight back from England!
You will be fine... I promise! Try not to dwell on it. Look on the positive side (Time for yourself!)

Mark

[beaugest]

Ice, Mark is right. The fact that is so long will be more boring than anything else. It is very difficult for the mind/body to stay in a state of anxiety for hours and hours. So, it doesn't. I'm not kidding when I say the worst part about being on the plane for 12 hours was my backside hurting. It's a long time to sit.
The anxiety you are feeling now is the worse you are going to feel. So, start that conversation in your head. As they say"change the station." As your little devil voice starts to list all your fears.:cuss Click. Get the angel going.:pray
Remember the cartoons with the devil in one ear and the angel in the other? You can choose which voice you are going to let be louder. Talk yourself through this.
My favorite technique for anticipatory anxiety is the one where you make an appointment with it and don't address it until the time is closer.
I think it's great you booked. Mon

[firsttimeposting]

I just did the same thing, made a trip to China after three years of avoiding it. It went by so much better than I could have ever thought. One thing that helped alot was to mentally break it up into segments. Like the first part was getting past the first meal serving. Then I made the next few hours my task of watching a movie and taking a nap, etc. Pretty soon you're at the next meal serving and then have to get ready to land so you get up and use the bathroom and brush your teeth, wash your face, put make up on....so I kind of planned out the flight and set myself goals and tasks to do and how you plan out the time is never accurate so then you are pleasantly surprised at how fast everything goes by! you can do it. you'll be SO excited and proud when you make it!!! :pompoms

[mkahanek]

To avoid a rip snorter of a headache drink plenty of water in flight and keep hydrated. That is one thing I remember from my houston to tokyo flight is I drank a gallon of water.

[icesk8er31]

Hey all! Thanks for the support. I've calmed down a little and have ordered some meditation DVDs to see if they help. I'll keep y'all posted....

All the best,

Ice