<p>Over the years, I’ve become a fan of the 12 hour flights over the 7 to 8 hour European flights. On a 12 hour flight, if sufficiently stressed from getting ready to leave home, I doze, read, eat, sleep again, and wake up with a more than a modicum of rest. On the European flights, by the time they finish a meal, show a movie, then breakfast, they’re ready to land, and I’ve barely slept, yet it is morning. A special kind of torture. </p>
<p>Another fan of window seats here, as I still love looking out the window and watching the earth below, as well as giving a place to lean the head. During the few one or two forays into the aisle, I walk, do as much activity as not looking excessively eccentric will allow.</p>
<p>A small pillow or folded blanket can be put to good use, behind the lower back, or to sit on and change the angle of the sit. Change is helpful in alleviating stiffness. My feet occasionally swell, and I do ankle circles, toe clenches, etc. </p>
<p>Flying on an airline with individual screens and a wide choice of movies can be a pleasure, as is the sometimes ok food on non American airlines. I miss being plied with food and drink as in days of old, though those of you in first may be still enjoying it. Often I bring the unread sections of the NY Times, or whatever is very dense but toss able reading. Usually I’m working on stuffing a final few phrases into whatever language I’ll be encountering into my brain. </p>
<p>Perhaps conversation is out of style while flying, but I have really enjoyed interesting seatmates at times, and it seems that passes the time faster than anything. </p>
<p>Fauxmaven, great story! Hope you continued to feed him kidney pie!</p>