I have read the dozens of recommendations on how to survive a long air flight. Here is what i plan for my 16 hour Delta trip.
1) Pick the most comfortable seat. I found that Premium Economy is the best choice. For me, the sleepers in Business of First Class aren't worth the thousands of extra dollars. I don't rest any better than Premium Econo, which gets equally-well privilege of early boarding, seating next to the exit, larger seats, and often the same food as business class.
Here is what to express in Delta Premium Economy.
Also,
https://pointmetotheplane.boardingarea.com/review-delta-premium-select-a350-truly-class/
Amenities include: a blanket, noise-cancelling headphones, slippers, and a TUMI amenity kit. The blankets are plush woven ones, not the usual thin knit or grubby fleece ones. The overhead bins are huge, and have dedicated flight attendants and lavatories.
The seat has non-moveable armrests (the tray tables are inside), a footrest and 38 inches of pitch behind the seat in front (the same as most domestic first class seats). The seat is published at 18.5 inches wide, but the armrests create extra space. The seat reclines further than any other seat in the Delta fleet, except lie-flat Delta One business class seats. It also has a leg rest that comes up to a 45-degree angle.2) Large noise-cancelling headphones. Those tiny earbuds don't work as well blocking the roaring engines. Delta's website says they are included that plug into their armrest but not in my laptop.
3) Dress comfortably. Loose pants, sweatshirt, slippers (Delta provided), and compression socks. I put my belt, wallet, keys, passport, pens, etc. into my fanny pack which I stow into my carry-on bag. It's a quick and easy way to reinstate at the end of the flight. I substitute my shoes for the slippers and put them into the carry-on bag.
4) Snacks: I bring cereal bars, nuts (without peanuts), dried fruit, and tart cherries. I also have a tendency to get leg craps. I include several mustard packets.
5) Laptop: I pre-load videos, podcasts, and audio-books.
6) Sleep aid: Almost no article suggests taking medications for flying. An alternative to sleeping meds is using a natural sleep aid such as as bananas, almonds, cherry juice, chamomile tea, and snacks with high carbs. Tart cherries (there are at Sam's Club) are a natural source of melatonin. Chamomile tea is excellent when flying to soothe nerves and muscles.
7) Stay hydrate: Even though the booze is free, I try to minimize alcohol and caffeine drinks and drink bottled water
8) Tide Wipes: I always drop something onto my shirt when on eating from an airplane tray. Water on the napkin is not very effective.
SHIFTING THE TIME
There is a 14 hour difference between CDT (Nashville Daylight) and JST (Tokyo Standard) or KST (Seoul Standard). Neither Japan or Korea use daylight savings time.
Checking the following website, Tokyo Apr 23 - 9 PM is Apr 23 - 7 AM in Nashville.
PLAN FROM ATLANTA TO SEOUL
Our Atlanta flight Apr 22-
11:45 PM (EDT) to Apr 24-4:30 AM (KST Tue) Seoul converted to CDT is Apr 22-10:45 PM to Apr 23-2:30PM or
Considering a typical bed schedule 10 PM to 6 AM, change
Apr 18 (Fri) (two hours): Bed at 12 PM, up at 8 AM
Apr 19 (Sat) (four hours): Bed at 2 AM, up at 10 AM
Apr 20 (Sun) (six hours): Bed at 4 AM, up at 12 PM
My "eyes-open" time is now from 12 PM (when I get up) until 4AM the next day when I need to go to bed. Three hours after getting out of be bed (3 PM), I head to BNA and fly out of Atlanta at 10:45 PM (CDT).
On the plane from Atlanta to Seoul
Apr 21 (Mon), I have to stay awake for eight hours (10:45 PM to 6 AM), then
Apr 22 (Tue) sleep eight hours from 6 AM CDT, up at 2 PM CDT
Apr 22 - 2 PM CDT = = Apr 23 - 4 AM KST is when the plane lands in Seoul. I just had a nice sleep on the plane (I hope) and I am ready awake for Korea and Japan.
On the flight from Seoul to Osaka
My flight leaves Seoul for Osaka at Apr 23 - 9:35 AM KST. That is a five hour layover. I'll roam around the airport and then have breakfast around 7:30 AM KST.
My plane lands in Apr 23 - 11:20 AM. That's only 1 hour and 45 minutes and they give us a snack. (What will be get to eat in Korea?).
I should be in the Conrad around 1:30 PM. Since I got up around 4 AM, I should be ready 7 or 8 PM, but I keep awake until 10 PM and get up Apr 24 - 6 AM for breakfast and my later hike to Osaka Caste.
PLAN FROM TOKYO TO ATLANTA
Our flight May 7- 6:25 PM (JST) to May 7- 6:25 PM (EDT Tue) converted to
CDT is May 7 - 4:25 AM to May 7 - 5:25 PM or
By this time my body is on Japanese time. Sleeping on the plane should be no trouble.
On the flight from Tokyo to Atlanta
- 6.25 PM to 10:00 PM JST: Have dinner and watch a movie
- 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM JST: Sleep - Should be no problem
- 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM JST - Have breakfast and get ready to land in Atlanta
May 8 - 7:25 AM JST is May 7 - 6:25 PM EDT. So far so good, I just awoke and am wide awake for Atlanta.
From Atlanta to Nashville
Expect finally getting through immigration around 7:30 PM. I now have a 3 hour and 15 minutes until the plane leaves for Nashville at 10:40 PM EDT. We arrive at 10:51 PM CDT and I am wide awake.
At home at May 8 -12:30 AM (Wed) it is way too early for bed. I now plan to spend the next week readjusting to the time change
