Survive the Long Flight to Pattaya

You will survive the long flight to Pattaya.

And it is not really a flight to Pattaya.  You will fly from an international airport in your home country to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport.  

I leave from Chicago's O-Hare Airport.  The first leg of my trip from O-Hare to Taipei Taiwan is about 15.5 hours of flight time. 

After a 2 to 3 hour layover in Taipei, the second leg of the trip  to Bangkok is about 4 hours.

Then I take a 1.5 hour taxi ride to Pattaya.

Suvarnabhumi Airport to PattayaThe road from the Bangkok airport to Pattaya

Survive the Long Flight to Pattaya

15.5 hours trapped on a plane!

I was very worried about the first leg before my first trip. 

This was by far the longest trip of my life.  I had a few 6 hours flights, but those were the longest. 

Could I survive the flight?  Would I be so uncomfortable that I would go out of my mind?  Would I get a blood clot and die in the air?

It isn’t really that bad if you think through the steps and make things as comfortable as you can for yourself.

This starts with where you fly from.

Where to Fly From

I don’t start from my smaller local airport even though this airport is incredibly easy to get to, easy to get home from, with inexpensive parking and almost ridiculously easy to check in and go through security.

I don't even start from a much larger airport in my home state.

The problems with these smaller airports is that the cost of the flight goes up very high, with multiple long layovers and a lot more time in a plane.  I want to minimize my time on the plane and keep the flight cost under control so I have more money to spend in Pattaya.

I live about a 2-hour drive from the O-Hare International Airport in Chicago Illinois.  I enjoy my drives to O-Hare and have found some nice stops on the way there and back to break up the drive.  I love the comfort of arriving back in the US and jumping back into my car at the airport and slowly getting back to reality as I drive home.  

O'Hare has modest parking costs in their economy parking lots, a shuttle bus to the train and a train system that takes you directly to the international terminal.

I assume most international airports offer similar conveniences.

I minimize the time on a plane by being willing to drive a bit at home.

I admit that I am exhausted on the drive home after my trip and have to stop multiple times for caffeine and junk food to make it home safely.

O-Hare Economy Parking LotI park in one of the O-Hare Economy parking lots. They have a shuttle bus from the parking lots to the train station. Then the train drops you off at the International Terminal

When to Leave and Arrive 

My main consideration for the flight there is to arrive at a time that I can enjoy my first day in Pattaya.  I don't want to get to Bangkok late at night or early in the morning and waste the day.

I like to arrive in Bangkok about noon.  I find this works great as I can get to Pattaya by mid-to-late afternoon, set up my hotel room, pamper myself, run some errands, take a nap and still have time for a great first night in Pattaya.

I also want a fairly long layover.  Ideally 2 to 4 hours.  Less than 2 hours is not enough.  My flights have all laid over in Taipei Taiwan and that airport is huge.  It takes a long time to get through it.  On my holidays when it has been winter in the US, there have been long weather delays in leaving the US making a short layover, very stressful.

On the way home, I want to leave Bangkok airport about noon to go home.  This way I get a taxi from Pattaya about 7:30 am.  I can still have a great last night in Pattaya without needing to get up too early and spoiling my last night in Pattaya.

What to Carry On to the Plane - Make it Simple

I check one bag with the majority of my clothes and stuff. I hate dragging too much stuff through the airport and having to worry about an extra bag in the restrooms and waiting.

I find a decently sized, sturdy backpack to be ideal for airports.  I can slip both arms through and comfortably hustle through the airport, leave it on while peeing and let it sit comfortably between my legs while sitting around, playing on my computer and waiting.

What I carry onto the plane:

Backpack

Computer, cord, mouse, extension cord.  Cell phone charger.  2 extra reading glasses.  Toiletry kit.  T-shirt, boxers, socks, shorts. Planner book, pens, pad.  Folder with important papers.  Neck pillow.  Noise cancelling headphones. Fanny pack.

Fanny Pack

Big wallet.  Passport. Gum. Mint.  Candy.  Small pad and pen. Kleenex.  Wet wipes. Sleep mask.  Diarrhea medication.  Ibuprofen.

Note that I stuff my fanny pack into my backpack while I am in the airport and walking onto the plane.

What to Wear on the Plane - Keep it Comfortable

I hate being uncomfortable and there are not many situations more uncomfortable than sitting on a plane for 15.5 hours trying to survive the long flight to Pattaya. 

I see men on the airplanes wearing very uncomfortable clothes; tight pants, belts, sport coats, hats and boots.  Not me.  I value my comfort.

What I Wear:

  • My normal, comfortable, loose boxer shorts.
  • Mid-calf length wool socks.  I can take off my shoes and still have warm feet.
  • Loose, baggy, knee length cotton shorts held up by a drawstring (no belt to remove).  I can pull them down over my knees a bit if it’s cold, or slide them up my thighs if it is warm.  Make sure they have deep pockets on both sides so your stuff doesn’t fall out.  
  • Short sleeved, button down, soft material shirt with breast pocket for my reading glasses.
  • T-shirt under the button down shirt if I am traveling in the winter.
  • Fleece jacket if I am traveling in the winter. The fleece works well as a blanket during the flight.
  • Tennis shoes.

With the exception of the wool socks and fleece jacket, I wear all these items in Pattaya.

Where to Sit on the Plane

Airplane interiorThere is not much space on a plane. The discomfort is magnified the longer the flight

I always upgrade my seats to an emergency exit seat so there is no one in front of me.  I like to stretch out and it is easy to get up, go to the bathroom and move around.  

I also like an aisle seat so I can kind of sprawl into the aisle a bit.

This drives up the cost considerably.  Usually this was an additional $520 USD for all 3 legs of the trip.

Getting Set Up Properly on the Plane

I walk onto the plane with my backpack supported by both arms so I have full use of my hands unless the aisle is too narrow and I am forced to take it off and carry it.  

When I get to my seat, I take out my neck pillow, noise cancelling earphones and fanny pack out of my backpack.

I put my backpack in overhead bin. My goal is not to need anything from the backpack during the flight.  I keep the stuff in my backpack that I may need in case my checked bag gets lost. 

I put the  neck pillow by my feet and put the noise cancelling ear phones on and keep my fanny pack with me.  They require you to secure the fanny pack during takeoff and landing.  I just put mine over my head and one shoulder.

Once we're past the takeoff, I put the fanny pack down by feet and take my shoes off.

Yes, there is a lot down by my feet.  I may sit with my feet on my shoes and I scrunch everything up behind my lower legs.

I sit like this:

  • Neck Pillow around my neck or by my feet
  • Noise cancelling earphones on my head
  • Wallet in my front right-hand pocket
  • Cell phone in my front left-hand pocket
  • Fanny pack on my lap or by my feet

How to Survive the Long Flight to Pattaya on the Plane

I wish I could spend hours sleeping on these massive flights.  But I have only been able to nap briefly.  By the time I get there I am exhausted.  

Some of the things I do to overcome this challenge:

  • I upgrade to get an aisle seat with my right hand on the aisle and an exit row so there is no one in front of me. 
  • I do everything slowly.  For example, I pause the movie when eating.
  • I enjoy the meals and snacks on the flight and eat as slowly as I can. 
  • I bring 2 large water bottles that I purchase at the airport onto the plane. I save some of favorite junk food snacks (peanut M&M’s and chocolate covered nut bars) as long as possible for times when I am in extreme discomfort or bored out of my mind.
  • I watch multiple movies that the flight provides. No reading.  Just movies, eating, napping and music. 
  • I get up 2 or 3 times a flight to do some mild exercise, usually the warmup moves I do for my weight training workout.
  • I get up frequently to pee. 

Survive The Long Flight to Pattaya Wrap Up

You will survive the long flight to Pattaya.  Just keep thinking about all the fun and adventures that await you once you get to paradise.