Flying to Melbourne from Lax. What is the flight going to be like?

I've never flown that far before. How's the food? Any suggestions or hints for the flight?

It's a long flight.... particularly if you are flying direct with no stopovers and therefore no chance to really stretch your legs and breathe something other than recycled cabin air. If you can sleep on planes (which I have never been able to) I would suggest getting as much sleep as you can.... they will usually serve you a meal or refreshments quite soon afer boarding, and then turn the lights out to allow people to get some shuteye. There are movies and other things to watch for the duration of the flight, music to listen to etc if you aren't sleeping, and I always take a good book, a couple of magazines, and my iPod. I recommend getting one of those eye-mask things and some earplugs, and a blow-up pillow for your neck is a good idea as the teeny pillows they give you are not the greatest. A couple of hours before landing they will turn the lights back on and serve breakfast, so you are almost forced to wake up then (if you have been lucky enough to be asleep). As far as the food goes, I find the quality really depends on the airline. Since I am semi-vegetarian, I always pre-order a lacto-ovo vege meal, which I highly recommend, as these pre-ordered meals are made only for you and maybe a couple of other passengers, so aren't just part of the big kitchen production line. They always look fresher than the regular meals and are served first, before the rest of the passengers are fed. You can ask for pretty much whatever type of meal you like, such as low-carb, Kosher, lacto-ovo vegetarian, raw vegetarian... check with your airline or travel agent to find out all the options. Whatever you choose for your meals, you will not go hungry.... there is always plenty, and the drinks are plentiful too. Drink as much water as you can!! You will definitely be feeling dehydrated after such a long flight, so water yourself well (this is harder to do since the new laws that forbid you to take your own water aboard, so you need to keep bothering the flight attendants... but that's what they're there for so don't be shy about asking for water, juice, whatever... at any time). Try to avoid alcohol & caffeinated beverages as they will only dehydrate you more. Get up and walk around the cabin and do some stretches regularly (the airlines will also usually provide you with a card describing various stretches you can do in your seat). Your feet and ankles are likely to swell up, but the more you move around and the more water you drink, the less swollen you be. Take some eyedrops aboard with you too, the air is very drying in the plane. Also some toothpaste, your toothbrush, a little container of moisturiser, some lip balm, and deodorant will make you feel slightly fresher for your arrival in the US. Enjoy!

There will be a fair amount of sitting. Also, be sure to pop your head into the cockpit during flight to say "hello" to the pilots. They really like surprises like that.

Mostly it's long and boring. Foods okay. Take reading material. Drink lots of water during flight so you won't dehydrate.

LOng