HI Pam,
I just did my first big oversea travel jig last Nov... and yes, worried I was.
My advice is not easy, but may help.
1. Always set yourself up with a "Bag of Tricks", the idea came from Jill Gunzell the RLS Rebel: Link below.
http://members.cox.net/gunzel/rls.html
2. First class seating helps, but it is rather out there on Price.
Bulk head is the next best seating and you can get a note from your doctor that states you need an aisle seat or bulk head seating for your RLS.
However, use the word Ekbom instead of RLS, it sounds bigger to the airline and more offical. They normally have no clue anyway what it is, so it makes explaining easier.
And we do have rights that can be found, hmmm maybe in a sticky note in New to RLS, if not go to
http://www.rlshelp.org/
I know that website has the law printed.
3. Travel is one time I am allowed extra meds. from my RLS doc.. Not only for sleeping, but for the plane travel as well. I try my best to go to sleep if the trip is over 3 hours. Overseas flight, I found that staying awake is best for the first hour or so, then I medicate and really sleep.
Eye blinders, earplugs or IPOD, headphones, whatever, and I take off my shoes first thing and bring my owe comfy socks to wear only on the plane.
So if you can, call your doc and ask for extra or different meds for travel.
4. We lucked out, our flight got into London very early in the morning and having slept all night while flying, we got up and on to playing asap, when we arrived.
The standard thing to do is start acting and doing, as if your already on the other time zone, while on the plane. Stay awake if possible, if you get there in the morning, afternoon, or night, Hope that makes some sense?
You have to be ready for some jet lag, but sticking to the new time zone makes it easier for sure.
There are also some set of heated (microwave) booties and neck wrap that I found at CVS. I took them on the plane for the booties part, in case my legs started up.
Compression stockings might, MIGHT, help. Again any drug store or such should offer them, and in colors as well. About 15.00 bucks in normal for a good pair.
One time use heating pads are great. I even wrap them up on my legs with ace bandages, however, not next to my skin, just over the first wrap.
Or sit on them, take several and you can extend thier use if you break them up every so often.
Things to do with your hands, games, neddlework ( but you can't take scissors, so precut you threads.) I handbeads evening bags or totes on the plane, it's a thinker for your hands, LOL.
There's a start, if I can think of more, I'll add.
Where do you get to go?
Lynne