You're okay bringing a DVD player/laptop/Gameboy.

The TSA's website specifically okays "toy transformer robots," too, so be sure to keep that in mind in case you need something else to keep yourself and/or your fellow passengers amused.

Yep, you're good. I don't get on a plane without iPod, DS and Laptop. Especially those fun cross-atlantic trips.

Yeah.. the TSA only restricts really specific stuff. Anything that might be combustible, anything with a label that says "Contents Under Pressure", and some other random stuff.

Tech gadgets are still fine.

Though I have seen one Laptop turned into jagged chunks of plastic, LCD, and PCB by our baggage sorter, so if you do take tech gadgets do take them all on the plane with you. And one thing I've seen more than once is a TSA agent removing the cap on a chemical of some kind to test it, something like fabric detergent or the like, and then not screwing it back on all the way. So someone finds a bag somewhere down one of the conveyers or on the sorter itself that's leaking detergent or god knows what else all over the place. I think the worst of these is generally if it's a moderately large bottle of cologne or perfume. Imagine getting to your destination and discovering all your clothing soaked in cologne. The "solution" to those situations is to seal the bag in a big plastic bag, duct tape the bag down to the shape of the bag, and send it on it's way. I kid you not.

Never put anything with any value to you in anything but your carry-on.

In my experience, they're mostly concerned with stuff that's going to transmit/receive. Anything with wireless capability, cellphones, etc. I generally try to be on the plane and seated ASAP, and I'll generally plug in headphones and listen to music while I'm sitting at the gate, and feign sleep or actually sleep before the plane leaves the gate. I've never been bothered to take them out prior to takeoff.

Good advice all around, though, just a handy hint for not having to listen to any screaming kids

Technically, you're not supposed to use any sort of wireless device (e.g., WiFi, cell phone).

Other tech gadgets are fine while you're at cruising altitude. They just make you stow them during take off and landing.

They should just have network jacks in the backs of all the seats and let people play LAN games on their laptops.

It wouldn't even really be that expensive to do.

That. Is. AWESOME! I'll bet you could play longer if you were playing something less graphics-intensive, like Starcraft or something.

Trips like that, you're much better off sleeping as much as you possibly can. Cuts down on jet lag when you get to your destination.

My solution to seatmates that snore is my iPod with batter pack.

Some do. It depends on which class you're sitting in, which seat you get, what type of aircraft, etc. Very few have regular AC power jacks, but some do have an airplane-specific jack. Check out SeatGuru to see where the power jacks are on certain airlines.

If someone is really snoring badly next to me, I usually pretend that I need to goto the bathroom and wake them up when going to the bathroom... that or i smack them on my way out...

I usually bring on a DS, a laptop, Nano, and a whole lot of other electronics in my carryon bag. The only thing the TSA guys really care about is having the laptop out of the bag, and the baggie of liquids out. The x-ray can deal with everything else fine.

On some flights, the first class cabin has power outlets. Back when I try really traveling a lot, I would get upgraded everytime and the power outlet was 50/50, so i always bring a airplane power adaptor just in case.

Just relax. Bring some gadgets along with you. An iPod, a DS, PSP, anything along those lines is awesome. Books are another really good option.

Also, since you're flying against time, I highly recommend sleeping on the plane as much as you can. It doesn't work for everyone, I know, but my experience with flights like that is that you'll be much better able to adjust to the time change if you're waking up when you get there.

Be sure to pack a change of clothes and essential items such as medicine, etc. in your carry-on luggage. It's possible that you might get separated from your checked luggage.

Drink lots of liquids on the flight. It's very easy to get dehydrated on a long flight and you'll end up feeling worse when you get there.

Bring earplugs/headphones. There will be a lot of noise on the airplane.

If at all possible, get an exit row seat. Also, on the widebody aircraft (2 aisles), you'll want to be sure you're sitting on the sides, not in the middle.

I'm with AnimeJ on trying to sleep on the plane. Most flights from the US to Europe arrive in the morning local time. It'll be easier to adjust if you can get some rest on the plane.

It can get really cold on these flights as well, wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.

Get up and walk around for a few minutes every couple of hours. The plane should be big enough that you can walk around without a lot of trouble.

Whichever one will be more nervous should NOT sit next to the window. The takeoff and landing is the worst part, after that just sit back and relax with some headphones and try to sleep.

Classic.

Drinking red wine tends to help me kinda sorta get some sleep on the plane, but I usually have a really hard time of it. And I don't know why they now have headrests that only tip forward. What good is that? "Gee, I was hoping I could get a really good kinck in my neck by the time we landed. Good thing they provide this headrest!"

Also, I find it's really helpful after a long flight to take a short nap for 10-15 minutes. Maybe it's because I'm usually so tired from the flight itself. If I get that nap in before I have to be somewhere, I'm golden. I just need to get actually horizontal and shut my eyes for a while -- maybe just to remember what real sleep feels like.