Any tips for getting to sleep on a plane?

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Eclipsepearl

-Get sleep the night before. Don't face a long flight already tired and cranky. Also, even if you do sleep onboard, it wont be the deep, restful kind you do in your own bed anyway.

-Good neck pillow. One that snaps in front preferably (albeit it's been ages since I've seen one...)

-Eye covers that have padding. Not the kind that smash your eyes but ones which have an edge on the inside (am I making this clear?) Look in a travel shop. They are a little thicker than the giveaway kind.

-WAX earplugs. Don't use the spongey kind. They're useless and uncomfortable. Wax really blocks out the sound and fits more naturally. I can't use it now because I fly with my kids and the one time I used them, the baby woke up and I didn't hear her crying! So wax really works...

-Window seats. Try to get them towards the back if there are only two seats in the row (depends on aircraft so ask). Go for the emergency exits first. Bulkheads don't always have more room. Often they're shorter and you can't stretch your legs forward. Also be warned they're popular with families with little kids so do you really want a crying baby next to you?? (Wax earplus not withstanding).

-Don't use melatonin inflight but it's great for jetlag once on the ground. Melatonin good for staying asleep but doesn't do a great job of putting you there. It can also cause nightmares which are not fun on an airplane and could result in extra entertainment for those seated around you... Ask your doctor about other meds and remember that all drugs are stronger in the air. Think about taking a half dose and please, only once airborne. Not before take-off, just in the very unlikely case...

-Bring asprin or ivphrophene (sp?). Just taking something for aches and pains often helps.

-Getting drunk doesn't help you to sleep. I used to recommend to passengers to have one small bottle/glass of red wine but no more. This is enough to relax, but you wont be drunk or in grim shape in Paris.

-I never found listening to music helpful. First of all, those earphones are not comfortable. Also, one song is all mellow and then it changes to something snapier all of a sudden, waking me up... Or, I'm easy-listening away and yikes! Beegees! Ugly flashbacks to junior high... No, I don't recommend any sort of portable music unless you have a proven-to-work monk chants or something from your yoga class...

-Remember that closing your eyes and relaxing is almost as good as sleep. Your body needs its downtime so don't throw in the towel if you can't actually go to snoozerville. Airplane air is very dry so at least give your eyeballs a break from that nasty air.

-Don't laugh but visit the restroom before trying to nodd off. Don't get all comfortable and think "Darn!" Out go the ear plugs, off goes the mask, climbing over fellow passengers... Or, you do manage to sleep, only to wake up feeling like you're the Hoover dam. Neither option is pretty. Get that task out of the way first.

Bon voyage and pleasant dreams!

Hibee

Try getting a job as a pilot.

madinalake

put music in your ears to block out all the noise and relax youll soon be in dream land

GSH

Don't sleep the day before. Works for me on my 15 hour non-stop trip from LHR to Bangkok, Thailand

seventy

Reading can send you to sleep. Take a paperback with you. I assume you always ask for an aisle seat. Also it's good for peace and quiet right on the seats at the back...the back row, that is.

Abdul

have VERY little sleep the night before.

i can never understand why people tell me, "i'm going to bed early today, i've got a really long flight tomorrow!"

Carrotcake

I try to wear as little as possible, because that way your clothes don't chafe (obviously not with my shirt of etc.) and recline your chair a lot and read a book, thats what I do.

mikeywills

Ask for a seat by an emergency exit, these always have more leg room, they invariably are also by the toilet, so are readily available. You will need a mask for your face to keep the light out, and either record the sound of rustling trees, or waves on a beach, or buy one they are readily available, and listen to this to drown out the ambient sounds around you. Have a couple of drinks no more, as this is generally enough to make people drows, no pills, stretch out with blankets, you'll nod off in no time, I promise, with no hangover afterwards.

Artemis

You can use Mp3 player in plane, have a calm music in your ears and sleep! That's just like lullabies, It makes you sleep!
I think it works!

Or have a pillow with your self, make a bed-like-seat in the plane for yourself!

Try to find out what helps you in sleeping! Then, try to have similar things in plane!

kookoo4travel

Take a sleeping pill or drink lots of wine!

>woohoo<

i find it really easy to get to sleep while on a plane.
it would help if you're in a relaxed state and not thinking about anything. then just sit back in the chair and stare at something as if you're daydreaming. this will make you really bored but that's the whole point. if there's anything that will distract you (like magazines, newspapers etc) put them somewhere where you can't see them, or if that's not possible then close them and don't look at them.

Crazy Diamond

I take valium or diazepam when im flying, or i cant get on the plane. I sleep through most of every flight. Terrified of flying. Your doctor can prescribed these for you.

carl j

Whatever you do, don't watch Twilight Zone the movie...

darvosix

try melatonin-it is a food supplement, so you dont have any druggy aftereffects

josephrob2003

you have my sympathy,I'm only a shorty,yet find the seats cramped,and like you I often have flights of twelve to thirteen hours.
I can understand you not wanting a hangover,but ,what I do,is, have a hearty meal before I leave home,as the airline meals are nothing to shout about,and as soon as we are air born, I get a couple of rum and cokes,and soon after, settle down to sleep,hoping they dont disturb me for meals,and just do with refreshments for the rest of the flight

frustration

Take a comfortable neck pillow, not the inflatable kind,. A decent eye mask to block out the light and ear plugs to block out any noise. Make sure you are warm. Its easy for a woman to take a wrap/pashmina to put round the shoulders men usually have something that they can use dependent on their fashion age. Sweater etc. but it has to be something that is lightweight and easy to discard if the temperature rises.

Fasten the seatbelt tightly ensuring it is low down your body so that you don't slip down in the seat (this is important) and try to get a window seat so that you will have something to lean against and no-one will be climbing over you to get out. Reclining your seat is essential but you don't have to go too far its more important to sit back into your seat (no slouching at the beginning!) to ensure maximum leg room.

Download some relaxation sounds onto whatever you use to carry music, you know the things I mean: the sounds of waves, birds, wind in the trees and use that to ensure you wind down. If you have time, use it every day at home for as long as possible just as you are going to sleep. Your brain will associate the sounds with sleep, one of the airlines used to have some really good ones on their music selection and I found that it really worked. You may have some favourite music that does this for you already

When you book the ticket get a note added to show that you are unusually tall and request a bulkhead seat or emergency exit/door. That doesn't necessarily work but its worth a try.

If you can't sleep straight away, keep the eyemask on and don't discard the ear plugs/music (your choice once you have relaxed enough). Just ignore the world, you will bore yourself to sleep!!
Good luck

Jon

im 6.2 and i havnt found away yet. the worst flight was fliying from UK to HongKong and from there to Austrailia 9 flights are not nice.

DeleraTwinkie

I just got back from a longverhaul flight. What I did was to listen to classical music and watch action-packed movies till myeyes get lethargic and slowly zzzzz.... It's tough I know. Stretch your limbs.

arfurchance

Hi
For the bit extra...fly business class, at least you can stretch your legs out.
Ray. West York's. U.K.

Anyone Know?

I'd walk up with crutches, or a walking stick, and explain that a recent accident has left you in much pain, and might there be any chance you could be bumped up to business class...

I've seen it done with my own eyes....

ben dover

drink a full bottle of red wine b4 you get on the plane---works for me

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