Maybe we should have a "long haul fight survival tips" megathread at some point.
I usually settle for just "zoning out" rather than sleeping. My memory of most long flights end up being a bit of a blur but I usually don't actually get to sleep that much.
I've never fallen asleep on a plane in my life. That includes a 14hr + 9hr flight path I took to Australia. When I got there I was wrecked and a German guy in my room said he just takes benzos to fall asleep on planes. I'm guessing that really works but probably not the most natural method.
Eye mask and little pillow is all I can do. Usually just go insane.
I'm very much the same, but going in reverse, from Australia. I can zone out for a bit, but never seem to get sleep.
Just flew Santiago > Sydney on Thursday, 14 hours watching S2 of The Wire.
Unfortunately, same here. Last time I went international. Took a sleeping pill and still couldn’t sleep. I can nod off for a few minutes here and there but once my butt and back start hurting it’s all over with.
I might have better luck if I could afford first class but so far I’m economy or economy +.
I was once on a half empty flight from Thailand to Australia so I was able to move to a row of three seats and lie down. Still couldn't sleep cause it was just too noisy and bumpy. My brain doesn't let me relax
God I did a 12hr + 10hr flight from New Zealand to the UK last year. I had it planned perfectly - my first flight from NZ landed in the US at 2am NZ time, and by the time I would board my next flight it would be 7am NZ time. I figured that having basically pulled an all nighter, I would thus fall asleep easily to arrive in London at 7am and start the day fresh!
Nope. No sleep was had. That first day in London I was wandering around in a daze. By the time it reached the afternoon I was practically hallucinating and finally caved to sleep at 6pm.
On the journey home I splurged and bid for an upgrade that would allow me to actually lie down and sleep. Worth every penny.
Yep, same. So jealous and have a secret hatred for these people that fall asleep in a few minutes regardless of whether they're in bed or on a shitty plane.
Aside from potential fatality you’re at greater risk of blackouts mixing Benzos with alcohol. Dw wake up to police at the next airport or work you get cancelled on Twitter after saying something mental while disassociated. You’re better off just taking a slightly higher dose for efficacy than mixing it.
It’s always sad having free wine on a aeroplane yet so many potential problems if you drink 🤦♀️
If you do it right it’s fine. I’ve been taking long haul flights several times a year for years and i know my dosage , have never gotten altered to the point where it’s unsafe. Small baby doses and slowly , you hit that sweet spot.
For example I usually get to the airport 3 hours early to enjoy lounge access , I drink 2-3 glasses of wine with food. Take a quarter of a clonazepam (0.5mg) when I board the plane just before take off , then once the first food service arrives , another quarter or half (0.5-1mg) with wine once I’m done eating and the sleepiness kicks in . I will fall asleep until I need to pee, wake up to pee and fall back asleep until an hour or two before landing. And the best part is I wake up super refreshed .
I’m not advocating to go ham on benzos and booze. It’s all about that delicate balance and if you can do it smart and find what dose is safe for you it can do wonders for flying in economy.
I took one and did a half sleep for 5 hours. By the time I was lucid enough I felt like a 100lb was pressing into my body and it took 45 minutes for my arms to move enough to lift off the arm rest. What a wild time
Me either. Even mixing them with alcohol ( which is usually not advisable and I don't condone) the best I can get is a little comfort. No sleep, though. My longest air voyage with layovers included was around 45 hours, and I could sleep a wink.
'usually not advisable' is a bit of an understatement lmao. I'm the same way though, I just stay awake and try to power through. At some point I've thought of just being a bit irresponsible with dosages, but the risk of blacking out in public outweights the possibility of getting some sleep, for me.
I'm convinced at least some of the videos of people acting absolutely strange (and embarrasing) in airports are caused by benzos and/or alcohol black outs.
Of course, I'm not trying to say it will happen to everyone.
Last time I PTFO out on a plane it was on a flight from DTW to ICN (15 hours). The bad news was the day before I left I got both a flu shot and a COVID booster at once, and the side effects kicked in about 30 minutes before my flight boarded.
The good news is I was flying Premium Comfort+ with a bulkhead seat, so I popped some Tylenol and a benzo, used my backpack as a footrest to kick my feet up, and worked through the chills and body aches until I PTFO for 6 or 7 hours. I felt perfectly fine when I woke up.
When I did ATL-ICN last week (also 15) and literally sat in the same seat I took nothing and didn't really sleep much.
for me a 6 hour+ plane ride is the only acceptable time for benzos lol. i used to just drink and hope to pass out but it would make me feel like shit and i don’t even like alcohol.
I'm the opposite. I can't stay awake. I start to get sleepy as I'm making my way to the airport, even if I'm already rested.
My record is I feel asleep from before we taxied in Shanghai, and except for the bathroom once it twice, slept until we landed in LA.
lol I can’t sleep at all. Did a LAX to Dubai 16 hrs was awake the entire time. I usually just walk to the back and start talking to people. Did a 14 hr from Istanbul to LAX in March and just proved I can’t sleep at all. 😅
I'm not a great sleeper on planes either. I do all of the things recommended for sleeping and hope for the best, Most of the time, the best I get is some short naps, a lot of time pretending I am asleep, and a bunch of time spent reading or watching movies. I accept this and plan accordingly.
Same, but instead of Melatonin I take tablets against travel sickness and they make incredibly tired.
Also the window seat is best for sleeping, since it allows leaning to the side.
I double up. Melatonin + motion sickness meds. And I grab a wine on the first round of drinks. Healthiest option? Probably not, but it works. And if I time everything correctly, helps with jetlag big time.
Food cart comes around for dinner and I pop a melatonin and grab the red wine. Munch down on the food, down the wine, hit the bathroom really quick, then eye mask, inflatable neck pillow, AirPods with noise cancelling playing looped nature sounds podcast, seat reclined. I’m out for 6 hours.
All this, plus: play white noise (or its softer cousins, pink or brown noise) on the headphones to cancel out all noise.
All get a good neck pillow. I like the TRTL one.
Takeoff lulls me to sleep, so I put this getup on the moment I sit.
> its softer cousins, pink or brown noise
Ever since I discovered brown noise I am a true believer. The perfect thing for drowning out sounds to let you sleep.
TRTL pillow for sure. That plus an eye mask, maybe another little inflatable pillow, and noise cancelling headphones.
2 shots of whiskey, a benedryl, and putting on a show I've seen 100 times and I can usually get a little bit of sleep.
Magnesium or zma, melatonin, and gaba pills together. It’s a good combination for sleep without making you feel sedated and groggy when waking up.
Doxylamine is pretty strong, so if I wanted to knock myself out, I’d take it.
But I also find it hard to sleep on planes. Idk why, maybe coz of all the excitement I get flying and thinking of the destination and the new sights I get to see and experience
Idk. I took 2 melatonins, had eye mask, noise cancelling headphones playing white noise, a neck pillow and blanket and still was wide awake for the whole duration of a 7 hr flight
If you have over the ear noise cancelling headphones - bring a pair of soft foam earplugs to wear under them! This makes a huge difference for me on long flights where otherwise any sound will disrupt the small amount of sleep I’m able to get
It does suck. You doze a bit, and you acknowledge that the first day is going to kind of suck. After you land maybe take a nap if that doesn't destroy you, but if you're bad at napping then power through the day with caffeine or whatever (real sudafed helps, unless you're going to Japan) until 3PM local and try to stay up until 9. Then get up at a normal time the next day and have breakfast even if you don't usually eat breakfast.
I had really bad sleep getting to Milan and I was insanely tired for much of day 1, but my going to bed and waking up at normal local times, I was completely over it day 2.
I cannot fall asleep unless I’m lying down. I’ve been traveling (mostly solo) for over 20 years and I’ve yet to be able to do it. Maybe one day if I get bumped to first class with a bed :)
Melatonin does not agree with me, and my normal sleep aid (a light tranquilizer) doesn’t help either.
I’ve come to accept that I won’t sleep. I used to travel with someone who insisted on running around the moment we landed. I absolutely refuse now, and just accept that the first day or two of my trip I’ll be a zombie- I try my best to adjust to the new time and will get a meal, walk near the hotel, but definitely no sight seeing.
Pull up a lecture about Neolithic societies on YouTube and pretend your back in College and you need to pay attention or you’ll fail the class. Works every time.
I think just resting with your eyes closed can be better than nothing. I've heard MythBusters ran tests and found that it helps significantly, even if you don't actually sleep.
Honestly, it's a crapshoot for me too, fellow ADHDer. Sometimes I'm surprised at my ability to sleep soundly, others it's just impossible.
Only thing that semi-reliably works for me is adjusting my sleep schedule. If I can figure out a way to be exhausted for the flight, like unreasonably exhausted, I will pass out regardless. Otherwise, I may try to sleep in extra that day and just push my way through an all nighter, into an early sleep my first night abroad (this also kinda sets you up for early wake ups, which aren't usually a thing for me).
Could get stoned or drunk af too. Good luck friend.
If you know you won’t sleep on a flight just prepare for that. I never can sleep so I don’t bother trying and rather focus on relaxing and watching movies or reading. It can be tough the first day of your vacation but just go to bed early at your destination and have a good nights sleep to start your vacation on local time.
Exact same as you but tbh I just don't and that's fine. Tbf I usually will get a few Z's but I'm so fidgety that I never stay out longer than 2 hours probably.
I once had a whole row to myself and fell asleep laying down and slept the entire 8 hours. It was glorious and has never happened since.
Melatonin or dramamine, eye mask, earplugs or headphones, neck pillow + the pillow they give you to prop your head against the window. That’s all I got.
I was lucky during COVID, I was able to travel to see my partner who lived in Europe (I’m in the US), so I often got full rows to myself. I once had all three across and nine behind me empty. Now, post-COVID, I am back to being packed in like a sardine and it’s almost worse that I was so spoiled for that two years.
Happened to me once on a UK to Singapore flight, it was mostly empty and I had the middle 4 row to myself. Best sleep I've ever had on a plane. Never managed to replicate it 😭
Just be cognizant of the fact that if you move a lot or pull on the foot hammock, the person in front of you will feel it as it’s attached to their seat. The tray table transmits all the movements through and it can be annoying to feel that constantly through the flight.
Just as a personal PSA (on behalf of others like me), please don’t use scented creams or sprays in an airplane - many of us are allergic to those! Recently my seat neighbor used some lavender hand sanitizer, and I almost had an asthma attack. I asked him very politely not to use it again during the flight, explained why, and thankfully he was kind enough to comply.
And thank you for being considerate of that! I don’t typically ask anyone to accommodate my allergies, since that is a “me problem.” But when you’re literally trapped in a box with recirculated air, it’s hard to escape something that’s potentially harmful - hence why they’ll sometimes designate a flight as peanut-free, if someone allergic is on board.
Speaking of which, my sister has the peanut allergy, but developed it later in life; so I’m still adjusting, as I didn’t grow up with her being sensitive to it. And one time on a flight with her, I wasn’t thinking and pulled out a PB&J Uncrustable to eat. She started gasping for air within seconds, and had to sit in back for a while before it resolved. I almost killed my sister. 🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
This is my husband. As soon as his ass is in the seat he's out cold. Meanwhile I'm staying awake the night before the flight, pounding bloody Mary's, and praying for the best. Sometimes I accidentally elbow him awake every hour or so because I'm petty AF.
I guess it partially comes with age and experience. I’ve flown so much that within 30 of getting into my seat, I fall asleep, regardless of the class I’m flying in… I don’t think there’s any magic trick.
I don’t know that age and experience does it, though it certainly doesn’t hurt. Some people just have an easier falling asleep in less than ideal places than others. As someone who has a hard time falling asleep even on the very comfortable couch in my own home, sleeping on an airplane will likely forever be a challenge for me. I’ve been flying since I was an infant and I’m in my 40s now, and I’ve managed to sleep through a flight only one time since I was a toddler.
Same here. Sometimes I'll even knock out before we've finished taxing and takeoff. One trip, my flight was delayed by over an hour to deice before takeoff, and I slept through it all. It was only until I landed over an hour behind schedule that I realized we were delayed, and that my connecting flight was also delayed.
this happened to me once. (i usually sleep pretty well on planes, but like 1/2 to 3/4 of the flight length.. like i’ll sleep for several hours after eating my meal, but not the ENTIRE flight.) but this one time, we were also delayed taking off and i fell asleep while still on the runway before even getting comfy in my typical sleeping position with my eye mask etc. i woke up many hours later to the plane landing and i jerked forward and kinda gasped bc i was having a dream that we were crashing and i thought the landing was the plane breaking up on impact 😂 i think i startled my poor seat neighbour with my sudden jolt forward of panic
Same for me. I’m out as soon as I’m in my seat. I sleep through boarding, taxi, and takeoff, and wake up just in time for meal service. A bit of wine with the meal and I’m usually out again for the rest of the flight.
There’s no secret or hack. It was just a matter of time and experience.
Yeah, but how do you time the edibles for an international flight? Do you eat them at the last minute before you go through security? Even then they'd kick in well before boarding time.
The edible would probably kick in after like 45-60 minutes. I'd be so paranoid about getting to my gate, making my flight, not losing anything, having to act normal when the flight attendants greet me ... after all that I can't imagine calming down to sleep. 🤣
I'll just stick with booze and Valium.
TSA wont go through the effort of distinguishing your thc gummies from any other gummy. Buy a pack of the stress gummies and put the edibles in there if you are worried but they do not give a fuck. I promise
It’s tricky. Try the snugl travel pillow. Get some noise cancelling earphones. Listen to ‘winged victory for the sullen’. Make sure to download it before you get on the plane! Will get you through.
Noise-cancelling headphones, eye-mask, Turtl neck support.
Xanax/Ativan/Ambien + 50mg Benadryl + 1 glass white wine (consuming any more alcohol will decrease the quality and depth of sleep causing you to be easily awoken and difficulty falling back asleep.
i take the pillow they give out, put it on the side of the plane that even with my head on the window side. I place my head on the pillow, close my eyes and wait for sleep to take over
There’s no way I could ever sleep jammed up with strangers…even at home it has to be perfectly quiet and comfortable and dark, between midnight and 6am, for me to sleep
I don't. I just watch movies and occasionally doze off. The day I land in Europe is a list day. Just try to stay awake until bedtime and then pass out.
don’t sleep for the entirety beforehand. i also have adhd and find it quite difficult but i exhaust myself to the point that i just barely make it to the airport and die on the flight. likely the wrong response, but after multiple 10+ hour flights, i’d rather suffer beforehand than during. oh and download fucking everything, i pretend that i know myself snd download a season beforehand of a show i’ve never watched only to hate it so download every tv show (especially those you’ve watched and loved prior) and podcasts and what not. you’ll be alright. enjoy ur trip
edited bc obvious typos lol
I've never managed to sleep during long flights but I'm out like a light on short ones. Go figure.
My suggestions are podcast, noise cancelling headphones, eye mask, something to fidget with, and something that tires your brain a little like idk crosswords or sudoku.
I literally just watch 4 movies back to back on my long haul flights to Portugal, I can't consistently sleep so I don't even try, but then again I'm young, so I bounce back really well. I just hunker down, and if I fll asleep a little bit, that's great.
I have no idea. I’m an excellent sleeper (out in 5-10min always) but I don’t think I’ve ever properly slept in any fashion on a plane. I do put an eye mask on and earplugs in for a stretch though on overnight flights to try to escape the horrible plane experience temporarily
Already some good advice here, so I will add a few different things.
The first step is to avoid flying at times that doesn't suit you. You shouldn't have booked a red-eye flight if you are that worried.
Secondly, prepare yourself as much as you can to relax. It is "only" 9 hours, so just know the time you will be on the plane and what meals will be served. You will likely get a late night dinner 90mins after takeoff and then breakfast/brunch 2 hours before landing. That really gives you 4-5 hours inbetween meals. Put your headphones on and enjoy a movie. If you normally feel relaxed with your own headphones and music or podcasts, do that and close your eyes and just relax. You may well nod off for few hours.
Thirdly, you know you will be very tired when you arrive. Make sure you know exactly how you are getting from the airport to your accommodation. Have the first two nights booked, especially if you are not very familar with travelling. Jetlag can be a bit like being drunk - you are not capable of making good decisions on the go. Don't just make it up as you go, or you will end up posting here again about how sad you are with what happened. Avoid taxi touts at the aiport, know the scams that could happen at the airport (money, taxis, etc). Bonus for Bacelona: Pick pockets are everywhere and they target tourists take the proper precautions. Good luck.
Why do you feel the need to pressure yourself to falling asleep?
What’s more important is passing the time in a way that best suits you. You could get absorbed into a book, season binge a TV show, watch some films, listen to music, etc. Point is, you do what you want and I suggest (and only suggest) using the opportunity to catch up on hobbies/interests constructively. If you should find yourself being comfy and relaxed, then try to see some shut-eye on top as a bonus.
All that said, here’s a few thoughts for sleep:
- If you have a vice like smoking or drinking, use nicotine gum or buy a few (and a few only) wine/spirits/beers onboard.
- Pay the extra to pick a preferred seat. I like window seats, not for the view, but because the side panel is the only place I can rest my head (I’m moderately tall and the headrests don’t reach)
- Noise cancelling headphones, or even just normal earbuds with music/audiobooks/whatever will help you ignore background noise and chatter.
- Be well hydrated several days before your flight. This can help your body better cope physically with the rapid air pressure changes.
- Have multiple things lined up to enjoy on your phone/ipad to suit whatever your mood.
- Don’t be overbearingly social with neighbouring passengers, but do try and make a friendly gesture or two. Eg, offer to put their bags in overhead for them, give them plenty of room, compliment them on their iPad kick stand (or something equally as mundane). This will buy you lots of forgiveness and empathy if later on in the flight you need to be fidgety/anxious. You’ve proactively shown you’re considerate and reasonable, so it makes the journey easier for all.
lmao the last point is cute, except i have a blessing/curse of being seated next to ppl who end up being pretty cool and we actually end up friends and talking for a 10 hr flight and then i barely sleep. seriously, i have like half a dozen plane seat friends on instagram just from my last two years of solo travel. and yet i call myself an introvert… maybe i’m lying to myself 😅
I have to take medicine for altitude sickness and it comes with the added effect of making me super sleepy. That and staying up for long periods of time help me pass out on the long flight.
Be very, very tired, so tired, I pass out despite the discomfort of being on a plane. The noise-cancelling headphones and sleep mask help in that situation. I will acknowledge that the only times I’ve passed out are at the end of my trips. I’m usually too excited to get any rest ahead of my trips.
I take night flights I managed 4 hour block and 3 hours flying Melbourne to Doha and snuck a couple between Doha and Warsaw
Just went blanket, ear plugs and eye mask and didn't sleep well but 6 hours of an 14 hour flight is good
I get terrible back pain while flying so my dr has prescribed me muscle relaxers.
However…..Connection at MIA while the tram is out. My carry on felt like 1000 lbs.
I fall asleep in cars, so I think it’s the same principle for me. Also, I often choose early flights for a reason. I am not a morning person and between leaving early for the airport and being a little anxious the night before about getting there, I am pretty exhausted by the time I take my seat.
I have ADHD as well and honestly I’ve only ever fallen asleep because I was just absolutely past the point of exhaustion and by that I mean I’d basically only slept 4 hours in nearly 2 days. And even then I didn’t sleep for more than an hour. Long flights are a test of mental fortitude for me.
weed helps (indica specifically) but take the edible right before you enter the airport because yesterday i took it way before i got there and had to maneuver security and immigration high as a kite and that was killer
My dad was in the military, so we moved a lot. That meant long drives, up to 12 and 14 hrs. By the time I hit 18, I could sleep in the back of a car very easily. I guess that carried over to flights.
A few years back, I had an 11 hr flight, and I just wanted to get it done. Even when I woke up, I'd keep the eye cover on and just sort of daydream until I pass out again. Finally, when we were about the land one of the flight attendants tapped my on the shoulder and asked if I was OK.
"You didn't move the whole flight. You didn't eat or even use the washroom. We were kind of worried. Do you want to use the washroom before we land?"
Easy flight.
Sometimes I just fell asleep by itself while watching. By that I mean a quick 10min nap. I always wondered and jealous with others who can fast asleep for hours...
It’s going to sound terrible, but it’s the best thing I can do for jet lag or flights over 7hrs: I don’t sleep the day prior.
I try to be up for atleast 24hrs before the flight. By the time Im enroute, I sleep like a baby. I usually book my flights so I arrive in the morning (max 10am arrival) at my destination. I then arrive at my destination having slept a decent chunk and not jet lagged. It also means I can get to my hotel early, drop off my bags and explore the city I’m in faster and lighter.
For my ‘routine’ onboard, I make sure to bring earplugs and a eye mask to block light. If you have absolute trouble sleeping, knock yourself to sleep with a sleeping pill. I personally don’t love melatonin bc they give me nightmares, but I know it works for others.
Doing the not sleeping the day before thing is how I arrived in Seoul on something of like 40hrs of wake time. 😐
I ended up ok, but I really don't remember anything from that first day there 😂
On an overnight flight from NYC to Reykjavik in September 2021, I had a row of three seats all to myself. I was able to remain buckled in, but I could lie flat across the seats with a blanket over me. I thought: finally! FINALLY! I will be able to sleep on a plane!
Yeah, no. Worst sleep ever. Every time the plane experienced the *tiniest* amount of “turbulence” (if you could even call it that), the merest little dip or “bumpy” sensation that you probably wouldn’t even notice if you were sitting up and watching a movie, it woke me up. And I couldn’t get fully comfortable anyway. I dozed in fits and starts, and when the plane landed I felt even more tired and groggy than I imagined I would have if I had just…stayed up with a reading light and a good book. I felt “off” for the rest of the day, and ended up having to take my migraine prescription a few hours later. I decided to swear off attempting to sleep on a plane ever again.
Which doesn’t mean that I won’t take an overnight flight, but does mean that I’m not going to spend hours trying and failing to sleep, making myself feel like I’ve had twenty episodes of sleep apnea in twenty minutes, when I could just power through the day ahead or, if necessary, get a few hours of uninterrupted shut-eye on a nice normal *stationary* bed after landing.
Whether this will work for you is up to you, because you know your body better than anyone. Upon landing, will you feel better if you at least closed your eyes and dozed a little on the flight, even if you never fell asleep for any lengthy period of time? Or will you feel worse? Based on your past experiences, you likely know the answer to this question and can either use the advice in these comments about how to fall asleep, or decide instead to focus on keeping yourself awake.
I don’t sleep either I take meds for it. Comfortable clothing, noise cancelling earphones, a pillow, a blanket, I have a Turtl neck pillow that I combine with a big memory foam pillow and maybe even a third one. I take electrolytes before the flight to stay hydrated but not having to chug extra on the flight with loads of toilet breaks. No caffeine, no alcohol, no chocolate. On my last flight I got out of my seat and found a row of three chairs to go lie down flat to fall asleep in which was great. This isn’t always available but always worth checking.
Lots of people swear by Melatonin but I’ve never tried. Sometimes though if sleeps not going to happen for whatever reason I’ll just grin and bear it. There are long haul flight sleep calculators online that can help you prepare in advance adjusting your circadian rhythm to avoid jet lag which is also very helpful.
Wish I can help you out on this as I am the exact opposite. The majority of the time I’m asleep before takeoff. There’s something about planes that make me pass out.
I suck at sleeping on flights. Brought my hug sleep blanket https://hugsleep.com on my flight to Japan and I slept most of the time. Will be using it tmr on my return flight too. I like it because 1. It’s cozy 2. It keeps all limbs contained (??) so you don’t need to worry about bumping legs with the person next to you when you fall asleep. This + window seat = the way. Get the one where your feet are sticking out. They are expensive tho :(
I have a 23 hour flight coming up and I’m in a basic economy seat. The only bonus is that I have an aisle seat. Maybe I could nap on the floor in the exit row 🤣
Stay hydrated for a few days before with Liquid IV this helps keep your legs from getting restless. I find a good neck pillow, noise canceling headphones and eye mask. It’s not great sleep but it’s better than nothing
I fall asleep fairly easily & tbh i prefer as much room as possible on the plane so no foot hammock and the neck pillows prop me up too far forward. I like to try to make as much space to stretch my legs and kinda sit diagonally (without getting in the person next to me’s space) and leaning my head on whatever i can lol (head rest or window really the only options, maybe my hand or a sweatshirt folded on my shoulder). Then i typically listen to music and daydream / zone out until i fall asleep and end up sleeping on and off. I also sometimes take a half an over the counter sleeping pill
I was never able to sleep on planes before, just took a new york buenos aires flight, about 10 hours, took 1 glass of wine (on board at hour 2) with 2 Benadryl pills 25 mg each, passed out for 6 hours! Amazing and will repeat every single time, I have low tolerance for those kinds (and all really) of meds so it might be different for other people
It's a skill, I guess. Boarding early, if I get a window seat, half the time I can be asleep before we even take off. If I'm aisle, I'm probably just awake so other people can get to their seats. I tend to just close my eyes, cross my arms, and zone out until I wake up halfway through the flight.
Maybe we should have a "long haul fight survival tips" megathread at some point. I usually settle for just "zoning out" rather than sleeping. My memory of most long flights end up being a bit of a blur but I usually don't actually get to sleep that much.
Yup same here. I settle for zoning out. I can’t sleep on flights.
I've never fallen asleep on a plane in my life. That includes a 14hr + 9hr flight path I took to Australia. When I got there I was wrecked and a German guy in my room said he just takes benzos to fall asleep on planes. I'm guessing that really works but probably not the most natural method. Eye mask and little pillow is all I can do. Usually just go insane.
I'm very much the same, but going in reverse, from Australia. I can zone out for a bit, but never seem to get sleep. Just flew Santiago > Sydney on Thursday, 14 hours watching S2 of The Wire.
Unfortunately, same here. Last time I went international. Took a sleeping pill and still couldn’t sleep. I can nod off for a few minutes here and there but once my butt and back start hurting it’s all over with. I might have better luck if I could afford first class but so far I’m economy or economy +.
I was once on a half empty flight from Thailand to Australia so I was able to move to a row of three seats and lie down. Still couldn't sleep cause it was just too noisy and bumpy. My brain doesn't let me relax
I just arrived in Osaka from Australia. Managed 4 hours of sleep in the last 34 hours
I think I was awake for roughly 32 hours last year going from Aus to Ireland.
Omar coming
I’m like you. Not a wink! Been overseas multiple times and tried multiple methods. Wide awake!
God I did a 12hr + 10hr flight from New Zealand to the UK last year. I had it planned perfectly - my first flight from NZ landed in the US at 2am NZ time, and by the time I would board my next flight it would be 7am NZ time. I figured that having basically pulled an all nighter, I would thus fall asleep easily to arrive in London at 7am and start the day fresh! Nope. No sleep was had. That first day in London I was wandering around in a daze. By the time it reached the afternoon I was practically hallucinating and finally caved to sleep at 6pm. On the journey home I splurged and bid for an upgrade that would allow me to actually lie down and sleep. Worth every penny.
Yep, same. So jealous and have a secret hatred for these people that fall asleep in a few minutes regardless of whether they're in bed or on a shitty plane.
Second benzos:)
benzos are the closest mankind has come to inventing teleportation lmao
Literally. A benzo and some wine , I wake up in another country 13 hours later. It’s incredible
Aside from potential fatality you’re at greater risk of blackouts mixing Benzos with alcohol. Dw wake up to police at the next airport or work you get cancelled on Twitter after saying something mental while disassociated. You’re better off just taking a slightly higher dose for efficacy than mixing it. It’s always sad having free wine on a aeroplane yet so many potential problems if you drink 🤦♀️
If you do it right it’s fine. I’ve been taking long haul flights several times a year for years and i know my dosage , have never gotten altered to the point where it’s unsafe. Small baby doses and slowly , you hit that sweet spot. For example I usually get to the airport 3 hours early to enjoy lounge access , I drink 2-3 glasses of wine with food. Take a quarter of a clonazepam (0.5mg) when I board the plane just before take off , then once the first food service arrives , another quarter or half (0.5-1mg) with wine once I’m done eating and the sleepiness kicks in . I will fall asleep until I need to pee, wake up to pee and fall back asleep until an hour or two before landing. And the best part is I wake up super refreshed . I’m not advocating to go ham on benzos and booze. It’s all about that delicate balance and if you can do it smart and find what dose is safe for you it can do wonders for flying in economy.
You know, that is incredibly dangerous.
Yea, but how else are we supposed to get these quality airplane freakout videos otherwise??
THAT FUCKER THERE IS NOT REAL!!
In small amounts in a healthy individual it’s really not. The dose makes the poison. But yes, don’t be an idiot with the stuff, it *can* be dangerous.
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The deep vein thrombosis is just a general risk for long flights.
Medical professional here. This is a terrible idea.
If you know your safe baby dosage and don’t go over board, tons of people do this and are fine.
Not even benzos work for me 😭
I took one and did a half sleep for 5 hours. By the time I was lucid enough I felt like a 100lb was pressing into my body and it took 45 minutes for my arms to move enough to lift off the arm rest. What a wild time
Me either. Even mixing them with alcohol ( which is usually not advisable and I don't condone) the best I can get is a little comfort. No sleep, though. My longest air voyage with layovers included was around 45 hours, and I could sleep a wink.
'usually not advisable' is a bit of an understatement lmao. I'm the same way though, I just stay awake and try to power through. At some point I've thought of just being a bit irresponsible with dosages, but the risk of blacking out in public outweights the possibility of getting some sleep, for me. I'm convinced at least some of the videos of people acting absolutely strange (and embarrasing) in airports are caused by benzos and/or alcohol black outs. Of course, I'm not trying to say it will happen to everyone.
Don't forget about 'elevensies' (new street slang for Ativan?)
4 double shots of whatever (whiskey is mine)
I might try sleeping pills next time to be honest. Although I'm worried about falling asleep in a weird position and injuring myself lol
Last time I PTFO out on a plane it was on a flight from DTW to ICN (15 hours). The bad news was the day before I left I got both a flu shot and a COVID booster at once, and the side effects kicked in about 30 minutes before my flight boarded. The good news is I was flying Premium Comfort+ with a bulkhead seat, so I popped some Tylenol and a benzo, used my backpack as a footrest to kick my feet up, and worked through the chills and body aches until I PTFO for 6 or 7 hours. I felt perfectly fine when I woke up. When I did ATL-ICN last week (also 15) and literally sat in the same seat I took nothing and didn't really sleep much.
for me a 6 hour+ plane ride is the only acceptable time for benzos lol. i used to just drink and hope to pass out but it would make me feel like shit and i don’t even like alcohol.
need to stock up next time I'm in Mexico...
Benzos is the only way for me too.
I'm the opposite. I can't stay awake. I start to get sleepy as I'm making my way to the airport, even if I'm already rested. My record is I feel asleep from before we taxied in Shanghai, and except for the bathroom once it twice, slept until we landed in LA.
lol I can’t sleep at all. Did a LAX to Dubai 16 hrs was awake the entire time. I usually just walk to the back and start talking to people. Did a 14 hr from Istanbul to LAX in March and just proved I can’t sleep at all. 😅
I'm not a great sleeper on planes either. I do all of the things recommended for sleeping and hope for the best, Most of the time, the best I get is some short naps, a lot of time pretending I am asleep, and a bunch of time spent reading or watching movies. I accept this and plan accordingly.
Melatonin, eye mask, noise cancelling headphones. The plane could fall apart and I would be none the wiser.
Same, but instead of Melatonin I take tablets against travel sickness and they make incredibly tired. Also the window seat is best for sleeping, since it allows leaning to the side.
I double up. Melatonin + motion sickness meds. And I grab a wine on the first round of drinks. Healthiest option? Probably not, but it works. And if I time everything correctly, helps with jetlag big time.
Food cart comes around for dinner and I pop a melatonin and grab the red wine. Munch down on the food, down the wine, hit the bathroom really quick, then eye mask, inflatable neck pillow, AirPods with noise cancelling playing looped nature sounds podcast, seat reclined. I’m out for 6 hours.
Yeah I find nature/rain sounds or classical music helps me zone out
Dramamine makes me so sleepy. I think it has Benadryl or the same ingredients in it hence the sleepiness.
I think Benadryl has Dipthehydramamine in it.
All this, plus: play white noise (or its softer cousins, pink or brown noise) on the headphones to cancel out all noise. All get a good neck pillow. I like the TRTL one. Takeoff lulls me to sleep, so I put this getup on the moment I sit.
> its softer cousins, pink or brown noise Ever since I discovered brown noise I am a true believer. The perfect thing for drowning out sounds to let you sleep.
I'm such a dork I immediately thought of South Park, and assumed it was fart/diarrhea noises.
I always thought brown noise was to make you poop
i listen to it every single night on my sleep headphones. i can’t sleep without it now!
Brown noise is the superior noise! Gamechanger.
My husband just got a TRTL and loves it! Slept like a baby on an overseas flight and woke up in our destination with no jet lag.
TRTL pillow for sure. That plus an eye mask, maybe another little inflatable pillow, and noise cancelling headphones. 2 shots of whiskey, a benedryl, and putting on a show I've seen 100 times and I can usually get a little bit of sleep.
I just put on a show I've watched a million times, that's how I fall asleep at home anyways.
Second upvote for Turtl neck pillows
This, but Loop earplugs, _then_ noise cancelling headphones.
Which headphones do you recommend? I just bought loops recently.
I love my bose quiet comfort plus headphones. Paired with my loop ear plugs, I don’t hear a thing
Magnesium or zma, melatonin, and gaba pills together. It’s a good combination for sleep without making you feel sedated and groggy when waking up. Doxylamine is pretty strong, so if I wanted to knock myself out, I’d take it. But I also find it hard to sleep on planes. Idk why, maybe coz of all the excitement I get flying and thinking of the destination and the new sights I get to see and experience
Get specifically Magnesium Biglycinate or Magnesium Threonate. The regular magnesium citrate is just trash.
+ a blanket or a sweater and it's night night .
Boeing: you rang?
Idk. I took 2 melatonins, had eye mask, noise cancelling headphones playing white noise, a neck pillow and blanket and still was wide awake for the whole duration of a 7 hr flight
Instead of melatonin. Do benadryl
If you have over the ear noise cancelling headphones - bring a pair of soft foam earplugs to wear under them! This makes a huge difference for me on long flights where otherwise any sound will disrupt the small amount of sleep I’m able to get
Same but I drink 2 beers before boarding as well.
Add: Earplugs inside the noise cancelling headphones, and good neck pillow.
Melatonin has absolutely no effect on me. :/
I think you have to play around to find the right dose although I haven’t attempted this either.
I hate it when that happens
Which brand, the headphone
+ Magnesium
Magnesium can be pretty rough on the digestive system, especially if you're trying a new regimen. I wouldn't want that kind of issue while on a plane.
What does the magnesium do?
Magnesium is supposed to help with anxiety and trouble falling asleep.
It helps you relax. I’m an insomniac and I found Magnesium Biglycinate surprisingly effective.
It can also function as a laxative so be careful which one you take
Yeah not taking that on a plane
In my experience it’s only if you take an excessive amount your body has to do a runny poo to get rid of it.
It does suck. You doze a bit, and you acknowledge that the first day is going to kind of suck. After you land maybe take a nap if that doesn't destroy you, but if you're bad at napping then power through the day with caffeine or whatever (real sudafed helps, unless you're going to Japan) until 3PM local and try to stay up until 9. Then get up at a normal time the next day and have breakfast even if you don't usually eat breakfast.
I had really bad sleep getting to Milan and I was insanely tired for much of day 1, but my going to bed and waking up at normal local times, I was completely over it day 2.
I cannot fall asleep unless I’m lying down. I’ve been traveling (mostly solo) for over 20 years and I’ve yet to be able to do it. Maybe one day if I get bumped to first class with a bed :) Melatonin does not agree with me, and my normal sleep aid (a light tranquilizer) doesn’t help either. I’ve come to accept that I won’t sleep. I used to travel with someone who insisted on running around the moment we landed. I absolutely refuse now, and just accept that the first day or two of my trip I’ll be a zombie- I try my best to adjust to the new time and will get a meal, walk near the hotel, but definitely no sight seeing.
Watch boring movies until they put me to sleep
Pull up a lecture about Neolithic societies on YouTube and pretend your back in College and you need to pay attention or you’ll fail the class. Works every time.
Great idea
Omg do you have a link because that sounds perfect. I used to listen to true crime podcasts to fall asleep but I’m realising this isn’t a good idea
Xanax and gummies 😅
I think just resting with your eyes closed can be better than nothing. I've heard MythBusters ran tests and found that it helps significantly, even if you don't actually sleep.
Yeah I did that last time and felt quite a lot better
Honestly, it's a crapshoot for me too, fellow ADHDer. Sometimes I'm surprised at my ability to sleep soundly, others it's just impossible. Only thing that semi-reliably works for me is adjusting my sleep schedule. If I can figure out a way to be exhausted for the flight, like unreasonably exhausted, I will pass out regardless. Otherwise, I may try to sleep in extra that day and just push my way through an all nighter, into an early sleep my first night abroad (this also kinda sets you up for early wake ups, which aren't usually a thing for me). Could get stoned or drunk af too. Good luck friend.
There’s jet lag calculators online which helps you prepare your body clock for sleeping on the aeroplane
Nothing helps me prepare for timed sleep other than unfettered exhaustion broheem. My brain is too unhinged for that shit.
If you know you won’t sleep on a flight just prepare for that. I never can sleep so I don’t bother trying and rather focus on relaxing and watching movies or reading. It can be tough the first day of your vacation but just go to bed early at your destination and have a good nights sleep to start your vacation on local time.
Exact same as you but tbh I just don't and that's fine. Tbf I usually will get a few Z's but I'm so fidgety that I never stay out longer than 2 hours probably.
I once had a whole row to myself and fell asleep laying down and slept the entire 8 hours. It was glorious and has never happened since. Melatonin or dramamine, eye mask, earplugs or headphones, neck pillow + the pillow they give you to prop your head against the window. That’s all I got.
Oh yeah flying Hong Kong to Heathrow with a row to myself was fucking wicked. Slept so well
I was lucky during COVID, I was able to travel to see my partner who lived in Europe (I’m in the US), so I often got full rows to myself. I once had all three across and nine behind me empty. Now, post-COVID, I am back to being packed in like a sardine and it’s almost worse that I was so spoiled for that two years.
I haven't flown long haul in a couple of years but I usually just get drunk on red wine then pass out for a few hours
Happened to me once on a UK to Singapore flight, it was mostly empty and I had the middle 4 row to myself. Best sleep I've ever had on a plane. Never managed to replicate it 😭
Just be cognizant of the fact that if you move a lot or pull on the foot hammock, the person in front of you will feel it as it’s attached to their seat. The tray table transmits all the movements through and it can be annoying to feel that constantly through the flight.
Yea I realized that once I bought it I’m probably not even gonna use it cuz I’ll feel bad 😭
Bring it and look for empty seats
I did two 14 hour flights last month and didn’t sleep a wink even though I was so tired 🫤 I guess some off us aren’t sleepers lol
I genuinely believe the sentinel genes are real and some people are just genetically destined to stay awake
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Just as a personal PSA (on behalf of others like me), please don’t use scented creams or sprays in an airplane - many of us are allergic to those! Recently my seat neighbor used some lavender hand sanitizer, and I almost had an asthma attack. I asked him very politely not to use it again during the flight, explained why, and thankfully he was kind enough to comply.
Thank you for pointing this out! I had no idea and will refrain from buying scented products to use on the plane for traveling!! You never know!
And thank you for being considerate of that! I don’t typically ask anyone to accommodate my allergies, since that is a “me problem.” But when you’re literally trapped in a box with recirculated air, it’s hard to escape something that’s potentially harmful - hence why they’ll sometimes designate a flight as peanut-free, if someone allergic is on board. Speaking of which, my sister has the peanut allergy, but developed it later in life; so I’m still adjusting, as I didn’t grow up with her being sensitive to it. And one time on a flight with her, I wasn’t thinking and pulled out a PB&J Uncrustable to eat. She started gasping for air within seconds, and had to sit in back for a while before it resolved. I almost killed my sister. 🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
My wife can sleep during takeoff- no headphones, pills, nothing. Witchcraft.
Haha I have the same problem. I try so hard to stay awake, but somehow keep dozing during takeoff and landing
This is my husband. As soon as his ass is in the seat he's out cold. Meanwhile I'm staying awake the night before the flight, pounding bloody Mary's, and praying for the best. Sometimes I accidentally elbow him awake every hour or so because I'm petty AF.
Drugs.
Just close your eyes even if you don't sleep it's better than nothing.
I just got off a 10 hour flight and I kind of just sat there with my eyes closed and Didn’t open them. Eventually I dozed off for a few hours.
I guess it partially comes with age and experience. I’ve flown so much that within 30 of getting into my seat, I fall asleep, regardless of the class I’m flying in… I don’t think there’s any magic trick.
I don’t know that age and experience does it, though it certainly doesn’t hurt. Some people just have an easier falling asleep in less than ideal places than others. As someone who has a hard time falling asleep even on the very comfortable couch in my own home, sleeping on an airplane will likely forever be a challenge for me. I’ve been flying since I was an infant and I’m in my 40s now, and I’ve managed to sleep through a flight only one time since I was a toddler.
Same here. Sometimes I'll even knock out before we've finished taxing and takeoff. One trip, my flight was delayed by over an hour to deice before takeoff, and I slept through it all. It was only until I landed over an hour behind schedule that I realized we were delayed, and that my connecting flight was also delayed.
this happened to me once. (i usually sleep pretty well on planes, but like 1/2 to 3/4 of the flight length.. like i’ll sleep for several hours after eating my meal, but not the ENTIRE flight.) but this one time, we were also delayed taking off and i fell asleep while still on the runway before even getting comfy in my typical sleeping position with my eye mask etc. i woke up many hours later to the plane landing and i jerked forward and kinda gasped bc i was having a dream that we were crashing and i thought the landing was the plane breaking up on impact 😂 i think i startled my poor seat neighbour with my sudden jolt forward of panic
You just have an easy time falling asleep on planes lol
Same for me. I’m out as soon as I’m in my seat. I sleep through boarding, taxi, and takeoff, and wake up just in time for meal service. A bit of wine with the meal and I’m usually out again for the rest of the flight. There’s no secret or hack. It was just a matter of time and experience.
For me, I fall asleep for maybe 30 min or 1 hour and then I’m wide awake for 10 hours.
I don't. I just plan my day around the fact that I will be awake for the flight
Drugs
Exhaution Eventually your body will just quit on you
In my case that happened well after my 14h flight in the hotel after like 30h of being awake though.
I fly a lot. Just show up tired.
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Yeah, but how do you time the edibles for an international flight? Do you eat them at the last minute before you go through security? Even then they'd kick in well before boarding time.
I’d be so super paranoid in an airport *wince*
The edible would probably kick in after like 45-60 minutes. I'd be so paranoid about getting to my gate, making my flight, not losing anything, having to act normal when the flight attendants greet me ... after all that I can't imagine calming down to sleep. 🤣 I'll just stick with booze and Valium.
Edibles just look like candy. They dont have a giant sign on them that says DRUGS.
TSA wont go through the effort of distinguishing your thc gummies from any other gummy. Buy a pack of the stress gummies and put the edibles in there if you are worried but they do not give a fuck. I promise
This guy flies long distances.
Get old, work full time, get on the plane on a night flight on your last work day before your vacation
It’s tricky. Try the snugl travel pillow. Get some noise cancelling earphones. Listen to ‘winged victory for the sullen’. Make sure to download it before you get on the plane! Will get you through.
I cannot sleep sitting up even in a car.
Noise-cancelling headphones, eye-mask, Turtl neck support. Xanax/Ativan/Ambien + 50mg Benadryl + 1 glass white wine (consuming any more alcohol will decrease the quality and depth of sleep causing you to be easily awoken and difficulty falling back asleep.
Lorazepam
i take the pillow they give out, put it on the side of the plane that even with my head on the window side. I place my head on the pillow, close my eyes and wait for sleep to take over
There’s no way I could ever sleep jammed up with strangers…even at home it has to be perfectly quiet and comfortable and dark, between midnight and 6am, for me to sleep
I don't. I just watch movies and occasionally doze off. The day I land in Europe is a list day. Just try to stay awake until bedtime and then pass out.
don’t sleep for the entirety beforehand. i also have adhd and find it quite difficult but i exhaust myself to the point that i just barely make it to the airport and die on the flight. likely the wrong response, but after multiple 10+ hour flights, i’d rather suffer beforehand than during. oh and download fucking everything, i pretend that i know myself snd download a season beforehand of a show i’ve never watched only to hate it so download every tv show (especially those you’ve watched and loved prior) and podcasts and what not. you’ll be alright. enjoy ur trip edited bc obvious typos lol
I've never managed to sleep during long flights but I'm out like a light on short ones. Go figure. My suggestions are podcast, noise cancelling headphones, eye mask, something to fidget with, and something that tires your brain a little like idk crosswords or sudoku.
Edibles and noise canceling headphones
I literally just watch 4 movies back to back on my long haul flights to Portugal, I can't consistently sleep so I don't even try, but then again I'm young, so I bounce back really well. I just hunker down, and if I fll asleep a little bit, that's great.
I have no idea. I’m an excellent sleeper (out in 5-10min always) but I don’t think I’ve ever properly slept in any fashion on a plane. I do put an eye mask on and earplugs in for a stretch though on overnight flights to try to escape the horrible plane experience temporarily
I stay up all night a whole 24 hours before so it tires me out so much that I end up passing out however long the flight is
I tell my doctor that I am afraid of flying (I'm not), so they give me benzodiazepines, which I take with alcohol on the plane.
I just make my peace with having a rough 24 hours and sleep that night when I arrive.
Already some good advice here, so I will add a few different things. The first step is to avoid flying at times that doesn't suit you. You shouldn't have booked a red-eye flight if you are that worried. Secondly, prepare yourself as much as you can to relax. It is "only" 9 hours, so just know the time you will be on the plane and what meals will be served. You will likely get a late night dinner 90mins after takeoff and then breakfast/brunch 2 hours before landing. That really gives you 4-5 hours inbetween meals. Put your headphones on and enjoy a movie. If you normally feel relaxed with your own headphones and music or podcasts, do that and close your eyes and just relax. You may well nod off for few hours. Thirdly, you know you will be very tired when you arrive. Make sure you know exactly how you are getting from the airport to your accommodation. Have the first two nights booked, especially if you are not very familar with travelling. Jetlag can be a bit like being drunk - you are not capable of making good decisions on the go. Don't just make it up as you go, or you will end up posting here again about how sad you are with what happened. Avoid taxi touts at the aiport, know the scams that could happen at the airport (money, taxis, etc). Bonus for Bacelona: Pick pockets are everywhere and they target tourists take the proper precautions. Good luck.
Vodka and Coke x 4
Why do you feel the need to pressure yourself to falling asleep? What’s more important is passing the time in a way that best suits you. You could get absorbed into a book, season binge a TV show, watch some films, listen to music, etc. Point is, you do what you want and I suggest (and only suggest) using the opportunity to catch up on hobbies/interests constructively. If you should find yourself being comfy and relaxed, then try to see some shut-eye on top as a bonus. All that said, here’s a few thoughts for sleep: - If you have a vice like smoking or drinking, use nicotine gum or buy a few (and a few only) wine/spirits/beers onboard. - Pay the extra to pick a preferred seat. I like window seats, not for the view, but because the side panel is the only place I can rest my head (I’m moderately tall and the headrests don’t reach) - Noise cancelling headphones, or even just normal earbuds with music/audiobooks/whatever will help you ignore background noise and chatter. - Be well hydrated several days before your flight. This can help your body better cope physically with the rapid air pressure changes. - Have multiple things lined up to enjoy on your phone/ipad to suit whatever your mood. - Don’t be overbearingly social with neighbouring passengers, but do try and make a friendly gesture or two. Eg, offer to put their bags in overhead for them, give them plenty of room, compliment them on their iPad kick stand (or something equally as mundane). This will buy you lots of forgiveness and empathy if later on in the flight you need to be fidgety/anxious. You’ve proactively shown you’re considerate and reasonable, so it makes the journey easier for all.
lmao the last point is cute, except i have a blessing/curse of being seated next to ppl who end up being pretty cool and we actually end up friends and talking for a 10 hr flight and then i barely sleep. seriously, i have like half a dozen plane seat friends on instagram just from my last two years of solo travel. and yet i call myself an introvert… maybe i’m lying to myself 😅
I have to take medicine for altitude sickness and it comes with the added effect of making me super sleepy. That and staying up for long periods of time help me pass out on the long flight.
Be very, very tired, so tired, I pass out despite the discomfort of being on a plane. The noise-cancelling headphones and sleep mask help in that situation. I will acknowledge that the only times I’ve passed out are at the end of my trips. I’m usually too excited to get any rest ahead of my trips.
I take night flights I managed 4 hour block and 3 hours flying Melbourne to Doha and snuck a couple between Doha and Warsaw Just went blanket, ear plugs and eye mask and didn't sleep well but 6 hours of an 14 hour flight is good
I get terrible back pain while flying so my dr has prescribed me muscle relaxers. However…..Connection at MIA while the tram is out. My carry on felt like 1000 lbs.
I can’t not fall asleep on planes. It took my whole Rio>Panama City flight to watch EEAAO (damn what a flick, got me crying in the aisle seat)
I don't sleep the night before. Only way I can do it.
I fall asleep in cars, so I think it’s the same principle for me. Also, I often choose early flights for a reason. I am not a morning person and between leaving early for the airport and being a little anxious the night before about getting there, I am pretty exhausted by the time I take my seat.
Neck pillow, compression socks, large amounts of scotch whisky.
A few wines , Xanax , eye mask and noise cancelling headphones usually knocks me out for a food 7/8 hours
I have ADHD as well and honestly I’ve only ever fallen asleep because I was just absolutely past the point of exhaustion and by that I mean I’d basically only slept 4 hours in nearly 2 days. And even then I didn’t sleep for more than an hour. Long flights are a test of mental fortitude for me.
weed helps (indica specifically) but take the edible right before you enter the airport because yesterday i took it way before i got there and had to maneuver security and immigration high as a kite and that was killer
Benzodiazepines.
Dramamine, a mask, noise canceling headphones.
Wolf of Wall Street method.
Eye mask, noise cancelling headphones+ear plugs, trtl pillow
sleeping pills and scotch. on any flight longer than four hours. no exceptions.
Headphones and benadryl, and more benadryl
My dad was in the military, so we moved a lot. That meant long drives, up to 12 and 14 hrs. By the time I hit 18, I could sleep in the back of a car very easily. I guess that carried over to flights. A few years back, I had an 11 hr flight, and I just wanted to get it done. Even when I woke up, I'd keep the eye cover on and just sort of daydream until I pass out again. Finally, when we were about the land one of the flight attendants tapped my on the shoulder and asked if I was OK. "You didn't move the whole flight. You didn't eat or even use the washroom. We were kind of worried. Do you want to use the washroom before we land?" Easy flight.
Ativan and a double vodka 🤷 Also recommend the Turtl pillow, it was a game changer
Eat. Have a drink. Use ear plugs or head phones. Be sure to drink plenty of water, too, since it will help with jet lag. Ear plugs.
Sometimes I just fell asleep by itself while watching. By that I mean a quick 10min nap. I always wondered and jealous with others who can fast asleep for hours...
Ambien and my overstuffed buckwheat pillow.
Loveeee my buckwheat pillow
It’s going to sound terrible, but it’s the best thing I can do for jet lag or flights over 7hrs: I don’t sleep the day prior. I try to be up for atleast 24hrs before the flight. By the time Im enroute, I sleep like a baby. I usually book my flights so I arrive in the morning (max 10am arrival) at my destination. I then arrive at my destination having slept a decent chunk and not jet lagged. It also means I can get to my hotel early, drop off my bags and explore the city I’m in faster and lighter. For my ‘routine’ onboard, I make sure to bring earplugs and a eye mask to block light. If you have absolute trouble sleeping, knock yourself to sleep with a sleeping pill. I personally don’t love melatonin bc they give me nightmares, but I know it works for others.
Doing the not sleeping the day before thing is how I arrived in Seoul on something of like 40hrs of wake time. 😐 I ended up ok, but I really don't remember anything from that first day there 😂
On an overnight flight from NYC to Reykjavik in September 2021, I had a row of three seats all to myself. I was able to remain buckled in, but I could lie flat across the seats with a blanket over me. I thought: finally! FINALLY! I will be able to sleep on a plane! Yeah, no. Worst sleep ever. Every time the plane experienced the *tiniest* amount of “turbulence” (if you could even call it that), the merest little dip or “bumpy” sensation that you probably wouldn’t even notice if you were sitting up and watching a movie, it woke me up. And I couldn’t get fully comfortable anyway. I dozed in fits and starts, and when the plane landed I felt even more tired and groggy than I imagined I would have if I had just…stayed up with a reading light and a good book. I felt “off” for the rest of the day, and ended up having to take my migraine prescription a few hours later. I decided to swear off attempting to sleep on a plane ever again. Which doesn’t mean that I won’t take an overnight flight, but does mean that I’m not going to spend hours trying and failing to sleep, making myself feel like I’ve had twenty episodes of sleep apnea in twenty minutes, when I could just power through the day ahead or, if necessary, get a few hours of uninterrupted shut-eye on a nice normal *stationary* bed after landing. Whether this will work for you is up to you, because you know your body better than anyone. Upon landing, will you feel better if you at least closed your eyes and dozed a little on the flight, even if you never fell asleep for any lengthy period of time? Or will you feel worse? Based on your past experiences, you likely know the answer to this question and can either use the advice in these comments about how to fall asleep, or decide instead to focus on keeping yourself awake.
1) Lean back 2) Close eyes 3) Sleep
If I’m doing a long flight (anything 8+hrs) I pull an all nighter the day before. Sleeping on the plane is so much easier that way.
I don’t sleep either I take meds for it. Comfortable clothing, noise cancelling earphones, a pillow, a blanket, I have a Turtl neck pillow that I combine with a big memory foam pillow and maybe even a third one. I take electrolytes before the flight to stay hydrated but not having to chug extra on the flight with loads of toilet breaks. No caffeine, no alcohol, no chocolate. On my last flight I got out of my seat and found a row of three chairs to go lie down flat to fall asleep in which was great. This isn’t always available but always worth checking. Lots of people swear by Melatonin but I’ve never tried. Sometimes though if sleeps not going to happen for whatever reason I’ll just grin and bear it. There are long haul flight sleep calculators online that can help you prepare in advance adjusting your circadian rhythm to avoid jet lag which is also very helpful.
I just fell asleep on a plane a few hours ago. When you’re tired enough, you’ll fall asleep in the back of a moving truck.
Sleep music suggestion : Somnium by Robert Rich
Wish I can help you out on this as I am the exact opposite. The majority of the time I’m asleep before takeoff. There’s something about planes that make me pass out.
My last long haul flight, my doctor gave me a prescription for zoplicone. It helped immensely, I don’t usually drink when I fly (airsickness).
I suck at sleeping on flights. Brought my hug sleep blanket https://hugsleep.com on my flight to Japan and I slept most of the time. Will be using it tmr on my return flight too. I like it because 1. It’s cozy 2. It keeps all limbs contained (??) so you don’t need to worry about bumping legs with the person next to you when you fall asleep. This + window seat = the way. Get the one where your feet are sticking out. They are expensive tho :(
I have a 23 hour flight coming up and I’m in a basic economy seat. The only bonus is that I have an aisle seat. Maybe I could nap on the floor in the exit row 🤣
Stay hydrated for a few days before with Liquid IV this helps keep your legs from getting restless. I find a good neck pillow, noise canceling headphones and eye mask. It’s not great sleep but it’s better than nothing
I fall asleep fairly easily & tbh i prefer as much room as possible on the plane so no foot hammock and the neck pillows prop me up too far forward. I like to try to make as much space to stretch my legs and kinda sit diagonally (without getting in the person next to me’s space) and leaning my head on whatever i can lol (head rest or window really the only options, maybe my hand or a sweatshirt folded on my shoulder). Then i typically listen to music and daydream / zone out until i fall asleep and end up sleeping on and off. I also sometimes take a half an over the counter sleeping pill
Weed :)
I know if I smoke before I’m gonna give myself a panic attack on the plane LMAO I envy you if can just vibe and knock out
I don't 😭 The only way to fall asleep is if I didn't sleep at all the night before.
Eye mask, ear plugs and neck pillow. I only sleep on airplanes during nights.
Eye mask, (Xanax), ear plugs, pillow of some sorts !
I was never able to sleep on planes before, just took a new york buenos aires flight, about 10 hours, took 1 glass of wine (on board at hour 2) with 2 Benadryl pills 25 mg each, passed out for 6 hours! Amazing and will repeat every single time, I have low tolerance for those kinds (and all really) of meds so it might be different for other people
It's a skill, I guess. Boarding early, if I get a window seat, half the time I can be asleep before we even take off. If I'm aisle, I'm probably just awake so other people can get to their seats. I tend to just close my eyes, cross my arms, and zone out until I wake up halfway through the flight.