Sleeping on planes-how?!

[Candlestickholder]

We're flying properly longhaul to New Zealand soon and now I'm wondering about sleep.

How do people sleep on a plane?! We will really need to as it's not a case when we cna just sleep when we get there (over a day later😳)

So if you're in economy class. Kids next to you (but old enough not to need you) how on earth do you sleep?

Do we all need travel pillows? Do any of them work? Does the plane provide blankets?

Thankyou :)

I’ve only ever slept twice on flights in my years of flying. Once when I was upgraded to business, the other when the flight was half-empty and I was able to stretch out flat across several seats. Having said that, these were c. 12 hour flights. I assume exhaustion will just get you in the end?

Valium

Travel pillow
Eye mask
Comfortable headphones
White noise app
Travel sickness pill and a glass of wine

Try and follow same routine as you would usually with eating, brushing teeth, get changed into comfier clothes. Then get yourself as comfy as possible and close your eyes. Refuse to open your eyes even if you remain awake. If I do this I doze in and out of a fairly light sleep, but it does make you feel more rested.

This. Blackout eye masks are amazing.

I wish I knew the answer, I can never sleep on a plane, even long haul.

A really good travel pillow (after buying at least 12, the Bcozy is my preference as you can wrap it around and really support your head with no bulk at the back), a nice eye mask, ear plugs (Mack's silicone for me as they deaden the noise really well, stay in, but comfortable). The airline give you a blanket but I take a cozy big scarf as I like it wrapped round my shoulders and the airline ones aren't big enough to fold over your feet and come right up.
Then it's a case of putting yourself to sleep which I do by a kind of self guided meditation. If it's time to be sleeping I will put my stuff on and close my eyes even if I'm not asleep but at least rest

Having done UK-NZ and back quite a lot in the past, I’d say several alcoholic drinks, eyemask, earplugs and one of those wee travel pillows (altho I always found mine to be better turned around so it looked like a neck brace from the front 😂). The aim was always to bore myself to sleep, no matter how long it takes do not open your eyes or check your phone 🤣I seem to remember always being given blankets on the plane but you’d have to check I reckon.

eta makes sense to wear a big thick long scarf. Doubles up as a snuggly blanket then

Travel pillow.

Drugs are the only way I sleep on a plane and even then it's crap sleep.

I almost never sleep on planes and have now given up. But look into serotonin - I've not tried that yet but do know people who say it's really helped.

I think some people are just more pre-disposed to it than others. I can sleep easily. I find it harder to stay awake on most forms of transport than to sleep, including planes.

They will provide blankets and an eye-mask but it's probably not a very good one so probably worth getting a good one if that will help.

Last long haul I was on we flew business and I still didn’t sleep…14 hours.

don’t drink too much.
definitely travel pillow
just bore yourself to sleep.

Ear plugs, eye mask, blanket, comfy socks, pillow. Melatonin might help too (it's available in USA - I have a pot I bought back for plane sleeping)

I live in Nz. Don't that flight more times than I can remember.

I've never slept. Except when in business class. Maybe a 10 minute nod off

You just have to endure it. Drink a shit tonne of alcohol. Bring noise canx headphones and snacks.

Done not don't.

Sleeping tablets, no booze

Oh good lord this isn't good.

If it was just the first flight however long that is to Singapore (11 hours? 13? I've forgotten) then yes I'd go with accepting I cant sleep
. But then there's the wait and then the next flight to new Zealand..
If I start at Heathrow at 8pm we really will need to sleep in effect by 8pm the next day at some point...

I can't sleep sitting up. The only time I've managed to fall asleep on a plane is when I've has a row to myself so I can curl up flat. Or in business class.

I bought a trtl pillow and did sleep for a couple of hours long haul, I need a soft eye mask too and a foot hammock. I can't sleep with my feet on the floor.

Don't ever get much but a bit is better than none. I fly a lot with work but sadly never business class.

@Candlestickholder cover you face. if you use a neck pillow then turn it back to front to stop your chin falling down. plane will provide a blanket. lean back. I always sleep on planes, short or long haul. my hubby gets so jealous of me because I can fall asleep at the drop of a hat.

😭. I thought people would all tell me how they did it.

Both myself and one of my kids are prone to migraines (possibly including sickness) when we don't sleep. I thought we might take longer but hadn't considered "no sleep". 🙁.

We could take an anti sickness tablet than knocks me out.

I dont find it easy to sleep new places so I'm now regretting all my life's choices to make this flight!!

Nope when you get here you have to stay awake until at least 8/9ish. That means the next day you will be fine. Believe me I've done it hundreds of times.

Nap before that and you will be screwed for a week.

Its fine. You won't die. Your body takes over. It's not pleasant but it's not the worst thing ever

I've done long haul to Australia and back several times. I find THIS travel pillow amazing https://uk.trtltravel.com/products/trtl-pillow-original as it properly supports your head.
Also.. depends who you are flying with. IMO Qatar have better headrests that bend round your head, Quantas has slightly bigger seats, not sure about others.
I have a few wines, ear plugs in and doze. You don't get proper sleep in economy unless you are the type of person who can sleep anywhere.

You survive, and then at some point it catches up with you after you have arrived and you conk out.

It may be the worst thing ever if I don't sleep for what will be 2 nights in a row (flight 8pm British time arriving morning in NZ over a day later) That's not just a dodgy nights sleep.

As I will not recover easily and struggle without sleep - (migraines could lose the first few days :()

I am wondering if I can change flight times at short notice now.

I haven't been on many planes, but surely its the same as sleeping in a car or a bus?

Curl up as well as you can. Make sure you are warm enough (blanket? extra clothes?) Something to rest your head on.

Then just close your eyes and relax.

I do spend most of my waking hours trying not to fall asleep though, so maybe it's not as easy for everyone.

On a plane you can watch a film. Snuggle up with a film on...your eyes will be drooping in minutes.