Sleeping on planes-how?!

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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 :)

Please also be aware that some carriers do not allow certain travel pillows / leg raisers

Thanks GreenTea. Well add hot water bottle to the list.

I can see we are going to be carrying lots of stuff onto the plan/around Singapore but if it means we cna sleep a hit that's worth it.

I was hoping to spend some time at the jewel at chamgi but it's now looking like we will be too exhausted.

I will see about changing the flight.

I sleep on planes. No problem.
First thing is to change your state of mind instead of going into it thinking about not sleeping and how ill/tired you’ll be if you don’t sleep go into it tired and ready to sleep. I tell myself - I’ll be able to sleep on the plane and I do.
I wear an eye mask and ear plugs/noise cancelling headphones, take my shoes off, wear the most comfortable clothes I have and sleep when I feel tired. Sleep is massively disrupted and I’m woken up all the time but I just get on with it. When you go long haul you’ll be dealing with jet lag (which is also a mind game) and it’s no bad thing to be tired when you arrive - the. You just have the daylight hours to get through.
I honestly think sleep in situations like this is a mind game.

Sorry forgot - eye mask and ear plugs - a must while away from home as hotels an be bloody noise!!

On long haul flights I take sleeping tablets. As your GP for a non addictive one or get an OTC one like Nytol. Lavender spray and eye mask (airline should give eye mask) and ear plugs (I prefer wax ones) will help.

That’s been my default for anywhere I’ve gone in recent years even if staying at another house with friends, means I at least get sleep!

I don't get tons of sleep whether I'm in bed or on a plane, but unfortunately, I used to be cabin crew, so if I hear a service bell I automatically prick my ears up. 😂

Myself and my daughter have the travel infinity pillow. Absolutely brilliant, I like to hook it round my neck and then my knees, so I'm sitting upright but curled up if that makes sense. Also, you can kind of tuck your arms in / around it and get comfy that way, or just have it round your neck and rest your head.

Also, take you shoes off and wear an eye mask and ear plugs. I also tend to watch a film for the first bit of the flight, have a glass of wine with the first meal service, then wrap myself up and doze on and off.

The flights evening and it says dinner and lunch. Presumably dinner will be after take off and things.

When would lunch be? Will it be in the middle or just before landing?

Hot water bottle?? Wtf. Every long haul I've ever been on cranks the heat up in the belief it will make everyone sleep. It's horrendous.

Yea. I've used a Fly Legs Up leg hammock before. They are great actually. Most airlines don't allow them but al long as you aren't in an aisle seat or an exit row you can cover it with a blanket and they'd never know.

We flew back from New York overnight last week and yes it's very hard. Easier if you're in a window seat and can rest your head against the "wall" of the plane. I found it helped to use the head rest, most have bits you can fold in to securely hold your head and stop it lolling around and waking you. Recline as much as you can. Use the blanket and eye mask. Accept that you're never going to get as good sleep as you would at home.

I think you're in danger of overthinking this. All this pressure and all these ways to "guarantee" sleep aren't going to work.

You're not going to sleep well. You might not sleep much at all. You will hopefully get some dozing in. It will feel shit, no two ways about that. You can power through feeling shit. You don't have to be at your best to enjoy the first day of a holiday. Then you're out the other side and in gorgeous NZ having a lovely time.

Any idea how this work if the person in front of you reclines? Looks like you'd be crushed to death on your couch?

I don’t think the recline is any different to normal seats…?

2nd hot meal will probably be a couple of hours before landing. If you are flying BA there will be snacks available during the rest of the flight.

If you can reschedule flight I would move second leg so you have a full day to adjust in Singapore? You can then land, sleep in airport hotel for 7-8 hrs, and use airport swimming pool etc to relax and wander. A 12-18 hr gap would be enough.

With 5 hr gap you could still book an airport pod thing for a few hours to get maybe 3hrs decent sleep. Then just get an hour here and there on flight.

Goodness me, changing the flight? Don't be daft.

All these replies are dramatic OP. You'll be fine, this is all just feeding your anxiety. It'll be you that gives yourself a migraine if you carry on like this.

I was awake at around 3pm on a long haul just a few weeks ago. Everyone apart from one man binge watching a series was asleep.

Singapore airport is amazing too, get on their website and plan your 5 hours there. Go for a swim! That'll wake you up.

I did a 24 hr long haul flight from Australia back in the dim distant past. I'm one of those who cannot sleep anywhere but my own bed. We got up at about 6 a.m. the day of our trip, left on an evening flight, I didn't sleep at all on the plane. The worst was no food served for around 8 hours whilst we were supposed to be sleeping! I was starving. Then we arrived in London at 6 a.m. and didn't go to bed till 5 p.m. when I slept 15 hours straight.

You'll survive it but it won't be much fun! I know some folks can doze but if you aren't one of them, you will just get through it somehow. Make sure you have some snacks with you though!

I swear by covering my face. I take a thin pashmina to wrap around my top half and face. I usually end up turning to the side and use my neck pillow as an actual pillow - works best in the window seat.
I don't watch movies or look at screens. I read a book and take a book of puzzles. I think that helps. Also a couple of antihistamines and a milky drink. Avoid alcohol and caffeine.

Re changing flight. I have an evening one booked (as I thought we'd sleep on the plane).the website says I can make 1 free change so wondered about moving to the morning (10amish) flight meaning we'd end up with ages in Singapore airport but enough time to sleep and go to the jewel and see the waterfall and the sunflower garden which I wanted to do and assumed we would in our 6 hours initially!!

Unfortunately the transit hotel is booked.

After work ill ask if it would cost to change to the earlier flight to give us time in singapore.

If flying in the day there's less pressure to sleep but more pressure to find somewhere in the airport to doze but that sounds easier than sleeping on the plane?!

I think the tricky bit is I really wanted to see a bit of changi/jewel airport.

I went once years ago before jewel and loved the butterfly garden and the sunflower garden etc (and that time had time for the guided trip).

I really want to be conscious enough to enjoy some of it.

I have a travel neck pillow and a large, cotton scarf.
I put the pillow on and the scarf over my head to block out the light, other people and my snoring (hopefully)🙄
I also have a super soft wrap if it's nippy.
I look ridiculous but I don't care, the trick is to make yourself as comfy as possible but don't expect a good, deep sleep 🙂

@vivalasviva

Definitely worth it. The customer service was excellent too as I wasn't sure about sizing and they actually suggested the junior option for me which is a bit cheaper and it's perfect. I liked that when I contacted them it wasn't just a push in to their most expensive option if that makes sense? I ended up getting DH one too but he can sleep anywhere so wasn't as necessary.

This! I was going to comment exactly the same. Every night flight I’ve been on the heating is turned up and I’m sweating and feeling sick due to combo of motion slickness, heat and the smell of plane food 🤢

I would take Zopiclone or high strength x 2 Phenergen for the 2nd flight.

Get them on prescription due to customs. You don't want to risk a migraine!

Do you normally have trouble sleeping? What about on trains or in the car? You're assuming you'll have trouble nodding off in the first place and winding yourself up about it.

You might be fine. I've been asleep before we've even taken off before and had flights where I've had a good 6 or 7 hours sleeping. It's not inevitable that you'll struggle.