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 :)

"You're assuming you'll have trouble nodding off in the first place and winding yourself up about it."

Exactly. OP you're setting yourself up to fail here. Just pop the seat back, wrap your scarf around you, stick an eye mask on and rest. Like everyone else.

I don't think I've tried to sleep in cars or trains.

Maybe all will be well. I'm just wondering now if the earlier flight would make it easier but that means a taxi at 4am! And a daytime flight I assumed would be super boring!

This is my DP. On our last flight he was asleep before they’d finished the safety demo

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

I would do this tbh.

My strategy is to get lots of fresh air and exercise the day of the flight, eat my dinner in the departure lounge, wash face and brush teeth before boarding, and put my eye mask and earphones/white noise on as soon as I can after sitting down. Don't wait for dinner service etc, or watch a film, just get straight down to it.

Your sleep will be interrupted but if you give yourself you can rest well and be drifting in and out of sleep.

I don't drink on planes as the initial benefit is offset by dehydration headache and needing to wee.

Comfy socks, comfy shawl, eye mask, ear buds/headphones, white noise, travel pillow. Comfy clothes (not jeans - too many seams). Hoodie is good - extra head support.

Just done the leaving London at 3:30pm on a Friday and arriving in NZ at 10am on the Sunday, then returning a couple of weeks later on a Wednesday night at 11pm and arriving in London at 5pm the following day. I made sure that I had lots of things to occupy me that I wanted to do on the flight as I hate being tired and bored and doom scrolling through the onboard entertainment. Tired can be tolerated but tired and bored is too much! This really helped changed my mind set to something more positive along with an eye mask and a couple of glasses of wine. I managed to dose for maybe 4 hours or so in total on the way out and similar on the way back. Yes it was tiring but the heading east/daylight helps reset you and the lights were dimmed/window blinds were all closed when heading west so at least it was more conducive to sleep and restful. I think there is a danger of overthinking it all. Some people can sleep anywhere and others can't so this whole "do what you would be doing in your destination time zone" doesn't work if you can't sleep! Just put an eye mask on, some headphones and just settle down. Sleep will hopefully catch you at some point.

part of the trick is to look at your flight times - planes tend to go dark/fake night time if its the night time of the place you are flying to. I've been on long haul flight where most of the journey is dark and some where most of the journey is light. Obviously easier to sleep in the dark.
2nd good travel pillows that work for you as you can't really rest your head so need to rest on these.
Also choose the window seat - you can rest your head on the plane wall.

You ll have dinner about an hour into the flight Mid flight snack of a rock hard sandwich or maybe a little pizza. Before landing it's often a 'breakfast'.

Depending on when you leave SIN expect the same again in the second leg

I would avoid that, because if you’re getting up at 3am then you’re tired before you’ve even started. Better to get a good nights sleep the night before, then you’ll be fully awake for the start of the journey, and you’ll have been in the air for about 3 hours before it would be bed time anyway.

If you’re up at 3am you’ll feel knackered from the outset!

Stugeron travel sickness pills got me to NZ and back. We did a proper layover in the middle though and had 36 hours each way in Asia to break it up.

I did sleep with the travel sickness tablets though. I think I got a good 4 hours at a time.

Nowadays I just try as a PP said and keep my eyes closed even if I'm not actually sleeping. I think I probably drift off more than I realise. I may very well try Stugeron again next time I'm travelling back from Florida though. The 6am landings are a killer for making it through to bedtime!

Otherwise I imagine sheer exhaustion will allow you some sleep. Comfy clothes, a blanket/pashmina, an eye mask and maybe headphones will help though. Try out some travel pillows before you go. Try and have a snooze on your sofa of an evening! I struggle with neck pillows as they're normally too big to be comfy, though a lot of people have said to put the bulky bit round the front, rather than the back. I tried that and felt like I was being strangled!

In ear noise cancelling ear phones, warm socks and a trtl pillow does the trick for me. Take contact lenses out and wear glasses.

Have to say I agree with previous poster - don't overthink it you're going to be exhausted when you get there, accept it. Have a wonderful holiday!

I recently did the UK-Singapore route! We flew first thing in the am and went to bed as late as possible the night before so we were tired and did manage to doze off.

Definitely treat it like any other 'day' - brush teeth, cup of relaxing tea, cosy clothes etc. The lights get turned down and most people are quiet so you should be ok.

Try not to get frustrated if you don't sleep - if you can't sleep then just watch a relaxing movie and try and avoid snacking!

Singapore airport is very bright - we tried to sleep there but it was busy and too lit up!

Don't change your flights. Thousands of people do long haul flights every day and they're ok. Don't wind yourself up by overthinking.

I'm not one of life's good sleepers but have done many uk-aus flights amongst others, sometimes I sleep a four hour chunk, sometimes I just rest and doze, never had anything awful happened due to lack of sleep.

You all need a decent eye mask, a good neck support, earplugs and a blanket scarf. The aim is rest, rather than a good night's sleep.

One or two alcoholic drinks tops, otherwise you'll get dehydrated later and feel like shit. Get the crew to refill your water bottle and drink plenty of water often.

Don't wear a belt or an underwired bra, temperature can fluctuate, layers are good.

Get some tried and tested podcasts lined up that bore you to tears, In Our Time with Melvyn Bragg does the trick for me.

Don't wind yourself up, get the bits you need together and then let it happen. It's a long way but it's worth it, accept that it's part of the deal.

Watching this thread with interest.
Flying to Sydney in August and I'm a bit anxious about this too, so this thread has been really helpful.
Any recommendations for a travel pillow would be great plz.

I sleep extremely badly on long haul flights but with eye mask and ear plugs will doze fitfully once tired enough. I function quite well on little sleep. You will get blankets and I've always found them enough. We now try to stopover for a night whenever we have time. I can recommend Jewel but 5 hours might be a bit tight for getting through immigration if it's busy. My main recommendation is encouraging your kids to sleep. DS was 12 the first time we flew to Australia and was so excited by the unlimited films that he didn't sleep at all and spent the first day or two falling asleep everywhere - lifts, benches etc!

Cabeau Evolution neck pillow!

Best sleep I've ever had on a plane including one recent trip where a single leg was nearly 17 hours. As I described upthread, you can fix it to the headrest so you don't fall forward or sideways when you get off to sleep. It's also the right shape to pop on the tray table and faceplant onto if you want a change of position- similar to the face pillow on a massage table.

My OH had one of the tirtyl wraparound ones and it was nowhere near as good.

I bought one of these, game-changer. It's attached to the tray table (with the table up). Only problem is you'd want a window seat because your neighbour can't scramble over you easily.. And obvs can't use in an emergency aisle.

I found that with my feet up I could almost be in a foetal position, it was easy to fall asleep.

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I often have issues sleeping at home but have no problems at all on flights - even slept through breakfast once and had to be shaken awake to be informed we were coming into land 😬 I don't use a travel pillow, take my shoes off or get changed and I just use the free blanket. You'll probably be knackered after getting you and kids to the airport, through the airport and onto the plane so you're more likely to have trouble staying awake for dinner! Night flights are designed to make people sleepy so don't overthink it and just make sure you've got good headphones / earplugs and eye mask.

I will say this, and this comes from someone who hates flying but still does it as I love holidays, the flight time will seem intimidating but it always goes in a lot quicker than you think!

I take a travel pillow, eye mask and earphones. Although I usually stick a film on and put the airline headphones on and use that to fall asleep. I like falling asleep to comfort movies/tv shows. Your airlines website might give you an idea of what's currently on their tv. I flew home from Thailand in January and my partner told me a crew member switched off my tv as I was sleeping which I was annoyed about but didn't notice until I stirred. I use it as my lullaby 😂

I take diazepam, and knock back a few wines. Even a couple hours restless sleep is better than the full flight wide eyed.

The kids will probably cope better than you think.

Comfortable clothes, I wear a crop top instead of a bra. As we get close to landing, I go to the bathroom to freshen up. Wash face, brush teeth, I've even used a sheet mask in my seat, moisturiser and deodorant. And change of pants! Makes you feel so much better. And then if they serve breakfast/coffee prior to landing then fill your boots.

Good luck 😁

Ear plugs
Eye mask
Pillow
Blanket

Benzos! Tried every possible method and medication mentioned above but could simply not fall asleep on planes, regardless of how exhausted I was. Not sure if it's related to ADHD sensory issues but it was torture.

Explained the problem to a new GP and she was incredible and prescribed Xanax which works like a miracle. I take 0.75mg and sleep like a baby. Zero side effects or any fuzzy hangover feeling. It also makes jetlag non-existent because I wake up feeling like I've had the best night's sleep and ready to start the day at the new destination.

I’ve tried tylenol PM, melatonin, booze, neck pillows, noise cancelling BOSE etc etc The best I ever manage is a few minutes of snoozing with my neck snapping forwards.

I really envy those that can sleep on planes. I have a long haul night flight next week and I know I’ll feel like a zombie afterwards.

Oooh @Candlestickholder Are you flying on Sunday night? If so, my DD will be on the same flight

We are doing that trip tomorrow but having made the journey numerous times pre children we decided we couldn't face it with 3 kids without a stopover, so we're breaking up the journey in Singapore. I've bought new travel neck pillows, comfy clothes and eye masks for everyone, kids have packed cosy blankets they wanted but the airline do give you a thin one. I've never slept well on a plane I'm sorry to say, but I'm hoping we'll manage a few hrs 🤞 I think you just have to embrace the limbo feel of still being on a plane and try to relax and distracted yourself with a film etc, get comfy and hope you nod off.

But staying awake once you get to Nz until at least 7pm NZ time has always helped us adjust. Not easy when you arrive in on a morning flight on little sleep though 🙈 I'm looking forward to our holiday, but not the journey I must say.

I have no clue. I usually always get stuck near some idiot talking too loudly or a screaming kid.

I've flown to Oz several times, 24 hours flying (or changing flights), and I've just stayed awake the whole time. I have tried everything to sleep on flights, the only time I managed it was when I had a whole row of seats to myself on an outward flight to Doha. Now I just take a morning flight, stay awake, land in Melbourne and have an early night. This seems to work for me, I wake up in the morning Oz time and I've not had more than a touch of jetlag before.