Advice needed to make myself sleep on a plane - how do you do it?

[Havingasmashingtime]

I have a 9 hour flight coming up that leaves at 9pm so I need to sleep on it.

only the problem is I CANT SLEEP ON PLANES.

sadly I am a peasant so no first class beds for me.
i will be cramped into a small space sat upright.

any tips to force myself into a sleep?
any supplements I can take or drugs?
if so at what hour before the flight would I take it?

to add- when I arrive at the destination I need to be wide awake and raring to go - there will be no chill time

thank you in advance….

The opposite for me! too hot sweaty,then cold then hot again can’t get comfy, restless legs, it’s never helped me sleep on planes.

Yep, totally agree. I've flown to Australia multiple times over the years and absolutely nothing can make me sleep. At home I'm out in minutes.

Since menopause started I can fall asleep anywhere, I slept the whole way on my last flight.

Silver lining I’d say

Have you tried diazepam?

A red wine or two!

the little airline pillow in the small of your back. A good neck pillow, noise cancelling headphones. Hoodie over the top with hood up to shade some light, airline blanket over legs and I can fall asleep on a plane (never used to be able to but can now…)

If you’re going to try melatonin, do try it before you fly. I found it gives me a migraine and I start vomiting - not much fun in a long flight for anyone!

I like a comfortable neck pillow and a space mask over my eyes and find that way I can doze off

This podcast works like a dream for me when I’m home , in my bed (never get to the end of a story). But it’s different on a plane and for me, nothing works. I once flew back from Canada on an overnight flight that had plenty of empty seats. I had a row of 3 or 4 seats to myself, so could lie down. I had earplugs, eye mask, was dog tired and still couldn’t even drift off at all.

I haven't - I don't think they'll prescribe it for flights anymore will they?

I get it from my sis!

The only way I can do it is to block all sensory input - so eye mask and noise cancelling headphones. I have a neck pillow which makes things slightly more comfy. I also turn the back of the seat screen off (so no light at all coming from it). I put headphones and eye mask on immediately after takeoff and let the person sitting next to me know that I don’t want to be woken for drinks/ meals (some airlines have a sticker you can put on your seat saying do not disturb). I generally take a sandwich on with me just in case I do get hungry.

Try and get a window seat so you don’t need to move to let other people stand up/ get to the aisle.

It’s not a fun flight, but it’s the only way I’ve ever managed to get a decent sleep!

A good neck pillow, an eye mask and a zopiclone!

Download Theresa May's autobiography on Audible. Guaranteed to send you to the land of nod in less than 20 minutes.

I’ve taken diazepam makes no difference I’m sure the op like me has tried the listening to podcasts, comfy pillows, excecising day before, glass of wine or 3 , histamine tablet, eye mask etc etc and all bought and all failed
However I might look and try the other ( drug) suggestions!

Gin. But seriously I can never sleep on a plane. Even when I went business class recently I got about an hour my husband just lay back and closed his eyes as that's all you need to do to sleep after all . Grrrrr

After many long flights I have concluded that I simply can’t sleep sitting up and now just no longer try, it’s a lot less stressful. I close my eyes and listen to an audiobook, music etc. but cannot sleep.

for me by accident basically stay up late the night before so your already tired then when im on the plane after a bit id be zzzz

Have a stressful god awful real life so that a plane journey is the only time you get peace.i think that might just be me though

Sleeping pills!

I use a lot of wine and it knocks me out.

I just accept that I won't do more than doze a bit.

I take a kindle full of books, make sure I have enough water, book an aisle seat so I can get to the loo because of the water, some snacks and a blanket and pillow.

I can't sleep in business either, it's not a case of how I fly.

Ideally I book now day flights, I loose a day holiday but I am more comfortable the next day.

Melatonin AND lots of wine.

Honestly don’t bother trying to sleep if you’re not a plane sleeper. Also having to be alert the next day means melatonin, drugs, alcohol etc should all be avoided. Then imagine if you’re like me and you take something and then still can’t sleep! Then you’ll be drowsy and tired lol

I would try to sleep before the flight at home as much as possible and just stay awake on the flight or lightly doze if you can.

Just relax and get as much rest as possible, if you sleep you do and if you don't you are still rested and should make it through the next busy day. That's what I did as a non-sleeper on long haul flights with business waiting at the other end, then the next night (whenever that is in the time zone) you sleep really well and avoid the jet lack.

The app headspace has got guided meditation on there. I listen to the one where a guy speaks to you and basically tells you a story. It’s like ‘you are sat in an armchair, you are so comfortable and warm’ etc. He’s got a lovely voice and it always sends me to sleep (as it’s designed to). There’s a few other people who read but you have to decide which voice you like the best.