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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Snoring on flight in business class

154 replies

Blip · 03/02/2023 20:22

I have never flown business class so am curious as to what happens if someone snores loudly on a night flight so other people cannot sleep?
If I had paid thousands for a flight I wouldn't be happy for someone to be snoring loudly.
But if I was a loud snorer it's not like I could stop unless forceably kept awake.

How does this work? Looking for answers from flight crew or business class regulars....

OP posts:
Original poster
Blip · 03/02/2023 20:52

Snoring is antisocial and disruptive and people are often shamed for it or very annoyed by it. Surely you must be aware of this?

OP posts:
Nanny67 · 03/02/2023 20:53

I fly business regularly and have never found a snorer to be an issue. The engines are like white noise, plus you have very good headphones that blocks everything out. If it's a night flight I lie back with the headphones on but not necessarily listening to anything. Have a few drinky poos and you will soon be asleep too 😊

AnotherAppleThief · 03/02/2023 20:53

Out of interest, does he know he snores? This sounds like he doesn't know because you don't want to 'shame' him?

Polly291869 · 03/02/2023 20:53

Friend's prolific snorer husband frequently travels long-haul for work.

He's really, really self-conscious about disturbing others, to the point where he props up a small, ready-made laminated sign apologising in advance and asking cabin crew and fellow passengers to feel free to wake him if it becomes too unbearable!
(Truly. I thought he was joking, but nope).

In 15+ years, nobody's yet taken him up on that.

SignOnTheWindow · 03/02/2023 20:54

I was sitting next to an awful snorer on a transatlantic flight once. She had the plane's headphones on and so I turned the volume button on the arm rest up so that the louder voiced intermissions between sets of songs just jolted her awake enough to move and stop snoring for a bit.

Obviously, this would only work in similar circumstances!

Original poster
Blip · 03/02/2023 20:54

Yes he knows he snores as it regularly keeps my dd awake at night.

OP posts:
AnotherAppleThief · 03/02/2023 20:55

Has he ever tried to do anything about it?

Original poster
Blip · 03/02/2023 20:55

@AnotherAppleThief yes of course, he has tried a lot of different things

OP posts:
RoseBucket · 03/02/2023 20:58

If you have ever met a long distance flight plane at the steps when the doors are opened (from the outside) the smell coming from the plane when the doors open can actually be really vile 🤢 but you don’t notice it if you’re a passenger on the flight.

TheHotdog · 03/02/2023 20:59

Blip · 03/02/2023 20:48

@TheHotdog ok so you're saying that I'm a liar and my DH just needs to stop snoring?
What's your problem?!!!

I’m saying I don’t buy your faux concern. If you actually cared about the impact your DH’s snoring had on other people you wouldn’t allow him to regularly wake up your daughter.

Instead, you don’t want to “shame” him and care more about him sleeping than everyone else.

He has a problem, you both need to address it and he needs to fix it. If he isn’t willing to do that then he needs to sleep where he isn’t bothering others.

Drfosters · 03/02/2023 21:01

I flew business for a trip last year and one man was like a motor car. It was honestly awful. Most people were asleep anyway but I can’t sleep very well on flights so was a bit annoying but I just watched TV. No one did anything about it although I was tempted to accidentally bump into them to get them to roll over!

Justalittlebitduckling · 03/02/2023 21:01

Expensive, noise cancelling headphones.

OooohAhhhh · 03/02/2023 21:03

Why don't you just ask the person to stop breathing especially for you Hmm

Original poster
Blip · 03/02/2023 21:04

@TheHotdog thanks for the kindness empathy and intelligent insight, what a marvellously helpful post.

As soon as DH gets back I'll be sure to rehome him.

OP posts:
Ponderingwindow · 03/02/2023 21:07

Humans snore. The dry cabin air can inflame sinuses and make snoring worse. Passengers just have to deal with it.

Eyesopenwideawake · 03/02/2023 21:07

Not on a plane but I was seriously cross with my dog for snoring on the bed as I was just drifting off...then I realised it was ME making the horrendous noise, not her 😳

JoandLily · 03/02/2023 21:07

Cabin crew here, we definitely do not wake up snorers! Every flight there is at least one loud snorer and I've never had anyone complain about it

GoldenCagedBird · 03/02/2023 21:10

Blip · 03/02/2023 20:31

Interesting. So those of you who fly business class regularly find this a non issue?

its not a private jet!

the people who have ‘spent a lot of money to be there’ and are annoyed at children’s presences/snorers/coughers are the ones who seem to think it is

TheHotdog · 03/02/2023 21:10

Blip · 03/02/2023 21:04

@TheHotdog thanks for the kindness empathy and intelligent insight, what a marvellously helpful post.

As soon as DH gets back I'll be sure to rehome him.

You’re welcome. I’m sure your DD would appreciate your help in this matter considering your DH is far too selfish to do anything about it himself.

Patanat · 03/02/2023 21:11

The standard advice on here to anyone about to start flying regularly for work is to invest in noise cancelling headphones. That’s because flying is noisy in so many different ways, and this is one easy way you can make yourself more comfortable. I agree with a pp that if you’re paying business class fares and up, some decent overear headphones (@£200 to £300) are a very reasonable expenditure.

Also agree with pp who said if you’d be very upset by this, it might be better not risking it and stick with economy.

PhillySub · 03/02/2023 21:13

Is the snoring that much of an issue with all of the burping and farting because of the change in air pressure?

wordler · 03/02/2023 21:16

BarbaraWoodlouse · 03/02/2023 20:26

Earplugs. It’s harder to deal with the farters to be honest. Altitude is not good for some people’s digestion!

This!

My parents were always getting upgraded to business class on flights which most people would love but my Mum hated it - she can't sleep on planes so she said she'd be wide awake surrounded by business men snoring and farting.

Starred7 · 03/02/2023 21:17

Blip · 03/02/2023 20:31

Interesting. So those of you who fly business class regularly find this a non issue?

It’s literally a non issue

flown BC a tonne of times and never once been annoyed by snoring. Everyone’s got great headphones and films to watch and roaring engine and air con. It’s really truly not a big deal.

you buy the service and the seat (best thing about BC is getting on first and off first as it saves a lot of time at the other end, well that and the bed) not silence

Mumtobabyhavoc · 03/02/2023 21:18

Blip · 03/02/2023 20:22

I have never flown business class so am curious as to what happens if someone snores loudly on a night flight so other people cannot sleep?
If I had paid thousands for a flight I wouldn't be happy for someone to be snoring loudly.
But if I was a loud snorer it's not like I could stop unless forceably kept awake.

How does this work? Looking for answers from flight crew or business class regulars....

Earplugs and keep the wine coming.

Butchyrestingface · 03/02/2023 21:18

What a strange thread.

Anyway, I'm the world's lightest sleeper and find hotels worse than planes as a result. In a hotel, you have the sense that you're ENTITLED to a good night's kip. Which makes the experience even more infuriating and sleeplessness-inducing when it feels like you're camped in the middle of Piccadilly Circus at rush hour.

One a plane, I tend to dial my expectations right down.