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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:
Hoistupthemainsail · 04/02/2023 03:47

Blip · 03/02/2023 20:31

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

Complete non issue.

changeme4this · 04/02/2023 04:16

Hoistupthemainsail · 04/02/2023 03:47

Complete non issue.

Show quote history

Agree.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 04/02/2023 04:27

I assumed that the airline staff would wake you up and send you out to sleep on the wing. It's a sort of incentive not to snore!

todaystoday · 04/02/2023 06:15

The plane is very loud and Sears are spaced far apart on business. I can’t imagine snoring being an issue. I’ma very light sleeper and never heard anyone snoring on a flight

ittakes2 · 04/02/2023 06:56

If my husband starts to snore on a flight I gently nudge him until he stops as I think it’s not nice for others

SarahAshley2 · 04/02/2023 07:25

Blip · 03/02/2023 20:28

I wondered if the snorer would be woken up every time

Are you mad? Just wear ear plugs!

Daddydog · 04/02/2023 08:23

Until I recently had my tonsils out I would snore like a truck. Fly in F/J for work regularly and for years I would fight sleep becuase I was too self-conscious of bothering folks. Never worked becuase after a few drinks and ridiculously warm cabins, I'd pass out and wake to find my area cleared, lights off and a blanket on me! I'd always ask the crew if anyone complained and no one ever did. Would always look around to see if I got any death stares - none. Did once try the soonze zone in the Dubai lounge but was violently shaken awake by a very concerned guy who thought I was dying! ;) Came to the conclusion that most people are pretty tolerant!

LakieLady · 04/02/2023 08:31

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?

It's also involuntary and snorers don't know they're doing it, on account of being asleep at the time.

Shaming snorers is just silly. It's a pain in the arse, for sure, but they can't do anything about it.

TheHotdog · 04/02/2023 09:25

LakieLady · 04/02/2023 08:31

It's also involuntary and snorers don't know they're doing it, on account of being asleep at the time.

Shaming snorers is just silly. It's a pain in the arse, for sure, but they can't do anything about it.

Show quote history

Incorrect. They do know they do it because people will have told them throughout their life, and they absolutely can do something about it.

There’s lots of solutions. Snorers just generally don’t want to bother and make everyone else suffer.

user1494050295 · 04/02/2023 09:30

This may be an urban myth but the source was reliable so I think it’s true. John Prescott (as deputy pm) was in first on BA and snoring loudly. Victoria Beckham was on the same flight, also in first and complained to the crew asking them to tell him to be quiet. The response was we cannot tell the deputy pm to pipe down. So VB went and tapped on his shoulder asking him to stop snoring. He apparently replied with a very loud fart. As said this maybe hearsay but heard it close to the source

Hobbesmanc · 04/02/2023 09:41

@TheHotdog must sleep with a terrible snorer! They obviously hate snoring.

Never ever noticed on flights. I've been known to snore if too much wine has been partaken.

TheHotdog · 04/02/2023 09:45

Hobbesmanc · 04/02/2023 09:41

@TheHotdog must sleep with a terrible snorer! They obviously hate snoring.

Never ever noticed on flights. I've been known to snore if too much wine has been partaken.

Nope. I would never put up with that in a partner, it’s a very selfish act.

ReneBumsWombats · 04/02/2023 09:53

Private jet.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 04/02/2023 09:53

@BarbaraWoodlouse , re farting on planes, many years ago I worked for an airline, and during training we were told that the gases in our gut would expand while airborne, ‘So if you need to discharge your 30 ccs of foul gases, please don’t do it in the First Class cabin.’ 😂

reluctantbrit · 04/02/2023 09:55

I snore and DH said he heard me. Luckily for everyone, I normally never sleep longer than 1-2 hours in a plane, it's not that you sleep for a full night.

When I am wide awake during a night flight I can hear a lot of noises. Even with planes where business class offers a bed-like seat, you don't sleep like in a hotel room. You hear people moving, the noise of the bedding rustling, noises from service as the attendance will bring you drinks/snacks if they see that you don't sleep.

DH has noise cancellation ear plugs (I snore, so required for holiday room sharing) but don't use them on flights, he is ok with the normal foam ones. But, you don't sleep that long, he flies regularly from NY and the time they convert seats to beds and wake you up again, you may sleep around 4 hours max.

I fly business class (or whatever gives me the option to convert my seat) as I can't sit for more then 4-5 hours thanks to a knee problem. I never had an issue with it but as I said, I can't sleep. For this year we opt for a day flight back from NY, at least I am not overtired when I am home.

Tangerinie · 04/02/2023 09:59

It's just part of life. If you share the same space as another person while you/they are sleeping, one of you might snore, fart, talk in your sleep. Apparently I sigh in my sleep sometimes. It makes no difference whether it's business class or first class or economy. Nobody is going to ban someone for the noises they make in their sleep.

Remembering the time the flight attendants had to wake us all up to get us to put seatbelts on and a young woman screamed as if she'd been attacked. It was an extreme reaction! She recovered herself. Think she had been having a bad dream and the poor fight attendant got a scream in the face when she tried to wake her

Polkadotties · 04/02/2023 10:08

I would rather a snorer than screaming babies

Spidey66 · 04/02/2023 10:21

MrWhippersnapper · 03/02/2023 20:28

Get some ear plugs and stop being ridiculous

Exactly.🙂

Spidey66 · 04/02/2023 10:31

TheHotdog · 04/02/2023 09:45

Nope. I would never put up with that in a partner, it’s a very selfish act.

Show quote history

Blimey. You have high standards.

Snorers don't always know they do it. Many only know once their adults and in a relationship as this will be the first time they've regularly shared a room with someone.

And while there maybe something you can do about it eg avoid alcohol (easy) or lose weight (doable but takes time and not so easy) there are many times that you can't avoid it.

It's not like they're doing it on purpose.

Proudofitbabe · 04/02/2023 11:13

AllOutofEverything · 04/02/2023 01:59

I think people would be more likely to snore in business because you are lying down and more likely to be drinking alcohol. In economy sitting up makes snoring less likely.

He wasn't sat up, he lay across the row with his head in his wife's lap! Throughout a short afternoon flight. Very annoying.

TheHotdog · 04/02/2023 12:04

Spidey66 · 04/02/2023 10:31

Blimey. You have high standards.

Snorers don't always know they do it. Many only know once their adults and in a relationship as this will be the first time they've regularly shared a room with someone.

And while there maybe something you can do about it eg avoid alcohol (easy) or lose weight (doable but takes time and not so easy) there are many times that you can't avoid it.

It's not like they're doing it on purpose.

Show quote history

Of course I have high standards, everyone should have boundaries and dealbreakers in a relationship.

You can always do something about snoring. Saying it’s something to put up with and that it’s unavoidable is a lazy excuse from people who can’t be bothered to fix it.

elodiesmith · 04/02/2023 12:14

Skinnermarink · 03/02/2023 20:27

If something like this was going to cause me anxiety there’s no way I’d shell out silly money for a flight. Id rather be pissed off in economy.

The noise cancelling headphones in business are pretty good. Plus you're not breathing into someone's ear.

elodiesmith · 04/02/2023 12:19

'Business class really isn't a 5 star nirvana, you just get a nicer seat, better food and more frequent service. You still have to be stuck in a place for 10 hours. Majority of people in there are travelling for work anyway'

Nonsense. We travel business with our baby as travelling with kids can be hell in economy.

In business the bub gets a built in bassinet where he sits and plays with toys whilst husband and I enjoy a three course meal on a white tablecloth... in peace. I'm sorry but it's not just a 'nicer seat'.

Turning your seat into in a fully made bed is heaven, followed by a deep sleep whilst your baby sleeps in a comfy bassinet, and you all wake up refreshed before landing.

@TinySaltLick

gogohmm · 04/02/2023 12:32

If you want to talk all night that's your prerogative too, bring earplugs!

TheBigWangTheory · 04/02/2023 12:34

Blip · 03/02/2023 20:26

Oh I see so loud snoring is perfectly acceptable?

Is shaking someone awake every time they fall asleep perfectly acceptable?