Sleeping on overnight flights...

[gowgow]

… I cannot. I arrive exhausted, jet-lagged as well if travelling east or west, or just plain knackered if going to Southern Africa for example. I've tried herbal remedies - useless. Light from other people watching in-flight movies doesn't help, & the nightshades provided are uncomfortable. First class would be better, but the prices are astronomical. Any tips, please?

How often are you travelling?

If you can't afford business class, I'd suggest getting a credit card with airmiles attached - use it for day to day spending and pay off in full every month, use the miles to upgrade to business.

Have you tried melatonin?

Invest in a decent eyeshade and a proper neck pillow.

When in the US buy melatonin and/or Ambien (Or indeed get a prescription for Zolpidem in the UK).

I've tried everything. Still couldn't in first class on a lie flat bed!

Have you investigated the cost of paid upgrades?

That was my gateway drug to business class. It cost me a few hundred quid, but (a) TOTALLY worth it; and (b) flight + upgrade was still much less than paying BC to start with.

Only problem is that it's not guaranteed to be available.

I can’t either. Due to business I flew a variety of business or first class and still couldn’t. If I nod off, I feel absolutely still and more exhausted.

I just try to keep as comfortable as possible, close my eyes and most times listen to music and read.

Luckily the business trips are over so if we fly overnight for holidays I just take the next day off coming back and sleep.

Get really good ear plugs. I like the Bio Ears soft silicone ones.
Invest in a really good neck cushion. Mine is so comfy that I don’t take it off for the entire flight!
Unlike the ones you may be provided with free on a long-haul flight, you can get luxury eye masks which are almost like a pillow for you face. They mould to the shape of your head so that no light can enter, but remain breathable and comfortable so they don’t dry out your eyes.
I use Nitol tablets.
Avoid caffeine for a few hours before you board your flight and whilst you are on your flight.
The quietest seats on an airplane are in front of the wings because the engines are under the wings.

I sympathise with you as DH finds it impossible to sleep on night flights as well - don't do what he does though which is just keep himself awake all night watching movies and stewing over the fact he can't sleep.

I never know how much sleep I actually get (I suspect not that much) but I use a trick I learnt when I had pregnancy insomnia which is to treat the time as constructive rest.

I have sympathy. Unfortunately my solution was business too which isn’t hugely practical (I can only sleep on my front and it turns out that is tricky in a chair) After multiple flights between Australia and Europe with all kinds of drugs I just gave up and caved to the expense after crying on a flight because I was SO uncomfortable and I just couldn’t sleep.

I guess the only things which may help are earplugs, eye mask and neck pillow as other have mentioned. The back of the plane sometimes has more space with the chance of an empty seat next to you. Otherwise I would just accept your fate and plan around it so that it stresses you out less. Get a really good sleep before hand and plan to be awake for the flight. If there are 2 legs book a hotel in between and get a proper sleep.

I have just got off an overnight flight from Miami (waiting for the car park bus) and slept from take off to cabin prep for landing.
My secret is a big carby meal at the airport, very comfy clothing with warm socks, a very good contoured eye mask, Mackies silicone ear plugs, and a pashmina which goes across the top of me. My current neck cushion is a cozzy which wraps round but doesn't push you forward.

Eye mask and ear plugs go in as soon as the wheels go up, and I select a seat at the back of a section on the window so I can recline and not be disturbed

I struggle to sleep even in business class too. I just accept that I will be exhausted when I get there & sleep well the first night, although I still try to doze on the flight. DS doesn't even try, he watches movie after movie, sleeps like a log when he gets there & doesn't suffer with jetlag!

I fly a lot for work (just landed in Australia this morning!) so I had to teach myself how to fall asleep on flights. I find that the things that work for me are:

1. get an aisle seat, drink plenty of water and go to the toilet regularly (I would never go to bed at home with a full bladder so it's not going to work on a plane either). Sometimes if I really can't sleep I will brush my teeth/ clean my face / put my pyjama top on, as though I am going to bed at home

2. I put my carry on suitcase under the seat in front and use it as a kind of foot rest because I cannot sleep with my legs straight

3. headphones in, I usually listen to the same song on repeat at a low volume so that sudden noises from other passengers don't affect me

4. a good eye mask where the eye parts are moulded so that my eye lashes don't rub on the insides

5. always the comfiest and most elasticated of leggings. And a comfy cardigan to keep my arms warm

I am the absolute opposite! There something about flying that makes me sleep soundly . I once slept through the landing! I think it’s partly because I resign myself to the fact that I’m stuck for xxx hours. I’m not a frequent loo visitor. I love the radio so listen to podcasts rather than watch films. Not bothered if I miss a meal. I take my own pillow and a shawl though and make sure my feet are warm. Planes are too cold!

I've actually swapped airline to BA as they're the only ones who do day flights from Boston to London. I can't cope with ds and I both losing a night's sleep then having to travel across the UK at 7am.

I cannot sleep on flights ever. I hate it. Then I took night nurse before a flight once and slept through the whole thing, including the meals which I was mightily pissed off about as I love plane food!

As soon as the lights are dimmed in the cabin that me - wide awake! I don't know how to sleep on a plane, even in business class. I've tried herbal sleeping tablets, alcohol, boring podcasts, sleepy music - nothing works. And I always have a splitting headache by the time we land.

Weirdly, I'm known as the woman who can sleep anywhere. I can sleep like a log in cinemas and even doze off in nightclubs. Planes - no chance.

Zopiclone is the only thing that works for me.

I can't and I've just given up.

DH can sleep from gate to gate. The total bastard.

PP summed it up nicely earlier but for me:

A proper moulded eye mask (under £10 from Amazon)
Thin t shirt, no bra, large hoody, elasticated leggings, thick socks.
Your own blanket and pillow - not airline ones.

If you find a row of empty seats in economy, use the airline blankets and pillows to cover the seatbelts/uncomfy gaps, and voila- you've created your very own bed.

I force myself to completely relax, put classical music on low and an eye mask.
I realise that I won’t sleep so I drift off and may get the odd 10 mins here and there.
I don’t eat airplane food anymore. It’s not great so I don’t bother on a long haul flight

Many thanks for all your replies. I'll definitely get a moulded eyemask, removing my hearing aids makes all sounds blurry !

I make 2 long-haul return journeys per year usually. My recent journey to S.A. would have cost c.£5,000 extra for 1st class return - just for me. When I win the lottery perhaps....
Thanks again.

Sympathies, I've really struggled all my life with sleeping on planes and until recently I only found temazepan helped but getting a Dr to prescribe it isn't easy.

Just done 2 long haul trips to the US/Caribbean and I found accepting I wouldn't sleep better as I was less stressed and managed to doze off. Boringly, avoiding caffeine and alcohol helped.

Unfortunately I have never slept on a plane my entire life, not once even on a 12 hour overnighter or a 24 multi flight trip to the Far East it’s why I don’t do long haul anymore
DH on the other hand is usually asleep before the seatbelt sign goes off

I don't know if you can get them in the UK but I've got a manta sleep and they are ducking AMAZING

mantasleep.com/products/manta-sleep-mask_
_
They do ship to the UK. They're worth every penny!!