Ideas on how to sleep on a long haul flight.
Feb 7th, 2020, 01:09 PM
#23
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How to sleep on a long flight
Sleep a short period of time the night before to ensure drowsiness, and don't consume any kind of caffeine during the day. Bring a sleep mask on board and ear plugs as well just in case they are not given on flight. I always suggest bringing a pillow as well and using the tray in front of me to sleep on.
Feb 7th, 2020, 03:00 PM
#24
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This week I tried something different from my usual for flying. I have restless leg syndrome, and it gets really bad on planes. I used to be able to use melatonin, but that doesn't work anymore for this for me. Advil PM, even just one, makes me really groggy and I feel hungover, so I don't like that, and sometimes it wires me instead. I asked my dr about this a few weeks ago and she prescribed Xanax for the flights. It worked like a charm! I did not drink any alcohol, as they suggest not to with this, and I do not drink caffeine. I used the tray table and just put the pillow on that and leaned forward and I got some great sleep, about 6 hours, and was not groggy at all and did not feel drugged. Just relaxed. Best part, my legs were great. I was hesitant to take this, as I have never taken an anxiety med before, but it did the trick. One pill each direction is all I needed.
Feb 7th, 2020, 07:39 PM
#25
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It also depends on the difference between local time at departure and destination.
A 10 hour "red eye" flight leaving Los Angeles at 9pm local PST and arriving in London at 3pm local GMT is in fact a daytime flight.
From the perspective of your holiday destination, you'll be traveling from 5am till 3pm.
If you were able to take a longer midday nap on your departure day, and just tried to get another "midday" nap once you were done with dinner on board, you'd have set your inner clock much closer to London time than if you slept 7 hours on the plane.
I just did the latter last Sunday. And it was not that smart as I'm still strugging to get back into my proper time zone.
A 10 hour "red eye" flight leaving Los Angeles at 9pm local PST and arriving in London at 3pm local GMT is in fact a daytime flight.
From the perspective of your holiday destination, you'll be traveling from 5am till 3pm.
If you were able to take a longer midday nap on your departure day, and just tried to get another "midday" nap once you were done with dinner on board, you'd have set your inner clock much closer to London time than if you slept 7 hours on the plane.
I just did the latter last Sunday. And it was not that smart as I'm still strugging to get back into my proper time zone.
Feb 8th, 2020, 06:09 AM
#28
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Odin--I only do that if I am with family, as I almost always am, so it isn't an issue at all. I took the window seats and my husband was in the middle, so I did not inconvenience anyone.
ajpeabody--Yes, that would be the smart thing to do.
ajpeabody--Yes, that would be the smart thing to do.
Feb 8th, 2020, 07:15 AM
#29
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And if he or she has a problem with that, one can suggest to take the private jet next time.
Feb 10th, 2020, 12:34 PM
#31
On a widebody the international business class seats are often 2x2x2 or 1x2x1. The two seats between the aisles both have aisle access.
SWISS has 5 across on 77W. It goes:
1x2x2
2x2x1
1x2x2
...
You have to pay up to get the single window-side seat.
Feb 22nd, 2020, 07:41 PM
#32
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On long flights were I will have a large time zone change, its worth trying too adjust your sleep pattern a week before traveling (going to bed and/or waking a bit earlier every day for example), which will help with the inevitable jet lag. And on flight day, I wake up early, maybe even reducing my sleep time that night (such as instead of sleeping a usualy 7-8 hours, sleep only 5 or 6). This way I will fall asleep quickly once I finally get on the flight.
Feb 25th, 2020, 05:42 PM
#34
What Wilk67 is suggesting is, I think, something like adjusting your circadian rhythm. Getting up earlier on travel day could go against that approach. Your best plan might be not to sleep much or at all on the flight.
Here is your trip, LAX-NRT, 12:00 - 16:45+1, 11h 45m travel time.
Your departure time is at 5AM Tokyo time tomorrow. If you had been adjusting your sleep/wake schedule to get on Tokyo time then you would want to sleep as late as you could on departure day. You would want and need a nap in the first few hours of the flight but the circadian rhythm plan would have you awake for the last 8 or 9 hours of the flight,
That is the idea, anyway, at least approximately. I didn't do anything special when I had a 2:45 PM departure and 7:30PM arrival. I did sleep a bit on the flight but by the time I got settled into a Tokyo hotel I was ready to sleep at before midnight local time.
LAX-ZRH, 7:20PM - 3:15PM about 11 hours.
That arrival time tells me that I should start my day on Zurich time at 6 to 8 hours before arrival. I might sleep in, though, in my lie flat seat.
But if you aren't going to sleep on a plane then you could try to adjust to the diurnal rhythm at your destination.
When it is daytime at your destination you can turn on the overhead light, turn on the IFE and watch a movie, and read a book. Open the window to let in daylight unless the cabin is dark and everybody else is trying to sleep.
When it is nighttime at your destination you can put on an eye mask, get comfortable, and prepare for sleep even if you are sure you won't sleep. Do nothing and use the eye mask even if the cabin lights are on and everyone else is awake.
You probably will still be exhausted on arrival, but at least you can get a jump on adjusting to the local time.
Here is your trip, LAX-NRT, 12:00 - 16:45+1, 11h 45m travel time.
Your departure time is at 5AM Tokyo time tomorrow. If you had been adjusting your sleep/wake schedule to get on Tokyo time then you would want to sleep as late as you could on departure day. You would want and need a nap in the first few hours of the flight but the circadian rhythm plan would have you awake for the last 8 or 9 hours of the flight,
That is the idea, anyway, at least approximately. I didn't do anything special when I had a 2:45 PM departure and 7:30PM arrival. I did sleep a bit on the flight but by the time I got settled into a Tokyo hotel I was ready to sleep at before midnight local time.
LAX-ZRH, 7:20PM - 3:15PM about 11 hours.
That arrival time tells me that I should start my day on Zurich time at 6 to 8 hours before arrival. I might sleep in, though, in my lie flat seat.
But if you aren't going to sleep on a plane then you could try to adjust to the diurnal rhythm at your destination.
When it is daytime at your destination you can turn on the overhead light, turn on the IFE and watch a movie, and read a book. Open the window to let in daylight unless the cabin is dark and everybody else is trying to sleep.
When it is nighttime at your destination you can put on an eye mask, get comfortable, and prepare for sleep even if you are sure you won't sleep. Do nothing and use the eye mask even if the cabin lights are on and everyone else is awake.
You probably will still be exhausted on arrival, but at least you can get a jump on adjusting to the local time.
Last edited by mrwunrfl; Feb 25th, 2020 at 05:45 PM.
Feb 26th, 2020, 01:27 PM
#35
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1. Get window seat
2. Get noise cancelling headphones (Bose)
3. Elevate your feet on a backpack or carryon (presumably you're in Coach with the rest of us)
4. Take a 10mg Ambien, you'll wake up in 7 hrs refreshed
2. Get noise cancelling headphones (Bose)
3. Elevate your feet on a backpack or carryon (presumably you're in Coach with the rest of us)
4. Take a 10mg Ambien, you'll wake up in 7 hrs refreshed
Feb 28th, 2020, 07:23 AM
#36
I take a 5mg Ambien , wake up with no side issues. On a 16.5 hour flight, I slept soundly five hours, Business Class lie flat beds.
Mar 3rd, 2020, 11:55 PM
#39
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Hey Suze and all, good news! (kind of)
Air New Zealand is hoping to introduce the concept of the first ever Ecomomy Bed. They plan to start it on their Aukland-NY route this fall.
https://www.businessinsider.com/air-...skynest-2020-2
Who knows, maybe it'll catch on with other airlines someday!
Air New Zealand is hoping to introduce the concept of the first ever Ecomomy Bed. They plan to start it on their Aukland-NY route this fall.
https://www.businessinsider.com/air-...skynest-2020-2
Who knows, maybe it'll catch on with other airlines someday!
