How should we break up our LAX-BKK flight between sleep and awake time?
 

Our non-stop flight now has a one hour stopover in Osaka to refuel. So we are now 20.5 hours on the plane. I am rarely able to sleep much on planes so this time I have a prescription for Ambien hoping to get some real shut eye. Our flight leaves LAX at 9:30pm flies for 13 hrs., stops in Osaka for 1 hour then flies for 6.5 more hours to BKK. My original thought was to just try to stay up as late as possible then take the ambien and try to sleep as much as possible. Is this a good plan? If I am awake when we stop in Osaka will they let us get out of the plane to stretch our legs if it is just for refueling?

here is what we would do.....we would eat a big lunch, then a decent but modest dinner at home or at the airport....we would drink nothing but water on the plane...

as soon as the plane was fully airborne we would adjust and try to slow our bodies down a bit and then take the pill....and hope that the staff does not awaken us---tell someone sitting around you to tell the staff if they hesitate to awaken you... wish for good sleep...leave your seat belts fastened and visable...

try to sleep...

awaken somewhat refreshed and ready for the osaka stop....if allowed get off the plane....they may require everyone to get off for cleaning...

reboard the plane and hate the next 6 hours like we all do...

plan to take it very easy on your first day in bkk...

Have you taken Ambien before? Remember, if you take it, you must anticipate a full eight hours before you need to be at all alert. There are many reported incidents of people doing things in their sleep with Ambien (they look awake, talk, etc, but have no idea what they are doing). If you have not taken Ambien before, don't test it out on this flight!

Don't expect that you will be readjusting your body clock on the flight - it won't happen. Your goal is to be as rested as you can be when you arrive in Bangkok. I really don't sleep on planes. But I can usually get an hour or two of sleep between Narita and Bangkok. Once you are in Bangkok, you want to stay awake as long as you can. I often only last until 7 or so on the first day, but by the second day, I'm feeling in the time zone.

I double Kathies warning about making sure you are OK with Ambien before you take it on the flight.

J

When I've taken the Osaka route, I've gotten off the plane and then you can walk around for about an hour. You'll most likely have to go back through security, but at the gate area.
I don't sleep on planes and I don't take anything. My Bose noise reduction headphones are a life saver. I can at least put them on and get in a semi meditative state of relaxation for part of the flight. Better than nothing. Happy Travels!

Some people start living their lives on Bangkok time while still in the States. You may not be able to do this, but this may be better than taking Ambien.

Also, if you are in economy class, take some yoga classes and learn how to sit for hours like a pretzel. :)

It's only a ride! I don't take any sleeping pills, I want to be able to respond to emergencies when they come up. (Also when the food tray comes by I don't want to miss it!)

I put my ear plugs in, I have a neck pillow and blindfold too. I read until I get tired and doze off. When I can't sleep I get up and take a little stroll to to take the kinks out. Repeat as necessary!

Getting up every now and then is important to prevent any blood clots or other problems! I always get aisle seats so I can do this without having to squeeze past some obese guy! Choose your seats ahead of time so you don't get stuck with the bad seats if you are flying economy.

In economy seating, some of the seats with emergency windows behind you may not fully recline. Also, some seats with walls behind you may not recline enough if they are installed close to the wall. Some seats in front of bulkheads may not have much knee room, varies a little, depends on how close they are set to the wall when installed. Seats like this have narrower seat widths to allow for the metal tray storage. No under seat storage and no space for you feet too!

I think over the past 10 or 11 years I must have flown over 50 flights, probably more, from the U.S. to Asia and return. If I get tired I sleep! When not asleep I read - works for me!

Also, when I get to Asia now it is around midnight (NWA flight) and after cleaning up at my hotel and putting my gear away I go out for a drink or two to unwind. I find it easier for me to sleep this way. In the morning I don't sleep much past 8 a.m. and find it easier to adjust to Thai time a little this way.



Good luck.

I just took this exact flight last month. The Osaka stop is just a quick refuel. We did not even go to a gate, just got gas and were back on the runway in 30 minutes. No one entered or exited, doors were never opened.

I got on the plane, watched a movie and ate dinner, had 3 glasses of wine between boarding the plane and the end of dinner, which although everyone says not to, always works as a sleeping pill for me (even at home).

Sleep as much as possible as soon as possible so you can be ready to start your day in BKK when you arrive at 9am.

I've flown across the Pacific many times since a baby. Here's how I do it. Very simple:

- Eat if you're hungry in the airport, and eat whatever they serve me on the plane.

- Sleep whenever I feel tired, and stay awake when I am not tired.

That's all. :D

I take Temazapam, does give me a slight headache though. I always try to sleep on the longest stretch.

Thanks all, I really appreciate the comments. I have never taken sleeping pills and usually prefer not to do that but was thinking maybe that was the only solution. I appreciate the comments to just be awake when I'm awake and sleep when I'm sleeping.