Best ways to sleep on a plane

[SteveJohnson]

After Qantas announced their new "sleep service" of mattress, quilted duvet and special T2 tea I started wondering about how to get a good sleep on planes. QF and co must have done a lot of research into this, well you certainly hope so, but what does everyone here do to ensure a good night's sleep? Any tips on sleeping pills, what to drink and eat and even what to wear would be very welcome!

My own tips:
* wear light and loose clothing, not tight clothes like jeans. Of course if you have airline PJs then wear those!
* eat a light meal
* I've tried some "natural" sleeping tablets which don't seem to knock my system around as much as ones a chemist will sell or a doctor would prescribe.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I follow the usual rule:
Drink as much Champagne as I can
Seriously though, I switch to the time zone at destination upon boarding, try as far as possible to eat at the correct times for my destination.
Change into PJ's, do mini-facial, tie up my hair and take a 5mg Melatonin capsule one hour prior to sleep time. Aim to sleep for 6 hours minimum even if this means I miss brekkie.

If all the above fails and I awake feeling and looking like a bad hangover then Eye drops, big sunnies and red lippy work wonders to make it look as if I had a full nights sleep.

 

[TonyHancock]

Alcohol for me! I know I'll dehydrate and wake up with a hangover but the time flies by!

 

[chrisb]

Put something boring on the IFE. For some reason in a dark quiet plane ill sit and stare at the shadows not sleeping. Put the IFE on and I'm asleep In 5 minutes.

 

[Hvr]

I am fortunate that I can ask the FA to please prepare my bed as I go to the loo to change into my jammies, I sleep quite well actually.

 

[Flying Fox]

I'm not much of a drinker so a glass of port or similar combined with PJs, ear-plugs, eye-shades & bingo I'm checked into snooze world!

This is in addition to flying J or F whenever I can (international flights that is).

 

[casanovawa]

Its often the case with me (and maybe others) that trying to stay awake on the couch watching something i am nodding off, i go to bed and immediately can't sleep... So the thing about having something boring on the IFE and pretending to try to stay awake probably isn't such a bad ploy... Loose clothes sounds good as well... Going up in a plane and eating and drinking often makes me feel a bit bloated as well which doesn't help sleep either... All up probably not a very good environment conducive to it...

As I am also usually a pretty poor sleeper so for me some sleeping tablets would probably do the trick, although working my way through a 4 course meal plus bread plus bourbon and cokes and stuff are actually probably counter productive to attempting to sleep but then i often eat and drink what is given to me... Plus i have paid money to enjoy the whole experience...

Maybe i will work it better next time... Or maybe not...

 

[TonyHancock]

I'm not much of a drinker so a glass of port or similar combined with PJs, ear-plugs, eye-shades & bingo I'm checked into snooze world!

This is in addition to flying J or F whenever I can (international flights that is).

Playing bingo helps you sleep?

 

[ozmille]

my usual routine is as follows:
champagne pre takeoff
have a couple of glasses of champagne just after takeoff
the light dinner option with shiraz and watching a movie
if I'm not gone by then I have some more Shiraz and listen to the classical music channel with ear plugs and eye mask

Tried some sleeping tablets a couple of times but they made me drowsy and as I usually rent a car where I am going that wasn't the best option

 

[dodgeyhack]

QF's hot chocolate always ensures a good sleep for me.
I swear they put something in it.

 

[yohy?!]

Any Natural Valerian sleeping formula + a few glasses of red at dinner + noise cancelling head phones

should be good for 4-6 hours sleep, used it in Y to europe many times - if you wake up too early just ding the call bell for another red and take another pill

 

[amaroo]

Alcohol for me! I know I'll dehydrate and wake up with a hangover but the time flies by!

I'm another that uses this method......normally get sleepy as we start the descent

 

[ozmille]

QF's hot chocolate always ensures a good sleep for me.
I swear they put something in it.

and if they forget you can always ask for a scotch and add it yourself

 

[zig]

and if they forget you can always ask for a scotch and add it yourself

I think I'll just stick to the scotch. I struggle to sleep even in J/F and can't sleep at all in Y as I can't sleep unless I'm lying flat. In J/F (unfortunately) I rely on drugs and alcohol to sleep. Alcohol already covered - scotch and drugs - prescription sleeping tablets.

 

[JessicaTam]

I try to wear myself out before flying. Start the day as early as possible, stay awake on any short haul connection, imbibe a few in the lounge, a few more on the plane, watch a film, then NC headphones, blanket, recline, zzz.

 

[dougieboy]

Go get a script from your doctor - Temazepam (cross check with your destination it's okay to bring/declare on your health sheet). You burn it off after being awake for 20 mins if your metabolism is normal, and this is also an efficient way to help you reset the body clock to your new time zone. Not a big fan of alcohol, it increases body heat and dehydrates, kills neurons, makes you more uncomfortable and get fat.

 

[deejo77]

I sleep on the BNE to SYD flight.....I have no problem sleeping on the plane

 

[beardoc]

Melatonin, taken at the bedtime for the new time zone.

dougieboy, just an aside - whilst you can sleep with temazepam, it doesn't "reset your body clock" - it does nothing to modify your circadian rhythms.

 

[zig]

I sleep on the BNE to SYD flight.....I have no problem sleeping on the plane

I'm so envious of people who can do this.

 

[drron]

The absolute best thing you can do to be able to sleep on a plane is retire.
When working full time there was no way i could do it-melatonin,valerian,champagne,a bottle of port-not even 5 minutes of sleep.Since retiring I can hop on a MCY-SYD flight,do up my seat belt and the next thing I am aware of is the Captain announcing descent into SYD.