How well do you sleep on planes?

[bamboo tree]

I generally find I can fall asleep OK, but I'll only stay asleep for 45-90 minutes, then feel energetic for probably an hour, then back to sleep for 45-90 minutes and the cycle continues.

How does everyone else find it?

 

[Himeno]

Depends on the plane and type of seat.

Some times I can get to sleep without a problem and get the normal amount. Other times I can't sleep at all. Also times where I get short amounts of sleep (40-80 mins) with periods of being awake in between.

I tend to have better odds of getting reasonable sleep in a window seat.

 

[Forg]

Have had a half-dozen flights on lie-flat J seats, I was able to manage probably about 2hrs straight of sleep before waking-up again & lying there, eventually falling asleep again ... probably getting a total of maybe 5hrs in a 12hr leg.

Only had 2 flights on slightly-canted lie-almost-flat J seats, despite being less comfortable I probably managed a similar amount of sleep.

Economy seats I've probably managed at most half an hour at a time, with probably an hour of sitting there wishing I was asleep in between those half-hour naps.

 

[Denali]

With the assistance of drugs and a flat bed.

Surprisingly, antihistamines work best for me

 

[leadman]

According to my Fitbit, I picked up 7hr 38min from ORD > HKG last Friday On CX J. Resting heartbeat was 59bpm, so it's not bad at all, but consider that a rarity. No aids, tablets or alcohol too.

 

[trendwhore]

Pretty much nonexistant, even lying down

 

[jase05]

I’m a poor sleeper as a rule and generally don’t sleep more than about 5hrs tops but for some reason when flying I can do that no problems. Been over a decade since flying Y but never got a minute of sleep ever over the years.
In J though I’ve got a solid 5 or 6hr sleep many times and reckon the best sleep I’ve had was on China Airlines and Oman with Qatar and Etihad not far behind.
Our most recent trip I had 3hrs solid sleep on Thai and on the way back home I got just under 5hrs on Qatar

 

[mx838383]

I am a light sleeper and can never sleep on Y no matter which airline. I haven’t done Y internationally since I’ve been converted to J and gotten into the points game.

With J, even with lie flat beds, it really depends on the airline. I am a light sleeper anyway. Usually 2-3hrs on average. I’ve had the longest and best sleep on both CX and SQ.

 

[hachoo]

Very light sleeper and due to being relatively tall, I struggle to get comfortable. I use IEMs or earplugs where possible and no alcohol on late flights.

In Y and a neck pillow I can get maybe a 2-3 hours sleep on an overnighter. In J maybe 4-5 hours. Having done 10+hrs overnight a few times more recently in J it doesn't get any easier. Best sleep I had was on China Airlines from TPE-MEL.

If I'm on a short trip that flys overnight with a busy itinerary I'm a big advocate for Y+ or J just because personally I'm terrible on sub 5 hours sleep.

 

[bashworth]

Economy generally about 3-4 hours sleep in several 45 minute periods with about 5mins between each period.

Premium Economy generally about 4-5 hours sleep in hour periods with about 5mins between each period.

Business generally 6-7 hours waking up a couple of times for a few minutes.

 

[tdimdad]

The best sleep in relative terms I've had was 8 hours solid in Y after my ex gave me some proper heavy-duty melatonin. On arrival the next morning I was bright and ready for the day. I've also accidentally gotten 8 hours in lie-flat J.

Otherwise, it'll be max 4-6 hours in J, 3-4 in PE and whatever in Y. If I'm lucky, 2 hours in Y, then just pretending to doze off and keeping the body still and resting for a little more. Though, often the mind starts to race off and wakes up the body, too...

Back in the young years, a conscription taught me the ability to sleep any time, anywhere, in any position. Should probably go back to re-learn it...

 

[Cynicor]

You’re all such terrible sleepers!!

In a J or F flat bed, I’ll get 6-7 hours (my normal).
With it in seat mode I can still easily fall asleep until woken by noise/service etc until I make it into a bed.

In angled lie flat ( old school) I can usually get blocks of 3-4 then 1-3 and be done.

In Y I just can barely do it. Not sure what it is about the space and angles but it’s hellish. Waking every 30-40min or fewer, though the longest I’ve done is transcon red eyes or maybe an overnight SINPERonce

 

[jb747]

In 0A, wonderfully. Anywhere else, terribly.

 

[xen0n33]

Generally really poorly, I usually just end up lying down in the dark. It doesn't help that I'm a side sleeper who likes to switch sides throughout the night - managing to get my feet comfortably into some of those footweels (SQ, I'm looking at you) after turning over can be a real struggle.

I remember flying EK BKK-SYD overnight as the one time I slept really well; not sure if just over-tired at the end of the trip or EK's bed just "worked" for me - it was one of the J bulkhead (23A from memory), so that probably helped.

Also experimented with a PER-SYD Y red-eye on VA (row 3 at least, but still), don't think I'll be trying that again.

 

[Blackadder]

As someone who is predominately in whY in flights across the Pacific, probably 3hrs at best for the flight.

 

[SeatBackForward]

It's the micro-sleeps that always ruin it for me on board. I'll doze off for a few mins then anything from takeoff, or the crew moving about, or the ding ding ding noise will rouse me awake then I can't sleep for hours.

Many a plan to sleep through an o/night flight have been thwarted because of this for me.

 

[serfty]

My Gear Fit rarely registers any sleep when flying, irrespective of seat/bed. I do feel that I do have some sleep however.

 

[garybatz]

Lit-flat bed and two Temazepam is the only thing that works for me.

 

[Human]

Absolutely no rhyme or reason. My best sleep on a plane by far was in a backwards-facing Qatar Q-Suite on a flight home from Europe via Doha. Slept for 8 hours and subsequently thought to myself "I've found the secret to sleeping in a plane!". Next flight back from Europe I eagerly selected a backwards-facing Q-Suite and slept terribly.

 

[dajop]

Not a good sleeper on planes. Temperature - as in too hot, and noise seem to be the biggest problems (and not talking about random noise like galley, screaming kids or the toilet, just the background engine noise, even with earplugs).

Actively avoid overnight flights if I can. Although for late night departures can usually get a few hours sleep from about 3 hrs into the flight (which is no good for short redeyes like PER-MEL). So very dependent on time of departure. If I'm on a 12 hr flight departing at 11am, I won't really get any sleep, as it is entirely during "normal" awake time, even if landing time is 6am in the destination.