Why do people sleep on planes?

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I can understand why you would all want to sleep, was more of a point about how my brain doesnt let me sleep on those flights despite how tired I am xD
 
+1 for me.

I have to connect from ADL to *any* flight to Asia first (flight out is 6am). In the reverse, arriving in SYD at 6am before heading straight to work/meeting either there or in ADL etc? I would like to get some sleep thanks very much. At least I can then have half a chance of *not* looking like a zombie. ;)

well - you don't really! There are non-stop options to Asia. just not on QF :(
 
I can understand why you would all want to sleep, was more of a point about how my brain doesnt let me sleep on those flights despite how tired I am xD
I feel your pain. Tried all seat classes, even on F, I couldn't sleep a wink. :(
 
well - you don't really! There are non-stop options to Asia. just not on QF :(

Very true, I was thinking of my usual BKK-ADL vv. route, when I made that statement, and yes I usually fly QFi. Sadly, as you said, that option is slowing vanishing - if you want to fly QFi, out of ADL (or Perth), you have no choice, but to connect through one of the east coast hubs on your way to Asia. :(
 
As a teenager I fell asleep trackside at the F1. :cool:

I regularly sleep on short hops (MEL-ADL etc) but for the life of me I can't sleep on overnight flights.
 
There are a lot of people who are chronically fatigued but normally have no opportunity to catch up on sleep - this is their chance

Yep, I'm one of those people, chronically overworked to the point of sleep deprivation. I sleep like a baby the moment I sit in my seat in a plane. On more than a few occasions I have slept through the entire taxi and take off, only to wake up after reaching cruising altitude :-)
 
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Overnight flights to/from asia? who needs sleep on those?
Those who play 8 games of golf in 10 days in humid climates, travel to ICN with stopover in HKG on the 2 non golf days and generally have less than 4-5 hours quality sleep every night. ;)
 
I can understand why you would all want to sleep, was more of a point about how my brain doesnt let me sleep on those flights despite how tired I am xD

I'm right there with you. Even on a flat bed seat I get a few hours in small chunks...
 
Anyone can sleep on a flight - it just depends how much sedation they require.
The key is to find the correct sleeping tablet, at the correct dose as well as the correct timing to avoid sedation on arrival.
This requires some trial and error, and assistance from a good GP.
This applies to longer flights as very short flights will not have enough time for any sedative to wash out.
 
Wow! All these replies. The next day I had "posting regret" thinking what a frivolous subject to post about and didn't check in here until now.

Yes I was talking about short-haul. I was prompted by the woman in the row in front spreading herself across three seats with a blanket at 10 in the morning on the way to AKL not to mention all the others slumped into the aisle.

I can understand what people mean. I worked with a bloke who said he struggled to stay away on flights. Then again he struggled to stay awake in meetings. Then again we all struggled to stay awake when he was presenting!

He's the only person I ever met who could ask a question in a meeting and then nod off as the person was replying.
 
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This is more long haul but what about people who take "knockout drops" to sleep? I've never taken a sleeping tablet in my life - probably through growing up hearing stories of celebrities dying from "an overdose of sleeping pills" and I've never had trouble sleeping outside of transport.

I have always wondered if you might suffer an 'accident' while asleep which would be a little embarrassing. Also if there was an emergency how would you go? Could you be woken up? How alert would you be? Of course fingers crossed that never happens but it's a concern of mine. I don't know what it would feel like so can't judge.
 
This is more long haul but what about people who take "knockout drops" to sleep? I've never taken a sleeping tablet in my life - probably through growing up hearing stories of celebrities dying from "an overdose of sleeping pills" and I've never had trouble sleeping outside of transport.

I have always wondered if you might suffer an 'accident' while asleep which would be a little embarrassing. Also if there was an emergency how would you go? Could you be woken up? How alert would you be? Of course fingers crossed that never happens but it's a concern of mine. I don't know what it would feel like so can't judge.

I have to admit, I've often wondered what would happen if someone took some sleeping pills prior to boarding and where out asleep before takeoff, what would happen during say an emergency evac after an aborted takeoff for example.
 
I have to admit, I've often wondered what would happen if someone took some sleeping pills prior to boarding and where out asleep before takeoff, what would happen during say an emergency evac after an aborted takeoff for example.

Perhaps they would never find out....
 
This is more long haul but what about people who take "knockout drops" to sleep? I've never taken a sleeping tablet in my life - probably through growing up hearing stories of celebrities dying from "an overdose of sleeping pills" and I've never had trouble sleeping outside of transport.

I have always wondered if you might suffer an 'accident' while asleep which would be a little embarrassing. Also if there was an emergency how would you go? Could you be woken up? How alert would you be? Of course fingers crossed that never happens but it's a concern of mine. I don't know what it would feel like so can't judge.

It mostly depends on the type and quantity of sleeping tablet you take.

There are some 'light' and short acting tablets that will be effective for say 4 hours. These are quite sensitive in that if you miss the initial sleep window (about 15-20 mins after taking), or get woken up, you will not be able to go back to sleep again.

On the other hand if you are sleeping under the influence of a couple of xanax or valium you might not be so easy to wake.

Sleeping pills affect everyone differently: a conversation with your doctor will find the options.
 
I have to admit, I've often wondered what would happen if someone took some sleeping pills prior to boarding and where out asleep before takeoff, what would happen during say an emergency evac after an aborted takeoff for example.

Don't need pills to be asleep before takeoff. A night entertaining clients in Amsterdam will do the same job ;)
 
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