The older I get, the easier it is to sleep just about anywhere.
this post was submitted on 05 Aug 2023
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Alcohol and Benadryl. Its worth noting that I never feel like I've slept. To me it feels like I am just hovering on the edge of sleep the entire time, but my wife says I do sleep for a solid hour or two at a time.
I was recently on a 12 hour long flight and I couldn't sleep for more than 1 hour. If I am taking a domestic flight, I sleep like a baby. I had the hostess' wake me up for meals and it was always embarassing arrrrr
I am the exact opposite. I can conk out in a widebody jet but the domestic jets just feel too claustrophobic. I do tend to doze off here and there but on international flights I can get several hours at a time. The free booze helps as well.
Ambien. Anyway, I have a Zzzband "pillow" that's essentially a large eye mask that has straps to strap your head to the headrest of your seat, great "travel pillow" I've ever used and I fly about 40 times a year.
I canβt. I book day flights.
I sleep better on day flights. They raise the cabin temp on red eyes and it makes me restless.
I couldnt sleep for shit when I took an overnight flight a long time ago. The air pressure messing with my ears made it too uncomfortable to do so.
Like a baby. The older I've gotten I've gained the ability to fall asleep virtually anywhere. My wife is super jealous that I'm able to be asleep for an entire 5-7 hour flight.
A neck pillow and noise cancelling headphones makes the trick for me.
Melatonin helps. Itβs a natural chemical your brain releases to help make you drowsy at bedtime and you can get it over the counter to help sleep. It also resets your biological clock which makes it helpful for jet lag.
That with noise cancelling headphones or earplugs, a sleep mask to cover the eyes, and laying as flat as possible (even paying for business class) all help.
Alcohol and Dramamine. At least, that's how I do it so I'm not having a panic attack the entire flight.
I've only ever been comfortable in a small plane where I can see the pilot because I'm sitting like next to or behind them. If the engines cut out, those can glide a lot easier than a huge jumbo.
I have two wolves in me. One wishes he could be pilot. The other is afraid of flying.
You may (or may not) be surprised to learn that modern jet liners have much higher glide ratios than small planes (like a Cessna 172), though even the glide ratio of a Cessna is pretty damn good at about 9:1, getting 9,000 feet horizontally for every 1,000 feet of altitude.
All pilots are trained in engine-out procedures as part of their license training and, while unequivocally an emergency condition, is fairly benign until itβs time to landβpreferably on a suitable landing surface.
Face your fear and go on a discovery flight with a flight instructor at your local municipal airport.
If I have a partner to travel with me, I can sleep by holding their hand and leaning on them or by laying on their lap.
I have also slept on semi-strangers lap once.... I'll give some context... We all were apart of an event ... Staff all knew who everyone was, so there was some implicit trust amongst us peers. As a result, I figured I'd ask this one person I was sitting with to hold their hand. The person later asked if I was tired & invited me to lay on their lap, so I could sleep. In any other travel, asking strangers to do such thing could have larger risks obviously.
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Google credit card churning. Work your way through amex and other point systems. Get free / cheap business class tickets with lay flat seats.
I havenβt been on a very long flight. Longest was 2 hours. Every time I keep my Kindle ready. Have multiple podcasts etc. But right after take-off, I go off like a bulb and wake up only after landing
Something to do with a combination of pressure difference, engine noise and all. Also itβs pretty cold usually
Forgive the Amazon link
SkySiesta SNUG Travel Pillow - Head Support with L Shaped, Fiber Filled Sides. Patented Design. https://a.co/d/6cdbI2i
Before: Turtl Travel Pillow. It's not easy, but it helps.
Now: Business class. I fly enough to rack up enough air miles that a seat upgrade is affordable if not free.
The only time I ever slept comfortably in coach was when I was younger and on drugs.
These days, whenever it's reasonable, I upgrade.
Ear plugs, hat over my face, and fatigue. Sure I'm sore afterwards, but if i can sleep through at least half the flight I'm happy.
I've never been on a long flight, but on overnight Amtrak routes I can only sleep with earbuds and music
With my face pasted against the window. After a while, all those tiny clouds look like a field of sheep π€
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The one time I slept in a plane for more than an hour was when I wrapped my head in a blanket and had an empty seat next to me to lean on.
Alcohol makes me sleepy, so I'll drink a little and then listen to rainstorms with my headphones.
I once read somewhere that it's something to do with the altitude or the cabin air pressure that make people feel sleepy.
Personally. I can't do it and I find it very uncomfortable even trying to get to sleep on those long journeys. Even if I do fall asleep, hoping to paas the time and it ends up not being long and time has never passed.
I actually find it easier to fall a sleep on a plane - not that I have any issues anywhere else π but as soon as I get on that plane, you bet I'm gonna get some zzz time. Even if its just a 2hr flight