A group of frequent flyers have shared their best travel tricks for sleeping on a plane when you’re irritable. and uncomfortable. In search of help, one traveller took to social media for advice, explaining how they have a 15-hour flight from Australia to America but struggle to get some shut-eye when 30,000ft up.
They said on Reddit: “I need something that makes me sleepy not just tired because I really struggle to get much sleep on a plane. I have 26 hours of travel coming up and in that have a 15-hour flight between Australia and USA. I’ve taken promethazine but just dries me out and makes me drowsy but still couldn’t fall asleep.
“I’ve tried a few antihistamines but all just made me tired but not sleepy. Would like to sleep the majority of this flight, so do people get a small one-time prescription of sleeping aids or what?” Providing natural solutions, one user urged them to buy a travel pillow, compression socks, and noise-cancelling headphones.
They said: “I had trouble too and here’s my tricks. In general I’m a light sleeper but I just slept 9 hr on a 15 hr flight yesterday and have nearly adjusted to a 11 hour time difference. Sit with the bulkhead area where there’s extra legroom then put your backpack and whatever else stacked in front of you and put your feet on it like an ottoman.
“Always use the blanket for weight (even if you have to take off your sweater to be cold enough to use it). I brush my teeth in the bathroom (using my own water) to get into the night ritual – do as many things as you reasonably can to mimic what you do at home.”
Expanding on this, another user said: “My routine is similar. I don’t care how stupid I look, I promise I’m more comfy than others on my plane. I carry two neck pillows with me on board. I always take a window seat. I use one neck pillow in the normal way then I squeeze the other in half plus the airplane pillow onto the window armrest.
“This gives me something to lean on all night. I also have an extra thin blanket that I roll up for lumbar support. My blanket fits in my carry-on and two neck pillows hook to my bag. Easy to carry. And compression socks are key too.” A third user added: “I do a lot of this but have also started tying my thin travel blanket around me like a sling so I can tuck my arms in and have them supported. Not worrying about sprawling out on my neighbor has made a world of difference.”