How To: Survive Sleeping On A Plane
Image: J. McPherson.
We're no experts on this, in fact, at times we suck at it. But, with the more frequent flier miles we accumulate, the more we've realized there are a few rules of thumb to sleeping on an airplane. Here are our tips for making snoozing on a plane a little less painful. Keep in mind the four S's: supplies, space, shift, and submission.
- Supplies.
- Space.
- Shift.
- Submission.
Everyone swears by a different flying accoutrement. For some it's a neck pillow, others an eye mask and ear plugs, or even some strong drugs. You'll need to figure out what combo works best for you, and don't forget it. We survive on eyemasks and earplugs and have found the funny neck pillows to be a waste of space. Over the counter medicine doesn't do the trick, unless the counter is at a liquor store...but then we just end up feeling like crap when we get there.
Space is at a premium in coach, so make sure you stake your claim early. Lean that seat back as soon as the captain gives the ok (that jerk in front of you is going to do it anyways), and get your personal space asserted early on. Even better, travel with a buddy so you can leak into theirs. Kelly claims that the best flights are the ones where she can sleep on me, I prefer traveling alone. ;)
No matter what perfect space and position you've secured for yourself, in about two hours you're gonna hate it. So, be prepared to shift, turn and contort your body in every possible position. It's like yoga, but less enjoyable.
Ok, regardless of any of the above tactics and no matter the lengths you go to try to sleep, it's going to suck. Let's face it, flying is the worst part of the trip and we've just got to deal with it. You may only sleep in twenty minute intervals or you may not sleep at all. But, don't let that voice in your head take over, worrying about sleeping is just going to make it worse. So, don't psych yourself out, let your body do it's thing and just relax.
What are your favorite tips for sleeping on an airplane?
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might even consider expanding this to how to survive sleeping in the airport ;)
I can pretty much sleep anywhere at anytime, an airplane is not much different. My personal preference for a longer flight is to grab the window seat to I have something to lean against. Sucks when you've downed a liter of water from your Sigg and have to get up, but it gives you your own little "turf" to sleep on/against.
Long flights are often painful, but I grew up on the 12-hour flights from Auckland to...anywhere. Most often AKL > LAX > LHR and back again (Auckland, NZ > Los Angeles, USA > Heathrow, England).
I guess having enough to keep you occupied is the main thing. Make sure you have enough work to burn your laptop battery, enough new podcasts to put a dent in your ipod's battery life and a book or magazine to read too. Switching between different media -- including the airline's inflight service -- is often more restful than not-really-sleeping.
The biggest trick for long-haul flights is actually trying to get your body clock right: having a functioning day or sleep-filled night on both sides of the flight is much more difficult than surviving the cramped seating.
Oh, a choosing an airline with a good wine list can certainly make things more pleasant.
I don't actually think flying is the worst part of traveling. It's time for me to decompress, read magazines that have stacked up and catch a cat nap.
I always choose a window seat so I can lean against the window, snooze soundly and I don't have anyone bugging me to get in and out of their seat when they have to pee.
I sometimes add a fifth S: Scotch
If you're traveling then you might want to get one of these. I've tried many a travel pillow during my years in the skies. I have finally found one that is as comfortable as my pillow on my bed. It has a satin pillowcase, so my hair doesn't get stuck in one spot while I'm sleeping on the plane or when I have a flight delay and I nap in the airport. I don't get off the flight with the "bed head" look. I can go to a meeting or lunch with clients and my hair looks great. The pillow itself is designed to feel like down and it's hypoallergenic. Both the satin pillowcase and the pillow are completely washable. When I'm home I throw it on the sofa and use it as a nap pillow. Now I won't travel without it. I wound up getting satin pillowcases to take with me to use in my hotel room. The company I purchased the travel pillow from is
A Touch Of Satin. Their website is http://www.atouchofsatin.com if you're interested. They had a great selection to choose from and they had some really cute ones for kids. If you do any flying at all, or even take car trips, this travel pillow is a must to take with you.