I fly HKG to SFO, LAX or ORD quite frequently, but I have exactly the opposite experience as PremEx. I find almost no problem flying eastbound, but the jet lag returning to Hong Kong is a killer.

I asked my Doctor about melatonin. He said there is no clinical backing but that the anecdotal evidence from the journals and his patients is very compelling.

When it comes to sleeping on the plane, the secrets are food, liquor (if you are so inclined), earplugs and eyeshades. The new United "noise reducing headsets" are also remarkably effective.