Someone mentioned that they should sell the noise reduction earphones. Some noise reduction earphones are available commercially. The United noise reduction earphones will only work in the plane. If you noticed, the plug has two pins rather than one. There is a mike in the earphone which picks up the cabin noise at the ear. The signal from the mike goes to the jack in the seat. Somewhere in the seat electronics there is a signal processor which in effect inverts the noise signal and adds it to the program sound you are hearing. The ambient noise is thus canceled by the inverted noise and you can hear the program more clearly.

It may not work exectly like this on the plane, but the principle is right.

I am a frequent traveler east from Denver, usually to Eastern time zone. I take melatonin about two hours before I go to bed in the eastern city. Helps me sleep and time shift for the trip.
I am a firm believer in melatonin, helps me sleep,I don't wake up sluggish and I am able to put on a happy face at ungodly hours of the morning EST.
I have talked with numerous flight attendants(Delta & United) who say they also use it,
JMHO

Melatonin works for me on long trips, too. But I never take it before flight. And I have found the best way to get a few hours sleep on flights over oceans is to take a mid-night flight. You get very tired after they feed you the snack/meal. People don't walk around very much and you got about 10 hours to burn-off whatever alcohol/drung that you may want to take in to sooth your sleep.

That's another good point--there's a big difference sleep-wise between a 4:30 PM departure and a 8:00 pm departure. (Midnight to South America is another story, though...). If you want to sleep, the later the departure the better.

I have used melatonin a great deal during the past two years. I and my coworkers typically find that 3-6 mg taken 1/2 hr before bed makes life tremendously easier. You may still wake during the night but can usually fall right back to sleep. You may find that dream activity increases. I usually take it for three nights after travel of more than 6 time zones.