I think people are just too timid to actually say something and know they will definitely wake you. The elbows, coughs, dropping stuff etc might be enough to rouse you enough to stop the snoring without actually waking you all the way up, or at least that's what they probably think. It might not be a bad idea to just mention to your neighbor that, should you snore, you'd prefer that they talk or gently tap you rather than other methods.

If it's short-haul, I'd probably just stay awake.

If it's long-haul, do you happen to know whether one type of seat (window or aisle) contributes more or less to snoring? Does the act of leaning into the window help? If nothing else, at least in the window seat you only have 1 person who can elbow you... ;) Seether's idea of talking to the guy in the middle seat first is a good one...

You dont mention if you are in coach or up front in a lie flat or near flat seat. If you snore while upright, how bad is it when you are flat in bed? Sleep apnea is a big deal -- it contributes to hypertension, risk of heart attack, etc -- can shorten your life. If you have it, get it checked out. You can travel with and use a CPAP machine (admittedly, a major PITA) but healthier. At least check it out for home....

Oh wow, I know how you feel. I happen to use a CPAP machine and without that I am a heavy snorer. Obviously I cannot use it on a flight, so who knows what kind of racket I make--but I have not been prodded or slapped as you have.

Generally on a Y flight, I try to stay awake. However, if I am on an award ticket and have a lie flat seat, and a few glasses of wine and port and a nice meal, obviously I will fall asleep. Strips and nasal sprays will do nothing form me...only a CPAP silences me!

I suppose that is one of the reasons they give out earplugs/headsets in Bus/F class?

(PS on a 12 hour flight in Y with my son there was a heavy snorer...in jest I mentioned to my son how selfish the snorer was, making a racket like that. My son rolled his eyes and informed me my sounds were far, far worse!):o

Thanks for the suggestion, TheSeether. On a long-haul flight, I think that mentioning the possibility of my snoring to my neighbor would be a good idea, and it's something that I've neglected to do. Short-haul, I don't know that it's worth mentioning, though that's probably the same attitude that causes people to elbow me without bringing it up. I understand that it can be awkward for my seatmate, who doesn't know me personally, to bring up something fairly personal like my snoring.

@Pinniped and lucdoc: This is almost always in Y, where I prefer the window seat, because I can lean against it to sleep in relative comfort while facing away from my seatmate. It is difficult to stay awake, because the motion of a plane--much like a boat for many people--is extremely soothing and gives me narcolepsy ;). I enjoy a good snooze on a short flight. Perhaps cruelly, I have far more trouble sleeping on long hauls, which is probably one reason why I've never had this problem on one. The severity of the snoring correlates directly with weight gain and loss. I'm far from obese (or even visibly overweight), but just 5 pounds either way makes the difference between silence and freight train-level racket. I should get it checked out but have been remiss in doing so.

@mapleg: CPAP is king, from what I hear. Too bad they can't make a travel-sized version for people like us!

I'd suggest that if you usually fall asleep on short-hauls, you simply mention to your seatmate, "I'll apologize in advance if I fall asleep and start snoring. If I disturb you, please don't hesitate to simply talk to me or gently tap me until I wake up."

That's what I do on any flight where I think I might get into a deep sleep.

As someone who doesn't snore, I'd prefer to know up front if my seatmate might snore, and if they do, if it's ok to wake them or if they're going to be nasty if I wake them because they're disturbing me.

lolwut?

My partner says I snore, but no one has ever poked me on a plane. Apparently I don't snore unless I'm lying (or is it laying?) flat on my back. :)

Concur.

I would hope if for some reason I actually fell asleep for once and was snoring, someone would wake me. How embarrassing!!

YA RLY! ;)

In seriousness, this has happened--obviously not across the face, but slapped nonetheless.

I don't snore often, only when very tired and then sleeping on my back.

I must have snored like a lumberjack sawing Redwood trees about 15 years ago on an LA to NY flight. First class, fully reclined.
The night before I did not sleep and was toasted.

I am not sure I snored, but the flight attendant kept slamming the bin above my seat closed, maybe 4 or 5 times during the flight so I take that as a sign she was trying to wake me. It worked.

Since then, I tend to give anyone snoring next to me a little leeway.

It's a fact of life. People snore. I dated a model a few years ago, and she snored like a lumberjack too. Who cared. It wasn't her snoring I was interested in.... ;)

CPAP travels, its just a pain. There are travel machines for those who can spare the cash (insurance wont buy two). My home machine isnt huge, but it requires a battery and inverter for use onboard, so thats annoying. But I sleep very poorly without it (and so do you if you snore, as well as your cabinmates..)

Yes. That tired feeling all you snorers feel all day? It gets tons better with cpap! You just have to strap this thing on your face...