Cure Me: You couldn't sleep on long flights, then you found the cure...
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 105
Cure Me: You couldn't sleep on long flights, then you found the cure...
I searched FT, but while learning how others regularly fall asleep on flights is kind of helpful, I need to know how non-sleepers found a cure.
I do a once a year 24 hour travel/16 hours flying time trip. I am awake the entire time.... a lone person, in the dark, in a sea of sleeping people. I arrive a total wreck and greet my excited, talkative, welcoming extended in-law family like a barely-walking zombie.
I have tried:
No caffeine (coffee, soda, chocolate, teas, nothing) 24 hours before flight.
Melatonine
Bringing my own travel pillow and blankie.
Using a travel pillow and a neck pillow.
Tylenol PM
I can't:
Use a window seat, because I get restless leg syndrome being trapped in there. I prefer an aisle seat.
Spend a ton of $$$ on Bose earphones
Do any of you experts- who have had trouble sleeping on long flights- have any suggestions for me? I would be really grateful. My upcoming annual trip is coming up in 2 weeks and I am dreading it. Thank you!
I do a once a year 24 hour travel/16 hours flying time trip. I am awake the entire time.... a lone person, in the dark, in a sea of sleeping people. I arrive a total wreck and greet my excited, talkative, welcoming extended in-law family like a barely-walking zombie.
I have tried:
No caffeine (coffee, soda, chocolate, teas, nothing) 24 hours before flight.
Melatonine
Bringing my own travel pillow and blankie.
Using a travel pillow and a neck pillow.
Tylenol PM
I can't:
Use a window seat, because I get restless leg syndrome being trapped in there. I prefer an aisle seat.
Spend a ton of $$$ on Bose earphones
Do any of you experts- who have had trouble sleeping on long flights- have any suggestions for me? I would be really grateful. My upcoming annual trip is coming up in 2 weeks and I am dreading it. Thank you!
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 24,233
Works for me. I don't use it on relatively short flights like Boston-London; if I take it after dinner (for a night flight) it doesn't wear off before breakfast. For trans-Pacific or U.S.- southern South America flights, it's great.
A Virgin Australia FA told me a few weeks ago that they discourage these pills because they might have to wake up a passenger in an emergency. I took it anyhow. There were no emergencies between Sydney and LA. There seldom are.
A Virgin Australia FA told me a few weeks ago that they discourage these pills because they might have to wake up a passenger in an emergency. I took it anyhow. There were no emergencies between Sydney and LA. There seldom are.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: EWR
Programs: Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, UA Premier, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 188
ZzzQuil. http://www.zzzquil.com/
I take 2 caplets before a cross-country flight from EWR to LAX or EWR to SEA. Caplets last 4-6 hours for me. Non habit forming and it works.
I tried other OTC meds without success until ZzzQuil.
I take 2 caplets before a cross-country flight from EWR to LAX or EWR to SEA. Caplets last 4-6 hours for me. Non habit forming and it works.
I tried other OTC meds without success until ZzzQuil.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 105
OP here:
Okay, these are options I haven't thought of! On my upcoming flights, I am sitting by myself on an aisle with my husband on the opposite aisle seat. (In future, on 2-seater flights, I'm going to have us sitting next to each other so I can lean/"sleep" on him.)
With the Ambian or the zzzquil I am worried I will wake up with my head on my seat mate. Are you out cold with these medications or will I have an awareness that I am disturbing people around me and can stop myself?
Okay, these are options I haven't thought of! On my upcoming flights, I am sitting by myself on an aisle with my husband on the opposite aisle seat. (In future, on 2-seater flights, I'm going to have us sitting next to each other so I can lean/"sleep" on him.)
With the Ambian or the zzzquil I am worried I will wake up with my head on my seat mate. Are you out cold with these medications or will I have an awareness that I am disturbing people around me and can stop myself?
#6
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Scotland
Programs: Star Alliance
Posts: 476
I am the same, just cannot sleep in public.
What I ended up doing was booking a flight with a long connection, that way it allows me to find a hotel or room somewhere to have some sleep, then I can arrive fresh instead of tired.
I know it won't help this time but perhaps something to think about for future bookings.
What I ended up doing was booking a flight with a long connection, that way it allows me to find a hotel or room somewhere to have some sleep, then I can arrive fresh instead of tired.
I know it won't help this time but perhaps something to think about for future bookings.
#8
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: The place where it gets so hot in the summer some planes can't take off.
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, WoH Globalist, National EE, United Platinum
Posts: 1,446
Cure Me: You couldn't sleep on long flights, then you found the cure...
Lots of food and lots of wine/beer/liquor does it for me... Since you didn't mention booze as a possibility I take it you aren't a drinker... Two to three glasses should give you at least a few hours rest!
#9
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 461
OP here:
Okay, these are options I haven't thought of! On my upcoming flights, I am sitting by myself on an aisle with my husband on the opposite aisle seat. (In future, on 2-seater flights, I'm going to have us sitting next to each other so I can lean/"sleep" on him.)
With the Ambian or the zzzquil I am worried I will wake up with my head on my seat mate. Are you out cold with these medications or will I have an awareness that I am disturbing people around me and can stop myself?
Okay, these are options I haven't thought of! On my upcoming flights, I am sitting by myself on an aisle with my husband on the opposite aisle seat. (In future, on 2-seater flights, I'm going to have us sitting next to each other so I can lean/"sleep" on him.)
With the Ambian or the zzzquil I am worried I will wake up with my head on my seat mate. Are you out cold with these medications or will I have an awareness that I am disturbing people around me and can stop myself?
You can also play with lowering your dosage. I only require 1/4 -1/2 of a 10mg Ambien.
However, that's just me!
You're the only one that can gauge how medication is going to affect you. If you take any sleep aid, experiment before the flight. Have your husband keep an eye on you; have him wake you after a few hours so you yourself can gauge how groggy... if at all. It's best to see for yourself.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,005
COmplete lie flat seats is all that has ever worked for me. I've been awake on many red-eye, long-haul flights, including 160 degree sort-of-flat-but-angled flights. Emirates A380 in J is all that has worked.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
I searched FT, but while learning how others regularly fall asleep on flights is kind of helpful, I need to know how non-sleepers found a cure.
I do a once a year 24 hour travel/16 hours flying time trip. I am awake the entire time.... a lone person, in the dark, in a sea of sleeping people. I arrive a total wreck and greet my excited, talkative, welcoming extended in-law family like a barely-walking zombie.
I have tried:
No caffeine (coffee, soda, chocolate, teas, nothing) 24 hours before flight.
Melatonine
Bringing my own travel pillow and blankie.
Using a travel pillow and a neck pillow.
Tylenol PM
I can't:
Use a window seat, because I get restless leg syndrome being trapped in there. I prefer an aisle seat.
Spend a ton of $$$ on Bose earphones
Do any of you experts- who have had trouble sleeping on long flights- have any suggestions for me? I would be really grateful. My upcoming annual trip is coming up in 2 weeks and I am dreading it. Thank you!
I do a once a year 24 hour travel/16 hours flying time trip. I am awake the entire time.... a lone person, in the dark, in a sea of sleeping people. I arrive a total wreck and greet my excited, talkative, welcoming extended in-law family like a barely-walking zombie.
I have tried:
No caffeine (coffee, soda, chocolate, teas, nothing) 24 hours before flight.
Melatonine
Bringing my own travel pillow and blankie.
Using a travel pillow and a neck pillow.
Tylenol PM
I can't:
Use a window seat, because I get restless leg syndrome being trapped in there. I prefer an aisle seat.
Spend a ton of $$$ on Bose earphones
Do any of you experts- who have had trouble sleeping on long flights- have any suggestions for me? I would be really grateful. My upcoming annual trip is coming up in 2 weeks and I am dreading it. Thank you!
Don't try to sleep if you're not tired. If sleep is important on a long haul flight, splurge for a lie flat seat.