Red Eye Sleeping
 

I have a red eye LAX/MSYxDFW coming up.How will I get any sleep on this?I can't take a sleeping pill as I will be to groggy to navigate a new airport(never been to DFW)
How do you road warriors deal with such a sittuation?

Get a window seat so you can lean against the wall rather than against the person next to you.

Also, domestic first class seats are not as sleep-friendly as international business/first seats. If i'm going to sleep I won't try to upgrade a domestic redeye.

Some people like a bulkhead seat so they can stick their feet up on the wall and therefore find a greater variety of comfortable sleeping positions. Other people are grossed out that someone would stick their feet on the wall...

Don't plan any long drives or major activities the evening after the red-eye. My personal experience is that I feel OK until about 5:30 PM on a west coast/east coast redeye.

I always carry earplugs and eyeshades: make a world of difference.
Second the advice on the window seat.

LAX-DFW is far too short a flight for me to get any really good sleep, but with eyeshades, BOSE NC heaphones, and a cushy F seat, I can generally nap for an hour or two.

Good luck. :)

I have a REALLY hard time sleeping on planes. If its a domestic red-eye (which I haven't taken in years), I just try to get some good rest because I know I wont sleep. International I try my best to sleep but it's still hard, being that I'm usually really excited etc etc.

Earplugs and eyeshades work. Benadryl does wonders for me personally because not only does it help me breathe it really makes me loopy and groggy. Add a stiff drink with a Benadryl and woo hoo!!! :D ;)

regimen
 

Like a lot of the other guys, I'll use earplugs and eye shades and agree that window is preferable to aisle. Comfy clothes too, and change into your business attire at the other end if you need to.

I also take a valerian tablet about 30 minutes before I want to rest. It's herbal so no bad chemicals or groginess on arrival, that coupled with a glass of wine and I'm usually set for a good 3-4 hours sleep even on a coach seat.

Out of curiosity I've wondered about those neck pillow things, has anyone got any thoughts on their usefulness?

I just did a redeye the other day. I agree with all of the suggestions so far - but I always take a hefty dose of Tylenol PM. I wouldn't suggest trying this for the first time on a flight...but it always gets me to sleep - and I am never groggy when I wake up (even as short as 4 hrs).

The only caution I have is that if you aren't able to get to sleep within 45 mins of taking the pill - then wait to take it. I find that if I'm not able to get to sleep within 45 mins of taking it ... that it doesn't help me get to sleep at all.

Good Luck!
Chris

I am not good at sleeping on redeyes, at least not unless it is my third one on consecutive days!

However after too many PER-AKL overnight flights, amongst other red-eyes, I have learnt that I can never have too much coffee early that morning on arrival. Micro-naps in the afternoon work well to refresh for a few more hours, but tricky to make sure dont go fully asleep.

My experience has been that on transcon/midcon redeyes, Benadryl is really helpful. I can sleep at the drop of a hat on any flight but redeyes -- go figure.

Transcontinental redeyes are not a big deal, in fact LAX-DFW is even less a big deal. I work overnight on some occasions and just go to bed early the next night. Same with redeyes.

Although it is not very nice to sleep a few hours and wake up the next morning on final approach into another airport, but there are worse things in life. Book yourself in a out of the way seat, get in the plane, try to sleep ASAP and get up and go in the morning. I do not recommend using pharnaceutical agents as their effects can last well into the next day. Good earplugs are probably cheaper and more effective. Cheers.