I'm new at this, so please forgive me if this thread is repetitive.

I'm flying to London next week and have to be coherent enough upon landing to drive on the opposite side of the road for the first time. I've taken four or five shorter red-eyes (mainly Calif to NYC area) in the past few months and have barely slept. I see other people sleeping, so I'm sure that there's some secret plan that i haven't figured out just yet.

What essentials do you bring on red eye flights to help you sleep? Do you have a favorite pillow/eyemask/headphones/blanket?

thanks!

Ambien.
Eyemask, ear plugs, & a sweater don't hurt either, but for me are not sufficient. Lots of threads on Ambien if you want the informed discussion.

Ambien, a cocktail in the departure lounge and hope for a smooth flight!

I always carry my melantonin (a type of sleeping pill).

Ambien or Valium. Search Google for "flyertalk" "ambien" and you'll find plenty of information. If you can't or won't get a prescription then a couple of extra drinks and perhaps some diphenhydramine will substitute in a pinch.

Even if you aren't much of a "druggie" -- this is a good time to bend the rules.

• Ambien
• Eyeshield
• Earplugs
• Inflatable neck pillow
• Socks
• Loose fitting clothing, with a cotton t-shirt for on the plane
• Aisle seat, preferably at bulkhead so no one can recline into me, and I can stretch out my legs. If there is space, I use my rollaboard as a foot rest.

I eat dinner very quickly - or skip it altogether - so that I have time to sleep. I wait to take the Ambien until wheels are up, or until I'm eating my main course (if I eat the meal).

A seat in First or Business will be the most important thing you'll need!

For me, I'd bring DVD's and reading materials as I'd be wide awake during redeyes since my bedtime is during the morning hours. Now, on those daybreak flights, I find myself completely exhausted upon arrival at my destination.

SD1K nailed the list of essentials, though I personally would go for a window seat so I have control of the shades and a wall to lean against.

All I would add is, get up as early as possible the day of your flight, I'm talking like 3AM if you can do it. That way you'll be as tired as possible when you get on the flight. EWR-LON is only going to be in the neighborhood of 5-6 hours in cruise flight (the part where you can hope for undisturbed sleep), so eat before the flight, pop the Ambien as soon as they reach cruise altitude (don't take it before departure, you want to be fully conscious if there's any type of emergency on the ground or right after takeoff), and zzz out for 4-5 hours.

And don't sweat driving on the other side of the road. It becomes second nature very quickly. Where you'll have the most trouble is simply entering the vehicle from the correct side.

That said, stay out of London proper unless a native is driving . . . it's abso-frickin-lutely nuts. Getting in and out of Heathrow isn't a big deal, but take public transportation if you need to enter the city.

PS. If you're renting a car, SatNav is a godsend and worth every penny. One less stressful thing to worry about.

Modafinil . Incredible.

I've tried them all, and this beats them all.

Welcome to FT!

I'm personally not a big fan of the sleeping aids for the first time on an overseas flight without a serious discussion with your doctor. Are you somebody that can normally sleep anywhere? Or somebody that can't sleep unless everything is just so? And what time is your flight?

If you can normally sleep anywhere, then the trick is to wake up earlier and earlier during the week before your trip so that your body gradually thinks that you're in London. That way, you want to time it so that you can get on the airplane at what your body thinks is 'midnight,' hit your window seat, and crash out.

If you can't sleep on airplanes (that's my dad), you need to get as much sleep as possible before the flight - take a 3-4 hour nap before you leave for the airport.

Either way:
- Eat an hour or two before you get on the plane, enough so that your body will have done most of the serious digestion before you board;
- Eat foods that will normally make you sleepier (for example, drink some milk) and avoid anything that day that will might you an upset stomach;
- A couple of shots of Bailey's or something similar is good if you like that stuff. Personally I'd avoid beer because of the volume;
- IPod or a full 256MB MP3 player with music geared towards sleeping;
- Good noise-cancellling headphones (Bose QC2, Sony NC20) - I prefer the old-style over the ear instead of the earbud;
- Eyeshades if they don't annoy you (personally, I can't wear them); and
- Two 1L bottles of water for the flight - even if you don't drink it all on the flight, it's really annoying to be stuck in the immigration line and realize that you're ridiculously thirsty.

That'll sure help alot.

The window seat is a must if you do not have to go to the lavatory and can sleep all the way. Otherwise, your seatmates will wake you up when they have to go.

Listening to whats been said you should be full of booze and drugs so driving on the wrong side of the road should be no problem for you. However if this is your first time driving in UK be aware if you cause an accident and they figure out you are tired you will be in deep ****. If there is a hint of booze in your sytem and the test yu they will find and yes you will be in deep ****.