Sleep aid for a long flight

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

You are right, Half life is 48 hours for diazepam, and Dormicum only 2.5 hours, I was not familiar with Midazolam or Dormicum. Maybe worth checking out for next flight, thanks 

 

The last year I haven't bothered using anything, and I haven't slept one hour, still "only 11 hours and 12,5 hours direct flight, so it okay. 

 

If I need to take a very long flight I always book flights which depart very late night / very early morning (if available).  I always sleep well.

If it's a day time flight cannot sleep at all. 

[Qman]

I like NyQuil which is an over the counter cold and flu medicine with some sleep aid medicine while DayQuil does not contain the sleep element.  I take the liquid version at home but it will be too large for security at airports so the capsules would be better.  As a decongestant it clears sinuses which can help if you have issues with equalising ear pressure on flights.  While it helps you go to sleep it is not so strong that you would sleep through emergencies.  On a long flight you might take twice as it has six hour intervals between medications.  

[herfiehandbag]

Back in the day in the Army a long overnight move ( coach or "green vehicle" convoy) the lads would neck a bottle of "Night Nurse" cough medicine, (not the drivers obviously).

 

I remember one such move, Northumberland to Dartmoor, the radio coming to life at 3 am with the message "All stations, we are now passing "Nam", Cheltenham "! Gave us a giggle!

[Hummin]

17 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

If I need to take a very long flight I always book flights which depart very late night / very early morning (if available).  I always sleep well.

If it's a day time flight cannot sleep at all. 

I always book airport hotel and stay until I have to check in, and make sure I get some sleep before I leave the hotel. On the plane I sleep maybe a few times for 20 - 30 min a few times, but unless it is business class, it is not possible for me to make some good sleep at airplanes. To much disturbance around me and another reason, after the new planes got better airquality, makes it harder to sleep, but in the old days, you slept more because of the airquality, but even not drinking, you had or felt like you had a hangover. 

Edited 14 hours ago by Hummin

[john donson]

never ever slept even a minute when flying even long distance

 

hyperacusis + tinnitus, not your friend... even with earplugs

[Yagoda]

weed and Lorazepam

[gargamon]

13 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

No really, beds are hard - still a problem...   Fly First Class - Problem solved... 

EVA puts a topper on your seat after the meal. Not so hard.

[richard_smith237]

49 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I always book airport hotel and stay until I have to check in, and make sure I get some sleep before I leave the hotel. On the plane I sleep maybe a few times for 20 - 30 min a few times, but unless it is business class, it is not possible for me to make some good sleep at airplanes. To much disturbance around me and another reason, after the new planes got better airquality, makes it harder to sleep, but in the old days, you slept more because of the airquality, but even not drinking, you had or felt like you had a hangover. 

 

On a recent flight I sat next to a Thai flight attendant who was 'dead-heading'....   She managed to wrap herself up, face mask, eye mask, hoodie, neck pillow... then didn't move for 5 hours - just slept through. Obviously well practiced at sleeping on planes. 

 

The best sleep I get on flights is when I'm exhausted and take an 'aid' (as earlier discussed).. I will have been up since about 5am... and I'm catching a 10pm flight, I speak to the FA, no food etc - wake up with a coffee as late as possible.

As soon as the seatbelt seat is off, seats flat - I'm usually already well on my way to falling asleep by then.

 

BUT... when not travelling for work, with family in Eco, like you I just don't sleep, I find it incredibly difficult so wherever possible, I don't try - I take day flights and use a quick layover to sleep (on the way to or from the UK)

i.e. fly in the morning: BKK to Dubai - we're chilling in a pool by mid afternoon, have a dinner, early to bed, then back at the airport in the morning (<24 hr layover bags through to final destination), no need to check-in (already have boarding passes) - head straight to gate, grab a coffee and breakfast on the way.

 

IMO - IF unable to sleep well on flights, breaking up the flight with a layover is the best option and it also helps with jet-lag.

 

 

[Irish made]

3 hours ago, Hummin said:

Antihistamine makes me drowsy, so I use it at evening before bedtime.

 

diphenhydramine or benadryl is well known used for temporary insomnia, and might work well for some. A better solution for sure.

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, Hummin said:

"To much disturbance around me ..."

 

It's my experience that on late night flights the cabin crew attend to any urgent requests from passengers then as quickly as possible turn the cabin lights right down and close the shades. Most passengers seem to like this configuration and try to sleep. 

 

Can depend of course on how much distraction there is from movies etc., flickering, but I've noted not many passengers use the on screen entertainment offerings vert late at night when lights are off.

Edited 12 hours ago by scorecard

[Irish made]

Antihistamines are very effective for sending you to sleep, but I find they make my mouth very dry, and leave me hungover the next day. 

[Keeps]

7 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Can depend of course on how much distraction there is from movies etc., flickering, but I've noted not many passengers use the on screen entertainment offerings vert late at night when lights are off.

When the lights have been fully dimmed there is always at least one person who decides to lift the window shade to have a look outside (what exactly do they expect to see at 30,000ft?) and then, even more annoyingly, doesn't close it fully so there is a blinding gleam of light shining when you are trying to get some kip.

 

That's my experience anyway and seems to happen on every long haul flight I take. Yes, I do ask them (if they are still awake which often they are not) or a stewardess to close it but I don't like to make a fuss. 555

[J Branche]

Everyone is different.  What works for me is exercising and being tired when boarding the flight.  Not heavy weight exercise or your muscle will be tight, maybe pain.  Walking up and down the concourse until boarding time.

 

Also a properly fitting pair of foam earplugs and soft sleeping mask.

 

[Hummin]

20 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

It's my experience that on late night flights the cabin crew attend to any urgent requests from passengers then as quickly as possible turn the cabin lights right down and close the shades. Most passengers seem to like this configuration and try to sleep. 

 

Can depend of course on how much distraction there is from movies etc., flickering, but I've noted not many passengers use the on screen entertainment offerings vert late at night when lights are off.

I prefer the aisle seat in the middle row so If I fall asleep, and the middle guy need to get out, he can ask the neighbour if awake, and last trip now, I hade a monk who had the window seat, and nobody between us which is perfect. But he had to get out at once I fell asleep, and from there, he was 5 times up and down during the fligh, and the row in front of us, drink had had fun until one hour left. 

 

and next, I got some width on my shoulders, so no matter how small I make myself, somebody manage to bump in to me if I sit at the aisle, and even I sit window, there is some disturbance from the neighbours, if not they are 160cm and 50kg. Another bothering thing is the one behind me use his touch screens for games, and hit 1000 times, or push their knees up in my back, or kick the seat once and awhile. From Spain last trip, still a bit jetleg, there was a few both ways who manage to speak for 4 hours and 15 minutes straight. Not so common on flights to Thailand, but especially the direct flighst from most Europeen major cities, there is quite a few who drink to much, and somehow make disturbance. 

 

If there was no disturbance Im sure I would easily make 4-5 hours of sleep, but always something

[scorecard]

2 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I prefer the aisle seat in the middle row so If I fall asleep, and the middle guy need to get out, he can ask the neighbour if awake, and last trip now, I hade a monk who had the window seat, and nobody between us which is perfect. But he had to get out at once I fell asleep, and from there, he was 5 times up and down during the fligh, and the row in front of us, drink had had fun until one hour left. 

 

and next, I got some width on my shoulders, so no matter how small I make myself, somebody manage to bump in to me if I sit at the aisle, and even I sit window, there is some disturbance from the neighbours, if not they are 160cm and 50kg. Another bothering thing is the one behind me use his touch screens for games, and hit 1000 times, or push their knees up in my back, or kick the seat once and awhile. From Spain last trip, still a bit jetleg, there was a few both ways who manage to speak for 4 hours and 15 minutes straight. Not so common on flights to Thailand, but especially the direct flighst from most Europeen major cities, there is quite a few who drink to much, and somehow make disturbance. 

 

If there was no disturbance Im sure I would easily make 4-5 hours of sleep, but always something

Perhaps take a very fast train with a sleeper cabin. Took this service once between Shanghai and Beijing. New train, super fast, very comfortable, many services available by calling the conductor, wake up call as ordered with coffee, shoes shined. I got a good sleep.  

[chiang mai]

Sominar is a first generation antihistamine that is licensed by the US FDA as a sleep aid, it is very effective, inexpensive and not addictive. Highly highly recommended.

[Blueman1]

15 hours ago, gargamon said:

Fly business. Lie flat seats. Problem solved.

Will YOU Pay for his BC Ticket then ??

[Blueman1]

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Is that because American airlines are so bad?

Especially DELTA !!!

[gargamon]

12 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

Will YOU Pay for his BC Ticket then ??

That sounds like a personal problem to me.

[BigStar]

2 hours ago, Keeps said:

When the lights have been fully dimmed there is always at least one person who decides to lift the window shade to have a look outside (what exactly do they expect to see at 30,000ft?【9 144 m】【9 144 m】) and then, even more annoyingly, doesn't close it fully so there is a blinding gleam of light shining when you are trying to get some kip.

 

That's my experience anyway and seems to happen on every long haul flight I take.

 

After all those flights, you still haven't learned to wear a sleeping mask. Hopeless.

[BigStar]

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

IMO - IF unable to sleep well on flights, breaking up the flight with a layover is the best option and it also helps with jet-lag.

 

Yeah, just sleep in the airport. Save all kinds of time and money. You'll sleep much better on the next leg.

[richard_smith237]

9 minutes ago, BigStar said:

2 hours ago, Keeps said:

When the lights have been fully dimmed there is always at least one person who decides to lift the window shade to have a look outside (what exactly do they expect to see at 30,000ft?【9 144 m】【9 144 m】) and then, even more annoyingly, doesn't close it fully so there is a blinding gleam of light shining when you are trying to get some kip.

 

That's my experience anyway and seems to happen on every long haul flight I take.

 

After all those flights, you still haven't learned to wear a sleeping mask. Hopeless.

 

I hate these things, wife wears them, I can't stand them and find them more of an irritant.

 

I also agree.. on my last flight (flying east - so night time departure, but flew into daylight) some fool had their window shade open lighting up the whole cabin...  the irritating part of that is that the flight attendants seemed oblivious, meanwhile on some flights the FA's are very vigilant to such ignorant behavior.

[richard_smith237]

7 minutes ago, BigStar said:

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

IMO - IF unable to sleep well on flights, breaking up the flight with a layover is the best option and it also helps with jet-lag.

 

Yeah, just sleep in the airport. Save all kinds of time and money. You'll sleep much better on the next leg.

 

I didn't spell it out clearly enough...   Layover at a convenient hotel near the Airport.

Most airports also have an air-side hotel, but they can be expensive. 

 

In Dubai (for example) We stay at the Crown Plaza which is next to Festival City Mall.. 

- Morning flight from BKK

- Plane lands just after midday in Dubai

- No need to collect baggage - straight through immigration and out of the airport in 15mins.

- Arrive at hotel 10mins later

- Chill / Pool / Evening meal in the Mall / Sleep

- Wakeup - shower etc - Uber to Airport

- Already have boarding pass so go straight through security to gate (grab a coffee and a bite on the way)

- Take the flight fully refreshed.

 

(no need to sleep in the Airport - the Crown Plaza has cost anywhere from 3000 to 4500 baht for the night)

 

It doesn't time out so well on the way back - so we usually stop over for 2 nights after landing at about midnight.

 

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I take day flights and use a quick layover to sleep (on the way to or from the UK)

i.e. fly in the morning: BKK to Dubai - we're chilling in a pool by mid afternoon, have a dinner, early to bed, then back at the airport in the morning (<24 hr layover bags through to final destination), no need to check-in (already have boarding passes) - head straight to gate, grab a coffee and breakfast on the way.

 

IMO - IF unable to sleep well on flights, breaking up the flight with a layover is the best option and it also helps with jet-lag.

 

[BigStar]

18 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I hate these things, wife wears them, I can't stand them and find them more of an irritant.

 

Poor you. Man up, follow example of the wife, good on 'er. You quickly get used to them. w/ a little medication, you may be asleep before you even have time to hate your sleeping mask. 

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

21 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

And what happens in an emergency when you are zonked out?

You die peacefully.....

[FritsSikkink]

19 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

10mg of Xanax does it for me on long hauls.

think you mean 1mg

[scottiejohn]

20 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

You die peacefully.....

While delaying/stopping the escape of those trying to climb over your drug induced unressponsive person!

[Ralf001]

22 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

think you mean 1mg

My post is correct.

[FritsSikkink]

53 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

My post is correct.

I have 1 mg xanax which gives me around 10 hours sleep. Xanax dosage: Form, strengths, how to take, and more doctor says otherwise. 

Edited 6 hours ago by FritsSikkink

[edwardflory]

""15 hours awake is nothing much""

 

My flight TRAVEL TIME to USA run between 28 to 34 hours.  I manage to get sleep in tourist class because the last LONG legs are over the Atlantic to Chicago OR over the Pacific to Chicago and then a short hop to Cincinnati.