Surviving Long-Haul Flights

Good article.

I used to find it difficult to sleep on airplanes. I started taking melatonin and half a gravol to help me sleep, and now I'm so accustomed to sleeping on planes that I don't need to take anything. Just the sound of the plane makes me sleepy. (Good thing I'm not a pilot!)

Regarding meals at weird times, on my return flight from Cancun to Calgary a couple of weeks ago, we were offered lunch (pasta or chicken) shortly after takeoff--so about 9 a.m. Cancun time and about 7 a.m. Calgary time. Huh? I don't eat on planes these days anyway, preferring not to remove my mask, but that was really unappealing at that time of day.

Great article. Thanks for posting. Everyone has tricks for surviving the long-haul flights. This summer I'm looking at a 14-hour flight from JFK to Doha with a break of a couple hours before I board a flight to Jakarta. I've done it before and it was a challenge. I usually get up and walk around once an hour to use the restroom and stretch.

I've long since given up trying to sleep on a plane. I don't want to take any kind of sleep aid and arrive groggy and fighting sleep, so I make it a point to sleep well the week before departure. If I doze off, that's a bonus, but I don't even bother bringing my travel pillow anymore. I read on my tablet or watch a movie or listen to music. When I smell coffee brewing from the back, that's my cue to get up, stretch, and go brush my teeth before everyone else wakes and lines up for the bathroom. Usually the stimulation/adrenaline rush of being in a new place is enough to keep me awake. I soldier on, have a very early dinner and am in bed by 7:30 or so. I'm always well rested and ready to go in the morning.

Jeff, I also have to get up and walk around once an hour. Usually I go to the bathroom even if I don't have to go as an excuse to walk.

kayla.p, same here. It's frustrating, but I still try to sleep. Yes, taking a sleeping pill seems to make it worse. Beating the crowd to the bathroom before landing is also something I try to do. Brushing teeth definitely helps to freshen up and feel better.

there are a lot of these articles kicking around, I saw one that very adamantly said that flight attendants never eat on a flight and neither should you. Which is BS obviously, I see them eating all the time. And why the heck not?

I can't sleep on planes no matter what I try.

So:
Sitting in an aisle seat to be able to get up and walk frequently.
Standing at the back or at the galley and stretching frequently.
Drinking lots of water or juice.
Watching movies.
Being sure to wear clean comfortable clothing in layers in case it's cold onboard, that doesn't bind or squash parts of you.
Sorting and cataloguing all your photos on your IPad or phone.
Listening to podcasts or an audio book.
Starting to write your travel blog or journal on your device.

That's about all I do, as I don't have the budget for Business Class seats!

As I've said before, I just treat a long flight as "One night's bad sleep."

phred, I wonder if the flight attendants are eating airline food or something they brought with them. I have seen airline meals taken to the cockpit.

S J, good perspective. This is why it's important to sleep well the week prior to the flight, so one night's bad or no sleep can be shaken off faster.

My friends who are FAs can eat airline food but try not to.

I never used to fuss about it much.

Now, I'm only flying upfront with my own little cubicle and a lie-flat bed and I do notice I get more rest lying down even if I'm only cat-napping. As for eating, IF the international flight departs before 6:00pm, I will eat on board the flight; IF the international flight departs after 6:00pm I will eat in the Signature lounge before boarding. On the return flight, a daytime flight, I just eat what's served on the flight. Plus, they have a basket of junk food displayed which I have been known to frequent.

No one has mentioned the biggest determiner of all of how much sleep one will get. How close is the nearest crying baby or children not being supervised by parents? You have no control over these factors so it is best just to go for it and realize that the flight will end sometime.......

I have no problems with babies that cry because, well, they are babies and can't help it. I do have problems with parents who do not supervise or control their children. I had an overnight 11 hour flight seated across from a family (Mom, Dad, 3 kids ages 6 and under) where the children were allowed to scream, yell, throw food, etc all night. I think the Mom would have tried, but the Dad put on his phone and ignored everything. She was just overwhelmed and gave up. I had an entire tray of food dumped into the aisle and over my feet. I realized at that point I could get angry or I could try to give that poor mom some help. I cleaned up the mess and helped the mom who was very worried about her shoes and the food. I only had to deal with those kids and that deadbeat dad for 11 hours. She had them for the long haul.

Were they one of the most annoying groups I have ever traveled next to? Yes! Did I wish I was seated elsewhere? Yes! Did I survive and go on to have a great trip? Yes!

So, do all the tricks you can think of, but hope that you are seated near people that will allow you to sleep.

phred, I wonder if the flight attendants are eating airline food or something they brought with them. I have seen airline meals taken to the cockpit.

The pilots will eat the meals but they are not allowed to eat the same meal. Whoever is flying the airplane that route (pilot in command) gets to choose first.

This may be a surprise to some, but the captain does not actually do the flying all the time. Sometimes the first officer flies the plane. The two pilots usually take turns.

The pilots will eat the meals but they are not allowed to eat the same meal.

This is one of those things that seems so obvious but I'd never even thought of before.