There are a number of ways to ensure you get needed rest while flying on an airplane, most of which require advance planning. You may also need to take items with you that you might not normally bring on a trip. Additionally, before you plan, stop to consider what you will be doing when you arrive at your destination. If you have to head straight to a car rental agency and hit the road right after you land, you will obviously need to sleep on the plane. If you are, though, headed for a beach vacation, you may want to forgo slumber while aloft, and opt instead for a serious siesta in a comfortable hotel bed. Or on a beach towel - whatever suits you. Your sleep plan may also depend on the length of your flight and what time during the day or night it occurs.
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1 First or business class. If you have the wherewithal to fly with one of these seating arrangements, this is where you will obviously get your best sleep. First class often includes huge seats that resemble living room recliners, or in some instances completely flat beds (not king size, unless you're a king), and extreme pampering that ranges from expensive alcohol to personal chefs, depending on the airline. Business class seats are also much larger than coach seats and provide more room to stretch out. The flight attendant service in these two seating areas is much better than in coach, namely due to the number of available flight attendants per passenger, plus you get what you pay for. If you have extreme difficulty sleeping on an airplane, before fully processing your ticket, you should always ask and continue to ask until you are seated, if there are available inexpensive upgrades from coach to business or first class. People miss or change their flight arrangements often enough to make this a normal question, and you already have a "no" answer until you ask. Realistically, the upgrades are usually too expensive, but you should still ask.
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2 Coach yourself to sleep. If you have not flown recently, a number of airlines have expanded their coach or economy class seating by way of purchasing newer airplanes. Seats may be wider these days. Seating areas in general may be expanded. As you choose your seat (usually online these days), the window-versus-aisle-seat question may be thought of like this: Many people prefer a window seat so they can easily see outside of the airplane. May travelers also realize that window seats provide a sleeping wall to lean on, and may additionally provide a more comfortable area as you will not be constantly disturbed when other passengers head for the aisle to go to the bathroom. Depending on your druthers, aisle seats allow you to head for the restroom as often as you like, which is something to consider if your cabin mates are, um, asleep. Regardless of your preference, they key to success in this area may require some online persistence, as seats are reserved first-come-first-serve, so you may need to spend some time online after your initial seat assignment. One relatively new development in airplane seating concerns the larger airplanes that have rows of seats, with an aisle on either side, that run down the middle of the plane. If you end up in the middle of three, four, or five seats, you have nothing to lean on, and multiple people to step over on the way to the lavatory (thus, the more modern-day choice of an aisle seat). The final area to consider when flying coach is steer clear of seats located close to walls that run perpendicular to the length of the airplane. The last row of seats in a plane usually rests against a back wall, for example, which could mean that the seat does not recline (or reclines very little). Again, a matter of seat reservation. On a different note, though, a first row of seats in a plane section may in theory allow more than ample legroom.
3 Secure your blankie and special pillow. No rest is worth a pain in the neck from having slept in a dysfunctional position on an airplane. Why go on vacation to a cool exotic beach locale if you can't comfortably hang out at the pool after your flight? The trick to not developing a crick in your neck is to determine which high-tech pillow is right for you. There are inflatable pillows on the market today that allow you to rest your head on your elevated lap (your fellow passengers will be extremely envious, guard your pillow well). There are also the normal horseshoe-shaped pillows that protect your neck during flight. It may also be worthwhile to bring your own light blanket or military poncho liner (much warmer and lighter than blankets).
4 Ear plugs vs. ear buds. Soft foam ear plugs take a little getting used to, but once they are firmly inserted in your ears (follow the package instructions), you begin to understand how important they are for quality peace and quiet. They block background noise, but if a flight attendant needs to wake you, you will hear his or her voice. If you bring foam ear plugs, bring many, as they work best when fresh, especially so when there is a crying baby nearby. If you are an extreme sort of person, and need total quiet to sleep, consider the ear plugs and a pair of professional hunting ear muffs for total control over your ear space. Another method is to use noise reduction music ear buds.
5 Lights out. If you do end up in a window seat, in theory you control the window shade (your seated neighbor has a reading light available). And there are many other methods that may be used to block light: A hat with the brim pulled down over your eyes. Dark sunglasses. How about a full sleeping eye mask?
6 "Do not disturb" sign. If you are an outgoing person, but still need to sleep, you may want to zip your lips in this particular social setting. If you start talking to your neighbor, you may not be able to stop. If you run into an interesting person, but decide you need to execute your sleep plan, just steer the conversation toward "I'm planning on getting some Z's on this flight," and they'll get the idea. Some of the sleeping masks noted above actually have "Do Not Disturb" in bright, bold letters on the front, a great way to further get your message across.
7 Exhaustion might be the trick. There is the final wisdom of tiring yourself out before you board a flight. Clearly, your ability to sleep on a plane will depend on the time of day that your flight departs. However, if your flight takes off in the evening around your normal go-to-bed time, and you are able to transfer as many of your normal, healthy sleep habits from home to your plane ride: If you cut off your caffeine intake earlier in the day, visit the bathroom right before you decide to nod off in your plane seat, abstain from alcohol, and solve all of your various life problems before you board (yeah, right) - you will have a nice flight that will be hard to remember because you slept through most of it.
You may have to experiment with the various methods. You may also want to try to conduct a few in-flight stretches and exercises to increase your blood circulation. If you're creative, you can do both of these while seated, but do the stretches before you begin your snooze session and the exercises after, as the exercises may keep you awake. Exercises can also be performed on the way to the bathroom by way of taking the long way, or by walking in circles around the various aisles, until a flight attendant notices you and tells you to sit down. And don't forget stay buckled up at all possible times.
Sleep on a Plane - 7 Easy Ways to Wake Up Rested
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