Anyone else unable to sleep on planes?

[dparm]

My job is 100% travel -- every Monday through Thursday or Friday. That means waking up at 3am and taking a 6am flight, and taking late-night flights on Thursdays or Fridays (9pm or later).

Despite the fact I am half-asleep on Mondays and exhausted on Fridays, I absolutely cannot sleep on planes. I can space out, but I never fall asleep.

I flew 67 segments last year, so it's not a matter of nerves. Anyone else totally unable to sleep on planes?

 

[Hokiefyd]

I get my best sleep on planes.

I lived in a dorm hall in college that was not air conditioned, so we had the big box fans running at night all the time. The roar of a box fan puts me out like a switch. Aircraft engines do the same.

 

[Astro14]

Depends on the seat - if you're in a UAL lie-flat business class seat, then you bet, I can get hours of restful sleep on planes (like the 14 hour flight home from Bahrain).

In a regular seat, like domestic first class or economy plus, I can nod off for a while and sleep for an hour or two. Earplugs help. Bose QC-3s with classical music help more. Window seat helps (somewhere to lean my head)...but it's not good rest.

At my height, cram me in a regular economy seat (like SWA), and I am up the whole time...cramped and uncomfortable...

At 67 segments, you're likely to be AA/UAL gold, so upgrades will be infrequent...at platinum, you'll get FC more often, and it's a lot easier to sleep when the seat reclines more, and you're not rubbing elbows with your neighbors...unless you're on SWA from Midway...and then, well, enjoy rubbing elbows...and try a bit of melatonin to get you to sleep earlier the night before...

 

[rjundi]

I remember those days and am thankful for my 100% telecommute job in the last 12 years.

Sept 11 was the worst thing for commuting by plane. I used to walk onto a plane 10 mins before take off simply swiping a credit card at the gate. No more.....

No I cannot sleep well. Buses to airport however (the first/last 50 mins leg) put me into a wonderful sleep.

 

[chubbs1]

Can't sleep whatsoever. I dont fly often so I chalked it up to stress/nerves from all of the preflight stuff like making it on time, going through security 40 times etc.

 

[Colt45ws]

Nope. Way too stimulating to get any sleep.

 

[dparm]

I exclusively fly Southwest, and I don't feel cramped or uncomfortable at all. I get the exit row roughly every-other flight since I have their highest status and am always one of the first few on the plane.

 

[BobsArmory]

The the best sleep I ever got was while flying military airlift. Here was my secret. Once the landing gear was up i broke out the pocket hammock and tied it to either side of the plane. Jump into your sleeping bag, get in then secure yourself in with 3 carabiners! Add in earplugs and 2 benadryl and I was good to go for the entire trip. Might not work so well on a commercial flight though. :-D

 

[VicVinegar]

Nope. Maybe if I could afford business or first. When I flew to Frankfurt, I might have dozed off a couple times. Just too uncomfortable though. It was a redeye too. Most of the plane was passed out. I did watch 3 movies.

 

[dwcopple]

I wish. I am wide awake on a plane.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Same here. I cannot sleep while sitting up. The only time I was able to sleep on a plane was when I was in business class and the seat fully reclined to horizontal position.

 

[JHZR2]

I can generally nod off, but it is contingent upon having something for head support so I can lean back, face up, or torso support so I can lean forward, face down.

If there is someone sitting next to me, chances are lower for getting sleep. Many people are so blubbery that they encroach upon neighbors' seats.

Though exit row is nice, you may be better off getting your own seat in a spot that does not draw neighbors. I prefer the rear area of the wing if I can, sit in the aisle seat so on a lighter flight, others wont try to squeeze in to the window/middle seat as readily.

 

[MBS500]

I fly a lot too. It depends. I tend not to sleep on big planes, since they have to much movies to watch. But can pass out for an hour or 2,especially on small planes between long flight. (Like 27hour total travel time to NZ). Try taking melatonin pills, they might help.

 

[RamFan]

I fly pretty often and have flown cross the Atlantic countless times, never once have I been able to sleep for more than 30 minutes.

 

[79sunrunner]

On an 18 hour flight to and from Hawaii, I too could not sleep. The annoying kids movie was wayyyy too loud and in the late hours when all were about too sleep (including me), a few of the little kids ran up and down the halls screaming. Obviously the parents did not care. Now I know if kids were banned, it would hurt sales, but at least lock them in a seperate room if one desires to be obnoxious. Just my thoughts that wont be put in effect anyway.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I've only flown once (well, 4 flights total for the trip) and I did sleep a bit.

Mostly I was too busy taking pictures and having a blast!

BTW - I'm still afraid of it.

 

[greenjp]

I'm 6'3", so unless I'm in an exit row (business class? What's that?

) there's no chance I can be comfortable enough to fall asleep. Doubly so if the person in front of me turns out to be a sociopath who reclines.

jeff

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted By: 79sunrunner
On an 18 hour flight to and from Hawaii, I too could not sleep. The annoying kids movie was wayyyy too loud and in the late hours when all were about too sleep (including me), a few of the little kids ran up and down the halls screaming. Obviously the parents did not care. Now I know if kids were banned, it would hurt sales, but at least lock them in a seperate room if one desires to be obnoxious. Just my thoughts that wont be put in effect anyway.


18 hours to Hawaii!?!?

What kind of plane? A DC-3?

 

[Azeem]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I get my best sleep on planes.

I lived in a dorm hall in college that was not air conditioned, so we had the big box fans running at night all the time. The roar of a box fan puts me out like a switch. Aircraft engines do the same.


Roar of washing machine puts me out too not the planes,nada.

 

[kam327]

I too generally can't sleep on planes, including the last two red-eye's in business class I've done. Tampa to Athens (via Atlanta and Rome) just last week, and Tampa to Copenhagen last summer. When I get to where I'm going I down a 5-hour energy and I'm generally good to go for a half day or so.

For me I think it's a combo of comfort and a mental thing. I sleep on my stomach and no matter how flat a business class seat is it's still pretty [censored] uncomfortable. I'm constantly fussing.

And mental: often when I know I really need to get some sleep or I'm going to be screwed the next day is when I have the most trouble getting to sleep.