How do you get the best sleep on an international flight?

15 Science-Backed Tips for Sleeping on a Plane
  1. Stay at the right temperature. ...
  2. Wear bed socks. ...
  3. Power down your devices. ...
  4. Wear a light-blocking eye mask. ...
  5. Listen to pink noise. ...
  6. Wear noise-canceling headphones or earplugs. ...
  7. Uncross legs and use footrests. ...
  8. Lean backward with proper support.




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What Are the Best—And Safest—Sleeping Pills for Flights?
  • Ambien. Ambien—the most powerful option on this list and the only one that requires a prescription—works as a sedative-hypnotic medication that slows your brain activity to make you feel very sleepy. ...
  • Tylenol PM. ...
  • Melatonin.


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15 Science-Backed Tips for Sleeping on a Plane
  1. Stay at the right temperature. ...
  2. Wear bed socks. ...
  3. Power down your devices. ...
  4. Wear a light-blocking eye mask. ...
  5. Listen to pink noise. ...
  6. Wear noise-canceling headphones or earplugs. ...
  7. Uncross legs and use footrests. ...
  8. Lean backward with proper support.


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Board tired.
The night before, cheat yourself of a couple of hours of sleep—not more. This works well for very long flights that last long enough to get your usual hours of rest. For flights that are just a little too short for that, like a 5-hour run from New York to Paris, this tactic can be risky.

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The best thing you can do to prevent jet lag is to get a lot of sleep the night before your flight. If you board the plane sleep deprived, you're less likely to fall asleep when you want to on the flight, and less likely to stay asleep. Not getting enough rest before a trip starts you at a disadvantage already.

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That reality can make it tempting to just pop a sleeping pill in order to pass a few hours of a flight snoozing—but again, you'd be better off only taking one at a time when you would typically be asleep in the place where you're headed, so as not to throw off your circadian rhythm and worsen your jet lag once you ...

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Here are my tips for avoiding and, if need be, surviving the dreaded middle seat on your next flight.
  1. Make a narrow escape. ...
  2. Politely assume priority placement on the armrests. ...
  3. 2-3-2 beats 3-3. ...
  4. Go before you go. ...
  5. Beat feet before they start sawing wood. ...
  6. Look both ways. ...
  7. Use sleep and comfort aids. ...
  8. Hide in plain sight.


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Taking a melatonin supplement when you first get on a flight— if traveling overnight—is a great way to ease yourself to sleep, so you wake up refreshed and rested when you land. However, this should only be done for flights longer than 6 hours, as this is how long it takes melatonin to leave your system.

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21 Tips for Sleeping on Long-Haul International Flights
  1. Book a red-eye.
  2. Download a sleep app.
  3. Book a window seat.
  4. >> Read out trips for getting the best seat on the plane.
  5. 4. …or choose a seat far from the lavatory.
  6. Wear yourself out before your flight.
  7. Bring noise-canceling headphones.
  8. Upgrade your seat.


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Prevention. Most people don't need to worry much about clots on short flights. But if you're already at risk for clots and you plan to take a plane trip that's longer than 6 hours, you can do a few things to avoid them. Get up and walk around every 2 to 3 hours.

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Question: Can you sleep in premium economy? Answer: While passengers cannot lie flat in premium economy seats, the adjustable headrest, as well as extra legroom and reclined seats, make for a comfortable journey. Additionally, many airlines offer comfortable blankets and pillows for a relaxing time.

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People often come to us requesting the doctor or nurse to prescribe diazepam for fear of flying or assist with sleep during flights. Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you sleepy and more relaxed.

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People often come to us requesting the doctor or nurse to prescribe diazepam for fear of flying or assist with sleep during flights. Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you sleepy and more relaxed.

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Exit rows, aisle or window seats, and anywhere close to the front are typically considered the best seats on a plane. On a short business trip, you might want an aisle seat near the front of the plane so you can debark as quickly as possible on arrival.

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Originally Answered: Can you sit in first class if seats are empty and ask nicely? Short answer: no. The airlines don't want to encourage passengers to buy cheap seats and then pester the flight attendants for an upgrade. They want First Class seats going only to the people who pay full price for them.

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Before your flight, keep an eye on the seat map to see if there are any empty rows you can claim last minute.
  1. Use those air miles to upgrade. ...
  2. Shell out for premium economy. ...
  3. Prepare for jet lag. ...
  4. De-stress before you arrive. ...
  5. Pack plenty of face masks. ...
  6. Buckle your seat belt over your blanket. ...
  7. Pack an eye mask.


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If you're nervous about the idea of prescription sleep aids, plenty of over-the-counter options await. A diphenhydramine tablet or two (i.e., Benadryl or Zzzquil) is enough to make most people drowsy, as is a single dose of cough medicine containing diphenhydramine and doxylamine succinate (a.k.a. Nyquil).

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Diphenhydramine, the same antihistamine found in Benadryl, will likely put you to sleep, though you may pay the price once you land. “It makes us feel really groggy when we wake up, and it can make us feel really hungover,” Das says.

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Smoother flight On clear nights, there is less friction against the wings which makes for obstruction-free sailing across the sky. Less air traffic also means smoother cruising, since most pilots can sit back and not worry about the aircraft in their path.

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