How do you make a red-eye flight comfortable?

Red Eye Flight Tips: How to Sleep on a Red Eye Flight
  1. A good neck pillow. You're going to spend more on this than seems reasonable, but it is by far the most important thing you'll buy. ...
  2. Comfortable clothing. ...
  3. A travel blanket. ...
  4. Sleep aid. ...
  5. Sleep mask. ...
  6. Ear plugs. ...
  7. Moisturizer.




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Red Eye Flight Tips
  1. Slip On an Eye Mask. Even if the cabin turns down the lights, an eye mask helps keep all the light out and forces your eyes to stay shut. ...
  2. Pack a Warm Layer. ...
  3. Use a Neck Pillow. ...
  4. Avoid Alcohol. ...
  5. Wear Compression Socks. ...
  6. Spritz Some Essential Oils.


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Many airlines eliminated pillows and blankets in coach a couple of years back. For me, it's tough to sleep on a redeye without a blanket. I can handle no pillow (my hoodie kind of helps with that), but I still find it really helpful to have some sort of a thin blanket in order to sleep.

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Should you sleep after you take a red-eye flight? If you've been able to sleep during your trip you are likely to feel slightly better than those who were awake overnight, but even those who slept may wake up feeling slightly disoriented.

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Travelers needing sleep on long-haul or red-eye flights “Window seats tend to be better for those wanting to sleep,” Bradley says. Avoid the last row of economy seats on any flight you plan to sleep on.

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The cons of red-eye flights are few, but significant for those they affect. Primarily, those who don't sleep well on planes are not likely to have a great flight experience when flying when they would normally be sleeping, and will likely arrive groggy. This can also lead to more severe effects of jet lag.

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Loose fitting clothing is your best bet. Consider bringing an extra blanket or scarf: blankets and pillows are provided on some (but not all) red eye flights, so be sure to check ahead of time. Keep in mind they can be quite flimsy though, so if you like to be snuggled up and warm when you sleep, bring something extra.

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While you could use a sleep aid like Zzzquil even that may not be necessary. Instead, we suggest you try melatonin tablets. Melatonin is a natural hormone that your body releases when it's time to sleep. By taking a tablet an hour or two before your flight, you'll find it much easier to relax and fall asleep.

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You get a hot meal e.g. (meat/pasta, salad, dessert) a couple of hours after take off and a cold breakfast (muffin, yogurt etc,) about an hour before landing. They serve you dinner a couple of hours after departure. Then I'd go to sleep. When you wake up they'll serve a snack/breakfast before landing.

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Melatonin pills and gummies are totally fine to take on a plane from a TSA (Transportation Security Administration in the USA) perspective, but liquid melatonin has its own requirements (explained below).

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Early morning or nighttime flights These red-eye flights mean you can worry less and catch up on much-needed sleep due to a smoother flight and less worrying about turbulence.

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On shorter flights in Economy, I'll typically choose a window seat (for the views) and pay extra to sit in the front of the cabin or at the bulkhead for more legroom. On long-haul flights, I'll consider an aisle seat located about 4-5 rows from the back.

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Seats at the back of the plane tend to be bumpier, and sitting towards the back also means you're one of the last passengers to get off the plane after landing. Similarly, the bulkheads at the front of the cabin are where families with babies and young children sit.

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Try a sleep aid Over-the-counter options include Dramamine (bonus: it will also help if you have motion sickness), melatonin (a hormone that can help with sleep and prevent jet lag), any antihistamine containing diphenhydramine (such as Benadryl), and medicines designed for insomnia, like Unisom or ZzzQuil.

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Take melatonin 20 to 30 minutes before sleep (for eastward travel, melatonin can also be taken en route, 30 minutes prior to the target bedtime at your destination. It doesn't need to be taken en route for westward travel).

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Prepare before the flight: Take 5 mg of melatonin, wake up earlier, and get bright light exposure. Day of the flight: take 5 mg of melatonin at 6 p.m. After the flight: take 5 mg at bedtime until adapted, and get 30 minutes of outdoor exercise to help speed up the process.

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Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked baggage. TSA officers may instruct travelers to separate items from carry-on bags such as foods, powders, and any materials that can clutter bags and obstruct clear images on the X-ray machine.

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