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  Reddit users share their top tips for catching some shut-eye during a flight.
  
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  What’s your favorite sleep trick? Cast your vote in our poll below…
  
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  EXPLORE FURTHER: Breathtaking photos from the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
  

Many individuals find it extremely difficult to sleep on airplanes, particularly when seated upright in the economy class section.

But
Reddit
User ‘hardrollsmatrix’ uncovered some top tricks for catching zzzs when they
asked the forum
‘, ‘For those of you who can actually fall asleep during flights, what’s your trick?’

Starting with the top-rated neck pillow brand all the way to the perfect pre-flight meal timing that always seems to work, we share some of the best advice from seasoned travelers and habitual dozers…

WINDOW SEAT

‘Bwainwright’ mentions they ‘previously traveled from the UK to
California
And return each month for a few years until they reached a stage where they would doze off during takeoff and awaken upon landing 12 hours later.

They provided numerous sleep suggestions in the initial post; the very first one was securing a window seat, noting, ‘You’re less likely to be disrupted when fellow travelers need to pass by, plus you can lean against the wall for support.’

‘If you manage to secure an exit row or a seat with additional legroom, then that’s excellent.’

‘Nonetheless, approach exit row seating cautiously as these typically offer narrower seat space and on certain aircraft may also limit how much you can lean back.’

‘TreeLakeRockCloud’ mentions: ‘A couple of weeks back, during a 5-hour flight, I managed to sleep peacefully. I was seated at the window, and I instructed the person next to me by the aisle to rouse me only if it was absolutely necessary—like in case of an emergency. As soon as we started our descent, my ears began to hurt, which woke me up.’

RED-EYE FLIGHTS

A lot of travelers suggest reserving red-eye flights, those that take off past midnight and land just as dawn breaks.

‘MoiJaimeLesCrepes’ mentions this is ‘to steer clear of flights filled with many families. The preference is for trips taken mostly by business travelers or those that aren’t in high demand’.

‘MOS95B’ mentions: ‘Whenever I need to travel by air, I prefer booking “off-peak” flights. This means I end up departing very late at night—often around midnight—or long past my usual bedtime. By the time I board my flight, I’m usually quite tired and ready for a good snooze.’

COMFY CLOTHING

The following advice from ‘Bwainwright’, as shared by other users, suggests wearing comfy clothes. They mention they always pack a zip-up hoodie that’s simple to remove and wear again when needed.

They add: ‘I prefer raising the hood as it signals to the flight attendants that I am attempting to sleep and aids in making me feel somewhat isolated from the cabin, though it might be uncomfortable due to heat for some individuals.’

NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES

‘Bwainwright,’ like numerous other Redditors, suggests using noise-canceling headphones—even when they aren’t emitting sound.

They add: ‘I frequently listen to a podcast or soothing music to help me sleep, and I keep the noise-cancelling feature activated after it ends, which helps block out the engine noise.’

‘Kaiyotic’, who says they used to never be able to sleep on planes, also suggests wearing noise-cancelling headphones, having successfully tried it on a flight to Dubai.

They mention: ‘I didn’t play any music or make any noise at all, yet simply decreasing the surrounding sounds was sufficient for me to fall asleep.’

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, similar to ‘roboticWanderer’, you could opt for standard earplugs instead.

It is said that they provide superior noise cancellation without requiring batteries, and allow your head to rest comfortably against the side. Additionally, they help reduce the effects of cabin pressure changes, preventing the popping sensation in your ears.

‘I simply use inexpensive, foam earplugs that are quite soft and suitable for extended wear.’

SLEEP ACCESSORIES

A tip shared by ‘bwainwright’ involves purchasing a high-quality sleep mask prior to your flight, since the masks provided onboard tend to be quite flimsy and allow plenty of light through at the bottom.

‘$10 [£8] will secure you a superior one prior to your departure,’ they mention additionally.

Many airplane seats come equipped with wings that extend to serve as headrests; ‘bwainwright’ and numerous others recommend unfolding them fully whenever possible, alongside adjusting the seatback to recline.

‘They say, “You’ve paid for the space, so make full use of it!”‘

However, neck pillows are widely suggested by many, particularly
the ‘trtl
‘as ‘bwainwright’ describes it, ‘it’s an odd-looking item that basically merges a rigid plastic collar with a neck scarf. You secure it around your neck, and the support frame holds up your head from one side.’

‘The trtl pillow is fantastic for sleeping upright,’ remarks ‘roboticWanderer’.

When ‘nyut nyut’ gave it a try, they actually managed to get some sleep, which is typically unachievable for them.

‘5leeplessinvancouver’ mentions: ‘Something transformative for me was a foot hammock. It attaches to the tray table frame, allowing you to rest your feet comfortably.’

HOW TO CONSUME FOOD AND BEVERAGE

Although many believe that a glass of red wine helps induce sleep during flights, Reddit users argue that alcohol is more prone to ‘disrupt your slumber’ when flying.

‘Lk05321’ comments: ‘If drinking isn\’t your thing, then abstain from it! Indeed, alcohol is unlimited during flights across the Atlantic Ocean; however, due to the low air pressure inside the aircraft which equates to about 10,000 feet (or roughly 3 kilometers), consuming even just a single beverage could lead to dehydration and a nasty hangover-like headache later. It’s worth noting that some individuals become highly intoxicated quite easily.’

‘Ukexpat’ also cautions against drinking excessive alcohol and advises not to overindulge in food.

In contrast, ‘Abqkat’ takes extraordinary measures regarding meals prior to lengthy flights.

They add: ‘For me as well, food plays a crucial role, aiding my digestion to adapt to the new time zone and meal schedules.’

‘I observe a one-day fast prior to an 8-hour plus flight considering the time zone change, catch some sleep during the journey, and arrive aligned with the local timing. It works perfectly each time.’

In the meantime, ‘Spiritual-Mechanic-4’, who admits to being a devoted coffee lover, shares their top advice as avoiding coffee prior to flying.

HOT CHOCOLATE HACK

Yet another ingenious technique shared by ‘Clever_Mercury’ involves sipping a little cup of hot chocolate right before bedtime each evening for seven days.

‘On the airplane, ask for a small hot chocolate,’ they suggest. ‘Given typical circumstances and assuming no significant health problems, this has a good likelihood of helping you fall asleep.’

Although using chamomile tea is also considered ‘a safe choice,’ chocolate contains an amino acid named tryptophan which aids in sleeping.

BORE YOURSELF

If everything else doesn’t work, simply bore yourself until you feel like dozing off.

Similar to others, ‘Spunkyla’ secures the first available flight and picks ‘the most tedious book they can find’.

‘I begin reading the book immediately after we take off,’ they mention.

‘ExpressSpecial9033’ mentions they also engage in this activity and even listen to a podcast ‘where the speaker has a monotonous voice’.

‘Blend them together and tune into an audiobook; I usually drift off quite fast. Score!’ they mention.

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