- Users of Reddit share their top tips for catching some shut-eye during flights.
- What’s your favorite trick for getting a good night’s sleep? Cast your vote in the poll below!
- EXPLORE FURTHER: Spectacular 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 those zzzs when they asked the forum ', 'For those of you who succeed in sleeping during flights, what's your trick?'
From the top-rated neck pillow brand to the pre-flight dining plan that always seems to work, we share some of the best advice from seasoned travelers and regular dozers...
WINDOW SEAT
‘Bwainwright’ says they ‘used to travel from the UK to California and back every month for a couple of years and got to the point where [they] could fall asleep when taxiing to the runway and wake up when coming into land 12 hours later’.
They give the original post loads of tips for sleeping, the first of which being to ensure you nab a window seat, adding: ‘‘You're likely to not be disturbed by other passengers needing to get past you, and you'll have the bulk head to rest against.
‘If you can get an exit row or a row with extra leg room, then great.
'Nonetheless, approach exit row seating cautiously as these seats frequently offer narrower legroom and may not allow you to recline on certain aircraft.'
'TreeLakeRockCloud' mentions: 'A couple of weeks back, during a 5-hour flight, I managed to sleep deeply. I was seated at the window, and I instructed the person next to me by the aisle to rouse me solely in case of an emergency. Consequently, I drifted off right after we took off and later awakened when our descent caused discomfort in my ears.'
RED-EYE FLIGHTS
A lot of travelers suggest reserving redeye flights, those that take off in the wee hours and land just as dawn breaks.
'MoiJaimeLesCrepes' states this is 'to steer clear of flights filled with many families. The preference is for trips with mostly business travelers or those that tend to be less crowded'.
'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—around midnight—or long past my usual bedtime. In both cases, by the time I board the plane, I am more than prepared for a good nap.'
COMFY CLOTHING
The following advice from 'Bwainwright', as shared by other users, suggests wearing comfy clothes. They mention that they always pack a zip-up hoodie which is convenient for taking off and putting back on during their travels.
They add: 'I prefer raising the hood as it signals to the flight attendants that I am attempting to sleep and assists me in feeling somewhat isolated from the cabin, though it might become warm for others.'
NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
'Bwainwright,' like numerous other Reddit users, suggests using noise-canceling headphones—even when they aren’t producing any sound.
They mention, 'I frequently listen to a podcast or soothing music to help me sleep, and I keep the noise-cancellation active after it ends to block out the engine sounds.'
'Kaiyotic,' who previously struggled with sleeping on airplanes, recommends using noise-canceling headphones after finding success during a trip to Dubai.
They mention: 'I didn’t play any music or make any noise at all, yet simply minimizing the surrounding sounds was sufficient for me to fall asleep.'
If you prefer something more budget-friendly, such as the 'Robotic Wanderer', you can opt for standard earplugs instead.
It is mentioned: 'These provide superior noise cancellation without requiring batteries, plus they offer comfortable side support. Additionally, they help balance out fluctuations in cabin pressure, preventing the popping sensation in your ears.'
'I simply use inexpensive, foam varieties that are quite plush and suitable for extended periods of use.'
SLEEP ACCESSORIES
A tip shared by 'bwainwright' involves purchasing a high-quality sleep mask prior to your flight, since the masks provided onboard are typically "rather flimsy and allow quite a bit of light through at the bottom."
'$10 [£8] will buy you a nicer one for when you travel,' they mention additionally.
Many airplane seats feature wings that extend to serve as headrests; 'bwainwright' and numerous others recommend unfolding them entirely whenever possible, alongside adjusting the seatback to recline.
'You've paid for the space, so make use of it!' they say.
However, neck pillows are highly suggested by the majority, particularly the 'trtl ', which ‘bwainwright’ says is ‘a weird looking thing which is essentially a stiff plastic neck brace combined with a neck scarf. You wrap it around your neck and the brace supports your head on one side’.
‘The trtl pillow is amazing for sleeping sitting up,’ adds ‘roboticWanderor’.
And when ‘nyutnyut’ tried it, they ‘did actually get a bit of sleep which is usually impossible’ for them.
‘5leeplessinvancouver’ adds: ‘A game changer for me has been a foot hammock. You hang it from the tray table frame and you can put your feet up on it.’
HOW TO CONSUME FOOD AND BEVERAGE
Although numerous people believe that drinking a glass of red wine helps them doze off during flights, Reddit users argue that alcohol can actually 'disrupt your sleep' when traveling by air.
'Lk05321' notes: 'Avoid drinking unless you're used to it! While alcohol is unlimited during a transatlantic trip, remember that the cabin pressure equals an altitude of about 10,000 feet (3 kilometers). This means even just one alcoholic beverage could lead to a hangover-like headache. It’s easy for some individuals to become quite intoxicated.'
'Ukexpat' also cautions against consuming excessive alcohol and advises avoiding overindulgence in food.
In the meantime, 'Abqkat' takes extraordinary measures prior to lengthy flights concerning meals.
They add: 'Eating plays a crucial role for me as well, aiding in adjusting my digestion to the new time zone and meal schedules.'
'I observe a fasting day prior to an 8-hour plus flight including 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 confessed caffeine addict, offers their top advice as avoiding coffee prior to flying.
HOT CHOCOLATE HACK
Yet another ingenious technique shared by 'Clever_Mercury' involves sipping a tiny mug of hot chocolate right before bedtime each evening for seven days.
'Once you're on the plane, ask for a small hot chocolate,' they suggest. 'Provided everything is usual and there are no significant health concerns, this has a good likelihood of helping you fall asleep.'
Although using chamomile tea for this purpose is often recommended as well, 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' reserves their first available flight, yet they also choose 'the dullest book [they] could locate'.
'I begin reading the book immediately after we take off,' they mention.
'ExpressSpecial9033' mentions they also engage in this activity and enjoy listening to a podcast where the speaker has a dull monotone voice.
'Blend them together and tune into an audiobook; I usually drift off quite fast. Score!' they mention.
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