Sleeping on long flights - What's the secret?

"Dean Wilkinson" wrote in message
...
I have heard of PIC's setting the autopilot and going to sleep on long
cross
country flights, but I wouldn't recommend that you do it... : )

That woud take balls.


"C. Osbourne" wrote in message
news:f_iod.134853$R05.103574@attbi_s53...

Hi,

I'm going on some long flights soon, and would
really like to do some sleeping during the flights.

But somehow, I can't seem to get comfortable enough
to get to sleep. I'm 6'3" 280 lbs, and the tiny
seats are -very- uncomfortable after a few hours.
(can't afford 1st class)

Can anyone suggest a method or even proper drugs
I can use to get to sleep so the flights don't seem
so long?

Thanks for answering here...

Carb Loading, a good blanket and some earplugs or Noise canceling
headphones.
Works for me,
Michelle

C. Osbourne wrote:

Hi,

I'm going on some long flights soon, and would
really like to do some sleeping during the flights.

But somehow, I can't seem to get comfortable enough
to get to sleep. I'm 6'3" 280 lbs, and the tiny
seats are -very- uncomfortable after a few hours.
(can't afford 1st class)

Can anyone suggest a method or even proper drugs
I can use to get to sleep so the flights don't seem
so long?

Thanks for answering here...





--

Michelle P ATP-ASEL, CP-AMEL, and AMT-A&P

"Elisabeth" a Maule M-7-235B (no two are alike)

Volunteer Pilot, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic

Volunteer Builder, Habitat for Humanity

"C. Osbourne" wrote:

Hi,

I'm going on some long flights soon, and would
really like to do some sleeping during the flights.

But somehow, I can't seem to get comfortable enough
to get to sleep. I'm 6'3" 280 lbs, and the tiny
seats are -very- uncomfortable after a few hours.
(can't afford 1st class)

Can anyone suggest a method or even proper drugs
I can use to get to sleep so the flights don't seem
so long?

I'm kind of assuming this is a troll given the obesity mentioned.

I suggest you stay awake.

Your corpulence ( being a fatso ) puts you at greater risk of deep vein
thrombosis.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...Se arch&meta=

Basically, inactivity can result in the formation of a blood clot in
your circulatory system ( most likely in a leg ) that can then cause
serious damage ( including death ) when dislodged.

Best bet is to remain active. Take a stroll every hour or two. Taking an
aspirin before flight thins your blood and helps prevent clotting. Drink
plenty of water and avoid too much alcohol ( staying well hydrated keeps
the blood less liable to clot ).

Frankly you're you big for an economy seat and will be a nuisance to
your immediate neighbours.

Considered losing weight ?


Graham



Oh - btw - you learn to sleep on a flight after *practice*

Sylvia Else wrote:

JohnT wrote:
"gatt" wrote in message
...

"C. Osbourne" wrote in message news:f_iod.134853$


Can anyone suggest a method or even proper drugs
I can use to get to sleep so the flights don't seem
so long?

Benadryl works great.

One time I flew to London on a 747 sandwiched between a French guy and a
fellow from Hong Kong, neither of whom spoke english. For the love of God.


Does that mean that you had to talk to them in French and Cantonese?

JohnT

No - it means that he was one of the very fortunate few who manage to
get through a seemingly interminable flight without having to indulge in
inane conversation with the person next to them.

I can see the possible issue.

For myself, however, I can say that I've had quite a few pleasant conversations on
long flights.

I was mildly amused when on a Dubai - Bombay sector, the cabin crew asked me to
befriend an older passenger they seated next to me. Nice old guy actually. Shame
about the A300.


Graham

Pooh Bear wrote:

I'm kind of assuming this is a troll given the obesity mentioned.

The possibility of a troll didn't occur to me. Mind you, I'm not used to
thinking of weights in pounds, so I missed the obesity.

Such people should pay more for their tickets. How come I pay for excess
baggage when this guy weighs more than my baggage and me put together?

Sylvia

"Sylvia Else" wrote in message
...

Pooh Bear wrote:

I'm kind of assuming this is a troll given the obesity mentioned.

The possibility of a troll didn't occur to me. Mind you, I'm not used to
thinking of weights in pounds, so I missed the obesity.

Such people should pay more for their tickets. How come I pay for excess
baggage when this guy weighs more than my baggage and me put together?

How come we can pay significantly more for a 300-mile trip between two small
markets than for a 3000-mile trip in a competitive city pair? Because
airline market imperatives dictate that the cost of a service and its price
aren't always directly related.

Rob McDonald wrote:

Seats at bulkheads and emergency exits usually have a little more leg
room, sometimes if you get to the airport early you can request one of
these seats.

It pays to arrive early.

I have rarely *not* got a seat behind the overwing exit. One of the best
places to be able to stretch your legs.


I go out of my way to be polite and cheerful when making
these requests... I have eccasionally been offered a free upgrade to
business class - that makes a big difference on a 7-1/2 hr flight!

I made a fuss once about being 'bumped'. All 6 of us got upgraded. 5 in
business and 1 in first ( since he was feeling unwell ).

And yes - it makes a difference !

Don't take any **** - but equally don't over-do it. Ask to to speak to the
station manager.

Kinda - be firm but reasonable if bumped.


I do six to eight hour flights several times each year. I can rarely
sleep if it's a day flight,though I would like to, Whenever possible I
take a late departure arriving in the morning. A glass of wine with
dinner, a blanket & blindfold and I always sleep on the night flights.

Night flights are easier - the cabin crew *want* you to sleep ! Don't
refuse the blanket - you'll need it as they reduce the cabin temp !


The suggestion by another poster to see your doctor for a mild sedative
is a good one. I have also found that cold medications and anti nausea
medications usually put me to sleep.

Sounds like you found some sedative meds.

Some docs may prescribe you diazepam ( valium ) or the like. Depends how
they feel abour prescribing such stuff. You may have a better bet of
getting prescribed if you suggest you're afraid of flying.

Since I feel fine flying - I just sleep anyway ( but it takes time to get
used to doing it on a plane ) . Modest alcohol intake may help.


Graham

"G.R. Patterson III" writes:

"C. Osbourne" wrote:

I'm going on some long flights soon, and would
really like to do some sleeping during the flights.

So, *why* crosspost this to rec.aviation.piloting? We work very hard to stay awake when we're
flying.

He also cross-posted to alt.disasters.aviation. Maybe posting to
r.a.p. *and* a.d.a. makes sense.

Which is exactly why several airlines have introduced a Premium Economy, to
provide more service and greater comfort for people willing to pay more than
economy but not as much as Business class. Working quite well for a couple
of them.

Shawn
"C Kingsbury" wrote in message
ink.net...

"ShawnD2112" wrote in message
...
Not entirely true, Jay. Airlines work very hard to make sure their seats
are as comfortable as possible. That's how they differentiate from the
competition. But there are limits to what you can do. Airlines have to
make a buck and economy passengers aren't interested in paying one dollar
more than they have to to get where they're going.

I used to fly between the US and Germany regularly on business. Every time
I
bought my tickets I'd check prices in both business and coach. In coach I
only once paid more than $800 for a roundtrip, and business class was
usually around $5000. Coach always had discounts available while business
was usually sold full-fare only. I can see paying a bit more, double even,
but six times as much?

The problem is that there is no "intermediate" offering much of the time.
You can have a 39-cent cheeseburger at McDonald's, or a $50 steak at Smith
&
Wollensky's. This is true of domestic first class in the US as well, but
that's very accessible to those who travel regularly and get into the
elite
programs.

-cwk.

John Mazor wrote:
"Sylvia Else" wrote in message
...

Pooh Bear wrote:


I'm kind of assuming this is a troll given the obesity mentioned.

The possibility of a troll didn't occur to me. Mind you, I'm not used to
thinking of weights in pounds, so I missed the obesity.

Such people should pay more for their tickets. How come I pay for excess
baggage when this guy weighs more than my baggage and me put together?


How come we can pay significantly more for a 300-mile trip between two small
markets than for a 3000-mile trip in a competitive city pair? Because
airline market imperatives dictate that the cost of a service and its price
aren't always directly related.



This is true, but I rather suspect airlines would be happy to charge
obese people more, if the political (not commercial) backlash wouldn't
be so great.

Sylvia.