Overnight flight to London- zzquil?

[Anonymous]

Another one who's used Tylenol PM reasonably successfully on overnight flights. I am a terrible plane sleeper, but the pills definitely help.

If you take something, I recommend taking it an hour or so before the flight so it has some time to kick in. The minute the flight takes off, put on your eyemask/earplugs and try to zonk out.

There's been some research showing the easiest time to get to sleep on a plane is just after it reaches altitude because there's a slight drop in oxygen levels due to air pressure and your body takes a little while to adjust. During that adjustment period is prime sleep-falling time. Acceleration also helps with a sleepy effect. Anecdotally I've most certainly found with my toddler that if I get her asleep right after take-off, she's good for hours...but if I miss that window, yeah, it's not gonna happen. (One source on this if it's of interest: https://www.inverse.com/article/24244-why-fall-asleep-on-planes-oxygen-cabin-pressure-flight-aircraft)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The flight isn't that long, and if you're leaving in the evening (East Coast time), you'll be arriving in London in the middle of the night (like 1 or 2am East Coast time). I wouldn't want to be in a sleeping pill coma at that point. Better off having glass of wine and just trying to sleep without meds. You'll feel better when you have to wake up at 2am.

there’s a flight that leaves here at 10pm and gets there at 10am local time. …. Ish. That’s perfect timrknh for sleeping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:typically when one flies internationally (I never have and am leaving for Iceland in June) do you get a better seat than flying domestically?

Sometimes, but often not. It can be the same tiny coach seat. I had a HORRIBLE seat on an American flight to London that was worse in terms of legroom than pretty much any domestic coach section I've ever been in. My knees were pressed against the seatback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:typically when one flies internationally (I never have and am leaving for Iceland in June) do you get a better seat than flying domestically?

You mean are the international planes nicer than domestic ones? They do use bigger planes to go to Europe, but they're the same planes that fly domestically. The seats are usually identical.

Iceland's a pretty short flight, especially for an international flight. I think most of the flights there are single aisle planes- 737, 757, and Airbus 320. You can even find single-aisle planes to Ireland and the UK. We did a 757 to Ireland and it was fine. I've been on a United 777, which is the biggest plane in United's fleet and felt pretty cramped.

[Anonymous]

Business class when going over, preferably departing after 9pm. I easily fall asleep in the larger seats. No sleep-aids ever. Economy for return trip.

[Anonymous]

Do you have any experience taking Nyquil or benadryl for sleep? Even if you do sleep, you can feel terrible when you wake up. Unless I am in a multi-night bout of insomnia, I would much rather just lose sleep than take benadryl.

[Anonymous]

I personally wouldn't because Zquil causes me to have extremely bizarre dreams and I sleeptalk when I take it. I didn't believe it until DH told me to take it and use my sleep app. Sure enough I was telling the lions not to hog the spaghetti at 2am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Zzzquil is literally Benadryl. Diphenhydramine HCL = Benadryl= zzzquil

Duh? Everybody knows that. But if you are only taking it for sleep you don’t need the antihistamine so don’t take Benadryl; just take Zzquil.

[Anonymous]

Whatever you decide to take, do try it out ahead of time at home if it’s new for you. For example, Benadryl makes me hyper/wound up instead of drowsy, and I had an awful reaction to melatonin which I was considering for jet lag, so glad I tried it out at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:typically when one flies internationally (I never have and am leaving for Iceland in June) do you get a better seat than flying domestically?

Yes but not in on Iceland Air. Just did it. Six hours of torture on a 737 with a concrete bench for a seat (or so it seems).

Also be sure to take the bus into Reykjavík or rent a car — taxis are insanely expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zzzquil is literally Benadryl. Diphenhydramine HCL = Benadryl= zzzquil

Duh? Everybody knows that. But if you are only taking it for sleep you don’t need the antihistamine so don’t take Benadryl; just take Zzquil.

Umm, Diphenhydramine HCL is the active ingredient in benadryl - aka the part that works as an antihistamine. Zzquil is just marketing the same thing in a different package. I’d buy whatever generic Diphenhydramine is cheapest (and ideally one without artificial colors).