Unisom sleep tab an hour or so before you board. Comfy clothes. Neck pillow. Scarf/pashmina to cover yourself. You’ll likely fall asleep but won’t be a loopy mess. And you’ll be fine when they turn the lights on before landing. Try it out at home first.

Anonymous wrote:I've taken pills and still can't sleep on overnight flights. I don't know why I struggle so much! Meanwhile DH is conked out an hour after takeoff with no pills.

I have done pills with cocktail/wine on flight- probably not recommended and still couldn’t sleep. I’m almost always in coach, so sleep is hard to come by when you’re that uncomfortable.

A little bit of Tylenol PM.

I've taken pills and still can't sleep on overnight flights. I don't know why I struggle so much! Meanwhile DH is conked out an hour after takeoff with no pills.

Can you switch to a direct flt to Amsterdam? I take the direct flight regularly and it’s so much better bc it’s a little longer so you should be able to get 5.5 or 6 hours of sleep. Eat before you get on the flight. As your boarding take a melatonin. Tell them you do not want any meals. Eye mask, neck pillow & ear plugs

Don’t try so hard to sleep. It just makes it harder to fall asleep.

Make sure you’re comfy in your joggers etc, and warm enough with your blanket around you. Warm wool socks. Take off your shoes. I wear a pair of Dansko flats that are flexible and stretchy on the plane. A scarf or neck gaiter. Merino wool or cashmere hoodie.

Put on an comfortable eye mask that blocks out light. Maybe try lavender spray on mask. Put in your ear plugs. Focus on the engine sounds, it’s pretty good white noise.

Even if you don’t fall into a deep sleep, just keep your eyes closed, eye mask on and try to relax your mind. Pay attention to your breathing or engine sounds. Pick one focus.

I wasn’t able to have a deep sleep en route to Amsterdam on my trip last month, it was light sleep on and off, but when I opened my eyes and took off the eye mask, I was surprisingly refreshed and felt sharp. I had a coffee around 1 pm to get me through to evening the next day.

10mg ambien and I just got this fabulous inflatable pillow: Neck Pillow for Travel,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFNQVN7P

Anonymous wrote:Ok but if you don’t already have Xanax good luck just getting a prescription for one. Presumably most people who ask this aren’t carrying Xanax around and are asking for other options.

Agree it’s not simple- sometimes your GP will prescribe a low dose and about 8 pills if you say you have an international flight and have flight anxiety. It really should not be chased with alcohol under any circumstances.

Ok but if you don’t already have Xanax good luck just getting a prescription for one. Presumably most people who ask this aren’t carrying Xanax around and are asking for other options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:xanax 30 minutes before take off

+1 that is a magic pill for sleeping on flights

It is. Recently I got stuck sitting in a middle seat on a 5 hour flight next to a rather "pungent" seat neighbor. I took 2 Xanax. Plus a glass a wine. Plus melatonin. Obviously I survived but yeah, not the best idea in retrospect. 0/10 do not recommend.

There are sleep pods at Heathrow. Can you nap there on the layover?

Can you change travel dates and go the day before? Might be worth considering!