If we had to do it, ugh, I don't sleep well upright either but here's what I would plan:

1. Tons of walking around the airport prior to boarding.
2. Take melatonin.
3. Bring inflatable pillow thing you put on tray table, put your arms in and rest head on.
4. Noise cancelling headphones.

I think that would be my "best" chance, but even then I'm not hoping for much. DH can fall asleep anywhere. DD too. I'm not that lucky lol!

Anonymous wrote:This is brilliant!

"
If I absolutely have to take the night flight, which I try to avoid at all costs, I will take the 5pm, watch movies the whole flight and arrive at 6ish Paris time. I book my hotel the night before so I check in early and then sleep until 2pm. Then I just go to bed late and wake up late until my body gets used to the time. I don’t even try and fight the jet lag anymore."

Why do you think it's brilliant?

We just did this recently. I don’t sleep at all sitting up do even premium Econ does nothing for me. The flight we took (no other option) left at like 5:30 pm. That’s the worst because you aren’t even that tired on the plane, and then you have to power thru a full day the next day. We managed but we were starting to lose it be early afternoon.

It’s better if you have a flight that leaves at 10 pm, more likely you sleep a little and less if the day to get through.

My family is getting reading to take an overnight to London. I haven't been sleeping well in general (thank you perimenopause). For this trip, I'm planning to pop an ambien right before dinner service and hopefully catch a few hours. Normally, I would just power through, but I'm so sleep deprived due to the insomnia I've been experiencing that I'm going to need some zzzz's.

You won’t sleep but your kids are old enough to handle this. My 9 and 13 were completely fine flying to Europe. They doze, or they don’t, but they’re not crying and restless like little ones. They just watch movies the whole night.

Anonymous wrote:I bring a normal queen size pillow and put it on the desk in economy, put my head down, and off to dreamland I go!

Same here. I always get the latest flight. Usually get 3 or 4 hours sleep, better than nothing.

I bring a normal queen size pillow and put it on the desk in economy, put my head down, and off to dreamland I go!

Always take night flights with young children, we all sleep easily in premium economy for majority of flight. No special pillows or night shades.

Anonymous wrote:Premium economy for a bit more space and a short nap in the afternoon the day you arrive - set an alarm to wake up! Get outside in the afternoon, get plenty of fresh air, eat dinner at the normal time and take melatonin 15–20 mins before untended bedtime. Go to bed at the usual bedtime.
Have done red eye flights to Europe several times with my kids and this has worked just fine.

This is what we just did. We flew IAD to CPH. Got to take a short nap once we arrived in Copenhagen and then woke up and walked around to grab dinner at a local spot.

This is brilliant!

"
If I absolutely have to take the night flight, which I try to avoid at all costs, I will take the 5pm, watch movies the whole flight and arrive at 6ish Paris time. I book my hotel the night before so I check in early and then sleep until 2pm. Then I just go to bed late and wake up late until my body gets used to the time. I don’t even try and fight the jet lag anymore."

One year we took the daytime flight to London- sure it was a long travel day - but it was the fastest I ever adapted to the jetlagged. Sure I wasted a day to travel, but I find the day after a night flight is a lost day anyway. We arrive in London, checked into our hotel and went to bed almost immediately. Woke up well rested and ready for the day. I know there aren't many options like this - but I wouldn't rule it out if its possible.

Expect very little sleep - plan accordingly for the next day. I have a pillow, earplugs and eye shades. Even with a whole row to myself were I could lie down - I only slept 2.5 hours. It takes a while for them to finish serving, then before you know it they have you up for breakfast. Anticipate cat naps and being tired the next day. The kids usually enjoy the movies and dose off but its not real sleep. Flight might be 8 hours of flying time - but the time to sleep is much less than that.

If I absolutely have to take the night flight, which I try to avoid at all costs, I will take the 5pm, watch movies the whole flight and arrive at 6ish Paris time. I book my hotel the night before so I check in early and then sleep until 2pm. Then I just go to bed late and wake up late until my body gets used to the time. I don’t even try and fight the jet lag anymore.

Anonymous wrote:I travel a lot to Europe for work and even in business calss it's not amazing sleep-wise. It's 8-9 hours to Frankfurt or Amsterdam, and with all the hubbub with meals and takeoff/landing, there's really only about 4 hours when the cabin is both dark and quiet.

Just suck it up and assume the arrival day will be a bit messed up, or do the morning all-day London flight.

I’d have to disagree here. I also travel frequently to Europe and can only swing business class ~50% of the time. To me the 4-5 hours of sleep that I’m able to get in business (versus 0 in coach since I also can’t sleep upright) especially as I get older, is a complete game changer in terms of my energy/mood the first couple of days after arrival.

Premium economy for a bit more space and a short nap in the afternoon the day you arrive - set an alarm to wake up! Get outside in the afternoon, get plenty of fresh air, eat dinner at the normal time and take melatonin 15–20 mins before untended bedtime. Go to bed at the usual bedtime.
Have done red eye flights to Europe several times with my kids and this has worked just fine.