Questions and Answers

Hi Ben,

Thanks to your blogs, I’ve been able to travel in style across the pacific, and have come to the conclusion that something must change and I desperately need your help!

Problem: I can’t sleep on planes!

It doesn’t matter if it’s a nice suite on EK, KE, JL, SQ etc etc. I’ve tried them all in J/F. The most impressive one was a double header from ICN-DXB-HOU, where I just couldn’t get any sleep! Nothing would help.

The best sleep I got was actually on SQ Economy bulkhead after a sleep-aid, but then I couldn’t replicate that experience on Korean first (I was the only passenger). At most, I get an hour or so nap.

Please give me (and others like me) some tips on getting solid 4-6 hours of sleep on flights.

I assume you’ve looked into pharmaceutical options? Are you able to identify the root of the problem? Are you stressed out? Light? Sound?

Cut back on the alcohol, eat less, trade the IFE for a book and dim reading lights.

Basically, being really boring will make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep, but that still might not be enough for you. Everyone is a bit different!

I’d also make a general suggestion about being active before the flight. The more tired I am, the more likely I’ll be to fall asleep easily.

If pharmaceutical options don’t work, I would look into doing shorter segments on day flights and sleep in a hotel bed at night.

Instead of ICN-DXB-HOU do ICN-DOH-LON-HOU with night stops in DOH and LON.

It will take you longer to get where you are going, but at least you will be able to function when you get there, and as a bonus you get to see a bit more of the world as well.