# How do you sleep on airplanes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 1, 2002, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-on-airplanes/134776 "2002-11-01T00:26:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-on-airplanes/134776/21 "2002-11-03T03:10:06Z")
I can usually fall asleep in an airplane, but I find that staying awake for 24 hours prior to the flight helps. Of course, in order to do that, you’d have to ruin your whole sleep schedule, which is exactly what you’d like to avoid. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-on-airplanes/134776/22 "2002-11-03T04:35:22Z")
Lord, I can NOT sleep on planes or sitting up on trains, not matter how comfortable I try to be and what kind of drugs I take. If I try to exhaust myself beforehand I’m just. . even more exhausted and destroyed. This summer I had BAD trip-- I’m on the west coast and had to get up at 5 AM for the flight-- could not sleep at all and got into Brussels at 10Am Brussels-time the next day or however it works (14 hour flight?), then had to do this train ordeal, get to Antwerp, find my place to stay, and go take a placement language exam at 3 PM. Hellish day. These days I just try to keep busy on the plane-- if I try to sleep I’ll go insane with frustration. I feel for you. I’m too nervous about. . . strange events. . . to take any real tranquilizers or anything on a plane. You never know when you might have to go down that funky slide thing in the middle of the ocean? Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![OMO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cc9497/32.png) [@OMO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OMO)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-on-airplanes/134776/23 "2002-11-03T05:07:17Z")
Two Tylenol PMs and two mini-bottle beverages of your choice…consumed ASAP thereafter. I’m batting .900 with this method…compare to maybe .050 prior. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-on-airplanes/134776/24 "2002-11-03T05:49:09Z")
The probability of getting killed in a plane crash is much lower than that of getting killed in a car accident. Relax. ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-on-airplanes/134776/25 "2002-11-03T22:12:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Urban Ranger \* > \*\*The probability of getting killed in a plane crash is much lower than that of getting killed in a car accident. Relax. \*\* No offense, but has this ever reassured _anyone_? I think the reason people are nervous about planes is that they aren’t in control of the plane. Sure, you might be more likely to get in a car accident, but you would at least be in control (assuming you’re driving). Ah well, sorry for the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-on-airplanes/134776/26 "2002-11-04T01:24:25Z")
25 miligrams triazalom (halycion) - see your doctor - the stuff hits fast, burns off fast - perfect for your use. IANAMD, I just use the stuff ---
**Author:** ![tsarina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@tsarina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsarina)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-on-airplanes/134776/27 "2002-11-04T02:52:05Z")
During an overnight flight to Germany last year I downed a couple of Tylenol PMs, and I managed to catch about an hour and a half of sleep, which was better than nothing. I’m another one of those people who can never fall sleep in a moving vehicle, or while sitting upright. Try and stay awake as long as possible when you get to your destination, at least until 7 or 8:00 pm local time. You’ll sleep like a baby and be fully refreshed the next morning. Have an awesome trip! (I’m also looking for tips on how to sleep on flights without the benefit of booze, because I’ll still be only 20 when I fly to Hungary in December…) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep-on-airplanes/134776.md?page=1)