Travelling long haul - how do you arrange sleep?

folan

Hi guys

in a couple of weeks ill be flying from Dublin to Bangkok, and was wondering how others have arranged their sleep?

So what I'm really asking is, I am flying out at 20:55 from Dublin, change over after 6:30 hours (1:30 stopover), and then the remainder to arrive in Bangkok for roughly 18:00 local time. this is, to me who's only ever flown to the US in the past, is a pretty big change, and I don't want to arrive in Bangkok at 18:00 after sleeping for the last few hours so it seems like 07:00.

Any tips for how to handle myself on this flight? I'm planning on sleeping early on the first leg, and staying awake on the second leg, but then it was also suggested to try to sleep 3 hours on both flights in the middle, but I'm not a great sleeper so i cant see that working.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Get knackered drunk, that way you can sleep whenever you like for as long as you like. Curry cheese chips may also be necessary.

Thoie

I can't sleep on planes, but if I could, I'd switch my watch to Bangkok time as I got on the plane in Dublin, and would aim to be awake from 10am Bangkok time, which seems to match your plan of sleep on the first flight. What were the advantages given of sleeping 3 hours on each flight?

folan

Thoie wrote: »

I can't sleep on planes, but if I could, I'd switch my watch to Bangkok time as I got on the plane in Dublin, and would aim to be awake from 10am Bangkok time, which seems to match your plan of sleep on the first flight. What were the advantages given of sleeping 3 hours on each flight?

ive never been too successful either, but its basically what im planning. Im not sure, but ill probably do it that way, have a couple of beers in the airport, ignore the daylight outside and try to sleep from when i get on the plane.

The 3 and 3 was suggested by a friend who can sleep almost at will it seams, and they said it was grand to keep them rested and energetic when they got there, but also that they were fresh for the stopover too.

eagerv

You will have no problem.

Try and start the trip after a very good sleep, seeing your flight is late in day that should be no problem. You will naturally feel tired on the second leg, try and doze even if you cannot sleep. I find loads of fluids, including alcohol:)helps!

After arriving I usually try and get a few hours kip, but set alarm clock so you dont sleep too long. South East Asia will then only be coming alive! Enjoy the evening and after a good sleep you will feel fine the next day.

Everbody reacts differently but I find the above works fine for me and my family. The most important thing is not to start the trip exhausted.

Enjoy your trip, tell us how it goes..

I find that a window seat is best - I pick left side.
That way you can lean up against the side of plane.
Also - nobody will wake you up to get to the toilet.
Sometimes you'll be lucky and get nobody in the middle.
Log into flight in advance and select seat.

buy one of those pillows - not the inflatable ones. use airline pillow also for extra cushion!
get an eye / blackout mask.
get earplugs.

maybe get a sleeping pill or over-the-counter product.

seven_eleven

I'm not able to sleep on planes no matter what.

I find nothing works. I even tried to change my sleeping pattern to match the timezone I was flying to one. I didn't work. I jet lag is just something you can't avoid.

Stinicker

I'm in Thailand now and flew the same flight last week (it is the Etihad one right?) The flights are almost always full and they will almost inevitably be a crying baby somewhere nearby so getting sleep for me was very difficult.

On the flight from Dublin to Abu Dhabi it was 2-4-2 seating on an Airbus A330 and Abu Dhabi to Bangkok on the Boeing 777-300ER is 3-4-3 and the 3-4-3 seating is quite cramped but I was lucky and got a seat at the back of the plane which is 2-4-2.

I had pre-reserved window seats but this was changed at the gate and I was flung into the middle aisle for the Abu Dhabi flight and got an aisle seat for the Bangkok flight. I'd recommend getting an aisle seat or a seat near the rear of the aircraft on the Boeing 777-300ER from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok as it is quite claustrophobic and cramped and with an aisle seat you can get up and stretch your legs out into the aisle.

The Etihad service is okay but far inferior to an A380 flight but better than Emirates god-awful service.

I managed to sleep about less than one hour on each flight (7hrs from Dublin & 6.5hrs from Abu Dhabi). The security queue in Abu Dhabi for transit only took about 15-20mins compared to over 1hour last year in Dubai as I often fly via the Middle East and rate Abu Dhabi airport far ahead of Dubai which is too crowded.

My advice is to drink loads of fluids (not alcohol) and it will help keep you vitalised on the flight as the air is very dry and can cause all sorts of havoc with your nasal cavities, oh and pack a hoody in your carryon because the flights I were on were absolutely freezing as the A/C was set way too cold, had I not brought my hoody I would have perished!

Buy very little currency in Bangkok airport as the rate is woeful and best bet is to bring around EUR500 and change it in a money changer in Bangkok and the current rate is EUR1 = 40.40THB wheras my BOI Mastercard gave me 39.2THB today rip-off. Don't bring too much cash though because of the theft risk but bring enough to benefit from the better local exchange rates. Thailand has the rainy season now so pack very light clothes and maybe 1 raincoat, bring suncream as its expensive here.

I was completely wrecked the day after my flight and quite jet-lagged and it really takes me at least one day to adjust and at least 2 before I feel normal again, the heat and humidity takes getting used to also compared to the muck weather we have at home.

Have fun it is a great place and I'm just in a netcafe now while I wait for a monsoon outside to dry up!

eagerv

glasso wrote: »

I find that a window seat is best - I pick left side.
That way you can lean up against the side of plane.
Also - nobody will wake you up to get to the toilet.
Sometimes you'll be lucky and get nobody in the middle.
Log into flight in advance and select seat.

buy one of those pillows - not the inflatable ones. use airline pillow also for extra cushion!
get an eye / blackout mask.
get earplugs.

maybe get a sleeping pill or over-the-counter product.

I would strongly advise not taking a sleeping pill.
Took one once and was awoken by an announcement. Didnt know where I was, apparently I stood up shouting!!

Something to help you relax possibly such as Zanax may be ok, but I find alcohol works better!

Be carefull if stopping off in UAE or similar countries, many of our normal drugs are illegal. Make sure you have a script or Doctors letter even for Codeine based medecines, such as Solpadol.

Stinicker

eagerv wrote: »

I would strongly advise not taking a sleeping pill.
Took one once and was awoken by an announcement. Didnt know where I was, apparently I stood up shouting!!

Something to help you relax possibly such as Zanax may be ok, but I find alcohol works better!

Be carefull if stopping off in UAE or similar countries, many of our normal drugs are illegal. Make sure you have a script or Doctors letter even for Codeine based medecines, such as Solpadol.

You could just put them in your checked luggage which is transferred through and not in your carryon. When you transit the airports in the middle east you technically never actually enter the U.A.E and don't get a passport stamp or anything. But having a doctors script is a good idea anyway and as for the op all these drugs can be bought over the counter in Thailand anyway. I used to take sleeping pills on long haul before but I found they had the opposite effect and kept me awoke in a drunkard like state so stopped taking them for flying.

eagerv

Stinicker wrote: »

You could just put them in your checked luggage which is transferred through and not in your carryon. When you transit the airports in the middle east you technically never actually enter the U.A.E and don't get a passport stamp or anything. But having a doctors script is a good idea anyway and as for the op all these drugs can be bought over the counter in Thailand anyway. I used to take sleeping pills on long haul before but I found they had the opposite effect and kept me awoke in a drunkard like state so stopped taking them for flying.

That true Stinicker, but just before Christmas we had to stay a night because our flight was delayed. Well worth bringing a letter, I have read some of the horror stories!

I find just dozing does me fine, with little or no jetlag. I certainly wouldnt advise much alcohol, but the Emirates wine is quite sleep inducing! Plus loads of juice/water.

Its the next leg if travelling to Oz that can be a killer!

Stinicker

eagerv wrote: »

Its the next leg if travelling to Oz that can be a killer!

Singapore, KL or Bangkok are the best options for transiting to Australia with a two or three day break in between. If on the A380 from Dubai it would be just doable but not on the 777-300. Longest I ever did was 16hrs on the A380 from Sydney to LAX and even then I was well wrecked and I'd never dream of going to Australia in one day without a stop-over and chance to sleep properly in between.

eagerv

Stinicker wrote: »

Singapore, KL or Bangkok are the best options for transiting to Australia with a two or three day break in between. If on the A380 from Dubai it would be just doable but not on the 777-300. Longest I ever did was 16hrs on the A380 from Sydney to LAX and even then I was well wrecked and I'd never dream of going to Australia in one day without a stop-over and chance to sleep properly in between.

I normally use KL. I find it a very stress free airport. I also always stop for a few days. I prefer the timing of Emirates or Malaysia Airllines. They get you to KL before tiredness really kicks in.

I agree that Emirates seats are a bit tight. Fortunately I'm not too wide on the beam! Last trip I booked row 17 A,B and C for a few flights (First row economy) and must say it was pretty good. Also the food was good and the wine excellent!

ectoraige

Your body clock isn't set just by your sleeping time, meal-time is very important too. I believe that the best thing to do is to start eating and sleeping as though you were already in the destination timezone on the day prior to departure. I've done that flying to South America which consisted of a 2 hours flight, 2 hour stopover, followed by an 11 hour flight.

If Bangkok is 6 hours ahead of us then on the day of departure have a decent breakfast, and a big dinner at lunchtime. Only eat a light snack if you must early that evening, but then don't eat again until the near the end of your first flight when it would be around breakfast time in Bangkok. This might illustrate it better for you:

Action|Dublin|Bangkok
Lunch (Big breakfast)|07:00|13:00
Dinner (Big lunch)|13:00|19:00
Plane Departs Dublin|20:55|02:55
Eat Breakfast|01:00|07:00
Disembark|03:25|09:25
Board 2nd Flight|04:55|10:55
Lunch|09:00|13:00
Arrive Bangkok|12:00|18:00


You should also try to match your sleeping patterns as much as possible. Ideally given the time of your flight you would try to get as much shut-eye as you can on your way to the airport and while waiting at check-in etc. Once you board the plane sleep as much as you can for the first leg until it's time for breakfast. The stopover and second flight all take place during the daytime (Bangkok time) so try not to sleep at all during this period.
Once you're in Bangkok try to have dinner as soon as possible, don't faff around unpacking. You'll probably be tired at this stage so an early night should set you up for a bright start to your holiday the next morning.

The temptation however is to be excited and stay awake eating and driking during the first flight, only to have it all catch up on you for the second flight at precisely the wrong time.

The airlines probably won't help either as they will give you food based on their schedule, not yours. You might have to leave the food sitting there for a few hours if they give you it at a bad time. Avoid booze, if you must partake then just have a nightcap following your departure from Dublin, it's better to stay well hydrated though which means lots of water instead.

Obviously you would adjust this schedule based on your normal eating habits.

mikewest

I find of late on flights of over 6/7 hours single leg that if I pop a sleeping pill as they are serving the first meal by the time they collect the trays I am ready for sleep and then I get 3+ hours solid sleep (got 6 the last time LHR to LAX ) This doesn't prevent me from being jet lagged but the stupidity factor is lower. I failed to do this on another recent west to east trans Atlantic (ORD to DUB) and lost an extra day to jet lag.

I find that the combination of food and the sleeping pill after the stress of the airport or transfers works fine.

As ectoraige says get as much sleep as possible on your first leg but where I would disagree is that I would recommend that on the second leg you take the opportunity to sleep as you will have max 4 hours sleep on the first leg if you are lucky and actual tiredness is as bad as classical jet lag. Remember to rehydrate after you wake up both legs. You will be tired when you get there - regardless of how much sleep you get - simply from the stresses of flying but you will be buzzing on adrenaline as well.

A couple of drinks may help you crash the adrenaline when you hit your Bangkok hotel but again keep hydrated as I think there is nothing in the world worse than a hangover combined with west-east jetlag.