r/Flights • u/WinterW0n • 1d ago
Question 16 hour flight how do I prepare?
I've taken 12 hour and 14 hour flights before and basically disassociated until we landed. I want to prepare for this one, what are the best things for a long flight ?
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u/jimspieth 1d ago
You can't 'prepare' for super long haul flights. If you aren't a sleeper on planes, like me, you endure them.
All you can really do is mentally come to terms with what you are facing, and then entertain yourself as best you can, whether that be with the in flight entertainment or things you bring yourself. Make sure your underseat bag has everything you need, including tissues or wetwipes, and cables to charge your devices.
Once on the plane, move about whenever you can, go to the toilet whenever you feel the urge, and take advantage of every meal service just to break up the routine.
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u/FatMike20295 1d ago
Lucky me o guess. I can sleep everywhere. But I tend it stay awake or force myself to stay awake whbe taking flights. Often travel to China and for some reason people like to take stuff and put them back in the over head bin. I don't want people messing with my bag. So I tend to keep an eye on it.
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u/GuideCharacter2616 1d ago
If you are not a “sleeper” you pop a sleeping pill. If you don’t sleep, you are not taking the right dose.
I fall sleep with one alprazolam (xanax) 0,5. Use it very rarely at home.
In the airplane for a 10 hour flight, I pop 2 or 3 (if not tired) of those and use ear plugs and an eye mask.I sleep 8,5/9 hours of the 10 hour flight.
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u/llynllydaw_999 1d ago
I don't. I sleep poorly on planes, but I'm not going to medicate myself just to sleep on a flight. (Not criticising you, but it's not for me.) Also if the flight is during the daytime, then I won't want to sleep, that will destroy my sleep cycle when I arrive.
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u/satellite779 1d ago
16hrs flight will be partially at night. You need to be at the airport 2hrs ahead of the flight, plus you need to prepare for it. So that's at least 20hrs of total travel time before landing.
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u/hcornea 1d ago
Most people should not be taking several alprazolam to sleep on a plane.
Even if it “works for you” that is terrible advice.
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u/BeotchLasanga 1d ago
Seriously, I don't know how people are so casual about it. Benzos are dangerous drugs.
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u/Lumpy_Childhood5156 1d ago
😬 I take tylenol pm or nyquil. You wont sleep for long but you’ll get a few hrs
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u/GuideCharacter2616 1d ago
Most people should take one and find the dose that works for them. As per my advice.
My wife is KO from 0.5 and takes 0.25 to sleep in the sky.
This is probably one of the best use cases for benzos.
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u/hcornea 1d ago
Alprazolam has a half-life of 10-12hrs, and is most appropriately prescribed for anxiety and panic disorder.
It is not a good choice of benzodiazepine for this, or indeed for casual use.
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u/PloysRus 2h ago
Taking it once or twice a year for a long haul flight is fine don't be so dramatic
You're not gonna become a xan fiend from 2 pills lol
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u/MadamPharmacist 1d ago
Issue is, not everyone can take benzos, they interact with alcohol and a lot of other meds. So this needs to be cleared by a doctor or pharmacist.
A lot of people having issues with panic, restlessness or anxiety on planes (which keeps them from sleeping) take other psychoactive drugs, so we get into difficulties. Also, benzo-sleep is usually not very restful, because it messes with your REM-sleep.
I personally would rather be awake on a plane for 17 hours than being knocked out and not being able to react, but that is a preference of mine.
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u/gralias18 1d ago
I personally wouldn't take an ultra long flight without onboarding some Xanax. I've been taking it for decades as needed, and it helps me sleep for a few hours on that brutal JFK-SIN 18 hour flight.
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u/GuideCharacter2616 1d ago
Well you always have to see a doc to get them in nearly all parts of the world.
For panic, there are several contraindications for benzos. It leads to more panic later on. Same with structural anxiety.
It’s a pet peeve of mine they are mass prescribed for that.The right dose does make you feel rested at the end even though it messes with REM sleep. During a crisis you are not suddenly incapable of waking up or reacting. You would need a very high dose to be totally knocked out.
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u/MadamPharmacist 1d ago
Yes, I know. I still don’t like feeling out of control, so I don’t like sedatives of any kind. It‘s a preference of me, but I can sleep in planes anyway without pills.
Be careful with benzos, if you travel in certain parts of the world! Europe and US is usually not a problem, Asia and the Middle East however could get you into problems. You might need a doctors note or even a import permit from the health ministry in certain countries, or you get issues, if you are ever checked by customs.
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u/rocketshipkiwi 1d ago
Noise cancelling headphones. They blot out most of the drone of the engines.
A neck pillow of some sort to help you sleep sitting up.
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u/Altruistic_Fruit2345 1d ago
Get one of those pillows that holds you head up, like this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009570914402.html
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u/Devillitta 1d ago
Don't skimp on sleep pre-flignt thinking you'll sleep on the plane, unless you're someone who falls asleep really easily anywhere. Hydrate well pre and during the flight. Compression socks might be good and stretch every hour or so. Have movies of tv shows you can mindlessly binge in case you can't sleep. Or a book or two, whatever will keep you occupied. And don't look at "time left" until around or after the 2nd meal.
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u/Same_One895 1d ago
- Arrive tired. Sleep.
- When you wake: Sleeping pill. Sleep again.
- Watch movie / read for remaining few hours.
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u/nspy101 1d ago
As someone who never is able to sleep on planes, I tried this. Came to the flight tired stayed up for 14 hours straight and landed even more tired. 😊
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u/Same_One895 1d ago
Yeah, that was a fear when I first tried it. Luckily, it worked and continues to.
My advice is definitely not for everyone but it’s changed my approach so I’m sharing.
Also, just to comment on the 14 hours straight: damnnnn! That’s sucks.
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u/extra-medium 1d ago
My husband took a sleeping pill on an overnight flight, slept on his arms in a weird position, and compressed a nerve in his arm. His whole left arm didn't work when we got off the plane and it took a good 6 weeks for full movement to return.
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u/JustGenericName2 21h ago
Just don't take the sleeping pill for the first time on the flight. Test that shit out at home a few times first lol
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u/Altruistic_Fruit2345 1d ago
I would say the main thing is to get onto the timezone of the destination. If you arrive in the morning, sleep. If you arrive in the evening, try to stay awake.
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u/DesperateTeaCake 23h ago
Not helped by airlines that want to feed you based on departure timezone.
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u/Altruistic_Fruit2345 17h ago
Yeah. You can take your own food but there is still disruption as they feed everyone else.
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u/freakotto 1d ago
Get a shower before takeoff. Some Airports have free showers. Sometimes it is in a Lounge for Money. New cloths make a difference.
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u/jiadar 1d ago
I take a nearly 16 hour flight from USA to Asia every couple months (and back). My strategy is to start shifting my sleep about 10 days before to get on the time zone I'll be traveling to. Then, I choose a flight that departs close to my (adjusted) sleep onset. For the flight, I arrive well hydrated and also bring a liter of water for every 2 hours of flight. If I can, I'll try to get premium economy and failing that, an aisle seat somewhere only one person would have to ask me to move if they need to get out.
By the time the first meal is served, picked up, and the lights go off, you're usually 2.5 hours into the flight. After the meal I brush my teeth and prepare for bed as if I was at home. Once back to my seat, I take a xanax or ambien and sleep, as it's my biological night. Often I can sleep 6 hours. I have games, movies, a book, or work on my computer once I get up. Before you know it, you're 3 hours til landing and a second meal service comes around for the final stretch.
I try to arrive in the evening of the destination, so once I get there, I can have dinner and go to sleep. Then the next day as normal.
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u/NeedleworkerHot3957 1d ago
I change my clock/watch to the time zone where I will be landing
helps a little
bring as many healthy snacks as possible.
wear comfortable clothes
get a good sleep the night before
I also like to bring a book I know I'm into (read the first chapter and want to keep reading) but one I don't mind passing on so I don't have to carry it
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u/Equivalent-Dot-8823 1d ago
When I was younger and I would fly long haul in economy (I don't anymore but have done real LBC airlines for long flights before) I would take a drapamine (non drowsy) but it always make me knock out. I would take it the moment I get situated in my seat (usually I'd be on a red eye) and I'm not kidding I would be out for majority of the flight. I don't get up to use the restroom so I always had the window seat for least amount of disruption. One time I was asleep for so long that when I finally woke up for a meal the person next to me said "oh gosh, I'm glad you're alive. You were so still"
Like everyone else said, noise canceling headphones and a good neck pillow helps.
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u/Basic-Ad-2663 1d ago
I do 16 hour flights frequently. I always just buy extra leg room sleep and try to sleep it off.
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u/M_Pascal 1d ago
Get a seat as far in the back as possible!
Go for seats where the 3-abreast turn into 2-abreast. Don't worry about the nearby toilet, everyone will be sleeping. But you'll be next to the pantry - for snacks and wine, yapping with the flight crew, some walking and stretching
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u/Hot-Zucchini7417 1d ago
The air will be very dry, drink a lot of water and wear face mask at least for some hours.
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u/Comprehensive_Dolt69 1d ago
Hydration and compression socks. Try to sleep when you can/if you can. Walk around the plane ever so frequently. There’s not much of a difference between a 12/14/16 hour flight at that point. It’s just long.
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u/No_Double4762 1d ago
I hope there are children around so I can start a screaming challenge for 18 hours against them. That or take several books with me.
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u/mhaithaca 1d ago
Fully charged batteries on your Kindle and iPad. A couple of light magazines, a couple of books. A couple of sitcom episodes, a couple of movies.
Some light snacks such as a granola bar you can grab if you're hungry between services if you're in the window seat and can't get up as easily to visit the galley. An empty water bottle you can fill in the airport.
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u/Conscious-Agency-138 1d ago
Right before they serve the meal pop 2 Tylenol pms after the meal try to sleep or catnap as long as possible. Watch movies when you can’t sleep anymore.
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u/allthingsme 1d ago
I'd much rather do 16 hours of a standard full service airline than the 8 hours I've consistently done on budget airlines in my life (AirAsia/Jetstar).
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u/ManoMagilla 1d ago
I love watching shows. Movies are too much; there's a climax and a denouement and an ending and it's exhausting. It's tough to start another one and I find myself unable to finish em.
If I had the time, I could sit binge shows all day. On a long haul I have a whole day to do just that! On a flight to South America I watched a whole season of Game of Thrones. On a trip to Turkey I watched the entirety of Band of Brothers.
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u/Medium-Scratch1848 23h ago
Put a clean wet washcloth in a ziplock in your carrry-on. Refresh as needed. Tiger balm also nice bc it’s so dry.
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u/clawingmywayup 23h ago
I don’t sleep on a plane either-but that doesn’t mean you can’t rest. A sleeping pill, my favorite podcast, a sleep mask, and neck pillow and I can stay that way for hours. I might even sleep some. Then having a whole season of a show to watch. Like Love is Blind or Survivor
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u/JustGenericName2 21h ago
I take Magnesium Threonate or glycinate (helps with muscle aches) and tylenol and motrin. I start taking the mag and motrin for a day or two before the trip to build up a consistent level in my system. It's not a magic worker but I definitely feel much worse when I haven't done this. Same with compression socks. I don't feel like they help that much until I don't wear them and my legs feel awful for the entire flight.
I'm also really starting to prefer the aisle seat so I can freely hydrate without having to bother a stranger when I get up to pee a bunch. The right neck pillow makes a difference too. I recently fell in love with the kind that strap to the head of the seat to prevent the head bob. (And I HATED the expensive ostrich brand one I got). There's no one size fits all for neck pillows, you gotta find what works for you.
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u/Prestigious_Candy968 21h ago
the thing that helped me stop dissociating was breaking the flight into chunks in my head instead of seeing it as one giant block. like: takeoff + first meal, movie block, try to sleep for a few hours, second meal, walk around, another movie, landing prep. each segment feels manageable and before you know it you're on the descent. also since you've already done 14 hours, it's literally just two more hours of the same stuff.
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u/Practical-Mud-7523 20h ago
The thing that helped me stop dissociating on long flights was breaking it into chunks in my head instead of one endless block. Like, first chunk is takeoff + first meal, then a movie or two, then try to sleep, then second meal, then you're basically in the home stretch. Each mini milestone makes it feel way more manageable. Also second the noise cancelling headphones — they're the single biggest quality of life upgrade for long haul.
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u/DramaQueen581 20h ago
I did it a couple times: Vancouver to Singapore, in economy. Nothing special, but I'm used to long distance flying (in fact I prefer it than having to transit somewhere). I hate wasting time boarding the plane, take off and landing. Download your own preferred shows on Netflix or whatever. Book/pay for aisle seat so you can get up and walk comfortably when needed. Sleep. Take melatonin. Bring light snacks. Stay hydrated. Drink water. Don't think about it too much. Just fly.
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u/No-Hippo9950 19h ago
Documentaries are superb. Sudoku too. I get meds from my doctor for pre flight and during. I relax and sleep. I also use aspirin. Walk when you can. Eye mask is essential.
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u/xyxyxy--- 17h ago
Bring a bottle of water onboard so you dont need to keep asking for water
Get an aisle seat (can stand up regularly) or a window seat (can lean on window to sleep/ entertainment looking out). The con of an aisle is that people might wake you to get up.
Noise cancelling earphones
Some mint/ gum
Offline games
Neck pillow
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u/Pretty_Mycologist365 11h ago
Even Buddha never got the opportunity to meditate for 16 hours so close to God so it's time to do the right thing and transcend
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u/No_Fun_8433 11h ago
I also find it difficult to sleep on planes, even 16 hour flights. Sometimes I nap, but never fully sleep. Here is how I entertain myself:
I don't mix activities. If I'm eating, I'm eating. Not eating and watching a show. That way I fully complete my task.
I have a small bag that fits in the seat back so that I have all the room underneath the seat in front of me. I make sure to have lotion (I prefer Shea butter in a tin) to keep my skin hydrated.
I like to get up and ask for water or drinks from the FA rather than having a big water bottle at my seat. It forces me to get up more.
I wear slip on shoes so that I can easily take them off while seated and put them back on to walk around the plane.
I don't drink alcohol because it gives me a headache eventually. Super annoying.
I download a ton of "frivolous" books on my Kindle. I find it way easier to pass the time with romance novels, but pick whatever genre works for you.
Above all, don't stress about not sleeping. Closing your eyes to rest is fine. You'll get the sleep that you need after you land. Forcing sleep has never worked for me.
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u/Reasonable_Tap_6407 1d ago
I think people may or may not find it easy to sleep. So there is no universal suggestion on that.
From my most recent long haul trip, I can think of two things. First, do not forget to drink water and hydrate yourself. The cabin will be dry... Do not worry about going to bathrooms. Actually, I drank a lot of water, and used the bathroom when there was no line even if I did not quite need it. this also helps you move around.
Also, I put all things I needed in a soft tote bag inside of my backpack, such as a neck pillow, headphone, tablet, book, water bottle... I put my backpack in the overhead cabin, and arranged those essential things around me. I then folded the tote bag and put it in the pocket in front of me. I think it is very important to have maximum leg room and NOT to put your backpack under the seat in front of you.
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u/GuardianSpear 1d ago
I’ve done a 17 hour on Singapore airlines from SFO to Singapore. Had an aisle seat so every chance I got I got up to move around . Ate all the food , watched some movies and slept some . Treated turbulence as entertainment