Between the fluorescent lights, noisy passengers and constant flight announcements, it can be hard to sleep on a plane. But it still can be done, even if the surrounding conditions are less than comforting.
Immediately after the safety announcement is made, put in earplugs. Earplugs will block out most of the noise from the airplane and any surrounding conversations. If something comes up, the flight attendant will wake you.
Fasten your seat belt and put your seat in the upright position. It may be more uncomfortable to sleep this way, but you risk being woken up an additional time to put your seat upright if you decide to recline. Usually, the flight attendant will ask for seats in the upright position up to 1/2 hour before landing. That's time you could have spent sleeping.
Take a sleep aid if you think you will have trouble falling asleep. Do not take a sleep aid unless you have a long flight. You will wake up feeling groggy if you take something and then you have to get off the flight two hours later. Also, do not take a sleep aid if you are going to be driving home after your flight. The best time to take sleep aids is on cross-continental flights.
Wear eye shades. Not only will you feel more rested if your eyes aren't bathed in fluorescent light, eye shades tell the flight staff and everyone around you that you are trying to get some sleep. Also, eye shades show the flight attendant that you will need to be awakened at the end of the flight.
Listen to a music player if surrounding noises get too loud. If there are children present on the flight, it's a great idea to wear headphones as you're trying to fall asleep. Earplugs can let in very piercing noises, so it's best to put on your favorite song and listen to music to drown out any disruptions. If you can't sleep with music on, use nature or sound scape tracks.
