How to sleep on a long-haul flight: proven gadgets

In the old days of long-haul flying, you’d see rows of people making do with sad mini-pillows and crackling with static every time they squirmed under the fleece blankets the airlines provide. When landing in some distant country, my neck hurt, all sensation in my legs had long since disappeared, and my eyes were swollen. But these days, you’re more likely to see flight-savvy youngsters swaddled in high-tech neck pillows and luxurious silk eye masks. I recently flew to Mauritius and dreaded the two 12-hour overnight flights (cue tiny violins).

I’ve never been good at sleeping on planes, but I’d seen elaborate Gen Z flight rituals on TikToks involving hammocks suspended from chairs, multiple neck supports, and complex mask combinations and decided to check them out. . They may look ridiculous, but who’s laughing when they’re fast asleep and you’re sitting there blinking at a small plane flying over the globe on your screen?

After 24 hours of airtime, I’ve perfected the best tips and tricks for taking a long-haul flight.

Invest in a futuristic headrest or window seat.

I’ve never understood neck pillows. Anyone actually comfortable with the classic U-shape? Not me. But all sorts of ergonomic, modern alternatives are emerging. The Trtl Travel Pillow (£49.99, £49.99) is making the rounds on TikTok. trtltravel.com), a kind of neck brace that makes it look like you’ve been in some kind of terrible accident. It prevents neck fractures by providing support to your neck and head so you don’t have to lean to the side. This is a boon if you’re stuck in the middle seat. A softer alternative is the Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow (£69, ostrichpillow.co.uk) is a memory foam number with raised sides that you can rest your head on.

Both of these options are great for middle and aisle seats. But I still think the most upscale choice, if you can get a window seat, is to bring home a bed pillow. You may look like a little lost child walking through the airport with it, but its comfort is hard to beat. Place it vertically on the armrest on the window side so that it also supports your shoulder and arm. When it comes to baggage allowance, airline staff generally don’t mind if you bring a pillow with you, as long as it’s not secretly stuffed with clothes.

Legs up on an inflatable leg cube.

Sleeping in a chair position is not only unnatural, but also harmful to your circulation and back. But there are other options. I invested in an inflatable leg cube (they sell all sorts of like this one I bought it from Amazon for £19.99). That way, I could curl up in a bed that was as close to a bed as you can get in economy class. If you want a simpler but less cozy option, invest in a foot hammock. It hangs on a tray and the height can be adjusted.

About to fall into a peaceful sleep

Claudia Cockerell

When I boarded the plane, I wondered why there were so many children. There are hundreds of them. Hundreds! I checked the dates and my heart sank: I realized I was on flights that were half booked. Luckily, I thought ahead. To drown out the barrage of hundreds of kids and the rumble of an airliner, you need some really good noise-canceling headphones. My favorites are the Bowers and Wilkins Px8 (£499, johnlewis.com) that have buttery soft skin and make you feel like you’re listening to music in an opera hall. They don’t do that weird vacuum cleaner thing when you turn on the noise canceling feature, which I find too disorienting when flying.

I was told that the babies were screaming all night, but I didn’t hear anything. If you prefer to snooze without music or a podcast, try the Loop Dream Earplugs (£44.95, Loopearplugs.com). They block up to 27 decibels of sound and provide comfort even when sleeping on your side.

Give your eyes some space

Eye Bra: Slip’s Contouring Sleep Mask

Slip

Eye mask connoisseurs know that all the best masks have small cavities for your eyes, so you can blink without squeezing your eyelashes. The Slip is a bit like a bra for your eyes and fits equally well (£55, www.slipsilkpillowcase.co.uk), which allows you to blink freely under thick blinds. If you don’t like straps, buy the Drowsy Sleep scented mask (£69, drowsysleepco.com). It is made of mulberry silk and makes you feel like you are drowning in a cloud.

It’s a fact of life: you’ll never be given enough water on a long-haul flight. I feel guilty for wading through a ton of plastic cups and still coming out dry. Reusable water bottles are never big enough – take an empty 1.5 liter plastic bottle with you and fill it up as soon as you pass security. Airplane cabin humidity is typically around 10 percent (even in the Sahara Desert it’s 25 percent), meaning your skin will dry out too. Apply a thick moisturizer such as The Rich Cream by Augustinus Bader (£74, Cultbeauty.co.uk) or your favorite night cream. If you want to maintain your tan, it’s especially important to keep your skin hydrated on the way back.