Lately it seems like I have been traveling back and forth to Europe often. Mostly because I have been. Whether I am headed to the sandy beaches of the Greek Islands or to the charming streets of Paris, it is safe to say that I have become somewhat of a pro at surviving these red eye flights. And in coach no less! While in an ideal world I would be flying first class with a reclining bed (or better yet on a private jet!), that is not my current reality. Instead, I make the best of my aisle seat in coach. And while it may not be as comfortable as sleeping in your own bed, with a few inexpensive items, sleeping sitting up honestly isn’t all that bad.
Bring a Neck Pillow
If you have to sleep sitting up, I highly recommend doing so with a neck pillow. However, one of the downsides of your average neck pillow is that when you fall asleep you risk leaning over to rest your head on the stranger next to you. Investing in a pillow like Cabeau’s Evolution S3 Travel Pillow solves this problem. This pillow design includes two straps at the back of the pillow easily strap on to any airplane seat, keeping your head upright and in place for the duration of your flight.
Bring an Eye Mask
While you would think it would be dark on a red eye flight, that is not always the case. Often flight attendants will turn on the lights to serve meals and beverages during the flight. This is where an eye mask comes in handy. While any mask will do, you just want to make sure that you have one that will block out all of the light.
Bring Headphones
Believe it or not, not everyone sleeps on a red eye. There are actually people that stay awake! Bringing along a pair of headphones can help block out the unwanted noise. You can also go a step further and throw on some meditation music to help you to not only relax but fall asleep more easily. (Personally, I combine numbers 2 and 3 and bring along my ZENBand on flights. It is an eye mask and headband with build in headphones. They are also great for meditating!) But I do also have a pair of Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones that work wonders to help block out all the noise.
Bring a Shawl or Blanket
When I travel, I make sure to pack a large shawl with me to cover myself while on the plane. While I typically will also wear a sweatshirt on the plane, something about having a blanket drape over me gives me a sense of comfort and makes me feel like I am one step closer to sleeping in an actual bed.
Bring a Bottle of Water
This last one is very important. Flying can be very dehydrating and it is important to stay hydrated during long flights. This will also help you to stay healthy and adjust to the new time zone when you finally reach your destination.
