EasyBaby: Is there any tips on how to survive the long flight?
Globaliser's hints on sleeping on aircraft:-
- You need some comfortable eyeshades. Don't rely on the airline to hand out good quality ones in Y. See if you can blag some first or business class ones off someone who's been lucky recently. Otherwise, it's money well spent.
- You also need earplugs, as noise (esp of meal carts) is one of the things most likely to wake you up even if you don't want to wake up. I use the foam cylinder type, easy to get from Boots. You have to roll them tightly and then stick them into your ear before the expand to fill the space - the packet should have graphic instructions.
- If you've got cabin baggage under the seat in front of you, clear it out of there when you're ready to sleep. Put it under your legs - in fact, if it's the right size and shape it may even do footstool/legrest duty.
- Aim to get your feet as far forward as possible under the seat in front - all the way up to the baggage restraining bar if possible.
- Stick a pillow, blanket or sweater under your lower back to fill as much as possible in the triangular space between it and the seat, to support it.
- And remember to fasten your seat belt over your blanket if you're using one, so the cabin crew don't need to wake you up to check if the seat belt light has to be put on for turbulence during the cruise.
That gets you as close as you can be in Y to being flat and horizontal in a single seat, and is the most comfortable position for sleeping - or at least it works magic for me.