The Impossible: How to Sleep on a Plane (Reasonably Well)
I have always admired those people who, with the airplane rolling on the runway still without taking off, they hang their heads to one side and sleep soundly . Actually, more than admiring them, I envy them. With an average of 70 flights per year, sleep on a plane has gone from being a utopia to becoming in a need but with dwindling seats and others 200 people sharing living space , is not an easy task except for a handful of privileged whose rest begins before the plane lifts the nose of the runway. Dammit.
THE CHOICE OF SEAT
With airlines becoming more and more vicious and wanting to scratch every last euro, the luxury Now it's not in the china or the champagne on board, the luxury here is a 180º reclining seat that turns into a bed . The passengers of business class pursue (and pay) the experience value , and on a flight from 13 hours crossing a few time zones, being able to sleep is everything.
yes this exists
Hence, as part of this concept, most airlines dedicate special care to their passengers executive class designing beds as real as possible They even dress with sheets and a duvet, to guarantee optimal rest for the passenger at 35,000 feet above the ground. It is the case of the airline Singapore Airlines , which has even designed suites with a sliding door for total privacy, the interior of which converts into a double bed! and with shutters!
That said, it is clear that the challenge here is not for the business passenger , but the one of the Tourist class . With cabin space increasingly optimized by airlines, seats in the economy class they recline less and less and their silhouette becomes more and more slim. Hence many airlines are offering, payment of course, seats with extra space added inside the economy cabin , which are usually located in the front and emergency exits (careful, in this case they may have more space, but also they are noisier and it tends to be colder).
The challenge is how to sleep well in economy class
Once we have more space, or not, the important thing is that it be a quiet seat . On long-haul flights, on large planes, there is usually two areas to install cribs baby , one at the beginning of economy class, and one over the wings, so to try to find more peace of mind, it is best to avoid both areas . Special care must also be taken with the restroom location , since people usually crowd queuing in the space where they are, in the middle and rear.
about if window or hallway , is a factor that depends on the taste of the consumer, since in one you can stretch your legs better (beware the food cart ) and in another lean your head against the wall of the plane . In case of turbulence, the back of the plane moves more than the front , a factor also to be taken into account for those passengers with a light sleep.
It is curious that the aeronautical companies never cease in the study of seating technology for the passenger to travel as comfortable as possible . Even so, and despite his efforts, the reality is that the traveler of tourist class suffers the ravages of optimizing resources in a sector in permanent crisis while the business sector receives massages in the lower back as it enters the REM phase.
**LIGHT AND NOISE**
Although the seat is the most important thing to guarantee a good rest, cabin environment must accompany the passenger, since it does not matter if we are lying down if around us the noise is hellish and light filters through every crack . Fortunately, something that democratizes all passengers when flying is the technology increasingly advanced of the new aircraft models on the market, modern, silent and efficient.
Inside of A350-900
It is the case of Airbus A350 , one of the most modern aircraft on the market and also one of the quietest, since its passengers barely fly with 57 decibels in the cabin (in takeoff and landing there is more noise). But there are more fundamental factors for rest, since its ventilation system with ozone filters renew the air every two or three minutes and improves cabin humidity level (goodbye viruses, goodbye).
Also, the windows are panoramic and the lighting is based on LED lights and varies depending on the phases of flight ( mood lighting ) which, according to experts, helps combat jet lag . The same, or very similar, happens with the Dreamliner 787 , Boeing's latest 'creature' that also take to the skies on long haul flights . As with the A350, the benefits of the B787 also promote passenger comfort on board an airplane decreases vibrations, the noises or the effects of dry environment.
DRESS CODE: THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD PILLOW
The first time I saw someone enter normal dress to the airplane bathroom Y go out in pajamas I thought it couldn't be true what was happening, the second time, I thought I was the wisest person on the plane. To be able to sleep comfortably it is necessary to fly comfortably , so it is better to leave heels and tight clothes inside the suitcase.
Another important measure to take into account is the compression socks , no matter your age or physical condition, as they help prevent deep vein thrombosis that occurs when blood flow is restricted.
Wearing pajamas for long flights is a 'pro'
The ideal complement to sleep on the plane is not a bag, but a pillow . Traveling with a pillow in tow can feel like the world's most snobbish gesture , but it is also one of the more effective to fall asleep on board an airplane. Beyond those traditional headrests, a versatile pillow (Tempur type) that we are used to in firmness, and that is travel size, can be an excellent option. Wave Ostrich Pillow if in addition to a good rest what we want is, first, not to go unnoticed, and second, avoid the dreaded conversation with the traveler next door.
THE BEST POSTURES TO SLEEP ON A PLANE
“Transport Vehicle Upright Sleep Support System ”. Nap patent granted to Boeing continues , many of the problems associated with sleeping on planes could be solved. The system, which looks like a backpack, consists of a rather difficult to define contraption that is attached to the back of an airplane seat , which allows passengers lean forward and rest your head, face, and chest on it for a few hours of sleep . But until this invention comes, if it comes at all, we have to settle for adopting some of the best sleeping positions on a plane , and these are some of them:
1. Leaning against the wall : this is, apart from being able to enjoy the landscape, the most important reason why travelers choose window instead of aisle , to rest your head , better with the help of the pillow, on the wall of the plane and thus ensure a reasonably comfortable position for a few hours of sleep.
2.Head up : thanks to the fact that today airline headrests can be almost completely modified, a good idea is adjust them to the neck and that this, and our neck, remain completely glued to the seat, as if we were looking at the ceiling of the plane. It is one of the healthiest postures for our back , since it remains fully upright.
Finding the right posture is difficult but not impossible
3.Leaning on the front seat : when tiredness presses and hard to find position , try to rest your forehead on the front seat , with or without a pillow, to find a point of support and prevent the neck from 'dancing' . More flexible travelers can also try this pose on the tray , although the curvature of the back can be exaggerated and cause pain. If you choose this position, place some books or some volume to avoid bending your back so exaggeratedly
4.Legs up: the front seat not only serves to support the head, also the knees . To achieve this position, sit more on the edge of the seat and raise the knees until you find a foothold in front. The longer your legs are, the higher the fulcrum will be. Beware of excessively flexing the lower back . Now relax your head back.
5. Fully lying down: many times the flights are not completely full and in the rear rows there are usually free consecutive seats . Ask the attendants if you can change seats. if you find one row of three free It will be the closest thing to winning the lottery, since you will be able to enjoy a peaceful rest completely lying down . Although remember, in all postures seat belt must remain fastened and visible Only then will you avoid being woken up in the event of turbulence.
Sweet dreams.