Picture this: you've got a 14-hour long flight to Taipei, Taiwan, and you have nothing with you in the form of entertainment, save a few magazines and a neck pillow. What do you do, besides watch one of the four movies they will surely screen on your flight?
Sleep, of course. It seems like the natural choice.
So you, in your economy class seat, curl up; knees touching your chin, or perhaps chin rested on your cheek, elbow on the armrest next to you. But you keep knocking the patron to your left, and the beverage cart hits your funny bone when it passes.
Either that, or you're in first class, snoozing comfortable in a large leather seat.
However you sleep on a plane, USA Today has got your back.
The newspaper recently posted a video on their site, with host Laura Bly giving a run-down on the best way to stay comfortable, even if you're not sitting in first class.
"Sure, it's easy to catch 40 winks on a long-haul flight after guzzling a few glasses of champagne from a flatbed seat," she said. "But what about the rest of us, sitting back in cattle class?"
Her first piece of advice is to find the best seat-she uses Seat Guru to look for a window, not anywhere near galleys or bathrooms.
"I'd love to try Air New Zealand's Sky Couch," she said, a row of three economy seats that come equipped with pop-up foot rests. It also allows two people flying together to buy a third seat at almost half the price.
"Packing the right gear is crucial," Bly said.
Listing her essentials: a padded eye shade, gel ear plugs, noise-canceling headphones, water bottle, and a wool shawl "to sub for those skuzzy airplane blankets."
She also recommends First Class Sleeper, an inflatable back and neck rest perfect for train, bus or plane rides.
"And finally: drugs," she said. Taking 5 mg Ambien is best for flights that last 6 hours or more.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
