When flying on a red-eye flight, everyone has their own strategies for making the overnight journey more comfortable. Some people swear by neck pillows, noise-canceling headphones, or specific sleep routines, while others focus on hydration and choosing the right seat. We’d love to hear from you! How do you prepare for a red-eye flight to ensure a restful trip? Do you have any go-to tips or essentials that help you sleep better or make the experience more enjoyable? Share your advice and experiences with us!
![An example full flight summary response from the Flightradar24 API: { "data": [ { "fr24_id": "0987654321", "flight": "SK1415", "callsign": "SAS1415", "operated_as": "SAS", "painted_as": "SAS", "type": "A20N", "reg": "SE-DOY", "orig_icao": "ESSA", "orig_iata": "ARN", "datetime_takeoff": "2023-01-27T05:15:22", "runway_takeoff": "12R", "dest_icao": "EKCH", "dest_iata": "CPH", "dest_icao_actual": "EPWA", "dest_iata_actual": "WAW", "datetime_landed": "2023-01-27T06:15:10", "runway_landed": "27L", "flight_time": 3600, "actual_distance": 1007.74, "circle_distance": 6245, "category": "Passenger", "hex": "4A91F9", "first_seen": "2023-01-27T05:06:22", "last_seen": "2023-01-27T06:18:10", "flight_ended": "true" } ] }](https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Flight-summary-API-cover-768x378.jpg)
16 Responses
A triple jim bean on the rocks usually does the job! Joking aside, I find that United are actually the best at dimming down the cabin and letting passengers actually sleep. I was once on a Delta flight through the night where they barely dimmed the lights.
Eye mask and neck cushion all the way!
Noise canceling headphones, an eye mask, a small compressible pillow or neck cushion, and, if at all possible, a window seat. And on an excruciating 17 hour mostly overnight flight from Johannesburg to Atlanta in economy a sweatshirt that I formed into a doughnut cushion to alleviate economy class coccydynia.
1 – Eat the dinner, and then go to sleep any way I/you can (using an eye mask, noise-canceling headset, neck cushion, blanket, whatever).
2 – Skip the movie, no matter how good it is.
Also,
3 – schedule a late-leaving flight so you wake up early in your morning, and not at midnight your time – unless you have a morning meeting or connection you have to make.
I use a SleeperHold head restraint and pillow system. I will never leave home without it! As a medical professional, this system really works perfectly. I thought I slept on flights before, however I never felt refreshed. With SleeperHold, I wake up energized.
Go all out! Light meal; no more than one alcoholic beverage (none is better); hit the lav; shoes off; blanket; neck cushion; earplugs; and eye mask. Nighty-night.
I will go out of my way to avoid RedEye Flights.
Completely covered by a blanket and Do NOT DISTURB sign! Sleeping all the way!!!!
I try and keep hydrated several hours before the flight where possible and wear easy-fitting, comfortable clothes and shoes, e.g. slip on Vans. Keeping the seat pocket as free as possible of stuff helps maximise knee space and I always now use the blanket. An eye pad and ear plugs are a must. Just started using noise cancelling headphones and won’t go back! I’m 6’ 1” and have found that a key part of making an overnight flight comfortable is not getting stressed about not sleeping!
My experience with red-eye flights has mostly been on ten-hour hauls across the Pacific, and I’ve found that getting up, walking around, and doing some light stretching in an open space around the five-hour mark has been tremendously helpful, significantly reducing cramping and stiffness, which helps me rest during the balance of the time.
Noise canceling headset and sophrology
(and sorry no alcohol as it would have the opposite effect 😉
Can’t stand neck cushions.
From observation on long-haul flights the main users of neck cushions are short people.
I am about 175cm tall with short legs so my neck generally fits the seat head-rest – but a soft hat or sweat shirt can be rolled to sit on the headrest around the noise cancelling headphones so that they don’t get pushed off my ears during sleep.
Nothing. Flying a long distance at night or day will make you tired and more so if you fly across time zones. The media is full of rubbish and it is rubbish making all sorts of outlandish suggestions. You will loose sleep you will be tired. Do what you feel like doing. If you must do some work on a notebook. Better read a few documents or magazines to catch up on an iPad. Even read a book ( hard to see anyone doing that today). Even better watch a few programs on the TV or your I pad and drift away to sleep. Take into account you are tired when arriving and ease into the schedule carefully. If on holiday well just get on with it.
Southwest turns off the lights and puts in dim blue led lights I love them
Southwest turns off the lights and puts in dim blue led lights I love them
I completely agree with your point on Delta Airlines red eye flights. It’s so important for travelers to know this!