Surviving a Red Eye

[Iggipolka]

The wife and I are flying from San Francisco to Orlando in March. This is a really long plane ride to begin with, but just to make it more exciting (and save a lot of money), she booked us to fly from 10pm to 7am. Youch. We're flying on Song, which has no first class, otherwise I would have insisted we fly 1st class for overnight.
I've never flown on a redeye before, although I have flown internationally (first class). Any hints for surviving a red eye flight and how to structure our first day at WDW so we aren't exausted and crabby?
Thanks!

 

[safetymom]

On a redeye I think first class is a waste. Just try and get some sleep and you should be ok when you arrive.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Don't drink alcohol
Don't drink caffeine
Once the plane is fully boarded but before it starts to move, try to find empty rows, despite your seat assignment. If you can, great - move and stretch out.
If you can't (you probably won't be the only passengers trying), get as comfortable as possible. Wear loose-fitting, elastic-waist clothing. Remove your (easy-off, easy-on because you planned ahead) shoes. Let the passengers behind you know you're about to recline your seats. It looks dorky, but board the plane wearing those u-shaped neck pillows, or carry inflatable ones in your carry-on luggage (you can order them at flysong.com for $5 each, ah for the good old days when Song actually sold them onboard).
Get comfortable. The captain will shortly turn off the cabin lights so passengers CAN sleep. Sleep.
Do NOT get row 8 - the seats do not recline. Accept this row only if you can have all three seats on one side of the plane and your wife the other three. Then you can stretch out across the three seats. See www.seatguru.com for other rows in this plane that do not recline.
I'm not saying I get a GREAT night's sleep this way, but even dozing for a few hours helps. So does (sorry) the fact that I red-eye on my way home, and have at least the rest of that day - if not the entire weekend - to catch up on sleep.

 

[Iggipolka]

Thanks so much for the advice! I was thinking about getting one of those neck pillow things. Now I think I will for sure!

 

[bavaria]

Well, I beg to differ. I fly East Coast to West Coast and vice versa all the time. I consider 5 hours a reasonable time, and for a red eye I frankly wouldn't want any shorter as it breaks up sleep.

Check out seatguru.com, find a seat that works for you. Take sleeping pills about 15 min before boarding (try them out at home first to check the effects on you)

I fly in a knit skirt and sweater; I won't comment on the PJ wearers I see on flights around me. Try and snag a pillow and blanket on board

Be aware that they DO show movies on some red eye flights; often they are comedies and I seem to be surrounded by loud guffaws. Drink lots of water. starting 3 days befor eyour flight eat light meals only; avoid fatty foods. Don't drink soda.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You beg to differ with whom? Me? How dare you!
Nope, just kidding. That's great additional advice. I really didn't mean pajamas, though! Just comfortable, non-binding clothing - nothing tight.
One of the good things about Song is that they don't show movies on big screens. Each passenger has a tv in the seatback in front of them. Plus, ideally, all passengers will be considerate of all other passengers and merely snicker quietly at funny scenes.

 

[mill4023]

Hey,
We're also on a redeye from SF in March, but we're flying AA into Tampa. And we're 6 hours drive from SF. But our options were to drive 6 hours and take a redeye for $1300 (6 tickets) or fly out of our home airport for $3000.

We also took the redeye last year and it was alright, but I was pretty much dead the first day. DW and the kids are able to get some sleep on the plane, but I can't seem to at all. So it just depends on whether you can sleep on the plane or not. My advice is to not make any firm plans for the first day. Then if you are feeling alright, you can do something, but if not, you can just nap at the hotel.

 

[LeftCoaster]

I've done a red eye to Orlando twice and the perferable experience was with Song.
The suggestions here have all been good. The one added suggestion I would have is something unique to Song. With song, on the in back TV screens, you can also program your own music playlist and they have a huge selection to pick and choose from. Go ahead and create a song list of relaxing music to help you get relaxed, and if oyu wake up, you'll still have the songlist to keep you relaxed.

 

[bavaria]

You beg to differ with whom? Me? How dare you!
Nope, just kidding.

I beg to differ that a 5 hour redeye is a bad flight... sorry wasnt clear.... Give me a 5 hour overnight flight any day so that I can sleep. And at least on their route, there is no stop or change of planes, like I sometimes encounter, which breaks up sleep.

I was actually just thinking of Leftcoaster, who just completed a trip on my favourite redeye, LAX-MCO.

One of the big benefits is getting a whole extra day ie landing around 6am-7am in MCO, rather than 6pm-8pm if one flies during the day.....

 

[CPer'sMom]

One of the big benefits is getting a whole extra day ie landing around 6am-7am in MCO, rather than 6pm-8pm if one flies during the day.....

I agree ~ the 'extra' day is a great benefit. When we lived in Seattle and flew to Orlando I liked taking the overnight flight out. When we'd fly during the day I always felt like we were wasting a day at the beginning of our vacation - hate to check into the hotel late in the day & not have any time to do anything that day.
Do make sure you try to stay awake that whole first day ~ you'll adjust much better. If you don't want to go to a park - play miniature golf, go to DD, schedule a character dinner in the evening.
Have fun

 

[salmoneous]

I used to fly red-eyes back from Vegas all the time. They can be great if you sleep. Note that sleep is easier for East Coaters, so to the extent possible, start keeping Orlando-time as much as a week ahead of time.

Buy yourself good eye masks and ear plugs. Get used to wearing both.

Cosider carrying on full sized pillows. If you don't want to deal with them after your flight, get cheap ones from Walmart and toss.

I'd always sit down, cover myself with a blanket if I could snag one, put the seatbelt *over* the blanket, put on ear and eye masks, and relax. Nothing else. My purpose on those flights was to sleep. If tired enough, I could be asleep before the plane took off.

Have a great trip,
Sal

 

[Coloradomom]

This thread is so timely. Myself, Dh and DD (age 16) are taking a midnight flight out for our March trip. First time we have ever done this.
For sleeping DD as part of her migraine treatment nightly takes melatonin...it is a product you get in the vitamin section of the drugstore and was recommended by her neurologist.Non addictive, no odd side effects upon awakening. So this may work better for others than sleeping pills.

We also thought about packing a soft side cooler with cheese, fruit and some rolls to snack on as we awake, to help us adjust and be like a breakfast before we get to the resort.

 

[Iggipolka]

I was thinking about taking an Ambian (sleep med) during the flight, but I'm nervous about not being able to function if there was an emergency on the plane. Does melatonin knock you out like a sleep med does, or are you able to wake up and function during the night?

 

[tclowe]

For Bavaria or anyone else who knows the answer:

Why don't drink soda before a flight, or just redeye flight? Never heard of this before.

 

[LeftCoaster]

For Bavaria or anyone else who knows the answer:

Why don't drink soda before a flight, or just redeye flight? Never heard of this before.

It's the caffeine, plus soda dehydrates you. If I have 5 hours of possible sleep time and caffeine keeps me awake or hyped up for an extra hour or so, then that's a big problem for catching sleep.

 

[bavaria]

It's the caffeine, plus soda dehydrates you. If I have 5 hours of possible sleep time and caffeine keeps me awake or hyped up for an extra hour or so, then that's a big problem for catching sleep.

Exactly! I grew up not drinking pop/soda so never developed a taste for it. I drink still or sparkling water (unflavoured).

combine the caffeine plus the sugar in soda (even diet soda) and it's a recipe for a sleepless night.

And for those considering sleeping pills - start with an over the counter one, and do experiment. I find that they differ widely in terms of rapidity of sleep and length of sleep.

While on an airplane, I want one that puts me to sleep quickly, but also allows me to awake quickly if need be. Ambien etc are made for longer sleeps ie 8 hours so I wouldn't recommend them. Tylenol PM doesn't put me to sleep very quickly. My favourite is a noname sleeping pill sold over the counter in Canada. But PLEASE do try one out at home before your trip. The last thing that you want is to land at 630am and be too groggy to drive or function.

I also strongly recommend taking a shower before you leave for your flight. That way you will feel somewhat refreshed. Then preregister for your room and leave your luggage while you enjoy the parks. Hopefully your room will be ready before 4pm. If it's a hot day, you may want to think about using the pool and/or pool area shower to cool off if you can't get into your room.

For the traveller who's daughter has migraines: be aware that there is always low level lighting on the plane even on a redeye, and your fellow passengers may turn on their lights for the flight. This may aggravate her migraines, as may the change in schedule/climate. I suggest getting some cute eyeshades for her (words of advice from someone who had severe childhood migraines) Also if she is taking Topomax be aware of the warnings about difficulty regulating body temperature - this really knocked me out in Florida when I was taking it, and I didn't realize what was wrong until later.

 

[Coloradomom]

Iggipolka...melatonin does not knock you out the way other sleeping pills do. My DH and DD both use it. (Neurologist said it is also used by people who are blind to help regulate their sleep cycles). I would try it first to see how it affects you, of course.
Bavaria..thanks for the migraine tips. DD was just diagnosed in September and we luckily hit on a medication (Frova) that works right away. But the goal is to not have them at all! Being a princess, she already has a set of pink eyeshades so we will be sure to bring them.

 

[bavaria]

For Bavaria or anyone else who knows the answer:

Why don't drink soda before a flight, or just redeye flight? Never heard of this before.

The dehydration is also a factor. Flying can make your body react in odd ways. You will most likely get very dehydrated. You may retain water (This is usually increased after a week of walking around the parks, and more so in hot weather)

I fly almost every other week, and I have learned to know my body's reactions to flying. It takes me 48 hours to return to 'normal' after a 5-8 hour flight.