When should I sleep on my upcoming flights?

[poindexter]

Hi everyone,

I'm flying to Europe in (mostly) Emirates First for the first time. They're all overnight flights unfortunately though, and I want to make the most out of the flight experience but not be completely dead inside. Any suggestions for when I should sleep but get bang for buck/point with enjoying the luxury?

• Flight 1 (day 1): 02:25 - 08:15 (7 hr 50 min) - Emirates J (Boeing 777)
• 12 hr 45 min layover in Singapore
• Flight 2 (day 1): 21:00 - 00:20+1 (7 hr 20 min) - Emirates F (Airbus A380)
• 3 hr 25 min layover in Dubai
• Flight 3 (day 2): 03:45 - 08:50 (7 hr 5 min) - Emirates F (old Boeing 777)

 

[daft009]

Tough one being all 7hr flights. By the time you reach cruising altitude and have a meal there isn't much time left for proper sleep.

I always try and sleep on the entire 12hr from Singapore to Europe and eat in the lounge before hand

 

[VPS]

Tough one but I'd want to be awake in the 380 F and have a shower and enjoy the bar

 

[AIRwin]

12 hr 45 min layover in Singapore

What are your plans in SIN?

 

[SYD]

I’d be maxing sleep MEL-SIN (assuming it’s that sector). With 12hrs in SIN, I’d probably go into the city for Chicken rice or the dish of your choice. I’m curious if the other sectors will be “full” F service?

When I was upgraded to F DXB to BCN, a friend said “Don’t sleep! They have $500 cognac.” and it was a breakfast flight out of DXB… But after a 10 hr layover from the then QF1, I did feel the need to get some Zzz’s but not before having a shower over a desert somewhere.

 

[DC3]

I'm flying to Europe in (mostly) Emirates First for the first time. They're all overnight flights unfortunately though, and I want to make the most out of the flight experience but not be completely dead inside. Any suggestions for when I should sleep but get bang for buck/point with enjoying the luxury?

You may not be sleeping much on those flights. Enjoy the journey.

 

[lilkid28]

Sleep in J, stay awake in F, drink all the champagne and Hennessey Paradis you can.

 

[AIRwin]

stay awake in F

And shower on A380

 

[Human]

Maybe I'm overthinking things, but here goes:

• Aim to sleep for the first five hours or so of Flight 1, then wake up in time for a leisurely breakfast. Have a coffee.
• Then try to stay awake for the first few hours of your time in Singapore (head out into the city; maybe take a tour if you haven't visited previously). Return to the terminal and find somewhere to lie down and rest/sleep (eg. a transit hotel) before Flight 2. Your aim will be to be as well rested as possible, and to need as little sleep as possible for the second flight.
• Aim to find somewhere to rest/sleep for a couple of hours while in the F lounge in Dubai.
• Be relaxed/flexible on Flight 3. Enjoy as much of it as possible, but listen to your body and sleep if you need to. Don't make the mistake of forcing yourself to stay awake: you won't be able to get the most out of your flight, and (I find) exhaustion is not good for digestion either!

Listen to your body and sleep when you need to. Yes, sleeping on a First Class flight might seem a waste, but you're human. Certainly try to prioritise sleep while you're on your layovers, though. And if you're unable to sleep during your "designated" sleep times, stay relaxed and go with the flow.

Finally, drink lots of water. It makes a difference.

 

[jb747]

Whatever you do, DON'T take pills to help you sleep in flight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Agree with human. I think you’ll naturally be able to sleep on the first leg.

Maybe try for a hotel in Singapore to get some sleep? Either the aerotel in terminal, or something like the Mercure Roxy which is about 10 mins away in a taxi, and isn’t usually too expensive.

Enjoy a good meal and drinks on the SIN-DXB, have a shower, maybe nap for an hour. You probably won’t need the second meal service on that flight.

Max out in the DXB lounge! Enjoy all that’s on offer.

You’ll probably be tired on boarding the final flight, so maybe catch 3-4 hour’s sleep, then enjoy the F offering for a meal prior to arrival.

 

[poindexter]

Thanks everyone - will report back!

 

[drron]

Actually I wouldn't plan anything. My body would tell me when i was going to sleep.

 

[Pushka]

One thing I never do is stay awake if I want to sleep, just to have the meal. If tired, as soon as I'm able, it's bandana on (sorry@drron ) and bunker down for sleep. I can sleep on a plane any time of day or night. I seem to have perfected that ability these days. Or maybe I'm just always tired.