1. Pick the right seat

An aisle seat has its perks, but not if you are trying to sleep. If you are sitting in a middle or aisle seat, chances are excellent that you will be asked to move if someone needs to go to the restroom. Avoid that hassle and try to get yourself a window seat. 

2. Choose a seat far from the restrooms

Seats close to the restrooms will endure a lot of interruptions and chatter. If you’re trying to sleep, avoid this. If you book your flight early, you are usually able to pick your seat(s).

3. Book a red-eye flight

If your flight is at night, your body will already be pre-wired to go to sleep. 

4. Dress comfortably

You want to look nice, but you also want to be comfortable. For an overnight flight, dress in the most comfortable clothes you have, like yoga pants. This will help you sleep comfortably. 

Also, be sure to pack socks and extra layers.  Sometimes airplanes can get very cold.

5. Wear slip-on sneakers

Slip-on sneakers are especially great for long-haul, red-eye flights. You can take them off quickly and easily when you go through security, and you can slip them off without any fuss during the flight. But very importantly, they’re comfortable.

6. Pack a small blanket or oversized scarf

Little travel blankets are great for keeping you warm on an airplane. However, if you are a woman, those oversized scarves are amazing because you can use them as a blanket or a fashion accessory.

7. Bring noise-canceling headphones or earplugs

Most people are very respectful of others, but sometimes there are kids on the flights and they don’t have any volume settings. Drown out the noises with a pair of quality noise-canceling headphones.

If you are traveling light or you’d rather not get headphones, consider earplugs. They don’t work as well as noise-canceling headphones but they are somewhat effective.

Better yet, consider Bluetooth earbuds connected to your phone. You can turn on a sleep app, sleep music, or relaxing music to drown out any passenger noises.

8. Get a decent travel pillow

There are tons of travel pillows on the market but alas, you may not find the perfect one on your first try.

Some travel pillows are good but they’re bulky. If you’re going on Safari, for example, you won’t have room for extra things.

Some travel pillows are just not very effective and you wake up with a stiff neck. Sometimes the area that goes on the back of your neck pushes your neck too far forward, making them uncomfortable and ineffective too. 

9. Bring an eye mask

Some airlines offer a free complimentary eye mask. Those are okay but they’re not great. They tend to block out most light but some light might still seep in. Try to get a sleep mask that contours to your face, thereby blocking out all the light.

10. Upgrade your seat

If you are earned yourself some travel miles and you can afford to do so, upgrade your seat. A premium economy seat might give you some extra legroom.