Sleeping on long flights - What's the secret?

But somehow, I can't seem to get comfortable enough
to get to sleep. I'm 6'3" 280 lbs, and the tiny
seats are -very- uncomfortable after a few hours.
(can't afford 1st class)

There is simply no way a 6' 3" guy is going to be able to sleep for more
than 30 minutes on a modern airliner. They are not designed for comfort,
and you will cripple yourself trying.

Even if you take a sedative, or a few stiff drinks, you will awaken with
such a crick in your neck that you'll wish you hadn't slept at all.

It's a sad fact of modern airlines, but they're just not interested in your
comfort.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:

But somehow, I can't seem to get comfortable enough
to get to sleep. I'm 6'3" 280 lbs, and the tiny
seats are -very- uncomfortable after a few hours.
(can't afford 1st class)


There is simply no way a 6' 3" guy is going to be able to sleep for more
than 30 minutes on a modern airliner. They are not designed for comfort,
and you will cripple yourself trying.

That a fact? I'm 6'5" and got at least six hours each way between
Auckland and LAX not long ago without benefit of sedatives or alcohol.

That a fact? I'm 6'5" and got at least six hours each way between Auckland
and LAX not long ago without benefit of sedatives or alcohol.

You, sir, must be a contortionist!

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:

That a fact? I'm 6'5" and got at least six hours each way between Auckland
and LAX not long ago without benefit of sedatives or alcohol.

You, sir, must be a contortionist!

If Rich had any sense he got here early and got a seat with legroom.

Or he has the bucks to pay for business or first.


Graham

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:5mlod.445307$D%.42028@attbi_s51...

There is simply no way a 6' 3" guy is going to be able to sleep

I thought the 280 lbs may have been more of a restriction than the height!

That's 20 stone in English!!


--

J B

Not entirely true, Jay. Airlines work very hard to make sure their seats
are as comfortable as possible. That's how they differentiate from the
competition. But there are limits to what you can do. Airlines have to
make a buck and economy passengers aren't interested in paying one dollar
more than they have to to get where they're going. If they were, they'd be
flying in Business Class, or Premium Economy, which typically has more leg
room and a wider seat. It's not all the mean old airlines. Much of what
the airlines do is driven by passenger purchasing behaviour.

Shawn

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:5mlod.445307$D%.42028@attbi_s51...
But somehow, I can't seem to get comfortable enough
to get to sleep. I'm 6'3" 280 lbs, and the tiny
seats are -very- uncomfortable after a few hours.
(can't afford 1st class)

There is simply no way a 6' 3" guy is going to be able to sleep for more
than 30 minutes on a modern airliner. They are not designed for comfort,
and you will cripple yourself trying.

Even if you take a sedative, or a few stiff drinks, you will awaken with
such a crick in your neck that you'll wish you hadn't slept at all.

It's a sad fact of modern airlines, but they're just not interested in
your comfort.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"ShawnD2112" wrote in message
...
Not entirely true, Jay. Airlines work very hard to make sure their seats
are as comfortable as possible. That's how they differentiate from the
competition. But there are limits to what you can do. Airlines have to
make a buck and economy passengers aren't interested in paying one dollar
more than they have to to get where they're going.

I used to fly between the US and Germany regularly on business. Every time I
bought my tickets I'd check prices in both business and coach. In coach I
only once paid more than $800 for a roundtrip, and business class was
usually around $5000. Coach always had discounts available while business
was usually sold full-fare only. I can see paying a bit more, double even,
but six times as much?

The problem is that there is no "intermediate" offering much of the time.
You can have a 39-cent cheeseburger at McDonald's, or a $50 steak at Smith &
Wollensky's. This is true of domestic first class in the US as well, but
that's very accessible to those who travel regularly and get into the elite
programs.

-cwk.

Which is exactly why several airlines have introduced a Premium Economy, to
provide more service and greater comfort for people willing to pay more than
economy but not as much as Business class. Working quite well for a couple
of them.

Shawn
"C Kingsbury" wrote in message
ink.net...

"ShawnD2112" wrote in message
...
Not entirely true, Jay. Airlines work very hard to make sure their seats
are as comfortable as possible. That's how they differentiate from the
competition. But there are limits to what you can do. Airlines have to
make a buck and economy passengers aren't interested in paying one dollar
more than they have to to get where they're going.

I used to fly between the US and Germany regularly on business. Every time
I
bought my tickets I'd check prices in both business and coach. In coach I
only once paid more than $800 for a roundtrip, and business class was
usually around $5000. Coach always had discounts available while business
was usually sold full-fare only. I can see paying a bit more, double even,
but six times as much?

The problem is that there is no "intermediate" offering much of the time.
You can have a 39-cent cheeseburger at McDonald's, or a $50 steak at Smith
&
Wollensky's. This is true of domestic first class in the US as well, but
that's very accessible to those who travel regularly and get into the
elite
programs.

-cwk.