How to sleep like a baby in economy

If you've never tried this aeroplane sleep hack before, it's time to lace up your boots, and kick yourself.

Getting stuck in an plane's middle seat is no longer a fate worse than death, thanks to this savvy travel hack. 

Trying (and failing) to sleep on a plane. We've all been there. Shuffling those flimsy pillows with their  rough, scratchy surfaces around from lower back, to the back of your head, to the side of your head, all to no avail (and then starting over again). It's a waking nightmare. And all the while you feel blood pooling in your feet, which you can't lift up, and your legs, which you can't stretch. Great. 

All is not lost, however. Before you resign yourself to leaning your head against the aeroplane's wall, or the side of your seat, and the inevitable cricked neck this will bring, watch the following video. The clip, posted to TikTok by @jinymaeng, shows you how to support your head and sleep comfortably in cattle class, no matter which seat you find yourself in (it's particularly useful for middle seat passengers).

@jinymaeng

Replying to @Potato I’ve become so good at just falling alseep anywhere lol #travelhack #planehack #planehacks #travel

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It's even helpful on short haul flights, when you are reluctant to recline your seat for fear of the passenger behind you getting annoyed. As @jinymaeng puts it: "A lot of you guys had an issue with putting your seat all the way back, so I think you'll like this one better."

She continues: "Put your tray table down and get your three best friends, the jacket, blanket and the pillow. Pile them up nicely one by one and with the pillow put it up vertically. And then rest your head. If you want to be more comfortable, hug the pile by putting your arms through it."

Some commenters loved the travel hack, praising it for its ingenuity (see: comments like "big help thx so much"). Others pointed out its flaws. One said it's great "Until the person in front of you reclines their chair" while another asked if it hurts your back. Yet another said the flight attendant would probably ask you to put your table up. 

Two more negative remarks included: "I had a very large man stand up and scream at me in front of the whole plane or doing thiz" and "Nooo can people please stop recommending stuff that will cause movement to the seat in front."

Flight etiquette aside, it looks like a great way to get some sleep, if you're stuck in the middle seat. 

Originally published as How to sleep like a baby in economy