8.5 hours in a plane.

I've done 14 from LA to Shanghai. I can't sleep on a plane...got maybe 2 hours. It was miserable. If something works to knock you out, 100% do it.

Noise canceling headphones, watching movies, getting up to walk periodically, listening to music...

I can't sleep on a plane so I tend to stay up on long flights

And you can get a business class seat for less than you would expect. I've only done it with United, and it's been a few years so I only assume it still works this way, but many of the diamond members sell their allotment of upgrades on ebay. Google it, but you can book a standard economy seat (not basic economy), buy the upgrade on ebay for a few hundred dollars, contact the seller with your flight info and they go in and apply the upgrade to your ticket.

I've done it on multiple international flights.

Usually fly anything over 4 hours Business Class unless I go stag.

If I'm by myself, two whisk(e)ys, take one tablet, noise cancelling headphones softly playing the entire LP "Kind of Blue" on repeat.

Xanax and a gin and tonic does the trick for me. You can usually call your doctor and let them know and they can prescribe something. If not, a z-quill will help.

VaB, just did the air Europa biz class from Miami to Madrid booked on Air France. Really great flight and super cheap redemption and low taxes/fees. First time flying biz class on the return flight and have to say I liked that better than outbound.

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How do you guys do it? Booze? Ambien? Both?

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Is it overnight? If you think 8.5 hours is bad try 12-14+!

The key to flying to europe is prepping before you get on the airport imo. Get your body ready both physically by getting exercise so your body is tired and not antsy.

Then also mentally/ sleep prepared as much as possible for overnight flights. I try to wake up hell a early at least a day prior and the day of the trip. Wake up at 4am or earlier, which is like 10am in europe. That way your body is starting to adjust already and is more tired by 8pm when you want to try to fall asleep.

I can also sleep on a rock when I'm tired so that helps. But honestly you can't just show up at the airport like a domestic flight and expect it to go well. Start preparing the night before, makes it so much better.

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I transfer Amex points to an airline partner for international travel. I got two business class from Miami-Madrid-Miami in May for the equivalent of 120000 Amex points. 9 hour business class seats for 30000 Amex points per person each way. Fantastic redemption.

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Was that on Iberia? Definitely a great redemption.

I ended up transferring to Emirates for my flights to and from Europe this month. I and my daughter flew JFK-LHR in JetBlue Mint for 57,500 each way (which was way less than booking using JetBlue's own miles). For the return, I had booked MXP-JFK in Emirates biz for 62,500 each, but I was able to upgrade to first for an additional 30,000 each. That was my first time to fly in a true international first class, and it was definitely fun to be served caviar, sleep in a seat that turned into a huge bed, and then take a shower at 35,000 feet.

I'm a schoolteacher and small business owner who has never made a six-figure income in my life, but traveling like a celebrity is possible if you master the miles and points game. There's a lot to learn, and I won't pretend that everything is easy to understand, but you can absolutely travel that way if you want to, especially if you have some flexibility on the dates you travel.

Movies.

You’ll think you want to drink but you'll feel like shite when you get off the plane.