Air travel can be an unnerving experience for some. The fear of flying seems to be simply instinctual and unshakable for many without the benefit of a calming agent, chemical or otherwise. I usually don’t have any trouble staying calm during a flight; even turbulence isn’t worrisome to me for the most part. However, I do understand it is necessary in some cases to quell one’s fears to a manageable level during the time aloft.

Prescription sleep aids are not uncommon even for those not afraid of flying, but rather just to manage the time zone changes on long-haul flights to prevent jet lag. Even over-the-counter options are available to help you sleep in flight like ZzzQuil, melatonin supplements, or valerian.

Other medications are prescribed specifically for the anxiety that comes with air travel; and while they won’t make you drowsy necessarily, they will calm the nerves just enough to make the flight seem more like a bus ride, and just as enjoyable.

I personally prefer natural sleep on a plane and nod off without the help of outside aids. If I had a trick, I would say it is scheduling flights, whether late at night or early in the morning, so I am tired when I board the aircraft. At this point I need little more than a small pillow, then I stare at the back of my eyelids, count a couple of sheep, and I am off to dreamland. Sleep on a plane for me is an immersive experience, as subconsciously I know I have no motivation to be awake. I fall asleep on one side of the country and awake on another; it is, in my mind, like a magic carpet ride, whisked away to the heavens in lucid slumber. And the whirring engines, even at take off, are one of my favorite lullabies. In my opinion, that is truly happy jetting.

— David Coker, advertising manager