Wake me when we land, steward

FOR every centimetre of lost legroom in the back of the plane, there seems to be one new amenity in the front.

A disproportionate number of these new offerings are promising to give you the thing that’s most elusive at 35 000 feet: a good night’s sleep.

Here is a snapshot of the most relaxing new perks in the skies — mostly in business and first class; sorry, economy.

It all started with Delta and the Westin Heavenly Bed, the first big effort to improve skyhigh sleeping habits back in 2013. Three years later, United is upping the ante. It has just announced its new Polaris business cabins, due in December. A major draw is bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue. Similarly, Scandinavian carrier SAS has introduced Hastings brand bedding on premium seats. Perhaps the cleverest amenity, though, can be found on Etihad. No matter where in the plane you sit, you find pillows that convert from standard size to neck pillows, along with eye masks that bear the words “Do not disturb” or “Wake me for meals”.

Etihad’s pillow sprays and pulse-point oils, courtesy of Le Labo, were first to market two years ago; now the trend is going viral. Travellers on latenight flights with Virgin Atlantic can spritz themselves with High Altitude, a blend of fragonia, eucalyptus and lavender, to fall asleep easily.

Air France has wised up to the fact that few travellers want to be awakened for dinner at midnight on an overnight flight. The solution: let premium passengers take their meals in the business-class lounge before boarding. The concept is taking off: British Airways’ Club World Sleeper Service, for instance, lets passengers order meals ahead of their flight departure and enjoy a nightcap on boarding instead.

Anyone flying on a new Boeing Dreamliner or the Airbus A330neo will benefit from mood lighting specifically designed to regulate their circadian rhythm. Alternate cool and warm lighting schemes help passengers fall asleep more easily and wake up feeling refreshed.

Before you scoff at your airline’s in-flight entertainment, consider that meditation programming has proved effective for jittery and restless fliers. Virgin America has a video that borrows from Andy Puddicombe’s meditation app, Headspace, and British Airways has jumped in with a Mindfulness Institute series. — Bloomberg