We have all been there. Trying to get a little nap in on a flight, tossing and turning in your seat to try and get comfy.
But it often feels impossible, leaving you feeling frustrated at the lack of forty winks.
Now new data has revealed we aren’t being dramatic - it really is difficult to fall asleep comfortably while up in the air - at least on some airlines.
The first ever Airline Sleep Score Index has been released and ranks a number of airlines based on how easy it is to fall asleep at 35,000 feet.
The data was collated by sleep tracking app Sleepagotchi who looked at a number of factors when compiling the lists of the best - and worst - in the business.
They looked at a variety of four measures onboard to collate a total sleep score out of 100: leg room, seat width, cabin lighting and social media rating from passengers.
Anton Kraminkin of Sleepagotchi said: “As a sleep-focused platform that gamifies better rest and wellness routines, Sleepagotchi is uniquely positioned to analyze how external environments like airplane cabins affect sleep quality.
“With more than 1 million users already earning rewards for improving their sleep, we know from firsthand data that context matters. Travel, especially air travel, continues to be one of the biggest disruptors of healthy sleep routines. That’s why we created this index: to give flyers a clearer picture of how airlines are helping or hindering their ability to rest while in transit.”
Here are the best - and worst - lists for you to scour if you’re looking to fly in comfort any time soon.
The top 10
The results show that if you want comfort, in this instance, it is a case of you get what you pay for.
Most of the list is filled with pricier long haul airlines, or by upgrading.
A Sleepagotchi spokesman said: “Singapore Airlines tops the list with a Sleep Score of 96.0, driven by generous seat dimensions, circadian-aware lighting, and consistently high passenger satisfaction.
“Qantas, Air New Zealand, and Emirates follow closely, benefiting from major investments in lighting innovation, including Qantas’ “Project Sunrise” initiative.
“Premium Economy offerings are a standout, options from Alaska Airlines and Singapore Airlines scored nearly as high as some Business Class cabins, offering excellent value for sleep-conscious travelers.”
The full top ten is:
1. Singapore Airlines Premium Economy 96.8/100
2. Alaska Airlines First Class 96.4/100
3. Singapore Airlines 96/100
4. Singapore Airlines Business Class 96
5. Qantas (Project Sunrise lighting) 95.3/100
6. Qantas 94/100
7. Air New Zealand 93.1/100
8. Emirates 92/100
9. Korean Air 90/100
10. Etihad Airways 89.1
The worst 10
Budget carriers did not score well here, with British based firms such as EasyJet and Ryanair ranking near the bottom of the list.
A spokesman for Sleepagotchi added: “Low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air ranked near the bottom, with limited seat space, basic lighting, and overwhelmingly negative sentiment on sleep comfort. Ryanair, in particular, received the lowest combined score of the index: a reminder that "budget" often means sacrificing rest.”
The worst ten were ranked as:
- Wizz Air 65.7/100
- EasyJet 65.7
- Ryanair 65.7/100
- AirAsiaX 73.5
- Jetstar Airways 77.7
- Aeroflot 78.1
- Vietnam Airlines 79.1/100
- SriLankan Airlines 79.1/100
- Saudia 79.1/100
- Gulf Air 79.1/100
