I take an overnight flight every six months. Here’s what I’ve learnt

I live in Bali. When I come home every six months or so, I inevitably take the overnight red-eye flight that departs Denpasar at 11.05pm and lands in Melbourne Airport five-to-six hours later at 6.40am.

This flight is a killer. It’s not long enough for a decent sleep, it’s not short enough to stay awake. I usually arrive feeling jet-lagged and too pooped for whatever activity is planned that day. I don’t know why I take it.

Actually, I do know why I take it. I’m a sucker for the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. Once on the points bandwagon, the drip feed of benefits makes it hard to get off. Take a recent example: Qantas gifted me 40 status points for my loyalty, and then promised me double points if I booked another flight. I dutifully did, and the cycle continues.

My booking habits on this route have become so routine I confess to rarely looking at other airline options. It surprised me recently when my partner booked Jetstar’s 2.55pm flight from Denpasar, landing in Melbourne at around 11.30pm. I marvelled at what he had already worked out – that the flight arrival time would allow him a decent night sleep in a bed. He might even watch a movie or two.

So while I don’t recommend a red-eye flight, I’m good for a hack or two on how to cope if it’s unavoidable.

Pre-book a window seat so you can lean against the wall to sleep. Pack a small cloth bag (that easily stuffs into your carry-on) containing cotton eye mask, travel sized toothbrush and paste, flight socks, earplugs (or noise-cancelling headphones), emergency sarong (in case the plane is cold or you need extra padding) and face mask (in case the person next to you is coughing up a lung).

Take your own feather-stuffed pillow. It can be easily transported in a Sleepkeeper, a nylon pillow carrier that conveniently rolls a standard bed pillow into a third of its size and comes with a handle that easily slips onto the top of a suitcase. When seated, unroll it for a comfy cushioned wall rest that beats the small Qantas pillow provided.

On the day of the flight, drink lots of water – like three litres, to properly hydrate. But stop drinking about an hour or two before the flight, and go to the toilet in the airport, so you won’t need to go to the bathroom onboard. Eat a nice healthy meal before getting onto the plane so you can skip the fuss of the meal service and go to sleep straight away. If natural sleep aids – melatonin, valerian, chamomile – work for you, take them. Don’t be tempted to watch anything on screen.

For red-eye trips to destinations further afield, download Timeshifter. It’s an excellent travel app that uses the science of circadian rhythms to fend off jet lag. Add your itinerary across any number of time zones, and the app provides a personalised plan for when to: expose yourself to sun and light; sleep or nap; drink coffee or avoid it.

I’ve used it successfully many times on travels to Europe. The Denpasar-Melbourne flight however remains a work in progress.