If you get on the plane dressed like complete @ss you can usually step off looking fantabulous.
For long plan rides where I have to step out looking great because we're going somewhere the second we leave the airport (ie: visiting DH's fam in Las Vegas, they always take us to the strip to go eat and have a few drinks) I don't sleep the night before, usually dress in sweats or something warm since I always freeze on planes, and put my hair in pin curls and tie a scarf over it. I go barefaced, freshly washed with a heavy moisturizer and I make sure to take an empty face mask... the kind with the zip-lock seal on the side that you put your own ice cubes in. Put your ice cubes from your drink in it after you're done sipping, or you could just ask the steward/ess for a separate cup of ice. Tell them to wake you up two hours before you land.
MP3 player earbuds in, ice mask on, lean your seat back and pass out.
Be woken up, take your carry-on bag with your makeup, toothbrush and paste, hair brush, change of clothes, baby wipes, deodorant, perfume to that stupid tiny bathroom and figure out a way to change and do everything you need to do.
Come out looking awesome, land looking awesome, and then screw all of your hard work up 30 minutes later once you get out to the car and get busy in the front seat because you both unanimously decided that 'home' was too far away.
