RogerThat From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 558 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 6487 times:
Pearson,
I avoid overnight flights like the plague. I need 8 hours of sleep in a bed in order to be productive the following day. On flights to Europe or Asia from the nation's mid-section, there is no choice and my a.. drags like an old dog for days.
I know some folks that take the red-eye from LAX to JFK, work for 1 or 2 days, then fly home. They don't seem to mind but just the thought wears me out.
Okie From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 2378 posts, RR: 3 Reply 2, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 6460 times:
Basically they suck, but sometimes the only way to get things squeezed in.
I have done a few when play/hobbies have had me on the left coast and work assignment was on the right coast.
Flying out on a late night on Thursday night having a busy weekend and red-eye back to work assignment just in time to make it to work on Monday. Tough duty!
DColeMAN From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2004, 274 posts, RR: 11 Reply 3, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 6459 times:
I've began to notice that when I step off a red-eye flight I feel like cr@p and that feeling usually stays with me for the rest of the day. I definitely prefer to fly daytime flights
Pe@rson From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 18840 posts, RR: 54 Reply 4, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 6453 times:
Cheers folks! So if you were flying, say, at least 3 hours (and you'll be passing two forward time-zones), for instance leave at 0600 arrive at 0900 plus the two hours, so 11am local, what time would you ideally like to leave it the early morning? 5am? 6am? 7am?
"Everyone writing for the Telegraph knows that the way to grab eyeballs is with Ryanair and/or sex."
Leskova From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 6075 posts, RR: 72 Reply 5, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 6434 times:
If it's not just one of those short flights of around 6 or 7 hours, but something 8, 9 hours or above, I'll prefer the night flight each and every time - just way more relaxing (and, yes, even though most airlines only offer just barely enough pitch to keep me from crushing my kneecaps, I can sleep quite well in Y class).
However, daytime flights are preferable as it's so tough to arrive in good shape, especially going east. The trade off is being able to enjoy the whole day wherever you're coming from. In my case, Hawaii.
Am doing a DEN-BOS overnight in June. The reason being able to use UA miles for 2 RT tickets. The flight is 3.5 hours and two times zones forward. I believe it's a mainline A320, although TED seems to be going new places.
NCLairport From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2005, 240 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 6420 times:
i hate red eyes. do them at least once a year from usa to uk. LAX to LHR is the worst. Departed LAX around 6pm i think and arrived at LHR at around 6am i think. then had to wait a few hours for a flight to NCL. What a nightmare!!!! My head felt all like cotton wool for days. Give me day flight any time. I cant sleep at all on flights. I doubt I could even sleep even if I was in a business/first flatbed.
Jkw777 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 6399 times:
To be honest, they don't bother me entirely. If I get a few hours sleep I'm not too bad. On my latest journey back from LAX, I must of slept for about 3 hours maximum. After which I freshened up with about 1.5 hours of flying time left, I felt like I had just stepped out my door nice and early. I must admit though, it has a knock on effect for about 7-10 days after. But once you settle back into things, you prepare for the next one!
British767 From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2005, 284 posts, RR: 23 Reply 10, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 6391 times:
They don't bother me at all.
Last month, I flew back from UVF (St Lucia) to LGW, and then that afternoon I went to FRA. Sure I was tired, but it wasn't too bad at all. I am getting used to them now.
LTBEWR From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12335 posts, RR: 12 Reply 11, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 6389 times:
From the USA to Europe, Asia or Australia/NZ or from the west to the NYC area, you really don't have a choice especially for cheap fares, on a FF claim flight, or so you don't lose a full day. Late afternoon flights from the west coast arriving before Midnight in the east aren't too bad and a good alternative to red eyes.The worst is when you have to change a/c during a 'red eye', have done that LAX-EWR via ORD and SEA-EWR via IAD (in both cases, FF points claim flights). I 'love' that gorggy feeling like your head is a bag of sand for the arrival day when gone NYC area to Europe on overnight flights, worsened by my inability to sleep on a/c. Probably because I drive and have trained myself so don't fall asleep behind the wheel.
Tobi3334 From Germany, joined Sep 2004, 146 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 6383 times:
I think it also depends on what you have done on the day of departure to the red eye flight. Last year I spent a few days in NYC and on our departure day we had to leave our hotel room at noon and our flight departured at around 10:30pm. We walked around in NY for 6 hours and hung around for 4 hours at JFK. So, I already felt terrible when I entered the plane
I think a nightflight is okay but just if you can relax on the day of departure.
L410Turbolet From Czech Republic, joined May 2004, 5394 posts, RR: 19 Reply 13, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 6380 times:
I don't mind overnight transatlantic flights but I do hate the 3-4 hour flights around Europe/Middle East with very early morning departure hours.
I took a QS charter flight to IST in January. Departure @ 04:00 meant leaving home after midnight and arriving to IST around 7:30ish. I was just useless for the better part of the day.
I'm going to Cyprus in May w/ CSA. Departure from PRG @ 22:00 arrival @ 02:25. Return flight: LCA 03:15 PRG: 06:00 and then off to work.
SQA340 From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 702 posts, RR: 5 Reply 14, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 6379 times:
I've done some red-eyes before, both on UA
SFO-ORD on UA, once on a DC-10 and another time on a 757.
and
ORD-LHR on UA, a 763.
All of those times, I've slept and have woken up refreshed like I've gotten the usual ammount of sleep. I've done it twice in Y and slept soundly. On the 763 flight, I was in C/J and it was nicer, though I was woken up due to turbulence over Newfoundland but regained sleep thereafter. It's a bit tough to do it if you sleep on your side but I've managed. Be sure to get a window seat so you can lean on the wall.
It works well on trans-atlantic flights. If you get sleep, you get thrown right into GMT. I have yet to experince what it's like on trans-pacific, one can only imagine
Leskova From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 6075 posts, RR: 72 Reply 15, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 6374 times:
Quoting Pe@rson (Reply 6): So you wouldn't care about departing for a 2.5-5-hour flight at, say, 5am instead of 6-7am?
For flights of that duration, my preferred departure time is somewhere between 8 and 10 in the morning - with something around 7 ok if the price is really cheap, and anything before that completely off limits (if other alternatives exist that won't clean out my bank account).
Fortunately, with the exception of one or two charter flights, I've not had to board a plane before 7am - and I'm most certainly not planning on changing that... and that's only if the airport is as nicely accessible as FRA is (with me needing around 30-40 minutes from walking out of my door to standing in a check-in line, using public transport to get to the airport).
If I need longer to get to the airport, the "acceptible" departure time moves back accordingly.
Babybus From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 3514 posts, RR: 6 Reply 16, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 6361 times:
I sometimes have to fly from the Middle East to Europe on overnight flights and I can't stand them. I feel like sh!t all day and can't do much. I stand in a daze at Hatton Cross waitin for the bus or whatever.
I much prefer to do all long hauls during the day. I end up more relaxed and can spend the flight looking out the window. That's what plane lovers do.
and with that..cabin crew, seats for landing please.
ZKEOJ From New Zealand, joined Feb 2005, 924 posts, RR: 7 Reply 18, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 6352 times:
I don't mind overnight flights - they are usually more quiet and relaxing. However, recently I did LGB-PHX-DTW-BUF with HP and NW. If you stop at 11pm and 3am or so, it is draining. Nonstop flights from North America to Europe, or Europe to Asia are fine. You get a meal, some nice drinks, watch a movie and then doze off into lala-land
Geoffm From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2004, 2111 posts, RR: 7 Reply 19, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 6339 times:
Having arrived yesterday on a 6 hour EWR-LGW CO flight, I kind of wished it was longer! By the time dinner was served, and the gaggle of schoolgirls in front had quietened down to a dull shrill, I only got about 1.5 hours of sleep. This was after the previous night's flight from Rio de J, which, at 10 hours, meant a bit more sleep. This, however, was after the last night of drinking in Rio til 6am, so needless to say I was quite shattered by the time I got home! And now straight back to work
Fbgdavidson From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 3688 posts, RR: 31 Reply 20, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 6335 times:
I find overnight flights fine, I always take the last flight of the day when flying from the US back to the UK and always seem to avoid jetlag and any other ill effects. Staying asleep until the last 30mins or so and skipping breakfast onboard in favour of getting something in the airport helps too.
Fortunately I am usually in business which helps a lot although on the odd occasion I've flown further down the aircraft I have improvised using pillows, blankets and carry-ons to create my own bed experience and managed a good few hours.
"My first job was selling doors, door to door, that's a tough job innit" - Bill Bailey
Flymia From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 6298 posts, RR: 6 Reply 22, posted (8 years 1 month 4 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 6327 times:
Well not much of a choice going to Europe from the East Coast.
I flew JFK-TLV which was not to bad I got alot of sleep on that flight.
MIA-LGW was not that bad. I was tired when I landed but after some food and a hour nap I was fine.
LAX-AKL was fine. Tookoff from LAX and 9pm and landed in AKL at 4am there time. But I got a good 7 hours of sleep on that flight some how!
MIA-MAD. Flight was fine only got 3 hours of sleep but I just slept a little bit in the hotel and the rest of the day was great.
MIA-EZE. It was okay. Pretty tiring flight. I hate it when you wake up and your mouth is all dry and you need water and all. Again went to sleep for maybe two-three hours and I was fine until night than again I needed some more sleep.
EZE-MIA was my worst one. Tookoff from EZE around 10pm and landed in MIA 5:25am. First time arriving in MIA on a red eye. I hated it. Because most of the time when I get home most of the time from a flight it is the afternoon or evening not mourning. It was very wierd because I remember being in a Park in EZE and it felt like it was just a few hours ago I was there but it really was more than 12.
I feel like that on my arrival airport on all my red eyes.
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
SprxUSA From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 139 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (8 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 6278 times:
I truly enjoy redeye flights. Usually on a long trip there is nothing to see or much to do, so snoozing is as good of thing as any.
Plus, I like to take long day trips and like arriving early in the AM.
However, I do not go on ones that are 3/4+ full. Only the empty ones.
Gem State Airlines..."we have a gem of an airline"
EddieDude From Mexico, joined Nov 2003, 7177 posts, RR: 45 Reply 24, posted (8 years 1 month 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 6092 times:
For me, it really depends on the route. For example, in my opinion, the AM red-eye flights between MEX and GRU are sensational. They allow passengers to maximize their time in their destination. I am a great fan of these flights and I am very likely taking them next month as I have to go to a wedding in Brazil.
On the other hand, the red-eye flights between the U.S. and MEX are terrible. These flights are taken basically by Mexican immigrants who are coming back to visit their families and are always almost full. They are very uncomfortable and the worst part is not the flight itself but the long, long lines that one must make in MEX upon arrival to go through immigration because there are hundreds of people arriving from ORD, LAX, etc. and few immigration officers at those indecent hours of the morning.
25 ANCFlyer: They are a terrible necessity for departing ANC . . . want to get to the East Cost (and most of the midwest) during the daylight hours, depart ANC at
26 Aerorobnz: From New Zealand you can only really go back in time (the best way to travel - less jetlag) because we're the first timezone to see the new day in, so
27 ViveLeYHZ: To me, Red-eyes suck, plain and simple. I can never fall asleep on an airplane, I have tried so many times, but no matter how tired my body is, my hea
28 Lobster: I think they are great for a day trip. I flew out to SFO in the morning and flew back that night. Had the whole day to dick around. Of coarse the next
29 HorizonGirl: UGH! I do not like doing that. Since there is such a huge time change, bad timing is usually unavoidable! Devon
30 September11: One time I flew red-eye flight on AA from LAS to DFW.... I came up to a flight attendant and told him this: I am bored! Then he gave me a magazine to
31 SATX: If you fly coach like me, redeys suck. Sometimes I can sleep and sometimes I can't. Using alcohol and other drugs can sometimes help, but I rarely get
32 Edoca: Depends on the route indeed... Strangely enough, the longer a red-eye takes, the better for me. From the Antilles back to Europe for example, it's a s
33 Crox1: I really dont mind Trans-Atlantic Redeyes, when flying over the Atlantic for several hours on end, there isn't a great deal to see during the day, ex
34 AirWillie6475: I took next day arrival flight from LAX to JFK once because of the price and nothing else. The only good thing about the flight is that you get the fe
35 Planecrazy2: I don't like red eyes but I don't hate them. Flying SFO-SYD on UA in coach was boring, impossible to sleep, and the minimal IFE on their 744s doesen't
36 ORDINDUAFLYER: If I'm traveling for business and have a choice, then I"ll choose a daytime flight. But if I don't have a choice, or if I'm trying to maximize my time
37 Christian: My last flight was a red-eye flight between ORD and ARN. By the time I was on SFO time, so I couldn't sleep during the hole trip. Around 2-3 pm Swedis
38 JetBlueAtJFK: They are ok especially for trans-Atlantic b/c that is when all the flights leave. When I took UA JFK-LHR about 2 years ago, we left at 9:30pm and we h
39 AirbusA6: On transatlantic red eye flights from the US back to London, I normally find myself trying, and failing to get to sleep, then eventually nodding off 1
40 Dinker225: As ANCflyer mentioned when leaving ANC its nearly impossible to get a day flight. I've gone from ANC-DEN 3 times now and each flight has been in the m
41 VS747SPUR: Personally they dont bother me atall, I try fly UK-USA at night if i can from LHR as I find I dont wake up at 3am the next day as I would do on a day
42 UAalltheway: Don't bother me one bit... I *love* night flights. Getting to see all the city lights when making your decent and such. Always in for a great ride on
43 N77014: I just did an SFO-IAH redeye. Plus: Allows nearly a full day at your layover. No long lines in security checkpoint. Cons: Can be hard to sleep on. Usu
44 Leigh pilgrim: I actually prefer night flights!, the IFE, well I normally get bored of it after half hour, I cant watch a film on flights. I recently come back from
45 SmithAir747: I do a lot of red-eye, overnight transatlantic flying from the midwest USA to Europe (especially the UK). I have yet to have a decent, uninterrupted s
46 ORFflyer: I love the red-eyes. I've done the SAN-ATL-ORF many times via DL. A couple of times I've left ORF on the 5:50am flight, arrived in SAN mid-day, comple
47 ANCFlyer: And having just completed ANC-MSP-CID on NW, I can now reaffirm that I hate the frickin' things . . . . my ass is dragging and it's only 10:25am in C
48 777ER: To me over night flights would be nicer because you arrive in the morning instead of like the evening or afternoon.
49 Visionfusion: Red eyes work for me as long as: - I have an eye mask (absolutely 100% essential) - my ipod (with soothing music) - I have a scotch and water before d
50 Leviticus: Yes they suck and are rather uncomfortable but I would chose a redeye anytime over anything else because it always saves you a day ! I can be without
51 UAalltheway: As I look for flights to SEA from JAX for July, I notide alot of red-eye flights; and needless to say- I'm staying away from them. Leaving SEA at like
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