Samurai 777 From Canada, joined Jan 2000, 2451 posts, RR: 5 Posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 1523 times:
Well...what's your favorite time of day to fly? For me, it depends on whether its short-haul, transcon or international - and direction of flight, because of Earth's rotation, the time(local) difference between departure and arrival is greater after an eastbound flight than a westbound flight. This is what causes jetlag after long international flights. I don't usually get jetlag that much, but I have experienced it sometimes.
Short-haul (90 min. or less):
Anytime between 10 am and 8 pm in either direction.
Transcon:
Eastbound - Between 7 am and 2 pm. This way, I don't end up arriving really late at night, especially if after a delay occured.
Westbound - Anytime during the day between 9 am and 7pm, depending on flight connections. Red eye flights in either direction are allright, but they're not really my preference. Besides, I think people would usually rather meet me at arrival later in the day like in the afternoon or the evening.
International:
Eastbound - Anytime between 5 pm and 10 pm for a night flight. This way, I can at least get a bit of sleep at night and reduce the chances of getting jetlag upon arrival.
Westbound - Departing anytime during the day, except evenings, is great.
BTW, this is my 1000th post - and that's in 153 days! Not too bad, eh?
So, does anyone here have a preference for what time of day to fly?
Stratifier From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 1433 times:
Congrats on the 1000th post!
I still feel safer flying during daytime and not at night... but the fear's been wearing thin.
The one international flight I have to take is between LAX and BKK, with a stop somewhere in SE Asia, depending on the carrier. I like the way a lot of them take off late at night from LAX and go west. I prefer similar arrangements when I'm eastbound.
IflyMidwExprss From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 156 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 1426 times:
For any flight, my two favorite times of day to fly are either early in the morning or at sunset. I like the early morning because it's cool to be at the airport as it "wakes up" for the day: the first planes being fuelled, cargo being loaded, etc., all as the sun comes up. I also like flying at sunset, since there's nothing like looking up at a beautiful sunset, then getting on a plane and flying right into it!
Cheers,
Ryan
p.s. Congrats on the 1000th post!
MikeYEG From Canada, joined May 2000, 28 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 1417 times:
I like to depart/arrive at night, if I can. I'm a natural 'night owl', so it's easier for me to get around and function at night. Plus I like to look out the window on take-off/landing and see all of the lights, both of the cities and of the airports. I once flew during the night on Canada Day, and saw fireworks going on as we were approaching YEG. Also, I once was able to look down and see lightning in low-altitude storm cells. Plus, some of those departures from Pearson late at night have incredible views...all the lights of the airport, of the metropolis, and seeing the boats on Lake Ontario...I would love to leave from New York or LA late at night one of these times; IMHO that would be quite a view.
AC_A340 From Canada, joined Sep 1999, 2251 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1401 times:
Red-eye. I love 'em. Or in the winter, early morning or evening seeing as how the sun doesn't come up until 8 and sets by 5:30. I love flying when it's dark though.
NJTurnpike From United States of America, joined May 2000, 580 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1399 times:
For me, it has to be during sunrise. I once took a flight from Luton to Edinburgh that took off just before sunrise, and the cabin was bathed in a fantastic orange light for the first 20 minutes of the trip. I'll not forget that experience in a hurry. And no, the orange effect was nothing to do with EasyJet's cabin colours
A close second would be night flights over large towns and cities. On a Virgin A340 out of Dulles heading to LHR, the whole of Wash. DC and the Maryland / Viriginia suburbs was lit with a splendid orange sodium glow which went on for as far as the eye could see (perfect weather that night). It was breathtaking. I'm glad that I don't do that trip very often, because it makes me appreciate it a whole lot more when I do see sights like that.
I guess it's obvious; I'm just a sucker for views from thousands of feet up
~NJTurnpike (who's considering a name change to 'WindowSeatFan' ! )
ATA757 From United States of America, joined Apr 2011, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1391 times:
Samurai 777 From Canada, joined Jan 2000, 2451 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1386 times:
Quite simple - I just look at the bottom of my user profile (I just click on my username to get there, of course), and look at it as I post my threads or topics. That way, I know when my 1000th post is going to be.
TurboTristar From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1386 times:
I think it is dusk. It is still light enough (sometimes), to see the cities and sights below, but the sky has an interesting tint to it. And when you land, (if it is still semi-light), you can see the runway and terminal lights along with the aircraft.
Derek H From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1383 times:
During the night with there are lighting storms!! That, I think is so cool. I LOVE thunder storms and stuff like that. It is pure heaven when it is lightening!!
Ilyushin96M From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 2609 posts, RR: 14 Reply 12, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1381 times:
I prefer late morning departures, mostly, so as to enjoy the view from high up during the day. I usually stay glued to the window when I fly. It's also nice sometimes to depart in the early evening, and catch the sunset.
Trintocan From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2000, 3192 posts, RR: 4 Reply 13, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1362 times:
I prefer to fly flights during the day, especially midmorning. Most flights from POS and the Eastern Caribbean to MIA, JFK, YYZ and/or LHR pass directly over the island chain and during the daytime one can have spectacular views of the islands as they pass below, complete with their white sand beaches and extensive coral reefs. The Bahamas further north are simply stunning when viewed from above too.
I enjoy gazing from the window and so daytime flying is it for me. BTW, I am not afraid of night flying and, above all, the view of a sunset when airborne is a picture of breath-taking beauty and splendour.
Adam84 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 1400 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1359 times:
I like flying over land during the day in both directions cause I get to see all the citys below. Las Vegas looks so small from 30,000 feet. If its over the water I like flying during the day going west and at night going east. If you look down at the ocean it looks like everything is on pause the whitecaps look like they arent moving and its real neat. Then flying east at night its real trippy to just see darkness and nothing else.Fly Continental!!
USAir_757 From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 994 posts, RR: 9 Reply 17, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 1342 times:
My favorite time of day to fly is dusk-night-dawn, i prefer departing at dawn.
-Cullen Wassell @ MSL | Pentax *istDL, Sigma 28-80 AL DG Macro II, Sigma 70-300 DG Macro
Dc-9-10 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 583 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1335 times:
I just love flying at night it is just more peaceful and every body is sleeping but me, that is becouse i am looking out the window or trying to look out the window>
Trvlr From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 4430 posts, RR: 23 Reply 19, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1327 times:
Short and medium haul domestic flights are best when taking off in the early morning. For long-haul flights going west I like taking off around 1.5 hours before sunset. I will be flying BA to London from San Diego in about 2 and a half weeks departing at 7:30 PM so that will fit with my preferences perfectly. Long-haul flights going east departing from the USA I like to go around noon, while on long-haul flights going east not departing from the US I like to go about 2-3 hours before sunset.
Goingboeing From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 4875 posts, RR: 19 Reply 20, posted (12 years 11 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 1319 times:
How in the hell can one justify pictures in THIS topic?
Anyhow - I prefer early morning, to watch the sun rise. No, wait, I like mid day to late afternoon when you can see the thunderheads building up. Oh, wait, I like night the best. You can see the lights of the cities come in to view hundreds of miles away. Bottom line - I don't really care what time, or what weather (ya get thru it pretty fast, no?) - just put me on the plane!
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