Jet Lag

[WilliaminBKK]

What is your experience with jet lag from London to Bangkok vv ?

I am flying my 80 year old Aunt to Bangkok for a 3 week holiday and I want to pick flights that would make the journey as painless as possible. For me it isn't a problem as I sleep. There is no way she would pop a tablet.

She flies to Canada a couple of times a year but recently is complaining about the jet lag. For this trip I can break the journey in the Middle East but I would prefer non stop with Thai, I'll probably splurge on J class, but am really curious if the day or night flight has advantages ? ?

[RickThai]

Jet lag is highly-dependent upon the individual. Staying hydrated is a good way to help with the problem.

I follow a Special Forces trick, of immediately setting my watch to the destination time, and then staying awake through the local night time, and then taking some sleeping pills when it is "night time" according to my destination.

No matter where in the world I am traveling, this seems to cut down my jet lag, from a week to only a day or two.

Good luck.

RickThai

[Sojourner]

Once here get aunty outside during the day for as much as you can for the first few days. She doesn't have to be in the sun but just being in the daylight makes the adjustment go much faster.

[Chivas]

The OP has asked for experience and without question in my opinion Jet lag is a total myth.

Either I'm extremely lucky or other people are comparing jet lag to tiredness ??

Doesn't exist.

[Cameron38]

As a former Boeing Engineer, I can tell you that jet lag does have more to do with cabin pressurization, humidity and dehydration. It affects some people more than others. Due to it's new composite construction, Boeing's new 787 will be pressurized at 6,000ft instead of the normal 8,000 and will have much higher humidity levels inside the cabin. This should help with "Jet Lag" for many...

[surangw]

try and get a flight that arrives before noon, and stick to a daily schedule ( norman waking hours) for the frist few days in either direction

[wileycoyote]

My Mum is in this age range.

My 4 suggestions are :

1.Night flights might work for her ,but only when she is sufficiently tired,(So we tend to fly night flights,direct from both LHR & BKK,after checking in much earlier from our local add on airports.

2Blood circulation problems can occur at this age,so keeping active ,by moving to the end of cabin & doing knee bends,stretches & moving wrists.(Definitely the anti DVT stockings)

3Light or no meals ,Qantas "Goody Bags" are great for occasional grazing/snacking,preferably light biscuits,with ginger (festive Speculum biscuits are ideal)

Otherwise walk to the Thai galley & ask for tea & crackers

Always have water bottle handy & take tea,or juice when offered (not alcohol or gassy drinks)

4Listen to radio,or do mags,word searches etc,a long movie might be too tiring for her ,particularly ,if she doesn't have a tv facing her seat ,& is staring into the distance

Hope this helps

Best Wishes

Wiley Coyote

[WilliaminBKK]

Thank you Wiley, night flights are the trick then and all of your other points noted-she is actually addicted to her ITouch to the point she likes to listen to music while driving with the buds in her ears, I KNOW I KNOW

When she is here my only other issue is Church on Sunday LOL, knowing to book the night flights is a relief.

My Mum is in this age range.

My 4 suggestions are :

1.Night flights might work for her ,but only when she is sufficiently tired,(So we tend to fly night flights,direct from both LHR & BKK,after checking in much earlier from our local add on airports.

2Blood circulation problems can occur at this age,so keeping active ,by moving to the end of cabin & doing knee bends,stretches & moving wrists.(Definitely the anti DVT stockings)

3Light or no meals ,Qantas "Goody Bags" are great for occasional grazing/snacking,preferably light biscuits,with ginger (festive Speculum biscuits are ideal)

Otherwise walk to the Thai galley & ask for tea & crackers

Always have water bottle handy & take tea,or juice when offered (not alcohol or gassy drinks)

4Listen to radio,or do mags,word searches etc,a long movie might be too tiring for her ,particularly ,if she doesn't have a tv facing her seat ,& is staring into the distance

Hope this helps

Best Wishes

Wiley Coyote

[FritsSikkink]

Jet lag is highly-dependent upon the individual. Staying hydrated is a good way to help with the problem.

I follow a Special Forces trick, of immediately setting my watch to the destination time, and then staying awake through the local night time, and then taking some sleeping pills when it is "night time" according to my destination.

No matter where in the world I am traveling, this seems to cut down my jet lag, from a week to only a day or two.

Good luck.

RickThai

I take a pill 2 hours after i get in the plane (on a 11 hours flight) and don't have jet lag at all.

Could you tell this to the special forces please.

[rakman]

try and get a flight that arrives before noon, and stick to a daily schedule ( norman waking hours) for the frist few days in either direction

My experience for reducing jet lag is:

1) use noise cancelling headphones. Reduces the noise stress and as a bonus you can listen to music or the movies. I enjoy some light classical music at low volume during my sleep on the plane.

2) whenever you arrive, attempt to get on a local time schedule as quickly as possible. If you arrive during the day, go for a walk, stay up as long as you can until your local sleep time. If you arrive at night, go to sleep and wake up when you normally would at local time. If you're on holiday, splurge and sleep in, but get up and get back on normal schedule.

3) hydrate. Drink lots of water on the plane, and after you land. Old saying: If you don't pee, you're not drinking enough water. Lack of water will make you tired first, and cranky second.

4) Relax. Don't add extra stress to your trip. It's a trip not a race.

5) If you can, as long as it's safe during the flight, get up out of your seat, walk around and stretch. Do some stretching exercises in your seat. Its also a good way to avoid deep vein thrombosis.

6) while non-stop flights get you there quicker, breaking up the flight into smaller segments with short (1-2 hour) layovers are good to get out of the plane, drink water, walk around (women love to window shop). Check out the airport terminal and limited view of the scenery outside.

7) do what works for you.

Your mileage may vary.