In flight sleep strategy 1am departure ORD
Sep 28, 2014, 8:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: DL NWA UA
Posts: 177
In flight sleep strategy 1am departure ORD
If you leave from the USA east coast or midwest (Like ORD), what's the sleep strategy if you wish to be functional on the day you arrive? Flying J in 2 weeks; looks like CX808 has been flying polar route lately so arriving early (dunno if that makes a difference)
I can usually sleep for 8 or 9 hours in my bed but heck this flight is 15. So is it stay up as long as you can until utterly exhausted and hope you sleep as close to arrival as possible?
Or sleep the 8, wake up at HKG local time 12-1am, take a nap at arrival lounge if flight arrives 5am (polar route)?
I can usually sleep for 8 or 9 hours in my bed but heck this flight is 15. So is it stay up as long as you can until utterly exhausted and hope you sleep as close to arrival as possible?
Or sleep the 8, wake up at HKG local time 12-1am, take a nap at arrival lounge if flight arrives 5am (polar route)?
Sep 28, 2014, 11:05 am
#2
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
If you leave from the USA east coast or midwest (Like ORD), what's the sleep strategy if you wish to be functional on the day you arrive? Flying J in 2 weeks; looks like CX808 has been flying polar route lately so arriving early (dunno if that makes a difference)
I can usually sleep for 8 or 9 hours in my bed but heck this flight is 15. So is it stay up as long as you can until utterly exhausted and hope you sleep as close to arrival as possible?
Or sleep the 8, wake up at HKG local time 12-1am, take a nap at arrival lounge if flight arrives 5am (polar route)?
I can usually sleep for 8 or 9 hours in my bed but heck this flight is 15. So is it stay up as long as you can until utterly exhausted and hope you sleep as close to arrival as possible?
Or sleep the 8, wake up at HKG local time 12-1am, take a nap at arrival lounge if flight arrives 5am (polar route)?
Sep 28, 2014, 10:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,607
I fly YYZ HKG that leaves at 0140. I get up late on departure day, then stay awake on board until about 8 a.m. YYZ time, or 8 p.m. HKG time, then sleep 8 hours to 4 am HKG time, have breakfast and then arrive on HKG local time.
Going back on the 1030 am flight I get up early in HKG, then take a triazolam to sleep at say 2 a.m. Toronto time such that I wake up in sort of YYZ time. West is easier than eastward, that's for sure.
Going back on the 1030 am flight I get up early in HKG, then take a triazolam to sleep at say 2 a.m. Toronto time such that I wake up in sort of YYZ time. West is easier than eastward, that's for sure.
Sep 28, 2014, 10:48 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur
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Sep 29, 2014, 1:00 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
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Posts: 3,092
Sep 29, 2014, 2:07 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
I usually try to get on a late flight. Don't get up early on the departure day. Stay awake on the flight for 2-3 hours. Take 2 melatonin with desert. Sleep. If I wake up keep eyes closed and sleep as much as possible. Stay active (sunlight, outside) after arrival, take 1 melatonin around 9 pm and go to bed.
For me this works best with jetlag.
For me this works best with jetlag.
Sep 30, 2014, 9:24 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 31
We are all different, so having said that I will give you my schedule, as I have flown from LAX to HKG about 10 times in the last few years (sadly, in economy), leaving around 22:00 to midnight.
At LAX I drink two strong martinis (in place of melatonin), eat dinner on the flight as said they will feed you right away, watch a bad movie, then take two tylenol PM's, and get some sleep.
I think the best option is to stay awake as long as possible after takeoff - that allows you to be so tired at the back end of the flight that you can get some sleep, and you will wake up feeling more refreshed.
Good luck.
At LAX I drink two strong martinis (in place of melatonin), eat dinner on the flight as said they will feed you right away, watch a bad movie, then take two tylenol PM's, and get some sleep.
I think the best option is to stay awake as long as possible after takeoff - that allows you to be so tired at the back end of the flight that you can get some sleep, and you will wake up feeling more refreshed.
Good luck.
Oct 1, 2014, 6:28 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,405
If you leave from the USA east coast or midwest (Like ORD), what's the sleep strategy if you wish to be functional on the day you arrive? Flying J in 2 weeks; looks like CX808 has been flying polar route lately so arriving early (dunno if that makes a difference)
I can usually sleep for 8 or 9 hours in my bed but heck this flight is 15. So is it stay up as long as you can until utterly exhausted and hope you sleep as close to arrival as possible?
Or sleep the 8, wake up at HKG local time 12-1am, take a nap at arrival lounge if flight arrives 5am (polar route)?
I can usually sleep for 8 or 9 hours in my bed but heck this flight is 15. So is it stay up as long as you can until utterly exhausted and hope you sleep as close to arrival as possible?
Or sleep the 8, wake up at HKG local time 12-1am, take a nap at arrival lounge if flight arrives 5am (polar route)?
trying to force yourself awake on flights can mean when you think you should sleep it may not be possible (either you're feeling 'awake' or you could even be over-tired). or there could be turbulence or a baby crying or whatever.
getting sleep when you feel tired means at least you get some sleep rather than potentially getting none.
Oct 1, 2014, 7:07 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,631
You cannot really put sleepiness in the bank and use all of it later; some of it goes away. Or think of it as being like cake: eat it when it is offered, because later it might all be gone.
Last edited by SeeBuyFly; Oct 1, 2014 at 9:43 pm