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Ewr-hkg flight info
Traveling on a EWR-HKG flight next week in business. I usually fly EWR-SIN on SIngapore Airlines but this time I don't have business in SIN. My questions surround the mid afternoon take off vs. midnight take off. Do I try to stay awake for most of the flight as I land in HK at 8pm. I am an experienced long distance traveler just trying to find out what is the best way to get on the local time. I appreciate all the tips.
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EWR CO99 - what has worked for me, watch a moviex2/book, have dinner, get five-six hours in the middle and then wake up for balance. Go to sleep around mid-night in HK.
My strategy for the mid-day US departures that arrive Asia in the evening:
Sleep a couple hours less than usual the night before so I have enough sleep pressure to nap at any time.
2hr up (meal/movie/book)
2hr nap
2hr up
2hr nap
2hr up
2hr nap
2hr up
Then when I get to to the hotel it's gym, shower, light dinner, and bed at a normal local time.
Some people prefer to coalesce the naps into one 5-6 hour sleep; I feel better on arrival in Asia with the shorter nap/movie cycle.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mduell
My strategy for the mid-day US departures that arrive Asia in the evening:
Sleep a couple hours less than usual the night before so I have enough sleep pressure to nap at any time.
2hr up (meal/movie/book)
2hr nap
2hr up
2hr nap
2hr up
2hr nap
2hr up
Then when I get to to the hotel it's gym, shower, light dinner, and bed at a normal local time.
Some people prefer to coalesce the naps into one 5-6 hour sleep; I feel better on arrival in Asia with the shorter nap/movie cycle.
Very detailed lay out! Thanks as I'm up against the same thing next week. I'll try out your plan.
I've travelled between the US and HKG about twice a year for about 20, and recently mostly on CO99 (soon to become UA117). On this flight, you don't need to do anything special. Just stay on the E. Coast time. Eat your main meal, watch a couple of movies, eat the mid-flight snack, then fall asleep naturally as the plane is heading south in Russian airspace. You'll get about 4 hours of sleep before lights on for breakfast.
After arrival at HKG, walk around town and have a light supper or dessert at around around midnight or so. By that time, you'll be tired enough to get a fairly good night sleep.
This is much better than an early morning arrival, which made me like a zombie for the rest of the day, or sleep all day and then up all night after.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rkkwan
I've travelled between the US and HKG about twice a year for about 20, and recently mostly on CO99 (soon to become UA117). On this flight, you don't need to do anything special. Just stay on the E. Coast time. Eat your main meal, watch a couple of movies, eat the mid-flight snack, then fall asleep naturally as the plane is heading south in Russian airspace. You'll get about 4 hours of sleep before lights on for breakfast.
After arrival at HKG, walk around town and have a light supper or dessert at around around midnight or so. By that time, you'll be tired enough to get a fairly good night sleep.
This is much better than an early morning arrival, which made me like a zombie for the rest of the day, or sleep all day and then up all night after.
I agree with this 100%...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rkkwan
I've travelled between the US and HKG about twice a year for about 20, and recently mostly on CO99 (soon to become UA117). On this flight, you don't need to do anything special. Just stay on the E. Coast time. Eat your main meal, watch a couple of movies, eat the mid-flight snack, then fall asleep naturally as the plane is heading south in Russian airspace. You'll get about 4 hours of sleep before lights on for breakfast.
After arrival at HKG, walk around town and have a light supper or dessert at around around midnight or so. By that time, you'll be tired enough to get a fairly good night sleep.
This is much better than an early morning arrival, which made me like a zombie for the rest of the day, or sleep all day and then up all night after.
+1
it usually takes me 2-3 days before i start shifting over to the local time regardless. fight the urge to sleep immediately after to getting to where you are staying. definitely try to stay up for a bit, otherwise, you might wake up at 1:50 am and be unable to sleep again.
2hr up (meal/movie/book)
2hr nap
2hr up
2hr nap...
How do you manage this process? Do you set an alarm to limit your sleep? No way I could run that precise a schedule...
Quote:
Originally Posted by rkkwan
I've travelled between the US and HKG about twice a year for about 20, and recently mostly on CO99 (soon to become UA117). On this flight, you don't need to do anything special. Just stay on the E. Coast time. Eat your main meal, watch a couple of movies, eat the mid-flight snack, then fall asleep naturally as the plane is heading south in Russian airspace. You'll get about 4 hours of sleep before lights on for breakfast.
After arrival at HKG, walk around town and have a light supper or dessert at around around midnight or so. By that time, you'll be tired enough to get a fairly good night sleep.
I've never waited that long or limited my sleep that much on the flights to HKG. But I find that even if I wait until late to go to sleep, there's still a very good chance my body will wake me up at 3am. And even if I manage to sleep through, perhaps by pill, there's also a very good chance my body will start to shut down around 4pm.
Quote:
This is much better than an early morning arrival, which made me like a zombie for the rest of the day, or sleep all day and then up all night after.
Interestingly, I've had the best luck on the early-morning arrivals. The late departures and all-overnight flights usually mean I'm tired enough to get lots of sleep on the plane, and then am in good enough shape upon arrival to last the whole day. The best was the JFK-YVR-HKG on CX in F, which allows lots of time to sleep (and eat and watch movies and enjoy the service). And then I continued straight on to SIN and the jet lag wasn't so bad. (There is still an impact).
How do you manage this process? Do you set an alarm to limit your sleep? No way I could run that precise a schedule...
An alarm would disrupt the cabin and leave me feeling groggy if I force myself awake outside of a natural sleep cycle. The beds in biz aren't that comfortable so every ~60-100 minute sleep cycle when I stir I look at the clock to see if it's time to cycle. The movies also aren't exactly 2h, could be 2-4 tv shows (22 or 44 minutes each) or a 2.5h movie.
Interestingly, I've had the best luck on the early-morning arrivals. The late departures and all-overnight flights usually mean I'm tired enough to get lots of sleep on the plane, and then am in good enough shape upon arrival to last the whole day. The best was the JFK-YVR-HKG on CX in F, which allows lots of time to sleep (and eat and watch movies and enjoy the service). And then I continued straight on to SIN and the jet lag wasn't so bad. (There is still an impact).
Clearly YMMV on this topic...
Well, I know some find the early arrival in Asia work better, but I mostly fly coach, and I can never get enough sleep on the plane to last me a whole day in Hong Kong after arrival - therefore I said I'd be like a zombie.
The one time I fly BF on CO99, I find my body reacts the same as flying coach, in regard to time. Still the same schedule I wrote above, only difference is that the meals in BF take a lot longer than in the back. So, I was watching movies while "dining".
