SYD/MEL - DXB - LHR - when do you sleep?
May 28, 2016, 2:57 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Posts: 5,735
SYD/MEL - DXB - LHR - when do you sleep?
I need to be fresh in LHR when I land the next day.
Currently taking the evening departure (23h00)... When would you sleep?
My current plan is
[[ SYD/MEL 23h00 ]]
* Eat the meal
* Nap 4-5h
* Work
[[ DXB 07h00 - 09h00 ]]
* Sleep on take-off (as much as possible)
* Work
[[ LHR @ 14h00 ]]
What's been successful for others?
Currently taking the evening departure (23h00)... When would you sleep?
My current plan is
[[ SYD/MEL 23h00 ]]
* Eat the meal
* Nap 4-5h
* Work
[[ DXB 07h00 - 09h00 ]]
* Sleep on take-off (as much as possible)
* Work
[[ LHR @ 14h00 ]]
What's been successful for others?
May 28, 2016, 3:55 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
I do the same for every long haul flight.
Set watch to destination timezone when boarding. Plan sleep based on that.
eg
QF1 departs SYD at 1600, so about 1000 in DXB and 0500 (daylight) in LHR. The flight is about 14 hours to DXB, so I want to stay up for at least the first half of the flight then have a 2-3 hour nap before arriving in DXB.
The second leg of QF1 departs DXB around 0200 local, or ~11pm in LHR. Flight is 6-7 hours. I want to sleep for as much of the flight as possible.
QF9 makes this somewhat harder given the 2300 local MEL departure when it's 1pm in London. I'd want to stay up for the first 5 or so hours, then sleep the rest of the time to DXB. No more then a short 1-2 hour nap on the 2nd leg into LHR.
Set watch to destination timezone when boarding. Plan sleep based on that.
eg
QF1 departs SYD at 1600, so about 1000 in DXB and 0500 (daylight) in LHR. The flight is about 14 hours to DXB, so I want to stay up for at least the first half of the flight then have a 2-3 hour nap before arriving in DXB.
The second leg of QF1 departs DXB around 0200 local, or ~11pm in LHR. Flight is 6-7 hours. I want to sleep for as much of the flight as possible.
QF9 makes this somewhat harder given the 2300 local MEL departure when it's 1pm in London. I'd want to stay up for the first 5 or so hours, then sleep the rest of the time to DXB. No more then a short 1-2 hour nap on the 2nd leg into LHR.
May 28, 2016, 12:05 pm
#3
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,419
I do the same for every long haul flight.
Set watch to destination timezone when boarding. Plan sleep based on that.
eg
QF1 departs SYD at 1600, so about 1000 in DXB and 0500 (daylight) in LHR. The flight is about 14 hours to DXB, so I want to stay up for at least the first half of the flight then have a 2-3 hour nap before arriving in DXB.
The second leg of QF1 departs DXB around 0200 local, or ~11pm in LHR. Flight is 6-7 hours. I want to sleep for as much of the flight as possible.
QF9 makes this somewhat harder given the 2300 local MEL departure when it's 1pm in London. I'd want to stay up for the first 5 or so hours, then sleep the rest of the time to DXB. No more then a short 1-2 hour nap on the 2nd leg into LHR.
Set watch to destination timezone when boarding. Plan sleep based on that.
eg
QF1 departs SYD at 1600, so about 1000 in DXB and 0500 (daylight) in LHR. The flight is about 14 hours to DXB, so I want to stay up for at least the first half of the flight then have a 2-3 hour nap before arriving in DXB.
The second leg of QF1 departs DXB around 0200 local, or ~11pm in LHR. Flight is 6-7 hours. I want to sleep for as much of the flight as possible.
QF9 makes this somewhat harder given the 2300 local MEL departure when it's 1pm in London. I'd want to stay up for the first 5 or so hours, then sleep the rest of the time to DXB. No more then a short 1-2 hour nap on the 2nd leg into LHR.
May 28, 2016, 6:06 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Programs: M&M SEN, Amex Plat, Club Carlson, Marriott, HHonors & Accor Gold, Velocity Silver, Qantas Bronze
Posts: 3,767
I do the same for every long haul flight.
Set watch to destination timezone when boarding. Plan sleep based on that.
eg
QF1 departs SYD at 1600, so about 1000 in DXB and 0500 (daylight) in LHR. The flight is about 14 hours to DXB, so I want to stay up for at least the first half of the flight then have a 2-3 hour nap before arriving in DXB.
The second leg of QF1 departs DXB around 0200 local, or ~11pm in LHR. Flight is 6-7 hours. I want to sleep for as much of the flight as possible.
QF9 makes this somewhat harder given the 2300 local MEL departure when it's 1pm in London. I'd want to stay up for the first 5 or so hours, then sleep the rest of the time to DXB. No more then a short 1-2 hour nap on the 2nd leg into LHR.
Set watch to destination timezone when boarding. Plan sleep based on that.
eg
QF1 departs SYD at 1600, so about 1000 in DXB and 0500 (daylight) in LHR. The flight is about 14 hours to DXB, so I want to stay up for at least the first half of the flight then have a 2-3 hour nap before arriving in DXB.
The second leg of QF1 departs DXB around 0200 local, or ~11pm in LHR. Flight is 6-7 hours. I want to sleep for as much of the flight as possible.
QF9 makes this somewhat harder given the 2300 local MEL departure when it's 1pm in London. I'd want to stay up for the first 5 or so hours, then sleep the rest of the time to DXB. No more then a short 1-2 hour nap on the 2nd leg into LHR.
May 29, 2016, 11:47 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SYD (perenially), GVA (not in a long time)
Programs: QF PS, EK-Gold, Security Theatre Critic
Posts: 6,766
Are you in sitting upright in Y or have a bed in J or F? That's going to make a big difference!
This works for me (slumming it back in Y) but may not be for everyone:
QF 1 SYD-DXB arrive 12:25 am; QF 9 DXB-LHR depart 9 am. Do what you feel like on the first flight.
Check into the airside hotel in DXB, sleep for 5 or 6 hours in a real bed and have a shower before boarding QF 9. You'll be waking up at something closer to UK "morning" time.
If you're not averse to code shares, take QF 8415 (EK 415) from Sydney and have a much longer break in the middle. It leaves at 6 am (which makes for a very painful start to the day) but the 14 hrs feel like "daytime. When it lands at 2 pm in DXB I go to the hotel, have a shower and a short nap, then have dinner at ~6 pm (the lounge is deserted!) and go back to the hotel for a real night's sleep before flying on the next morning.
This works for me (slumming it back in Y) but may not be for everyone:
QF 1 SYD-DXB arrive 12:25 am; QF 9 DXB-LHR depart 9 am. Do what you feel like on the first flight.
Check into the airside hotel in DXB, sleep for 5 or 6 hours in a real bed and have a shower before boarding QF 9. You'll be waking up at something closer to UK "morning" time.
If you're not averse to code shares, take QF 8415 (EK 415) from Sydney and have a much longer break in the middle. It leaves at 6 am (which makes for a very painful start to the day) but the 14 hrs feel like "daytime. When it lands at 2 pm in DXB I go to the hotel, have a shower and a short nap, then have dinner at ~6 pm (the lounge is deserted!) and go back to the hotel for a real night's sleep before flying on the next morning.
May 30, 2016, 1:59 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Programs: M&M SEN, Amex Plat, Club Carlson, Marriott, HHonors & Accor Gold, Velocity Silver, Qantas Bronze
Posts: 3,767
I find long layovers actually making jet lag in the final destination worse, because basically I need to adjust twice... I used to have 2-3 day stop overs in Asia on the way between AU and EU (and v.v.), but stoped doing that exactly because of this. But as I said before, I travel always in J at least which makes everything easier for my preferred way...
May 30, 2016, 4:04 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,401
I think everyone has a different preference for sleeping.
I just sleep when I am tired. A potential 'danger' in trying to force sleep patters is that you are trying to stay awake when you're very tired, but later when you're 'supposed' to be asleep you can't for some reason (turbulence, or aren't sleepy). Then you might miss out on sleep entirely.
If you sleep when you are tired you at least get some sleep and don't arrive a complete wreck.
The importance of sleep management is on arrival. Especially the first night.
I just sleep when I am tired. A potential 'danger' in trying to force sleep patters is that you are trying to stay awake when you're very tired, but later when you're 'supposed' to be asleep you can't for some reason (turbulence, or aren't sleepy). Then you might miss out on sleep entirely.
If you sleep when you are tired you at least get some sleep and don't arrive a complete wreck.
The importance of sleep management is on arrival. Especially the first night.
May 30, 2016, 10:09 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 4,026
I think everyone has a different preference for sleeping.
I just sleep when I am tired. A potential 'danger' in trying to force sleep patters is that you are trying to stay awake when you're very tired, but later when you're 'supposed' to be asleep you can't for some reason (turbulence, or aren't sleepy). Then you might miss out on sleep entirely.
If you sleep when you are tired you at least get some sleep and don't arrive a complete wreck.
The importance of sleep management is on arrival. Especially the first night.
I just sleep when I am tired. A potential 'danger' in trying to force sleep patters is that you are trying to stay awake when you're very tired, but later when you're 'supposed' to be asleep you can't for some reason (turbulence, or aren't sleepy). Then you might miss out on sleep entirely.
If you sleep when you are tired you at least get some sleep and don't arrive a complete wreck.
The importance of sleep management is on arrival. Especially the first night.
I'd come across this thread while thinking what to do about sleeping on a MEL-DXB-LHR journey this weekend, that first stint is a long one so was just going to sleep when I could. However, have since discovered that it stops at SIN for two hours on the way - which is not helpful at all!
May 31, 2016, 12:10 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SYD (perenially), GVA (not in a long time)
Programs: QF PS, EK-Gold, Security Theatre Critic
Posts: 6,766
I find long layovers actually making jet lag in the final destination worse, because basically I need to adjust twice... I used to have 2-3 day stop overs in Asia on the way between AU and EU (and v.v.), but stoped doing that exactly because of this. But as I said before, I travel always in J at least which makes everything easier for my preferred way...
I used to fly through BKK, SIN or HKG to Europe and I agree that a long layover/stopover there is not helpful, because it's only 2* or 3 hours different to SYD time and still 5 or 6 hours different from Europe, so any adjustment there is insignificant. The benefit of Dubai is its 6 hour different to SYD and only 2 hours wrt Europe. I find (but everyone is different) that with a very early start from Sydney and 14 hrs in Y, I sleep well at the DXB hotel and in the morning it feels like morning. And in Europe I have to be up early anyway (compared to my routine at home) so it suits me.
Now, coming back to Sydney is a different story; I also stay at DXB overnight but it doesn't help as much because the long-haul and 6 hour time adjustment is still ahead.
*All time calculations based on Australian winter; may be different in summer.