Later departure US West Coast better for sleep?
Sep 23, 2014, 8:47 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 300
Later departure US West Coast better for sleep?
There's a Seattle London. BA flight leaving at 645 pm, arriving at noon, which is 3 am Pacific Time. Some west coast flights arrive as early as 7 am.
Would you consider flying down to San Francisco or even Los Angeles for a later arriving flight? From SFO, there's a UA flight arriving at 2:05 and a BA flight arriving at 1:30, not much later than the Seattle flight. However, from LAX, there's a BA A380, which I have never been on, that arrives at 4 pm and a VS flight at 4:35 pm. That's like 8 or 8:35 am Pacific Time.
Would you consider flying down to San Francisco or even Los Angeles for a later arriving flight? From SFO, there's a UA flight arriving at 2:05 and a BA flight arriving at 1:30, not much later than the Seattle flight. However, from LAX, there's a BA A380, which I have never been on, that arrives at 4 pm and a VS flight at 4:35 pm. That's like 8 or 8:35 am Pacific Time.
Sep 23, 2014, 9:50 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
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Later departure US West Coast better for sleep?
The amount of time you have to sleep is going to be the same, but you'll add in an hour short flight and 2 hrs to connect, which would be a more exhausting experience.
It's a matter of personal preference. You dont say what you will be doing once you arrive in Europe. Does losing a half day at your destination bother you? For me, its easier to adjust to the time change when I wake up/land in the morning and have a full day before bedtime, rather than arrive at 2pm exhausted, only wanting a nap, and then being unable to fall asleep 8-9 hours later.
It's a matter of personal preference. You dont say what you will be doing once you arrive in Europe. Does losing a half day at your destination bother you? For me, its easier to adjust to the time change when I wake up/land in the morning and have a full day before bedtime, rather than arrive at 2pm exhausted, only wanting a nap, and then being unable to fall asleep 8-9 hours later.
Sep 23, 2014, 10:20 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Posts: 2,731
Agree on "personal preference," but am otherwise the opposite of Adam1222. I find it considerably easier to sleep on a plane if it's dark out when the plane's taking off (although still not easy enough that I'm "well-rested"--but enough to be functional at my destination till a normal-ish bedtime of 10 or so).
Also, in London, you can find stuff to do the evening of your arrival, anyway. For that reason, I personally wouldn't sweat losing a half day there. Last time I headed over to the Tate Modern.
Also, in London, you can find stuff to do the evening of your arrival, anyway. For that reason, I personally wouldn't sweat losing a half day there. Last time I headed over to the Tate Modern.
Sep 24, 2014, 12:06 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Later departure US West Coast better for sleep?
Do you sleep easily on planes? For me - I have a hard time sleeping at nonstandard bedtimes. I leave from the east coast but have found early evening departures difficult. I much prefer leaving at 11 pm or midnight. I will inevitably waste part of the departure day and part of the arrival day - but I sleep better on the flight and adjust better on arrival.
For me it's an easy call. But I usually go to bed at midnight or later. I have friends who usually are in bed by 9 and they have no trouble with 7 pm departures. I suggest you consider your normal routine and plan the trip so that it meshes as closely as possible.
For me it's an easy call. But I usually go to bed at midnight or later. I have friends who usually are in bed by 9 and they have no trouble with 7 pm departures. I suggest you consider your normal routine and plan the trip so that it meshes as closely as possible.