I much prefer to fly from the US to SE Asia via Europe. I was doing a lot of around the world trips and I always felt better going that direction. I like leaving in the evening and easily sleeping on the way to Europe (just a bit though) and then getting a good amount of sleep on my Europe to Asia flight. Wake up and and a few hours later I am there. Whenever I fly from the US to SE Asia via my normal ORD-NRT route the flights leave early in the morning and I just dont want to sleep so it makes for a longer trip than it already is since it is against the winds. Also, with the westward route you will arrive late at night as opposed to the morning if that makes a difference. I am up in the air on that one because if I arrive too early there is no way I can make it through the day but if I arrive too late I have a tough day getting my day started the next day.

Bottom line for me is flying with the wind at your tail gets you there quicker and for me that is a good thing.