Cashed in miles for HNL to IST, all in F until reach Europe, then in J. Wanted to get experienced travelers to provide advice for best sleep pattern on this very long trip.

Leave HNL 6:17 AM. Have lie-flat seat in UA 767-400ER.
Arrive SFO 2:30 PM
Leave SFO 7:20 PM In new suite UA 747
Arrive FRA 3:00 PM (next day)
Then leave FRA to IST, with stop in MUC.
Arrive IST 10:50 PM

Since we will be getting up very early on departure morning, I am guessing best to try to sleep as soon as possible on first flight. Shower and change in SFO, and then sleep after dinner on SFO-FRA flight. Any other thoughts? Thanks!

I'd sleep on the SFO-FRA flight and not on the others.

If you sleep on the first flight, you may not be tired enough to sleep on the long flight, which really is the one where you want to catch some sleep.

+1

Even though it's early morning, it will throw off you rhythm. Too bad you get into IST so late, but hopefully if you can stay awake during your European flights you may be able to go to sleep and start the next morning more or less fresh.

EmailKid

Why is the late arrival into IST "a shame"?

Bedtime local time is my favourite time to arrive somewhere after a long flight... just go to bed, at the right time, hopefully go to sleep without too much of a problem (because travelling is tiring), hopefully wake up at a reasonable time. None of this having to force oneself to stay awake until local bed-time - it IS local bedtime.

I always take a daytime flight from the East Coast when I travel back to the UK from North America, for that reason.

What kind of flights are those? Do you have layovers somewhere? I thought most of the daytime flights had been discontinued.

BOS, JFK and IAD all have non-stop daytime flights to LHR on BA and UA, usually getting in between 2030 and 2130.

Thanks for the info. I live in Amsterdam and was hoping to get a direct flight here. Would you happen to know if there are any? I just checked and don't see any.

LHR is the only European city that has same-day TATL arrivals.

Damn! Thanks for the help.

I've looked at those too to get into BRU, but the LHR arrivals are too late in the evening to make a connection.

Many thanks for the thoughtful advice!

Enjoy your trip!

My first post gave Itin A:

ITIN A
Leave HNL 6:17 AM. Have lie-flat J seat in UA 767-400ER. (Need to wake up really early to catch this flight!)
Arrive SFO 2:30 PM
Leave SFO 7:20 PM In new F suite UA 747
Arrive FRA 3:00 PM (next day)
Slight change:
FRA to IST on TK J A330, departing 6:30 PM
Arrive IST 10:25 PM

Alternatives may be available:

ITIN B
Leave HNL 8:25 PM, Have lie-flat AC 767 J sleeper seats
Arrive YVR 5:05 AM
Leave YVR 4:15 PM on LH F A340-600 (old F seats)
Arrive FRA 11:10 AM
FRA to IST on LH, departing 1:00 PM on A321
Arrive IST 4:50 PM

ITIN C
Leave HNL 10:10 PM to DEN, either F or J seats are possible (3 cabin)
Arrive DEN 8:44 AM
Leave DEN 5:35 PM on LH 747-400 with new F seats/bed combo
Arrive FRA 11:05 AM
FRA to IST on LH, departing 1:00 PM on A321
Arrive IST 4:50 PM

Which itin would you select and why? Which itin do you think would provide the best sleep/wake cycle options?

Many thanks for your thoughtful advice!