Preferred Direction of Travel
Jun 29, 2005 | 10:33 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 1,100
Preferred Direction of Travel
I've done two RTWs, one northern hemisphere (4 continents) and one southern (six). In both cases, I chose westbound because I prefer to travel by day where possible and to enjoy the service. Headwinds mean westbound is usually a little longer.
What do most travellers here do, Eastbound? or Westbound?
What do most travellers here do, Eastbound? or Westbound?
Jun 29, 2005 | 10:52 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
Westbound by preference, but mainly because I can overnight Asia-Europe and find that works best for my jetlag. JFK-Asia (12 hour timeshift) is a pig for jetlag in either direction.
Jun 29, 2005 | 11:25 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CX Gold MPO
Posts: 1,677
I normally do East bound on my DONE4 because being in Australia, if I want to stop in Asia on the way back (or treat that as a seperate holiday) then it will only work this way.
Also it is better for JEt Lag (as you don't loose 12 Hours in 1 flight, but rather Gain it and then gradually ease back into the original timezone).
Also it is better for JEt Lag (as you don't loose 12 Hours in 1 flight, but rather Gain it and then gradually ease back into the original timezone).
Jun 30, 2005 | 6:07 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Madrid, Spain & Santiago, Chile
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,181
I'm with JohnAx on this one.
One example: If I do HKG-xLAX-SCL I get nearly 24hrs to rest and sleep at a LAX hotel, so by the time I get to SCL I'm in top shape, yet if I do it the other way around I get a few hours at the LAX lounge and that's it; by the time I get to HKG I'm a wreck. Another example, but in reverse: LHR-xLAX-SCL.
More than once I have selected the direction of travel just for this reason.
One example: If I do HKG-xLAX-SCL I get nearly 24hrs to rest and sleep at a LAX hotel, so by the time I get to SCL I'm in top shape, yet if I do it the other way around I get a few hours at the LAX lounge and that's it; by the time I get to HKG I'm a wreck. Another example, but in reverse: LHR-xLAX-SCL.
More than once I have selected the direction of travel just for this reason.
Jun 30, 2005 | 6:56 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Europe
Programs: Various
Posts: 3,087
Eastbound for me too. Bed + alcohol + only sleeping if it's nightime at your destination. Otherwise, bed + alcohol + watch movies (on laptop if no AVOD). In my {Y}ounger days, I found westbound worked better - as I find sleep impossible when sitting/reclining, even with alcohol.
Jun 30, 2005 | 9:32 am
#10
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Always on vacation
Programs: aa exp - spg gold - Hyatt Diamond - HH Gold
Posts: 6,007
Prefer Eastbound also.
Unlike a lot of others including my wife - I find being on the plane a very boring experience and prefer to spend most of it sleeping.
Unlike a lot of others including my wife - I find being on the plane a very boring experience and prefer to spend most of it sleeping.
Jun 30, 2005 | 10:26 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Madrid, Spain & Santiago, Chile
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,181
Originally Posted by Darren
...get a good 6-8 hours of sleep...
Jun 30, 2005 | 12:45 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Circle City
Posts: 3,568
Originally Posted by Viajero
I envy you guys. Irrespective of the duration of the flight, or pill and/or booze I take, or seat type (F, J, bed, flat, exit, whatever), the *most* sleep I ever get on a plane is about 4 hours, and not very sound sleep either. My brother, on the other hand, goes to sleep during takeoff and has to be shaken pretty rough to awake on landing; he sleeps LA's direct SCL-MAD all the way (the only person I know capable of doing that), then puts in a solid work day and that night sleeps like a log; to me that's simply amazing.
Jun 30, 2005 | 1:07 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Madrid, Spain & Santiago, Chile
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,181
Originally Posted by Darren
If you haven't tried Ambien, it's a wonderful invention....
