Business Class - to eat or sleep?
 

I've flown to Europe from the US in business class on DL about 4 times now - all of the flights leaving between 8 pm and 10 pm. The first time (ATL-ZRH) was eye-opening- the service, the food and the seats.

What I noticed on that flight, and on subsequent flights, is that several of the pax didn't eat the meal, but instead, just went to sleep as soon as the flight was airborne. That surprised me on that first flight - after all, why would you spend that much on a business-class seat and not eat. But I've gotten to the point now, where I fully understand that strategy, and may do it myself on subsequent flights.

Sleeping after a big meal isn't very good for you from both a health and sleep-quality standpoint, and if you go to sleep right away, you stand the chance of getting a decent-nights sleep before you arrive.

I was just wondering, what's the prevalent feeling about foregoing the dinner on a business-class night flight in lieu of getting more sleep?

you don't have to do clean plate club!

do what works best for feeling rested, if you go right to work....

after many trips for work & play, i determined that trying to sleep was slightly better than staying up for me re jet lag....it got worse as i aged....

I try to sleep/rest right away. I eat at the airport. Once the flight is in the air I take my evening medications, put in the ear plugs, attach the sleep mask and work on trying to fool my body into thinking it is time to go to sleep. I may not fall asleep right away but I try.

If it's your first flight in business class like this, I definitely see the allure in wanting to experience the service. It's fun.

But as most TATL flights from NA East Coast to Europe are overnight and most are only 7-10 hours in the air at most, you're much better off maximising your sleep time. This is especially true if you have to work once you get off the plane. Otherwise if you take the meal service, by the time that's done and you've given yourself time for the food to settle etc, you don't get much quality sleep time.

Business Class - to eat or sleep?
 

eating food in the business class lounge and then conking out on the plane is the way to go.

+1- a good sleep is the only really good reason for paying business class. You can eat in the lounge.

Maybe for some travelers who fly so often, eating a business class dinner is not that special. Plus, they probably don't pay for their own tickets and feel they want to get all they can out of it.

The seat really is the best thing about business class. The food is sometimes excellent, but oftentimes just decent. Nothing you can't get at a restaurant somewhere. So especially for business travelers who want to maximize time, and also for passengers in general who might as well eat in the lounge while waiting, it's just a better use of time to go straight to sleep on the plane.

If it was international F on CX or SQ or something, I might choose to wait to eat on the plane.

I eat in the lounge, then sleep on the plane - if I happen to wake up and am hungry, quick call to the FA for a sandwich/snack.

For flights that arrive in the morning/mid afternoon, I much prefer sleeping as much as possible as well.

For flights < 8 hours:

Business Travel - eat before flight, sleep as soon as possible
Personal Travel - eat quickly while watching movie, fall asleep before movie ends

For flights > 8 hours it depends how I am feeling, my workload, and expectations upon landing.

A) Says who? and B) Since when is a plane meal big? :)

I always eat before the flight and conk out as soon as I can on the flight.

TATL from the east coast is a pretty short flight with a big time change, so if you have to work, then sleep is the number 1 priority. Even when I have to fly in Y (too often!) if I have to work or operate in any sane way then my main goal is to sleep.

I haven't been on a TATL flight in years which has food which is good enough to give up an hour of sleep - or even give up eating a pre-bought bagel. I have been on flights to Asia, Australia and the Middle East in J which did have some nice food and drink, though :).

Dr. PITUK

I always try to book my long haul flights with and evening departure. I try to eat at normal time which for me is usually before the plane leaves. Then I may pick a bit at the dinner but mostly I am waiting for the cabin to settle down. I just can't sleep if I feel a lot of activity around me. And stay away from the ice cream sundaes or other desserts... you will never sleep well after that much sugar!