After midnight arrival (such as 2AM) transcons -- Why? Who?
Oct 29, 2015, 12:40 pm
#61
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS 1MM / Hilton Diamond / Bonvoy Gold / Hertz PC
Posts: 396
I'm not sure if it still exists but four years ago I did what was then UA 225, a 10 PM IAD-SFO departure. We had really bad head wings and the flight took six hours. I got off the plane at SFO at 1:30 AM. It was absolutely brutal and it didn't help that I fell asleep on the flight and couldn't get to sleep until almost 4 AM at my hotel 
Oct 29, 2015, 2:46 pm
#62
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,118
I just took a similar flight last week from LAX. got into EWR around 1:30am. I'd take this flight anytime over a full red eye. Typically i am done in LA by 3 or 4 in the afternoon and end up sitting around until 10pm and then the next day is awful. if i'm done at 3 or 4 i can make a 6:30 flight stay awake/doze a bit on a flight home and be in my bed by 3am and get to atleast wake up at home with my family.
Oct 29, 2015, 9:30 pm
#63
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 643
Yes you arrive at 2AM, but for your body its only 11pm - so you can get a real sleep. Start the next day a bit later than normal, but you adapt and can function. These are the flights I take. I avoid red eyes at all costs.
Oct 30, 2015, 9:07 am
#66
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,764
When it's eastbound, it's not so bad. On the other hand, I got myself stuck on an ORD-SEA flight which arrives at 2:37AM on January 3rd. I'm dreading having to get up for work the next morning already.