Jet Lag - Travel East or West

[bagman]

Hi there.
Apologies if this seems an inane question.

I seem to recall reading quite some time ago that one way to assist in getting over jet lag was the direction in which you travelled.

In other words, if travelling aound the world ( Syd/Ldn/NY/Syd) it was preferable to travel East ( Syd/Ldn ) rather than West ( Syd/NY ).

Would appreciate your thoughts and comments.

cheers

 

[serfty]

In my experience, Jet Lag mainly results from a lack of sleep. Generally when travelling, if I can get 6-8 hours of somewhat broken sleep out of every 24 I'll basically be fine.

Travelling with the Sun extends they day/night, so East to West may give more opportunity to rest. Also, travel into the prevailing West to East jetstreams is nomally slower.

Conversely, travel West to East give a faster night day cycle and is normally quicker due to the Jetstreams.

Generally, I prefer travelling in a Westerly direction, but as long as I can get sleep as posted it is not a real issue for me.

Others may dispute my first para in this post, that's fine- this one's a real YMMV situation.

 

[serfty]

As a datapoint, here are coughulative travel times based on schedules for RTW SYD-LAX-JFK-LHR-SIN-SYD and vv.

East:
QF107 SYD LAX 13:20
QF107 LAX JFK  5:50
BA112 JFK LHR  7:00
QF 32 LHR SIN 12:45
QF 32 SIN SYD  7:20

Total         45:40

West:
QF 31 SYD SIN  7:50
QF  9 SIN LHR 13:25
BA117 LHR JFK  7:25
QF108 JFK LAX  6:00
QF108 LAX SYD 14:35

Total         49:15

Note these schedules include time for taxiing and other ground issues so while there's at least 275 minutes difference in travel time, there's probably a bigger difference in air time.

So if airtime is important, then heading east is a faster way to go.

 

[simongr]

I am not sure if I really experience Jet Lag. I am often exhausted when I get somewhere through broken sleeping patterns rather than the flights themselves I think.

A couple of examples - flew SYD-LAX-DFW-PIT, arrived PIT at 10PM, went to bed got up at 7AM worked until 10PM, in bar until 1AM, up at 6AM, worked 9AM to 10PM - no after effects. Conversely flew LCA-LHR-HKG-SYD, slept LHR-HKG, minimal sleep HKG-SYD, arrived home about 10AM had a 1 hour sleep in the afternoon and went to bed about 8:30PM - absolutely no consistency...

 

[Dave Noble]

Regardless of eastbound or westbound , I just try to avoid night flights like the plague. Fly by day and I find it much better.

Dave

 

[Optics]

I believe "jetlag" is a bit of a misnomer. It has nothing to do with the actual jet travel (except if flying whY and not being able to sleep ). The issue is more to do with the difference in timezones, and the time taken to reset your bodyclock. The reason it was termed "jetlag" is probably more to do with the fact that jet travel has significantly shortened the travel time for long hauls compared to earlier modes of travel (ship etc), and so your bodyclock does not get the opportunity to reset during the trip.

If you travel MEL-LHR by jet it takes roughly 24 hours to get there, so your bodyclock needs to adapt to a 9 to 11 (depending on daylight saving) hour time difference within a 24 hour period, which is never going to happen. Whereas, if you travel by ship it is probably a 4-5 day journey (I have no real idea having never done it, thank goodness ), which allows your bodyclock to reset gradually during the journey.

Makes sense to me, but that does not make it correct of course .

 

[Dave Noble]

If you travel MEL-LHR by jet it takes roughly 24 hours to get there, so your bodyclock needs to adapt to a 9 to 11 (depending on daylight saving) hour time difference within a 24 hour period, which is never going to happen. Whereas, if you travel by ship it is probably a 4-5 day journey (I have no real idea having never done it, thank goodness ), which allows your bodyclock to reset gradually during the journey.

Makes sense to me, but that does not make it correct of course .

I think that you are looking at a smidgen more than 4-5 days to get from MEL-UK by boat

Dave

 

[serfty]

I think that you are looking at a smidgen more than 4-5 days to get from MEL-UK by boat

Dave

Perhaps Optics was thinking of "Flying Boats".

 

[Optics]

I think that you are looking at a smidgen more than 4-5 days to get from MEL-UK by boat

Dave

Yes, not a very good guess really was it. Knew there was a reason I always fly.

 

[simongr]

Regardless of eastbound or westbound , I just try to avoid night flights like the plague. Fly by day and I find it much better.

Dave

How do you manage with a SYD-LHR/JFK/MAD/Insert European or US destination? Do you stopover on the way?

 

[Dave Noble]

How do you manage with a SYD-LHR/JFK/MAD/Insert European or US destination? Do you stopover on the way?

SYD-HKG , overnight and then continue to LHR in the morning; when QF/BA used to have a daytime flight SIN-LHR, it was really good since I could get off in SIN and then use the transit hotel before a nice 7am trip to UK

SYD-LAX is tricky, but the other way, I would try and take QF8 at lunchtime

Dave

 

[Commuter]

Regardless of eastbound or westbound , I just try to avoid night flights like the plague. Fly by day and I find it much better.

Dave

I'm the complete opposite. I avoid day flights like the plague. Night flights help me to sleep and thus I get there feeling quite OK.

 

[Mal]

I'm the complete opposite. I avoid day flights like the plague. Night flights help me to sleep and thus I get there feeling quite OK.

Bingo for me. I spose it is also related to most of my travel being on my dime - if I fly overnight somewhere, I'm saving on hotel accommodation that I'd be spending.

I'm more than well used to sleeping in Economy or whatever cabin I'm in when travelling. I do get Jetlag regardless of Easterly or Westerly travel, but have managed to handle it ok.

 

[littl_flier]

I'm the complete opposite. I avoid day flights like the plague. Night flights help me to sleep and thus I get there feeling quite OK.

Mmm, I completely ignore whether its day or night and always try for a flight that is going to get me in late afternoon or early evening as opposed to 6am. I generally don't sleep very well onboard so if I've only got to hold out a few hours, I can go to bed, have 10-12 hours sleep and wake up in the new timezone. It's a bit more of a struggle when you arrive into LHR at 6am and have to hold out for 14 hours. I found that quite hard to get into the time zone.

 

[straitman]

There is a huge amount of research on Jetlag available to view. If anyone really wishes to know then I suggest they 'google' Jetlag and go from there. I've attached one quote and the link for those who want more info.

Jet lag, also jetlag or jet-lag, is a physiological condition which is a consequence of alterations to the circadian rhythm. Such alterations result from shift work, daylight saving time, altered day length, or as the name implies, transmeridian travel as on a jet plane. They are known as desynchronosis, dysrhythmia, dyschrony, jet lag, or jet syndrome. The condition is generally believed to be the result of disruption of the "light/dark" cycle that entrains the body's circadian rhythm. It can be exacerbated by environmental factors.
The condition of jet lag generally lasts many days or more, and medical experts have deemed that a recovery rate of "one day per time zone" is a fair guideline.[citation needed] Good sleep hygiene promotes rapid recovery from jet lag: in fact sleep, relaxation, moderate exercise, and sensible diet seem to be the simplest recovery methods.
However, since the experience of jet lag varies among individuals, it is difficult to assess the efficacy of any single remedy. Age may also be a factor on the severity of jet lag, as younger people will suffer worse jet lag than older people would[1]. Also females are more susceptible to jet lag than are males[2] this is in part because estrogen is often vulnerable to jet lag-like conditions[3]. In addition, most chemical and herbal remedies are not tested or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Jet lag - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Hawkeye]

I suffer from significant jetlag when flying West to East i.e. travelling to the USA, or returning from Europe. Travel in the opposite direction is relatively pain-free. The timing of the flight (day v night) does not appear to have a significant impact.

In general, it takes me about 4 days to adjust/readjust my body clock. I often go for several days with the near-complete inability to sleep, despite being physically exhausted.

 

[serfty]

... Good sleep hygiene promotes rapid recovery from jet lag: in fact sleep, relaxation, moderate exercise, and sensible diet seem to be the simplest recovery methods. ...

This relates to my initial post on this thread:

... In my experience, Jet Lag mainly results from a lack of sleep. ...

IMHO, Jetlag is overrated as a condition, and possibly does not really exist other than perhaps being a symptom of Sleep Deprivation or overactive imaginations. :idea:

My motto - sleep and ye shall be fine!

Again, there's a big YMMV in this one ... :-|

 

[Commuter]

It's a bit more of a struggle when you arrive into LHR at 6am and have to hold out for 14 hours. I found that quite hard to get into the time zone.

I can definitely understand that, if you can't sleep well on board. I quite like having the full day when I get to LHR and having a productive day before I go to sleep. It somehow helps me to quickly adjust to the new time zone, doing it that way. It's a bit of a forced wakefulness, I must admit, and by the night-time I am normally seriously tired.

 

[straitman]

This relates to my initial post on this thread:IMHO, Jetlag is overrated as a condition, and possibly does not really exist other than perhaps being a symptom of Sleep Deprivation or overactive imaginations. :idea:

My motto - sleep and ye shall be fine!

Again, there's a big YMMV in this one ... :-|

serfty,

I tend to think you are one of the lucky ones and personally I'll will stick with the airlines and military and their thoughts on this one.
There is a whole new industry evolving around 'Safety Fatigue Management'
Before anyone jumps this refers to short term crew rostering through to and including long term and long range issues such as 'Jetlag.'

 

[serfty]

Quite!

Again I refer to the YMMV 'disclaimer'.

Even if I get my 6-8 hours sleep in 24, I would not want to be driving a car immediately after a longhaul trip or playing with small arms ... let alone piloting aircraft!

In the late 90's twice when arriving in the early hours off Red-Eyes Ex-Asia I arranged a rental car from MEL so I could drive that hour trip home. Both times I found myself nodding off on the home stretch of freeway (MP). This was after using my anytime QP access to employ the Dom QP as an arrivals lounge (shower, good strong coffee etc.). I decided after the second time this was a bad idea and have not done so since.

I still believe sleep (lack of) is the main cause of the tiredness often described as Jetlag and the best solution is sleep. The more I have while travelling I find the less I'll need to recover.