What is Jet Lag and what does it feel like?

[jetlagger]

East -> West, not too bad. In fact l landed in Europe yesterday and no jet lag. Flying in J or F also makes a difference.
West -> East, usually have issues.

+1 for that scenario..

I used to do BNE/ZRH & ZRH/BNE often. I always struggled after the ZRH/BNE sectors.. West - > East Syndrome

 

[browski]

Jet lag:
1. Can't stay awake at 7pm
2. Can't stay asleep at 3am
3. You feel bloated
4. Neither coffee nor beer really do their required jobs.
5. Frequent travellers also become familiar with that special treat know as double jet-lag.

 

[Rebekkap]

... West -> East, usually have issues ...

+1 for that scenario..

I used to do BNE/ZRH & ZRH/BNE often. I always struggled after the ZRH/BNE sectors.. West - > East Syndrome

+2 - I'm fine flying to Europe or the US (even in Y!) but coming back is much harder.

 

[JohnK]

West! East! North! South! I don't really know what jetlag is or it's effects. My usual sleeping patterns are distorted anyway.

I do know one thing though and that is when I get home I am tired and can take up to a week to get back into the usual routine.

 

[Hvr]

Yep I too find NZ the hardest to adjust to as well.

I find that travelling to/from Perth can really knock me about.

On my recent US trip I was fortunate to be able to sleep for about 10 hours each way. Thank goodness for F redemptions.

 

[Rebekkap]

I do know one thing though and that is when I get home I am tired and can take up to a week to get back into the usual routine.

That sounds quite like... JETLAG!

 

[JohnK]

That sounds quite like... JETLAG!

Is it? Selective JETLAG?

It is funny how I can travel East, West, North, South all over the world and be full of energy and do not feel a thing yet when I am about to return home I am tired all of a sudden. I guess you are right. It is JETLAG!

 

[Reggie]

Jet lag:
4. Neither coffee nor beer really do their required jobs.

Don't drink coffee or beer, but the alcohol always does its job WRT to the goggles.

Worked during lunch today at The Kewdale.

 

[Robert Qld]

It is neither here nor there for me fortunately.

I tend to be a fussy and terrible sleeper to begin with, so I guess after years of not particularly great sleeping patterns my body has learnt adapt to the change in timezones and the lack of sleep et cetera a little better then most. Body still gets the general bloated/gross feeling, but at least if I can stay up to the required new bedtime I can reset the clock more or less.

Saying that, I've done a few Herculean efforts in the past that have even suprised myself - especially if it involved not a great nights sleep the night before. MEL-SYD-DFW-LAS was quiet bad - but I somehow survived another 10 hours awake local time after arriving (I was there for a friends birthday so at least I had activities to do) and MEL-SIN-HEL where I stayed awake for 18 hours after landing at 0630 in the morning (the sun not setting until 2300 helped in that case!)

Ensuring I have certain key flights in J and a flat bed also helps I guess.

 

[Boris spatsky]

The worst bit for me when going East (over 9 or more timezones) is the nausea and vertigo during the day (when my body thinks it should be asleep). It is like i am on a ship, and i am dizzy and rocking.

I don't like it at all.

 

[JohnK]

Just a small update on Jetlag and it's effect on people. I still maintain it is a myth.

I flew SYD-ICN-MNL last night and arrived at hotel in MNL at ~12:15am and slept for ~3 hours and woke up to head off to airport early as I have another 4 flights today and then a ~2.5 hour drive Bangkok to Hua Hin.

Had no problem sleeping. Do not feel tired. In fact I am looking forward to that game of golf tomorrow.

 

[mannej]

John, jetlag is much worse flying in the opposite direction.

There are ways to cope with it and also those who experience a fair bit of travel can build up the immunity but it is definitely not a myth.

 

[Boris spatsky]

It's not a myth JK, trust me. Just that it affects each individual differently.

I flew back from the USA yesterday, went to bed at 10.30pm, wide awake at 4. That is jet lag.

 

[serfty]

I have posted this before but I endeavour to get 6 hours sleep in 24; if I can achieve that then I am generally reasonably good to go.

I actually plan when I'll sleep on flights to do this ...

 

[browski]

Just a small update on Jetlag and it's effect on people. I still maintain it is a myth.

I flew SYD-ICN-MNL last night and arrived at hotel in MNL at ~12:15am and slept for ~3 hours and woke up to head off to airport early as I have another 4 flights today and then a ~2.5 hour drive Bangkok to Hua Hin.

Had no problem sleeping. Do not feel tired. In fact I am looking forward to that game of golf tomorrow.

But John.......Jet Lag is mitigated if you don't cross many time zones. You example is really just like MEL-PER.

 

[JohnK]

John, jetlag is much worse flying in the opposite direction.

Which direction? I have done both as well up and down and it does not feel any different.

But John.......Jet Lag is mitigated if you don't cross many time zones. You example is really just like MEL-PER.

I was told that even 1 time zone was enough.

Anyway for me it is a myth and I understand how other people can experience it. But it is clearly not a one size fits all....

 

[monoccular]

Agree, can land at LAX, push onto LAS and enjoy the blight lights for hours....then push on to the East coast and keep going. The flight back home from US is horrid & knocks us around far more than coming home from Europe.

I think a lot of folk think that LAS is a blight

 

[Rebekkap]

Which direction? I have done both as well up and down and it does not feel any different.


I was told that even 1 time zone was enough.

Anyway for me it is a myth and I understand how other people can experience it. But it is clearly not a one size fits all....

It looks like you're right - it's not one-size-fits-all - Differences in jet lag severity could be rooted in how circadian clock sets itself and Jetting off without the jet lag - it could depend on your individual "clock genes".


Obviously you lucked out!

 

[Julesmac]

Have just come back MEL-CDG-LHR-SIN-MEL over three and a half weeks. Flew SQ in J on the A380. I believe
Class you fly makes a HUGE difference. However maybe the comfy flight wasn't the bed it was the better class of champagne.....
Organise your flights so the longest leg is at night is better as you feel more inclined to sleep (so from SIN late at night, and departure from LHR around 8pm)
Going over either E or W seems to be less of a pain - possibly due in my case to the excitement of travel! May be different for business travellers
Breaking the journey on the way home certainly helps. We had 3 days in Singapore and it just gave us time to take a breath. Again may not be feasible for everyone.
Tried the advice from many AFF'ers to try and keep to the hours of your arrival country and that helps.
All that being said, I find it hard to sleep on planes anyway. Always a reliable test of how attentive the crew is when you are the only person in the cabin with the reading light on! Needless to say SQ crew were fantastic in this regard.Tea, coffee, snacks.....brilliant
Spend the next few days at home doing the 3am wide awakes!

 

[Bindibuys]

I have never suffered from jet lag, I treat my long haul trips like I do a late night out.
If I know I am going to be out late, I will get an afternoon nanna-nap, that will then allow me to stay awake past my usual 9:30pm bedtime. On a long haul flight, (in Y ) I endeavour to get at least 3 nanna-naps, so by the time I arrive at LAX my body clock is already pushed past its usual sleep pattern. Yes, I get an early night (say 8pm) first night in, but from then on - no sleep problems at all. Even on return legs, I am back at work the very next day.
Co-workers have had to have days off just to re-coup from long haul flights, guess everyone has their own body clocks, just deptends on how easy you can get your own to adjust.