What is Jet Lag and what does it feel like?

[cove]

Jet lag means we spring out of bed between 1 am and 2.30 am because we are still running on California time.

 

[serfty]

"springing" does not happen to me after a long flight, but as posted above I don't get Jet Lag.

I do get tired without my 6/24 but I do manage my travel quite well generally.

 

[Fantic125]

I find if you travel enough on a frequent basis you don't get jet lag.

I've been home for two months straight and am now looking forward to my next flight to China and Korea. Difference in time zone = stuff all. Level of effort to reach said destination = a hard days work.

 

[cove]

I have my body clock take a week to adjust from a location that is around 12 hours time difference like New York or Orlando can be from Perth.
We are unaffected by the small differences with places like Sydney,Shanghai or Tokyo as there is only modest time changes.
Getting home from California to Perth does take a few days for my body clock to adjust.
i used to be amazed by the folks who would get straight off QF12 in a suit to go straight into business meetings in Sydney....that was never me. Instead I would go to the pool and get my body back to feeling ok.

 

[drewbles]

I have recently decided that Jet Lag is largely self-imposed unless you're a 'must get 7-8 hours a night' kind of person (which I thought I was).

I now tell myself "right it's 9am" (say when I land in LAX) and have had some kip on the flight over. I then keep reminding myself it's "lunch time" or "dinner time" and so on. I do get a little tired towards the end, but going to bed any time after say 9pm means i'm 95% right the next day.

Flying LAX to MEL I have next to no issues now. The late night flight, combined with plenty of 'beverages' in the lounge and on-board ensure I 'pass out' enough to get 4-6 hours sleep and land in the wee hours with some rest (I'm in IT so my sleep patterns can be stuffed up if I get called out, so it's kind of familiar). Once again, I remind myself of the time and i'm good to go.

Also, the more I've been doing it (6 trips to the USA this year so far) the better i'm getting at adjusting.

One of my huge pet peeves though is how airline crews manage cabins. If i'm flying out of SYD to say SIN (going on to LHR) and it leaves at around 3pm (the BA flight), getting in late evening into SIN, for heavens sake don't force everyone to close the shutters and try and make everyone sleep. It's *not* a night flight, and I want to stay up so i'm good to sleep on the long flight to LHR.

Also meal services, I can't remember the exact route, but there were two 'breakfast' services on one flight. The second service should have clearly been a lunch as the arrival was 'brunch' time.

 

[Bolthead]

In Cologne at the moment arrived yesterday via DUS/AUH/SYD ..... It is 6:39am at the moment and I made the fundamental mistake of having a nap at 2:00pm yesterday. My thinking was to get some sleep before dinner and I woke up at 9:00pm missing dinner and then woke up again at 2:00am. Have been awake since.... hopefully today a full days work will let me have a good sleep tonight.

 

[Major]

I hope you are right, but I'm still willing to bet you wake earlier than normal.

It takes me several days to sleep normally when traveling from the Middle East to BNE

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I hope you are right, but I'm still willing to bet you wake earlier than normal.

It takes me several days to sleep normally when traveling from the Middle East to BNE

+1
Did someone say 3 or 4 AM wake up??? LOL...

 

[irv]

QF 11, was lucky to get 2-3 hours sleep. QF 12 after four weeks acclimatising however in different time zones would of had 6-8 hours sleep and this was in Y.

 

[ozmille]

Did SYD-SIN-FRA driving 4 1/2 hrs to BRU 5 days there and driving 5hrs to FRA-SIN-SYD last week in J and had no issues! Very happy as I have had some issues in previous years of waking up in the middle of the night but as mentioned above I think you get used to it, 13th trip to Europe in less than 5 years.

 

[Justinf]

I expereince different kinds of jetlag travelling from MEL.
I have arrived at London at 5am before and lasted until 10pm at the boozer before I started feeling like I couldn't go on (certainly beer-induced, but not all).
I have arrived in Toronto before and my jetlag was so bad that I did not sleep for three days (almost literally!). Has anyone had that? The opposite jet lag where you get massive insomnia? It was absolutely horrible.
I arrived in NYC at night once, went to a bar for a few hours, went to bed at 10pm and woke at 8am bright and bushy tailed.
I have also arrived at places and simply had to flop wherever there was a bed.

 

[deadfish]

Flew to EZE in Y, where I didn't sleep the entire flight. I made the mistake of sleeping at midday when I arrived in EZE - woke up with serious insomnia, headache and body aches. I wasn't 100% for the next 4 days, by then I had to leave Buenos Aires

 

[LAH]

I know this is an old thread, but just wanted to say : as I am getting older, what could be called 'jetlag' gets worse and it is very frustrating! Especially as I am mainly traveling long haul for business. Doesn't matter what class I am in! Also, seem to pick up 'bugs' en route more easily, whether it is on the plane or in the airports. Many times I cross 12 time zones for work without a break, except for airport time. Think I am going to have to start being one of those people who wanders around the airports with a face mask on - my daughter suggested this! Ha! Ha! Can never tell which country I bring the 'bug' home from!

 

[Rebekkap]

I know this is an old thread, but just wanted to say : as I am getting older, what could be called 'jetlag' gets worse and it is very frustrating! Especially as I am mainly traveling long haul for business. Doesn't matter what class I am in! Also, seem to pick up 'bugs' en route more easily, whether it is on the plane or in the airports. Many times I cross 12 time zones for work without a break, except for airport time. Think I am going to have to start being one of those people who wanders around the airports with a face mask on - my daughter suggested this! Ha! Ha! Can never tell which country I bring the 'bug' home from!

vicks make a nasal spray called first defence (currently only available in the UK but you can order online) that actually stops you getting a cold. Works incredibly well.

 

[cove]

I will take my Re-timer jet lag glasses on our next run to Los Angeles in a couple of weeks.

 

[LAH]

vicks make a nasal spray called first defence (currently only available in the UK but you can order online) that actually stops you getting a cold. Works incredibly well.

oh, thank you so much! I will definitely be ordering - for sure! Rebekkap, you make me happy that I posted. Happy New Year~!

 

[Mal]

vicks make a nasal spray called first defence (currently only available in the UK but you can order online) that actually stops you getting a cold. Works incredibly well.

Strange. It used to be available in Australia, and was pretty good. Seems to have been discontinued.

 

[drron]

It has actually got less as I have grown older.But that is because since retirement and being free of worry I can actually sleep on planes.

 

[LAH]

It has actually got less as I have grown older.But that is because since retirement and being free of worry I can actually sleep on planes.

Interesting observation and maybe could well be true! Countdown to retirement!

 

[Simo]

My jet lag is normally worse when I get home but generally been late nights early mornings and then do it all again.

My last ON trip I was stuffed when I got home but then I had to do a meeting that night and had staff taking the afternoon off.

I slept well when I got home that night.