Why do they turn day into night?

[Poisson]

I think this may have been covered here recently but again today I was on an international flight (Milan to Doha) when the FAs finished the meal service then closed the blinds and dimmed the lights, in broad daylight. This seems to be a fairly common occurrence and I can't see the reason for it except to lighten the workload on the cabin crew by putting half the pax to sleep. Anybody know why this is done?

 

[markis10]

I suspect this is an attempt to help Jet-lag, I am not sure of the science but from memory the sun triggers things in our body that help it understand what part of the day we are in?

 

[Poisson]

I suspect this is an attempt to help Jet-lag, I am not sure of the science but from memory the sun triggers things in our body that help it understand what part of the day we are in?

Perhaps, but this was a 5 hour flight across two time zones - roughly equivalent to PER - SYD. And it doesn't explain why Cathay did it to me two years ago on a Vancouver - HK flight which landed in the evening. The best cure for jet lag in that instance would have been to stay awake on the flight and go straight to bed on arrival (which is what I did and wouldn't have been possible if I'd slept on the plane).

 

[Warks]

Conversely what's the story with throwing open the blinds and putting the lights on when there's at least three hours to landing on an overnight flight? They rush breakfast through in an hour and then everyone has to sit there for the next two hours exhausted when they could have had at least an extra hour's sleep.

 

[drewbles]

I'd also like to know why QF insist on serving breakfast upon landing into SIN from LHR (moot point end of week I know). Sure, you take off evening and have a late dinner/supper, but you're landing into SIN at around 7pm. I'm having breakfast at 5pm-ish which confuses my body clock even more (well, for me it does at least).

Wonder how the meals will work via DXB now.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'd also like to know why QF insist on serving breakfast upon landing into SIN from LHR (moot point end of week I know). Sure, you take off evening and have a late dinner/supper, but you're landing into SIN at around 7pm. I'm having breakfast at 5pm-ish which confuses my body clock even more (well, for me it does at least).

Wonder how the meals will work via DXB now.

i wonder whether your body actually has any idea whether it is being given breakfast or dinner!! It knows it is getting food. The only difference between the chemical composition of breakfast and other meals seems to be the absence (usually) of vegetables! Otherwise pastries = bread rolls, sausage = protein (=beef of chicken), yoghurt = dairy (= cheese course), fruit salad = the same as fruit after the meal. What's the difference?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think this may have been covered here recently but again today I was on an international flight (Milan to Doha) when the FAs finished the meal service then closed the blinds and dimmed the lights, in broad daylight. This seems to be a fairly common occurrence and I can't see the reason for it except to lighten the workload on the cabin crew by putting half the pax to sleep. Anybody know why this is done?

so that people who want to can rest. and so those who want to watch tv can also do that without having the glare.

 

[drewbles]

i wonder whether your body actually has any idea whether it is being given breakfast or dinner!! It knows it is getting food. The only difference between the chemical composition of breakfast and other meals seems to be the absence (usually) of vegetables! Otherwise pastries = bread rolls, sausage = protein (=beef of chicken), yoghurt = dairy (= cheese course), fruit salad = the same as fruit after the meal. What's the difference?

I'm sure it's 99% in the mind. My mind is saying "You're arriving into SIN at 1900 and your connection is at 2050" and you're planning your time to go to the duty free booze shop, grabbing a shower, and enjoying a quick alcoholic beverage before re-boarding. A Breakfast on board just seems wrong.

Breakfast doesn't fit in with that schedule, even though it is always after midday somewhere

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm sure it's 99% in the mind. My mind is saying "You're arriving into SIN at 1900 and your connection is at 2050" and you're planning your time to go to the duty free booze shop, grabbing a shower, and enjoying a quick alcoholic beverage before re-boarding. A Breakfast on board just seems wrong.

Breakfast doesn't fit in with that schedule, even though it is always after midday somewhere

but that's my point - it's only your conscious mind that thinks 'breakfast'. Food is food is food. Does your body actually tel the difference between a piece of cheese and a tub of yoghurt?? If they printed 'dinner' on the menu but served you an omelette would you be happier

 

[drewbles]

but that's my point - it's only your conscious mind that thinks 'breakfast'. Food is food is food. Does your body actually tel the difference between a piece of cheese and a tub of yoghurt?? If they printed 'dinner' on the menu but served you an omelette would you be happier

Not really. I believe in time appropriate cuisine. I'd not likely have a curry for breakfast any more than an omelette for dinner.

Nor fruit loops for that matter If I sit down to bacon and eggs, my brain tells me it's morning. I may be a freak like that as I know many unit students live on cereal for dinner

 

[JohnK]

If I sit down to bacon and eggs, my brain tells me it's morning. I may be a freak like that as I know many unit students live on cereal for dinner

We are all different.

I can have bacon and eggs, or ham and eggs, or hash brown and eggs at any time of the day. Still taste the same.

I have a boiled egg at lunch as part of my current diet.

My body does not care as long as it gets some food.

Now cravings are a totally different story.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I do love that moment of enlightenment, when someone opens their window shade to take a peek outside, the cabin lights up and anyone awake turns their head. Often its me, simply for the pleasure of the moment.

 

[JohnPhelan]

so that people who want to can rest. and so those who want to watch tv can also do that without having the glare.

But what about those who like to look out of the window?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But what about those who like to look out of the window?

well they can open their shades Although it continues to baffle me how some people sit by the widow, see everyone else with their shades down, then try and concoct some cocoon so they are able to view their tvs. It simply doesn't even occur to those people that if they too lowered their shade, even half way, they could dispense with having to stick sick bags and emergency cards everywhere to try and get a view.

 

[jetlagger]

well they can open their shades Although it continues to baffle me how some people sit by the widow, see everyone else with their shades down

I sat beside a widow once, very elegant & charming type whom told me her life story en-route. She told me I was a sweet young man & then progressed to give mentioning of her preference of me keeping my 'shades" up so she could look at my eyes.. :mrgreen:

 

[mark62]

Am I right in thinking that catering policy is usually to serve meals appropriate for the time of day at the point of departure?

 

[freepyjamas]

Wonder how the meals will work via DXB now.

The meals will be Arabic and racist, and if you try to eat them with your unmarried partner you will be thrown into prison and left to rot. Jewish or gay passengers will not receive a meal service, and if you're both Jewish AND gay then hot drinks will be pooured into your lap. It's going to be terrible.

 

[medhead]

Not really. I believe in time appropriate cuisine. I'd not likely have a curry for breakfast any more than an omelette for dinner.

Nor fruit loops for that matter If I sit down to bacon and eggs, my brain tells me it's morning. I may be a freak like that as I know many unit students live on cereal for dinner

Wow. I had curry for breakfast every morning on a recent Singapore holiday. I'm pretty sure millions of people across India have curry for breakfast everyday. We also frequently have omelettes for Sunday dinner. In fact the children love eggs for dinner.

 

[SeatBackForward]

The meals will be Arabic and racist, and if you try to eat them with your unmarried partner you will be thrown into prison and left to rot. Jewish or gay passengers will not receive a meal service, and if you're both Jewish AND gay then hot drinks will be pooured into your lap. It's going to be terrible.

And that's in F....imagine the horrors in whY...

 

[Deleted member]

I think this may have been covered here recently but again today I was on an international flight (Milan to Doha) when the FAs finished the meal service then closed the blinds and dimmed the lights, in broad daylight. This seems to be a fairly common occurrence and I can't see the reason for it except to lighten the workload on the cabin crew by putting half the pax to sleep. Anybody know why this is done?

Possibly to help with IFE. I know it works better or me in dim light with the shades down