Jet Lag

As my holiday gets nearer I wondered whether any of the experienced long haulers on here had any tips to avoid or lessen the impacts of jet lag.

My flight out of London departs 8.40pm on a Thursday evening, arriving Dubai at 6.30am local time Friday.

I have just under four hours in Dubai before departing to Brisbane, 14 hours+ non stop, at 10.25am arriving Brisbane at 6.40am local time Saturday morning.

I am travelling business class all the way so will have a bed. I also will have my trusty temazepam with me. However I would like to enjoy the business class experience - particularly the booze and food - but need to be pretty functional when arriving in OZ - places to go, people to see, things to do!!!

Thank you.
David
y)

For me it's Melatonin and as much sleep as I can get . Travelling to ( and from) Australia does cause me massive jetlag - try and adjust to local time as best you can en route and please be careful with the alcohol/ benzodiazepine combination .
Have a great trip.
DL

I tend to agree with people who say that sunlight and meal patterns are the key to it, rather than medication and alcohol! With a schedule such as yours, I would dine on the first flight and then try to get some sleep; on the second flight I would try to stay awake for a while so that you get a decent stretch of sleep when you finally drop off.

Having said this, I think you have to be realistic -- you use the word 'avoid' and to be frank you can't really avoid jet lag as such because the difference in time zones is unavoidable; you may be able to lessen your fatigue by sleeping on the plane, but your body clock will (quite rightly) be confused at least temporarily when you arrive.

On arrival I would check in early and depending on how you feel, either have a shower and then head straight out into the sun, or have a few hours' sleep (but no more).

Thanks for the replies. y)

please be careful with the alcohol/ benzodiazepine combination .
DL

Thanks DL, I am aware of the potential consequences, I will only be taking a low dose of the temazepam, if any.

..on the second flight I would try to stay awake for a while so that you get a decent stretch of sleep when you finally drop off.

I think that is my plan, maybe a doze on the flight down to Dubai and then to try and get as much sleep as possible in the last nine hours or so of the flight into Brisbane.

On arrival I would check in early and depending on how you feel, either have a shower and then head straight out into the sun, or have a few hours' sleep (but no more).

It will be a while later as Brisbane does not mark the end of my journey. I have three hours or so after landing there before getting a domestic flight north. Total travel time is about 31 hours.

Provided I don't miss any connections. EEK.

Don't under estimate the jet lag on arrival in Oz, it is chunky, we had similar plan of awake 1st leg and sleep 2nd, but in practice easier said than done.
Just don't plan anything special for first couple of days that could be done later when you're more refreshed..
Some decent ozzy vino also helps snap you back into a routine (insert evil smilie)

NH

I fly long haul several times a month and I have never figured it out. Sometimes I fall into the new time zone easily and sometimes it is a long painful process (adjusting just in time for you to return back !)
I am fortunate in being able to sleep easily on flights which does help a lot.
I would suggest avoiding pills and that sort of thing. Eat whatever they put in front of you, drink plenty (yes I mean booze - plus some water) sleep as much as you can.
On arrival if you feel sleepy then have a nap for an hour or so. This works for me.

I seem to have had a better grip on jet lag since I started having a shower in the Hong Kong Clubhouse, it seems to relax me prior to the night flight. I appreciate this could prove difficult as you are flying via Dubai

Thanks again. NH - Australian vino - sounds like a plan!!!!! y)

I seem to have had a better grip on jet lag since I started having a shower in the Hong Kong Clubhouse, it seems to relax me prior to the night flight. I appreciate this could prove difficult as you are flying via Dubai

Jacki, I shall ask Emirates to reroute, just for me, mentioning your name, of course. :X

On the other hand, I could just use the showers in the Emirates business lounge in Dubai!! Although, judging by the online reviews of the huge lounge in terminal 3, I think I will be heading for terminal 1 where the queue will probably be shorter. y)

Good luck.

My experiences with the kangaroo route are as follows - all in business:

Leaving the UK at night and via SE Asia works best for me. In effect two night flights broken sleep but naturally inclined to sleep as its dark - arrive tired but not zonked.

Leaving the UK at night and via Middle East. One short good sleep then very broken as morning/daylight departure from ME throws body clock. Arrive feeling very tired and needing sleep.

Leaving the UK at midday via SE Asia. Hell. No inclination to sleep on first leg. Sleep on second leg due to sheer tiredness and arrive fully refreshed at what is in effect local bedtime. Worst jetlag I have ever had.

Leaving the UK late afternoon via LAX. Napped on first lag as daylight all the way. Very good sleep across pacific due to darkness outside and tiredness. Arrive early but able to get through the day with ease.

In summary for me it is the daylight/darkness difference that determines whether I sleep. Best to arrive tired in the morning local time and push through (never sleep on arrival as this prolongs the adjsutment). Worst is to arrive at bedtime local feeling refreshed. But jetlag effects everyone differently. Although I now know what works for me. Having said that I have knowingly booked a flight from Dublin via Abu Dhabi to Melbourne leaving at 0800 and arriving at 1930 - no alternative.

I always rely on partaking of the onboard service to its fullest. Never drink alcohol in excess and don't take pills - but I have been known to only drink champagne on the entire trip from Melbourne to London, including on the refuelling stop. But I only drank when i was thirsty. Arrived feeling the most refreshed I have ever felt after a long haul trip.

Enjoy Oz.

Well, in summary, I had no jet lag or sleep disruption following the outbound. ii)

I don't do long night's sleep anyway these days, four/five hours seems to be enough, it is an age thing. Probably dozed for an hour or so on the overnight down to Dubai. Slept probably for two hours on the long distance flight from Dubai to Brisbane. Ate enough but not too much and nothing "heavy", kept hydrated and drank fizz now and then.

Arrived Brisbane at 6am feeling fine and full of adrenalin. Went to bed that evening at normal Oz time and woke the following morning at normal Oz time. No issues re time change and no tiredness.

If I knew what I had done right I would patent it!!

Hopefully the return journey, starting Sunday, will prove as painless. y)

"drank fizz now and then..."

Who are you trying to kid!!

I am still struggling with jet lag problems since returning from Miami last Friday! Fingers crossed your return trip is as easy y)