Long Haul jet lag - how bad will this be ?

Murphy_The_Cat

Later this year I'm travelling to New Zealand and I'm acutely conscious of how jet lag will affect my time in NZ (I've travelled West plenty of times, but never long haul to the East.


I realise that flight timings are relevant to my question, so here we go
Dep Stockholm Mon 09.45 (Swedish Time) Singapore Airlines A350
Arr Singapore Tue 06.40 (Singapore Time)
Dep Singapore Tue 18.40 (Singapore Time) same day Air NZ Boeing 787
Arr Auckland Wed 09.30 (NZ time)


We're away for just over a fortnight and want to balance doing as much as we can against being a sleep addled Zombie for x number of days.


Coming back is AKL-SIN-ARN-AMS-NCL with a couple of hours ish in each airport but we've got an airport hotel booked at our arrival airport in the UK, plus we're not back to work/school for a few days so not much of an issue on our return.

bradders1983

Jet lag affects everyone in different ways so people can only recount their own experiences, no guarantee yours will be the same.

Ganga

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Later this year I'm travelling to New Zealand and I'm acutely conscious of how jet lag will affect my time in NZ (I've travelled West plenty of times, but never long haul to the East.


I realise that flight timings are relevant to my question, so here we go
Dep Stockholm 09.45 (Swedish Time)
Arr Singapore 06.40 (Singapore Time)
Dep Singapore 18.40 (Singapore Time) same day
Arr Auckland 09.30 (NZ time)


We're away for just over a fortnight and want to balance doing as much as we can against being a sleep addled Zombie for x number of days.


Coming back isn't so bad as we're got an airport hotel booked at our arrival airport in the UK, plus we're not back to work/school for a few days.

Can you not book one of those airport based hotels for a couple of hours in Singapore as you have plenty of time between flights.

bobsmum

Having done a similar trip (LHR-SIN-AKL or LHR-SIN-CHC) twice a year for the last 10+ years, bradders1983 is spot on - everyone is affected differently.

My top tips: with a long wait in Singapore, leave your hand luggage in secure storage, and get on the metro in to the city. Walk, walk, walk, hopefully in the sun but take a small umbrella for downpours.

Get back in time for a shower (available in terminal), then get on plane for second leg and collapse.

On arrival in AKL, get out in to the sunshine as fast as possible. If you are staying in the city, take the fast and frequent ferry from downtown across to Devonport, or possibly even to Waiheke Island. Lots of good advice on the NZ forum on Trip Advisor. Resist the temptation to nap in the daytime as this [STRIKE]will[/STRIKE] may stuff up your body clock. Wear sunscreen - NZ sun is fierce to pale northern skin.

Many folk recommend no alcohol on the flights and keep your non-alcohol fluid intake up - it means lots of trips to the bathroom for exercise. Others swear by sleeping pills...

My husband likes to have a rum and coke or two at the first meal service then crash, I stick to water. He gets bad jetlag going out and I get it coming back to the UK - I think your mindset has a lot to do with how you are affected.

HTH - have a great trip.
PS the transit hotels at S'pore didn't used to be that great but the city is so fantastic it's worth seeing if you haven't been before.

Murphy_The_Cat

Bradders, have you done a trip like this and if so, how did is affect you ?

Murphy_The_Cat

Ganga wrote: »

Can you not book one of those airport based hotels for a couple of hours in Singapore as you have plenty of time between flights.

Booking an airport hotel for a break is an option that I've considered, but I'm also keen to have a Singapore City Tour and Chango Airport looks like an experience all of its own !

Murphy_The_Cat

bobsmum wrote: »

Having done a similar trip (LHR-SIN-AKL or LHR-SIN-CHC) twice a year for the last 10+ years, bradders1983 is spot on - everyone is affected differently.

My top tips: with a long wait in Singapore, leave your hand luggage in secure storage, and get on the metro in to the city. Walk, walk, walk, hopefully in the sun but take a small umbrella for downpours.



I was thinking of City Tour, but walk, walk, walk sounds good and its something that I hadn't considered (knackered knees may kybosh this suggestion !)


Get back in time for a shower (available in terminal), then get on plane for second leg and collapse.
Good one.


On arrival in AKL, get out in to the sunshine as fast as possible. If you are staying in the city, take the fast and frequent ferry from downtown across to Devonport, or possibly even to Waiheke Island. Lots of good advice on the NZ forum on Trip Advisor. Resist the temptation to nap in the daytime as this [STRIKE]will[/STRIKE] may stuff up your body clock. Wear sunscreen - NZ sun is fierce to pale northern skin.
So far AKL is purely our arrival and departure point. I don't wan't to arrange a hire car for Day 1 if I'll be completely cabbaged, alternatively, I don't want to "waste" 2-3 days in a city without my own transport, if I'd be good to go.


Many folk recommend no alcohol on the flights and keep your non-alcohol fluid intake up - it means lots of trips to the bathroom for exercise. Others swear by sleeping pills...
I barely drink alcohol on flights, as I'm usually picking up a hire car once I arrive and I've never taken sleeping pills.


My husband likes to have a rum and coke or two at the first meal service then crash, I stick to water. He gets bad jetlag going out and I get it coming back to the UK - I think your mindset has a lot to do with how you are affected.

HTH - have a great trip.
PS the transit hotels at S'pore didn't used to be that great but the city is so fantastic it's worth seeing if you haven't been before.

I should have said that we're turning left when we get on the planes, so getting several hours of quality sleep on each leg shouldn't be an issue.

bradders1983

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Bradders, have you done a trip like this and if so, how did is affect you ?

Not done one that long so not qualified to comment, but on the way back from the States (west coast) I just ploughed on through to about 9pm once I got back and then went to bed, woke up next morning absolutely fine.

Murphy_The_Cat

bradders1983 wrote: »

Not done one that long so not qualified to comment, but on the way back from the States (west coast) I just ploughed on through to about 9pm once I got back and then went to bed, woke up next morning absolutely fine.

Which is where your "everyone is different" comment is so relevant.
Flying TO America I'm not so bad. flying FROM America I can be like a cabbage for a couple of days !

alwaysskint96

I did arn to Doha to Sydney last year Apart from first night when I couldn’t sleep no issues with jet lag On return I did Christchurch to akl to Doha to arn to Lon( obv crazy lol) Was sleepyfor couple of days after but then ok, And I’m the person who gets jet lagged for 3 days going to New York or Toronto lol. Qatar biz class is great to sleep in though which helped

Murphy_The_Cat

alwaysskint96 wrote: »

I did arn to Doha to Sydney last year Apart from first night when I couldn’t sleep no issues with jet lag On return I did Christchurch to akl to Doha to arn to Lon( obv crazy lol) Was sleepyfor couple of days after but then ok, And I’m the person who gets jet lagged for 3 days going to New York or Toronto lol. Qatar biz class is great to sleep in though which helped

cheers


You sound like you enjoy the positioning flight "game" as well !