Long Haul jet lag - how bad will this be ?

Murphy_The_Cat

Doshwaster wrote: »

If you are planning on picking up a car immediately on landing then you need to be very careful. Personally, I would never drive after a long haul flight (and for work trips we are banned from doing it). The last time I tried it after landing at Heathrow after a sleepless flight I found myself driving around the M25 the wrong way.

It might make sense to book an airport hotel for your first night there before picking up the car to give yourself some more time to freshen up and adjust.

We're arriving at 09.30 in the morning and I'm weighing up the pros and cons of our first 2 or 3 days in NZ

ibizafan_2

I fly to Brisbane every year, taking the Emirates flight with the shortest stop in Dubai, arriving in Australia at 6am. As others have recommended, I change my watch to Australian time during the flight and stay awake all day (can be tricky!) going to bed at the normal time. I also try and take the attitude that jet lag is in the mind and it seems to work out. Mind you, it does help that the last two flights have been in Business Class, and I have actually managed to get a bit of sleep, however fitful.

danandjens_worldtravels

There is nothing at Auckland airport (except an icebreaker outlet store that’s worth a look if you’ve got the time and want the merino).

Staying in an airport hotel at 9.30am for a night is a really really bad idea.

If you do stay in Auckland, make your way to the centre so at least you can have a potter about or head out to a nearby beach.

I’ve seen a lot more of the South Island so can’t advise specifically where to go, an hour or two driving will be no problem (easy roads). You can always find a place to park up and take a wander. Look at the DOCs website https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/

I will say if you’re sleeping on the plane, you won’t probably won’t feel that bad and lots of NZ’ers will have a good idea how you are feeling.

If a local invites you home for dinner go - they really do mean you to come and are not just being polite.

Ballard

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

I respectfully disagree as I was looking for a general "feel" of what to expect for such a long trip going east (which I've never done before)

From my experience of travelling I suffer immensely whereas my usual travelling partner doesn't suffer in the least. If you take an average you'll suffer a fair bit.

slinga

My sil says she doesn't suffer from jetlag.


But she does wake up about 2am with a dry mouth etc and can't get back to sleep until just before the alarm rings at 7 am.

elaineb64

I'll be making my 4th trip to NZ in November and each time I've arrived around 11pm local time so I was able to go to bed virtually as soon as I got there. Apart from waking up in the wee hours for a few days I was fine.
Coming home was a different story though - I felt like I had the mother of hangovers for a day or two.
But as others have already pointed out, everyone handles jet lag differently and you may be fine.

Murphy_The_Cat

I'm back, so here's an update of how things went.
Airport hotel in Stockholm was good and had a good nights sleep.
Taking advantage of the SAS Busi lounge was a nice start to the trip.
Singapore Airlines BUS class on an A350 is very nice and got a few hours sleep on a flat bed between Moscow and Singapore.
In Singapore, we took the free Singapore City Tour, visited the Jewel & spent the Changi Visitor transit vouchers. It rained heavily whilst in Singapore so didn't explore on foot, or use the airport swimming pool. Took advantage of the KRIS Business longue for food, drink, shower and sleep.
Air NZ BUS from SIN to AKL was also very nice (in a different way !) and managed another 5 hours sleep on a flat bed.
Arrived in NZ about 09.30, out of the airport briskly, into our rental car by 11.00 and on our way.
All of us were in bed by 20.30 that night and we got about 12 hours sleep on our first night.
We the hit the ground running with no jet lag issues.



Coming back.
AKL - SIN was a mid pm flight, so got a couple of hours sleep on a flat bed. SIN BUS class is very nice.

only 4 hours in Singapore coming back, so a bit of a duty free mooch, then food, drink and shower in the KRIS lounge.
Midnight departure from SIN. Good food, a drop or two of cognac and then onto the flat bed for 7-8hours of lovely, lovely sleep. A leg stretch through Moscow airport and then the final bit of the trip back to Stockholm (did I mention that SIN BUS class is very, very nice ?) arriving about 08.30.
So far, so good.
We got back to Newcastle about 17.30 and collected the car. Mrs Cat and the Kittens fell asleep straight away. Got home about 20.00 and the Kittens went to bed fully dressed. Mrs Cat is wiped out by 20.30. I'm not so bad at all.
03.30 the next morning, Mrs Cat and the Kittens are awake and ready to go. I'm in bed until past 08.00

05.00 the next morning, Mrs Cat and the Kittens are awake and ready to go. I'm in bed until past 08.00
06.00 today, Mrs Cat and the Kittens are awake and ready to go. I'm in bed until past 08.00.


So from a jetlag perspective, on this occassion, I've not been so bad, but on the return leg, my family have been battered ! Going out, we were all not so bad at all.


If / when I do the trip again to South Island, NZ, travelling BUS Class with Singapore Airlies ex - eu is something that I'd definitely look very closely at. The flight quality was excellant and the £ savings by flying ex-eu were startling.

Roland_Sausage

I hope you don't mind me asking how much you paid for your business class flights? We're hoping to fly business class to NZ later this year and the best price I can find is approx £2,900 per person.

Murphy_The_Cat

Roland_Sausage wrote: »

I hope you don't mind me asking how much you paid for your business class flights? We're hoping to fly business class to NZ later this year and the best price I can find is approx £2,900 per person.

I think they were about £1850/£1900, plus the positioning flight which was another £220 per person.
We booked directly with Singapore Airlines, which charged the flights in Swedish Krone, so having a Halifax Clarity card (or similar) will save you the Forex charges. Some OTA's were also selling the flights slightly cheaper, but not by enough to make adding a 3rd party an attractive proposition.


SA are currently selling flights upto Boxing Day on the route and December flights are coming in at about £1875 (23151 SEK).
Depending where you are in the country and if you have enough time to add the positioning flights, I'd thouroughly recommend the routing & SIA.


I'd very happily do the entire trip again tomorrow !

slinga

How did you book your LHR/Stockholm/Moscow.Singapore flights?


Thanks.