Tips For Red-Eye Flights

I am headed to Salzburg, Austria for work today at about 4pm. I arrive in Frankfurt, Germany at about 11pm EST, which is 5am local time there. Then I hop onto another flight to Salzburg, and arrive at 9:30am local time (you can't fly direct). That's 3:30am EST. Then it's off to the hotel and to work. Sigh.

I despise red-eyes, and try to avoid them at all costs when traveling for business. On Fodors, I found these useful tips to help me survive the red-eye and hopefully snag some quality zzz's:

1. Nab a good seat:  pay extra for the comfort of a roomier seat in economy plus, business, or first class (I am in biz class, sweet)

2. Pack a goodie bag: Ear plugs, eye mask, a travel pillow, and warm fuzzy socks (off to get ear plugs!)

3. Consult your doctor: get a little help from a prescribed sleeping aid (Ambien, check!)

4. Just say no to napping:  Many red-eye regulars skip the nap that first day and then go to sleep early that evening (ok, not sure if I have a choice here, it's a work trip!)

5. Take it easy on the ground: Ambition is the enemy after a long red-eye flight. Keep your plans for that first day as simple as possible. (Hopefully my client will have a little mercy on me)

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Comments

[Mike Profit]

Kate,
Doing the transatlantic run a fair bit for the last 8 years, get out in the sunshine as much after you arrive. Really helps reset your body clock. But I have got to say by 2pm on the day you arrive, I usually need to crawl in to a little hole for an hour to get some beauty sleep.
Good luck ;-)

mike