Jetlag (ugh!)

There's no one-size-fits-all advice for jet lag (too many variables involved including age, health, number of time zones crossed, etc). My take is it's unavoidable and you learn through trial and error what works best for you. I think some folks think they can "cheat" it somehow or avoid it altogether (I don't think that's likely). I only try to minimize it as best as I can, but I have constraints when it comes to building extra downtime days during and after the trip (I just don't have that flexibility, so I soldier through it even though I don't feel great..it's a minor inconvenience, all things considered). I can't argue that extra sleep wouldn't be helpful - it's probably the best thing you can do for yourself.

I just got back on Saturday so my information is very current. I flew American Airlines/British Airlines. My tickets did not cost extra and I was able to change my seats when I checked in 24 hours in advance of my flight. Sorry you haven't been able to do the same.

I think it depends on what airline and whether those seats are already booked. I was assigned that seat on Turkish Airlines even though it was "mommy row" - literally, a row just with moms and their tiny babies (and me). The reason they were put in that row was because the airline basinettes/cribs were hung right on that wall across the seats (including my seat, which was funny). I did have extra space to stretch out but I also had a crib right in front of me. Thankfully I can sleep just fine on the plane.

It just occurred to me that perhaps the reason it was so easy for me to get bulkhead seats at no additional cost was because we traveled during the off season. In any case, I think it is worth the try and can be done during on-line check in with two clicks. I prefer to travel during more quiet seasons and now I have another reason to do so :)

My easiest jet lag was my last trip to Europe, when I arrived at 5 pm. By the time I got to my hotel I had just enough time to go for a walk in the sun (I was in Helsinki so there was still plenty of sunshine in the summer) and eat dinner. Then I had the BEST sleep until about 4:30 am!

British Air is different. If you want a specific seat more than 24 hours in advance of your flight assigned to you, it costs extra. If you check in right at the 24 hour limit or closer to flight departure, you can choose any seat in your section without paying extra. Of course you can only choose from what is open and you may not get a great seat depending on many factors. When you are used to picking your seat at booking time, this can cause a bit of nervousness. The option to wait on BA flights has always allowed me to get a good enough seat every time I flew with them.

That's good news for me, Mark, because I'm tempted to try that on the way back from London next September on Virgin Air. 25 GBP (over US $30 even now) is a lot to pay when all you care about is having an aisle seat.

Because I can sleep on a plane (actually I can sleep anywhere anytime) I like those overnight flights, get into town early, drop my bags and hit the ground running! We choose our seats when booking because we are two and need/want to sit together. I have Zero need to stand up and stretch, that may or may not happen if I use the restroom. As a PP stated, we are all different and handle the time change differently. No sleep in days for me, I can sleep at home...in fact that is our travel motto.

DeAnn, I agree with you. I always take the day flight to London so that I arrive in the Evening in Europe. I avoid the over night flights because I can't sleep on a plane. When I take the day flight and arrive in the evening, I get a good nights sleep and no or just a blip of jet lag on the 4th day. I, too, have had good luck with BA and get my seat on line at the 24 hour check in. I've always been able to get an aisle seat at the front of class group, which is my personal requirement. Wray

MrsEB, While Delta does not have a morning flight to London, both BA and Virgin have morning flights from JFK to London.

I too take the daytime flight (in my case from Dulles to Heathrow on United) whenever I can.

I don't sleep on planes either but I still take the lights that arrive in the morning do I don't feel like I smosing a whole day. I plane my city exploration walks to power me through, have dinner, and bed.

No problem with jet lag after flying 11 hrs from SFO to one of these destination airports, Paris CDG, LHR or Frankfurt. I count on falling asleep, always do, usually have no problems when I arrive ca. 1000 to 11 am. Drink water when not sleeping, resist watching the movies, focus on falling asleep as much as possible, don't take any sleeping aids, not worth it. To keep track of how much I'm sleeping each time I'm awake, I keep the watch set at west coast time until I land. I find British Airways the most comfortable in Economy.

Never had jet lag on the way to Europe. Sometimes a little cranky in the morning of arrival, but a cappuccino fixes that.

On the way back, I am miserable for week, but I think that's returner's remorse. No down days after returning, if I am miserable anyway, I may as well get paid for it.

The main thing is to get out in the sunshine while your body still thinks it is nighttime. For instance, if you arrive in Germany at 9 AM, it's dark, midnight to 3 AM back home, depending on where home is. You need to get out in the sunlight as soon as possible to show you body that it's not the middle of the night anymore. Getting out at 5 PM, when it is already daylight at home, won't help.