The Challenge of Redeye Flights

The Global Traveler has tips for surviving redeye flights.

Basically don’t drink caffeine and try to get to sleep right away. Great as far as it goes, but I find redeyes to be brutal, and survival to depend entirely on the seat.

I had tremendous difficulty flying Bangkok to Narita a couple months back in ANA’s old style business class seat. It was just uncomfortable and nothing I did could change that.

Give me a full recline in a comfortable seat and it’s a different story. The short flight time would still present challenges and I wouldn’t be well rested on the other end, but it would have been far better.

The only real tip for surviving redeye flights is a modern business class or three-class first class seat. I know that won’t help many of my readers, but it’s all I have to offer…

I do have tips for dealing with jetlag, though.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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