Overall, you can expect a smoother climb and descent. But once you are up to cruising altitude, there should be no difference between day and night. So if you are taking a short regional flight where the maximum altitude is in the order of 7000 m, a night flight is likely to be smoother.

Evening and night flights are often significantly smoother than those taken during the middle of the day. This is primarily because the sun's heat causes "thermal turbulence" during the day; as the ground heats up, warm air rises in uneven columns (thermals), creating the "bumps" you feel at lower and mid-altitudes. Once the sun sets, the ground cools and the atmosphere typically becomes more stable and "laminar." Additionally, air traffic is generally lighter in the evening, allowing pilots to fly at their most efficient and smooth cruising altitudes without needing to adjust for other aircraft as frequently. However, there is one major exception: it is harder for pilots to see and avoid storm clouds in the dark without the aid of advanced weather radar and "night vision" avionics. While the absence of thermal activity usually makes for a "glass-like" flight experience, bumping into an unseen convective cloud can still cause sudden turbulence. Overall, for travelers in 2026 who are sensitive to motion, booking a flight after sunset is a reliable strategy for a more peaceful and stable journey through the sky.