Are overnight flights bad?

A sleep specialist weighs in on the dangers of sleeping on an overnight flight. Booking a red-eye flight is tempting. It's usually cheaper, lets you slightly extend your trip, and gets you in with time to spare for that 9 a.m. meeting.



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From a crew and equipment perspective, red-eye flights are as safe as any other flight. There are some potential risks to your personal health if you fly them often, though, particularly if you don't sleep well on planes.

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Choose the right seat. Book a seat based on the side you normally sleep on. If you can, get a jump on window seats, as you can rest your head against the windows for support. Seats closer to the exit rows provide leg room for extra comfort. And if possible, pick a flight during a time where you'd usually be in bed.

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Are overnight flights usually full? As far as the experience, red-eye flights are generally less crowded than regular morning or midday flights tend to be, so you might luck out with an empty seat next to you and have more space to spread out (making it easier to sleep).

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The simple answer is yes, pilots do, and are allowed to sleep during flight but there are strict rules controlling this practice. Pilots would only normally sleep on long haul flights, although sleep on short haul flights is permitted to avoid the effects of fatigue.

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The early bird may be known for catching the worm, but it also catches the best flights. In fact, people who get the first flight in the morning can usually expect a smoother trip, friendlier staff, a cleaner plane and, often, a cheaper ticket.

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10 Tips for Surviving an Overnight Flight
  1. Choose the right carry-on handbag. ...
  2. Pack noise-canceling headphones. ...
  3. Bring your favorite tea from home. ...
  4. Go through your usual night-time skincare routine. ...
  5. Pack an eye mask and ear plugs. ...
  6. Brush your teeth. ...
  7. Bring a portable phone charger. ...
  8. Reading material.


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Don't Sleep During the Flight – or Do
Sleep on the plane only if it is the normal sleep time for your destination. (A red-eye flight headed eastward is a typical example.) Some people have difficulty sleeping on a plane at all, but it's a good idea under certain conditions.

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13 Easy Tips for Overnight Flights
  1. Splurge on extra legroom or an upgrade. ...
  2. Choose your seat wisely. ...
  3. Read instead of using screens. ...
  4. Wash your face and brush your teeth before boarding. ...
  5. Use earplugs and a mask. ...
  6. Bring a travel pillow. ...
  7. Avoid caffeine or alcohol. ...
  8. Dress for the occasion.


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Those irregular motions in the atmosphere create air currents that can cause passengers on an airplane to experience annoying bumps during a flight, or it can be severe enough to throw an airplane out of control. (The pilots) aren't scared at all.

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Severe turbulence can cause a plane to drop so suddenly that pilots temporarily lose control. But, again, that's not enough to crash the plane. That's not to say it's never happened. In 1966, human error and turbulence combined to bring a plane down over Mount Fuji.

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The airlines use the last hours of the day and the first hours of the night to catch up on delays and ensure their aircraft are in the right place for the next day. Night Flights allow the budget airlines and the non-scheduled airlines (usually operating holiday charter flights) to make full use of their aircraft.

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Pilots see only darkness around them except for lights if visibility is good. At night or even during day commercial planes navigate by using onboard instruments from immediately after takeoff till landing. They are not supposed to navigate based on visual cues.

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Late-night flights are usually cheaper (and less crowded!) Let's face it, spending a whole night on a plane is something not everyone is willing to do – you will after reading this – but the airlines still need to book as many seats as possible.

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Try to Sleep During the Flight
One of the best ways to minimize jet lag is to try and sleep during the flight. Using earplugs, eye masks, or noise-cancellation headphones helps to block out light and noise.

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13 Tips for Surviving a Long-Haul Flight
  1. Choose your seat. ...
  2. Power up. ...
  3. Get comfy. ...
  4. Bring some snacks. ...
  5. Always bring a scarf or shawl. ...
  6. Pack a pillow and blanket. ...
  7. See no evil, hear no evil. ...
  8. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.


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Take a melatonin pill. That's the hormone that our bodies use to put us to sleep naturally. Pop the pill a few hours before the flight.

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In commercial aviation, a red-eye flight refers to a flight that departs at night and arrives the next morning, especially when the total flight time is insufficient for passengers to get a full night's sleep.

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Is turbulence better at night? Nighttime or morning flights are statistically better for turbulence, compared to those in the day. Although turbulence can't be completely avoided at night, winds are often weaker and thermal convection turbulence is less, making the chances of encountering turbulence reduced.

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