The type of plane you’re travelling on matters
If you’re heading away this summer and there is going to be a time change on arrival, knowing how to cope with jet lag properly is key to not losing a day or two.
Catching up on the hours you’ve missed is important, but there are actually things you can do on your journey there that will cushion the blow of jet lag.
Travel experts have said unfortunately, there isn’t really a way to completely avoid jet lag, however, but there are some things you can change.
SkyParkSecure has teamed up with an ex-airline executive, Andrew Hayward, to reveal some of the small and easy changes to make during and after your journey to try and mitigate the effects.
Here’s everything you need to know:
The type of plane matters
Different planes fly at different altitudes, meaning the cabins are pressurised differently – this can have a huge impact on jet lag.
Andrew suggests flying on Boeing 787 Dreamliners or Airbus A350s if possible as the cabins are pressurised to a lower altitude (6000 ft, as opposed to 8000 ft) which can have a massive impact on how hard jet lag hits you.
Some airlines that include the Boeing 787 in their fleet include Nippon Airways, British Airways, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and American Airlines.
Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Lufthansa are some of the biggest operators of Airbus A350s.
The seat also matters
Many of us may prefer to sit at the front of the plane for ease of getting on or off or being closer to the toilet, but it could also be beneficial in avoiding the worst effects of jet lag
This is because the freshest air enters the cabin nose to help keep the pilots alert.
The seating choice can also affect how easy it is to get comfortable and catch some Z’s – seats at the back can be more uncomfortable due to some longer planes suffering from ‘self-induced oscillation’ – meaning one of the best places to sit is near the wing root for the most stable ride. For larger planes, this tends to be the middle of the aircraft.
Andrew suggests using a site such as Seat Guru to find the best seats – window seats are where you’re least likely to get disturbed, especially sitting away from the toilet.
On the other hand, some window and aisle seats may sometimes have inflight entertainment boxes under the seats which can affect legroom.
Avoid alcohol and coffee
Whilst it may be tempting to drink coffee to stay awake or treat yourself to a tipple to celebrate your long-awaited trip, you should try to avoid it.
If you want to try and avoid jet lag, Andrew would advise against both alcohol and coffee due to their dehydrating effects.
Instead – focus on drinking plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and save the drinks for once you land.
Choose flight times carefully
Making sure you’re prepared prior to your flight is important too – change your watch before boarding to reflect the time once you land.
If you’re landing at night, try to avoid sleeping so you can rest once getting to your destination – vice versa if it’s the other way around.
Pack The Essentials
We know planes aren’t the easiest things to sleep on – so if you are looking to sleep on the plane, make sure you pack the likes of ear plugs, travel pillows, eye covers, and noise-cancelling headphones to make your journey as comfortable as possible.
On the other hand – if you’re planning on staying awake for the entire journey – make sure you bring plenty to keep you entertained.
