Business Class should be the minimum for an overnight work flight?

Yes correct but try telling that to a City bank or law firm… their employees regularly get far less than 11 hours’ rest. However, these firms would absolutely shell out for business flights not least as they can charge them to the client.

As far as I know the working time directive 'opt-out' is only about the 48 hour week, and does not impact the right to rest periods.

I get what you mean, but no employer can 'require' you to opt out of the Working Time Directive. They can ask you, and they can give you the option but it can't be mandatory. And even if you do opt out you can opt back in at any time. I've never signed an opt-out in 25 years of professional, director or c suite roles, but then I have always worked on a 'give and take' basis with clear boundaries

No employer I have worked for would expect an early start into the office after an overnight flight regardless of the class of travel - and I spent much of my career travelling for business. The norm was anything from the day off to a late start WFH, depending on class of travel and meeting schedule . Also Premium economy out / business back was the norm for short (sub 8 hour) overnight flights post covid. Though at one point we had a deal with BA of PE out First back, which was cheaper than PE / Club World presumably because there was more money for BA in selling the CW inventory to people who would pay for CW both ways :)

Completely unacceptable, I worked for a bank which itself was cost cutting but No Way would they expect people to fly overnight in economy!

Premium economy is fine, I prefer to business class as it’s too claustrophobic

You can't lay flat and you're next to at least one person, you cannot sleep well.

Universities have made huge cuts apparently in how they send their valued staff overseas.
No more being picked up and dropped off, economy not business. Sounds horrific.

In my 20s and early 30s, I could do a night flight from the US in Economy and go to work in the afternoon.

30 years on? Not a chance!

Depends on the sector as well. I doubt taxpayers want to pay business class fares via their taxes, charities either.

Economy would be fine but I wouldn't be going back into work without a 24hr break.

Even in business class from JFK to LHR, the most sleep I have ever managed is about 4 hours (and not exactly great quality). It’s a 6.5h flight with time you need to be upright for take off and landing and then crew bumbling around with trays for part of it.

Generally I fly out in the morning, do the super long extended day as the first day I’m at my clients office. The heaviest/most important work day the day after that and a TOIL day when I’m back. If for some reason I need to work the day after getting back, I don’t expect myself or anyone I manage to really do a full day.

Expectations while on site for a client are different because that’s the whole point that they’ve paid for you to be there, but they still have to respect that you’re human and not a robot!

My employer (one of the top, most expensive universities in the UK) won’t even pay for milk in the kitchen for tea and coffee. We get instant coffee and tea bags, but you gotta fund your own milk. 🤣

Our Christmas party was in the conference room and catered by Lidl. And by catered I mean, the director stopped at Lidl on the way in. For drinks, we got Lidl juice cartons.

I’m not even sure anyone travels anymore, but I’m pretty sure if we did we’d be expected to pay our own travel costs.

Business class or an extra nights hotel and a day off after you get back.
Their choice.

Are we talking civil service here?

This was the same at my old work but I think NYC may be just on the cusp?

I think they're being v u to expect you in the next day.

I used to work for a company that did this- was just execs who were allowed business class (which I was at that time). Eventually they scrapped it for everyone to save money. I just refused to go on the trips.

Annoyingly all my business class flights have been turn right so I haven’t had the turn left moment yet.

I have the same issue, overnight flights back from North America in economy and then expected to work the next day. I do always arrange to start later and then work from home and always arrive home on the Friday. The annoyance for me is my boss flies business because of his job level and doesn’t see why I have a problem working after an overnight flight.

Our company policy is anything over 6hrs is booked as Business Class. We generally tend to do week long trips, so you fly out on Friday or Saturday, dependant on the region you're visiting, then fly home the following Friday.

Anyone would think you're rowing across the Atlantic.

With the price of business class and the relatively short flight I don't blame them for only forking out for PE. It's not a long journey - kick back with a prosecco and try and get some kip.

I would go in the next day and just phone it in.

Or you could tell them 'I only turn left when I get on a plane' and see how they respond.

It depends on your job

If you are doing something where you need to be alert and awake then YANBU

However if your job is largely bullshit then YABU.

If you have time to post on MN mid morning then I suspect the latter

Either business class or they don’t expect you in work the next day. Either is fine.

Urgh, sounds awful. I used to do US trips regularly and would get back Friday am go straight to bed for a few hours and shower, check for any urgent emails and be done for the day. Very unreasonable.

I've voted YABU because the issue isn't the flight it's that they expect you in the office the next day

I do love all of the people quoting the Working Time Directive as if most of us in professional jobs haven't had to sign an opt-out as part of our contract. In my experience there's a pretty big overlap between the sort of jobs that have work trips to New York and the sort of jobs that require WTD opt-outs.

As others have said, I think premium economy is probably fine given the length of the flight and the amount of sleep you are ever likely to achieve (i.e. nothing approaching a full night, even in business class), but I'd be pushing for at least the morning off and then WFH in the afternoon.