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

The last big company I worked for warned us not to drive long distances the day after an overnight trans-Atlantic flight because if we were in a fatal accident they could be liable under Corporate Manslaughter law. It was back around 2009-2010 and I’ve no idea if there have been any prosecutions. It was a big insurance company so I would guess they had assessed the risk pretty carefully.

Whatever 'class' they've booked would be immaterial to me, as jet lag leaves me completely stupid for days. It would be dangerous - for me personally - even to attempt to drive after an eastern seaboard red-eye, one of the worst flights in the world for lag I believe. I'd be completely incapable of functioning in the workplace. I feel vile for at least three days, and that's irrespective of whether I've been in the states for two days or two weeks.

Different people respond differently. DH barely notices it but it makes me feel physically ill.

Names? I want their heads!

I remember fondly the days when all work transatlantic flights were automatically business class. Had a couple of really nice trips with Virgin and BA with maximum time spent in their lounges at Heathrow beforehand!

Nowadays it’s the “flights scheduled to be longer than 7 hours” rule but to be honest since Covid only very senior people travel to visit other sites and do the motivational town halls. Rarely some colleagues have gone to the USA, it was economy but they were told by their line management to “WFH” the next day. With a wink and a nod that “WFH” was the reason for their absence from the office if the VP or HR asked, but no one seriously expected them to do anything except check emails a couple of times. It was effectively a day in lieu.

Yes if they expect you to work the next day you should have a bed on the plane. If not, then you should get a rest day, or at least a rest morning

I'd ask about this ^^.

As a teen I worked with someone who came back over night long distance flight went home changed came in and did an eight hour shift then drove home happy saying she felt fine but had no sleep in last 24 hours. Perfect weather but she over turned the car killing herslef - no-else else involved car found to be in fully working order. Road accdents can always happen but have read since driving tired can be as bad as driving drunk.

If they really won't budge on the travel at very least I'd push day off and if they won't budge there push for WFH.

If London to NY is approx 5 hours shouldn’t the entire day of arrival home be TOIL as you’ve worked 10 extra hours travelling?

Absolutely TOIL for the antisocial hours. Take a sick day at the very least @spoonfedzebra

Last time I got the red eye back from NYC we weren't back in to central London until gone 11am. I was also destroyed for the rest of the day (I do not sleep on planes - ever).

This was for a holiday but if work had suggested I went straight in to the office, I would have not been responsible for my actions.

I think premium is fine. But you should be entitled to a rest period after a long flight, that is for sure. That's true for business but even more so for anything less.

Have you accounted for the time difference?

Honestly it's a 6 hour flight - you'll land by 3am so can reasonably sleep before work anyway!

If it were me, I'd call in sick the moment I got through customs because of zero sleep

Last October I sat next to a man in Premium economy who had flown from London to Sydney to give a presentation to his Sydney office along with two colleagues, then had immediately left and flown back to London via a Melbourne 2 hour layover. Apparently they had not even had a night in a Hotel.

I think there must be laws of some sort against it. Flying to Australia (or New Zealand which is even farther!) is brutal. I was horrifed and asked what they did in Covid times- zoom calls obviously. Bloody stupid and potentially a major health risk with DVTs etc IMO.

I'm a bit aghast at the environmental impact from long haul flights for two days for an internal training course. I would love to hear your CEO justify that in his ESG statement in the your annual report.

Fuck me. 1st world problems

The flight is so short even in Business class it would be hard to get enough sleep to function at work the next day.

Not a chance would I be working the next day after a red-eye flight.

Honestly that's insane that they would expect you back in the office after a presumably minimum 7 hour flight back overnight? With the time difference it would also be +5 hours when you get back to the UK.

I have landed at 7am in the UK coming back from the US and not even been back at my house until almost midday and I only live a 40 min drive from the airport.

By the time you're off the plane, have tot your luggage, back to your car and driven to where you need to be you're usually looking at a few hours.

My mum regularly travels to Northern Ireland for work (from Manchester). I think it's around an hour flight and even she barely does anything else other than travel on her travel days as that is considered part of her working hours!

It's not a very long flight to NY. But you shouldn't be expected in work the next day. But not sure about expecting Business Class unless you are in an executive type job.

agree with this, we did BA premium economy back from Vegas for an overnight flight, didn't sleep a wink - have never been able to sleep on flights. it irritates the life out of me but I just cant.

I'm amazed at how stingy some employers are and what some other people are prepared to put up with.

"You would sleep well"? How can you possibly know? I'm confident I wouldn't. I flew overnight to Japan on ANA in their premium economy. It was quite pleasant, and the seats were comfortable, but I didn't sleep for a second. I'd be surprised if BA was significantly better.

I travelled super frequently for work for 24 years, and we were never allowed to book business, and PE was only allowed for a couple of years for long flights. No official TOIL for travelling either. TBH, NY-LHR isn't worth business anyway as most people would only sleep for 2 hours max. I'd go home, go to sleep until 9 then go into the office (depending on arrival time and distances) or go straight to the office work until after lunch then go home.

Business class flight and WFH the next day would be the minimum here.