If you've been to South America (Peru), how bad was the jetlag on the way back?

[MacmillanDo]

That's it really. Never been. Will be going but will be going to an event about 3 days after I return! Want to prepare myself for all eventualities...

I have just returned from Brazil and was absolutely fine. I was tired because I didn’t get much rest on the return flight but got back into work and routine with no problems.

I’ve been fine returning from Guatemala. Tired but adapted pretty quickly.

Landed at 6pm from Galapagos then Ecuador then Madrid to London. Knackered and in bed by 8pm. Woke at 11am next morning. Felt fine after that!

I went to Peru last year and made the mistake of landing in the evening and going to work at 6am the next days. I was wrecked for at least a week but I had done the salkantay trek. Went to Colombia last month and had a couple of days off work after landing and was mostly fine and definitely fit for work 3 days after landing.

Thanks all, that’s reassuring

out of curiosity, where do you buy your flights? Looking for a good but cheap deal to Peru. Thanks

@MacmillanDoI flew with avianca as they were the cheapest at the time.

What was that like?

Jetlag is far worse when you go from east to west (i.e. outbound to North or South America from UK).

On the outbound keg you fly through daylight the entire way. Going back, you will have a nice long snooze in the darkened plane.

Absolutely fine. I think I went out in the evening the day I got back. I was a lot younger than I am now though tbf

No, I think typically jetlag is recognised to be easier going West

This is the problem; I'm no longer young! 😀

I fly all the time usually 2-4 times a month. Flying westward jet lag isn’t really a thing.

flying eastward it is. So it’s your flight home where you’ll get jet lag.

I find a nap when I get home, absolute maximum of 3 hours, then into normal timings is all I need

i know a lot of cabin crew and they all advise this too

Thank you! great tip. What if you get back in the evening? I guess stay up to normal time...?

How does it feel to fly all the time for work, I assume? I can't imagine. I do fly but not like that. Any top tips generally for making long flights more bearable?

I love flying so not an issue for me, I never go more than 4 weeks between flights, usually 2 weeks is normal. This month I have had 2 flights already and another 6 to come.

if I get home late then yes adjust to normal time immediately but if home before approx 3pm I’ll always take a 3 hour nap if flying west to east. If flying back from the east I stay awake no matter what

FWIW and as I recall it the docs who used to study this used to reckon generally it was easier to adjust going east but it's an individual thing.

The bigger problem is the way a lot of schedules work long haul eastbound tends to be overnight and it's the night with poor or not a lot of sleep that screws a lot of people in the immediate aftermath of a flight more than the actual time zone change..