To never fly long haul again

[wondering7777]

I recently went on holiday for a week. The flight was eight hours long and so uncomfortable - economy class seats have very little leg room/space and it’s almost impossible to get any kip.

I’m now back home and the time difference is killing me - I had two hours sleep on the plane and have been in bed all afternoon drifting in and out of sleep and feeling very achey, sneezy and generally crap. I’m also 12 weeks pregnant, which I’m sure has made it 10 times worse (has anyone else found that it does?)

AIBU to just stick to UK holidays and short haul from now on? There are so many amazing destinations in Europe just a 2-3 hour flight away, not to mention the reduced (admittedly still bad) impact on the environment of only flying short haul. As it is, I feel like I’ve come back from holiday more exhausted than when I left!

[AutumnRose1]

Mad question
Of course yanbu

Leaving the country hasn't become the law.

I've left the country twice in the last eight years.

[Jem57]

8 hours is not that bad at all.I go to Australia every year,it’s 21 hours,I just think myself lucky that I am fortunate to travel.Stick to the UK if you find it that bad,by the way I went to Hong Kong for a week,no problem.

[m0therofdragons]

BTW, I wouldn't class 8 hours as long-haul

You might not but officially it is. Who thinks flying London to Vancouver is short haul? mumsnet amuses me with its ridiculousness

[Wacawaca19]

Yes much better for you and for our planet OP.

[BuildBuildings]

I agree. Flying sucks. We're not poor by any means but I think buisness class is v pricy, especially long haul. I had a lovely relaxing holiday in Dorset in the summer. I really think not flying made it so much lovelier. I'm sure your pregnancy has made it much harder for you.

Shout out to the mumsnet humble brags of 8 hours is hardly long haul. Lolz.

[YouJustDoYou]

We've three under 6, did one religious holiday abroad that had to be done then but intend to just camp in the UK until they're older. They have a blast running around with other kids, we get to have family movie time in the tent, see new places etc, and it's just so, so cheap. They have time to holiday abroad when they're older.

[wondering7777]

I find that day-time long-haul is OK, & quite easy to adjust to whatever time zone I'm in, but I can never sleep on a 'plane so night flights are a nightmare.

I agree - I thought overnight would work better as I’d be able to sleep... how wrong I was!

[Experian]

I quite like airplane food actually 😋

[BringMeAGinandTonic]

If doing long-haul, it's best to go for longer than a week to make the flights worth it and give space around the long flights. I use something called No Jet Lag, which helps a lot.

[AskMeHow]

Business has way better food. Real china plates and proper knives and forks. It was a revelation to me I've got to say. We treated ourselves on our last holiday and now I'm going to find it really hard to go back to economy

[BoardingSchoolMater]

First World Problems.My DC have never been on an aeroplane (oldest is 18). I last went on one in 1991. We have all survived this privation.

[GreyGardens88]

YANBU but I hate flying in general, I find the airport stressful and the flights boring and uncomfortable. I can only cope with long haul if it is overnight as I can generally manage to sleep for a few hours. I once did a 9 hour flight from Reykjavik to San Francisco on the now defunct WOW air. 9 hours with no in flight entertainment, no free food or drink and a woman next to me who kept pulling out her stinky wheel of cheese every half an hour. Imagine that

[tttigress]

I was kind of feeling the way you are for a while.

However I always wanted to go to Japan, which I did a few months ago.

The flying there and back was awful, however the holiday was so totally amazing that it made it worth while.

I think you might be limiting you possibilities of you try to stick to your rule.

[ragged]

It's grim. I only do it b/c I have close family very far away.

[msjrmesq]

Agree. I've done quite a lot of long haul flights over the years and staying awake is the only solution in my view.

Any ideas for what to do on seriously long haul flights - we're heading for Aus soon and are dreading it.

[Jayaywhynot]

I'm with you, I'm going to Thailand but I'm going British Airways business class, no way am I going all that way with my knees under my chin! I can barely do short haul unless I have extra leg room, even then it's a nightmare.

[snowball28]

YANBU we have to fly 14 hours+ once a year for religious reasons and it’s a nightmare. Even before we had the kids it was horrible and I hated every minute but it’s even worse now we have the kids cause it’s 100% more stressful. The flights leave me feeling unwell and tired.

We do Cornwall, Devon, Whitby etc for our own family holidays. Much more fun and stress free, when the kids are older we’ll probably go back to doing 4 hours and under flights until then it’s UK only!

[OneKeyAtATime]

Well all I can say is it will have been 100 times better than if you had been flying the same flight with a three year old :).

Joking aside, the pregnancy probably didn't help!

[Weepingwillows12]

If you are feeling sneeze, achy etc then that may not be jet lag. Maybe you picked up a cold or something?

You dont need to do long haul though. Being cramped in economy is crap.

[KatherineJaneway]

Yeah but you need £££! Does business class have better food then?

Heck yes! Amazing food and good booze too. I always factor costs of business flights into a potential long haul trip. I wouldn't want to turn right again.

[Dapplegrey]

I agree with you op.
Jet lag is awful and lasts - for me, anyway, - for ages.

[CoolCarrie]

8 hours is not long haul, try 12 + !

[wondering7777]

8 hours is not long haul, try 12 + !

Well, it is long haul according to the airline I was flying with

Heck yes! Amazing food and good booze too.

I don’t think I could face drinking on a flight to be honest - it would leave me feeling even more tired and woozy!

[SunshineAngel]

@Experian Long haul is actually anything over 6 hours.

OP: I only ever holidayed in the UK as a child, and there are so many amazing places to see!

[mbosnz]

I always look forward to flying to or from NZ - right up until the point I have to go through security. And then the stopover. But it's always worth getting there in the end, and I love takeoff, touchdown, and the service in between - if I'm travelling premium economy anyway, Air NZ.