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!

[Leflic]

Never done anything longer than 12 hours but I don’t mind it. I am a lazy cow however and enjoy the enforced lack of movement.
The 2 hour to Eirope now drives me nuts because it’s longer waiting in the airport and then for the pla e to take off than the flight. Such a waste of time.

[flobonobo]

Long haul flying in economy is fucking torture! I am not one of those people that can sleep sat up.

Anything over 7hrs needs to be done in premium or business to make it anyway near enjoyable! If you book a day flight in economy though it’s so much more manageable than a night one. Opposite for business though - night flights are the one to appreciate the flat bed!

It’s so prohibitively expensive though.

I’d definitely stick to short haul or take daytime flights with longer holidays!

Melatonin can help with jet lag too OP - you cant legally buy it in the UK, but you can buy something your body converts to it... can’t remember what it’s called.

[ivykaty44]

Not eating and only drink water can help with jet lag

Flying 8 hours to a different time zone for a week might be all the time people have, so it could be better than nothing at all

[wondering7777]

Flying 8 hours to a different time zone for a week might be all the time people have, so it could be better than nothing at all

Thanks @ivykaty44 - I struggle to get two weeks off due to the nature of my work and even if I could have done, we wouldn’t have been able to afford a longer holiday anyway.

[flobonobo]

I agree about not eating and only drinking water! But I’m unable to stick to it haha

To all those saying 8hrs isn’t long haul - it is!

I’ve done 4 day return with 13hrs each way and it’s completely manageable in business class. Nae in economy! Acclimatisation to time zone kicks in around day 4-5 too, so a week is torturous flying economy for sure

[ivykaty44]

Tbh I didn’t seem to suffer, going I arrived at bed time so that was ok as next day got up as normal

Returning had night flight and managed about 3/4 hours napping which helped. Arrived back 11am and stayed up till about 9pm then back to work the next day... keep at 6pm for an hour

Back to normal

I’m older thoug and don’t seem to sleep as much as when I was younger so maybe that helps - or the not eating helps as your body adjusts quicker to time zone changes?

[HoppingPavlova]

I’d umm and errr about calling an 8hr flight long haul.

We live on a very large island at the other end of the world to you and it’s basically long haul to go anywhere. If we were all as dramatic as you are no one would ever leave said island which is not really practical unless you are up for a boat trip that takes several weeks and even then I would think that only presents limited opportunity re destination.

No question long haul sucks but we all just get on with it.

[HoppingPavlova]

Re jet lag, sleeping etc, planes have become odd in that the minute you reach cruising altitude they try and put you to bed. Lights off, blinds down and they seriously seem to expect you to sleep for a 23hr flight only to wake at meals.

[flobonobo]

@HoppingPavlova ahhh but because you experience an extreme version of flying distances if you need or want to go anywhere, doesn’t make op or others dramatic! 8hrs is classed as long haul officially. I wouldn’t travel much if I lived somewhere so far as you though - that must be hard!

If you have to travel and it’s 16-24hrs I expect you plan it, prepare for it etc. Which may make it more bearable - you’re expecting a tough time. Sometimes I think you can think 8hrs is nothing - book it, do it and have an unexpected side swipe of how uncomfortable and tiring it is.... because exactly the thing you’re saying - everyone says 8hrs is nothing. It doesn’t take account for the 4 hrs before flying (travelling, parking, checking in, security, sitting on run way) then other side security, travel to hotel etc. So that 8 hrs becomes 14hrs ish plus the prep and pack before. It’s exhausting ruins the first 2 days and the 2 days from travelling back. If you do a night flight and can’t sleep you arrive tired, swollen, greasy, smelly and pretty disorientated in my experience.

It’s not the worst experience in life of course, but it’s probably unexpected to feel that awful for the first time you do it. A flat bed completely changes everything though!

[HoppingPavlova]

If you have to travel and it’s 16-24hrs I expect you plan it, prepare for it etc.

Or you could just get on, sit down and get on with it. Not sure what you would plan or prepare given an airline provides meals/drinks/snacks and entertainment (with 1001 movies, box sets and music options). I think the most ‘planning and preparation’ I’ve ever done is including hand cream, lip balm and headache tablets just in case. Admittedly I’ve not taken young children as that would be a form of madness.

Even if on some dodgy budget, just make sure you have money for overpriced meals/drinks/snacks and take a tablet loaded with movies, books and music. That will easily get you through 24hrs. It’s not rocket science or drama of the century.

[HoppingPavlova]

All the other faffing around before and after is really irrelevant. I do all of this whether I’m on a short 2hr flight (which turns it into a 6hr experience) or a 23hr flight (which turns it into a 30hr experience given earlier check in requirements and immigration). It doesn’t become more or less irritating because it’s a shorter or longer flight.

[greenlavender]

It's not compulsory is it?

[Monty27]

Yanbu to have UK holidays. Clearly you're not keen on flying so don't.
What's the issue here?

[fedup2017]

Yabu.
I'm currently on my first long haul holiday of my life. I was expecting it to be awful after reading how dreadful economy is..... However compared to Stansted and Ryanair and a 2 hour short haul flight it was a breeze. The airport was super straight forward. I even liked the little tray of food which made me nostalgic about rare holidays to Spain in the 80's!! I had my own little telly and could choose a film. Plus it's properly exciting to go to somewhere completely different.
I need to look into carbon offsetting or something because there is no way I'm waiting another 40 years before doing this again!

[MilkyHay]

I think it's a mindset.
We fly LH several times a year, mostly E but sometimes BC with miles.
It is boring but if you accept that it's a means to an end it's easier to cope. Couple of drinks, watch a few films, read your book, nap if you can.
Jet lag is grim but after a couple of days you'll be over it.
If the pleasure you get from a LH holiday is worth 12 hours of boredom then it's worth it, if not stay closer to home.

[stucknoue]

It's a choice, holidays are optional ! If the plane travel is hard but budget is decent I highly recommend a cruise, choose a U.K. port with valet parking, it's super easy

[RoseMartha]

I am not keen on flying tbh. Have done so in the past. Not been abroad at all for about 13 years (enjoy uk holidays), cant say I miss going abroad although there are some places it would be amazing to visit, if that makes sense?

[Gennz18]

8 hour flight is nothing. It I actually think the jet lag is worse to that middle distance location than NZ-UK/Europe (which I do most years - with small children 🤯).

We did NZ-Vietnam this year and the time difference was about 6 hours which really knocked me round. I find Europe easier as Days and nights are completely switched I actually adjust quicker.

After 20+ years of flying economy Long haul I’ve upgraded to premium economy and it’s life changing. Actually enjoy the flights now.

[Basketofkittens]

I can only do longhaul in business class. It makes the whole experience pleasant. No queues, lovely lounges, tasty food and everybody is really really nice to you! Going to Australia, I managed to sleep a good half of the outbound flight. It’s utter bliss to go in the lounge in Singapore, have a shower and get changed then more food - then onto the next leg! It’s so gloriously civilised.

[Mother87]

Wondering... yes imo business class has MUCH better food/more space/flat-bed (to Singapore/US) makes it much more comfortable/bearable. We go to visit family, otherwise I wouldn't necessarily bother as it's all still tiring/airports aren't 'fun'...

[Mother87]

Misses point spectacularly... DS32 took his first few steps on a flight to Singapore (20+ hours travelling in those days) THAT was funfortunately the stewards LOVED him and took him off my hands for aaages at a timeto walk up and down the aisles

[BuildBuildings]

This is the sort of thread that's really irritating on MN. Loads of people feel they're better at flying so op is being unreasonable. Ffs

[Aridane]

No, just people expressing a different view.

OP is not unreasonab,e in choosing how and where she wants to go on holiday. But nor are others in choosing their preferred holidays and method of travel

[SD1978]

Do what you want. I fly long haul every year (24 hours roughly) and have done with a child since she was 10months old. It a personal choice and if you now choose not to again, then fine. Not much of an AIBU. Some people like it and can't make that choice for you.

[Userplusnumbers]

8 hours is long haul? I consider anything closer than the moon to be short haul, and I fly that route 5-6 times a year. So I should know.