Red eye from JFK

[Comefeelthenoise]

How many people have experienced horrendous turbulence on a red eye flight from JFK?

The last 2 occasions I’ve done the red eye, it’s been horrific turbulence which has now made me anxious about doing that journey. The fact it’s dark makes it even worse IMO, and I wondered if I’ve just had horrendous luck or if it’s a bit of a “thing” on that route? It seems mad to book a morning flight from JFK to waste a day in NY.

[Hart1eyHare]

A pile of books, glass ceiling lounge, my own cabin, no turbulence, amazing scenery = bliss in my book.

[PaquitaVariation]

We’ve flown this route many times at different times of the day. There seems to be a lot of turbulence up (and down) the east coast of the continent, regardless of the time of the flight.

[Hart1eyHare]

Isn’t there a lot over the Rockies too.

[7salmonswimming]

Now that you mention it, yes. I did that route three times in the last 6 months, all red eye, all with worse turbulence than on previous flights. I do that route 3 or 4 times a year (couple of extra trips this year), and have done for years. I always take night flights, so I’m comparing apples to apples. Don’t know if it’s better during the day.

That said, in the last couple of years all of my JFK-LHR flights have been under 7 hours. Turbulent, but quick. The smoother rides have been longer. I wonder whether the gulf stream has been further north naturally these past couple of years, or whether airlines seek it out to ride its waves and save on fuel 🤷‍♀️

I should think might/day might well affect turbulence as there are weather differences when the sun sets.

[SwedishEdith]

We did have bumpy flight one October doing this. The captain warned about it and to keep seat belts on as he didn't want anyone breaking their necks. .

I watched Gravity and I remember it feeling quite "atmospheric".

[SwedishEdith]

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/norwegian-breaks-transatlantic-speed-record/

[MadisonAvenue]

I've done this journey a number of times, it's never been bad on the way out but there have been a few rather bumpy return flights!

The worst was one May. I'm usually fine with turbulence as everything carries on as normal but on this occasion the cabin service was suspended and the crew had to take their seats and put their belts on, even the entertainment system went off.

[Hart1eyHare]

“ surfing winds” brings me out in a cold sweat just thinking about it.😩

[notimagain]

There are a lot of variables involved in this so I’m not sure you can say Trans-Atlantic “red eye” flights are worse effected by turbulence than any others over the Atlantic...

The fundamentals are that there is generally a strong westerly jet stream at altitude over the Atlantic....it’s exact shape and position varies from day to day. You generally only find significant turbulence at the edges of the stream and/or where it bends if it does so...in a straight jet stream it can often be smooth in the “core”.

When it can get rough is if a flight is crossing a “jet”, which can happen more than once if the jet stream is bent or kinked... or if it is on a route along the edge.

[BritWifeinUSA]

Before I moved here I came back and forth to visit my now-husband over 40 times. It’s always just south of Greenland where it’s turbulent. But it’s nothing compared with flying over the desert with the thermals that rise up and shake the plane around.

[bettybattenburg]

I've done it a few times with no problem with even mild turbulence. The only time I've had bad turbulence is on the Oz to NZ route but that's the route I fly most often.

[MozzchopsThirty]

Yes me too OP
Last 2 times flying back from JFK have been horrendous.
On one occasion me & dd we're asleep in business, there was a huge bang as we hit turbulence and the plane was thrown around, we didn't speak, we just held hands

I'm going again next month and am dreading the flight home

[notimagain]

FWIW flew back from the States to Europe about 48 hours ago on a route that went across Southern Greenland..smooth as glass all the way..it really does depend on the weather and most importantly the shape and position of the North Atlantic Jetstreams(s) on the day.

The important thing for nervous flyers to be aware of is that even though the turbulence produced around the jetstreams can feel horrid, especially if it goes on for an extended period of time, aircraft these days are well capable of riding it out..

[AlwaysCheddar]

Never....

[Biscuitsdisappear]

If the turbulence is there then it is there. It doesn't make any difference which airport you leave from or what time of day of night.

[TheWordmeister]

We often fly back to London from JFK. We have had lots of turbulence in the first part of the flight, but nothing too bad. I had the worst turbulence ever on a flight into JFK once though.

I think you have just been unlucky.