If you’re like most people, the idea of a red-eye flight conjures up images of a bleary-eyed, zombie-like traveller staggering through the airport. And while it’s true that red-eye flights can be exhausting, there are some things you can do to make the recovery process a little bit easier. In this blog post, we will discuss some red-eye flight tips that will help you get over jet lag quickly and start your vacation off on the right foot!
Naturally, it’s the time of the night when we prefer to be tucked up in bed. Instead of travelling with several other strangers on a long flight, some snore, others fidget, and those have no common courtesy of quiet time during a night flight.
On a red-eye flight, you will not get sustainable sleep, even if you have handy noise-reducing headphones that block most of the sounds around you.
Any sleep you do manage to get will be interrupted, and it won’t be enough to get you to get through a full day’s activities as your highly anticipated holiday begins in the perfect paradise.
Recovering from the red-eye travel is not a simple process. Only an uninterrupted nighttime sleep will cure those tired eyes and the middle of the day is not always the wisest suggestion to catch up on important sleep.
You don’t want to be wide-eyed during the middle of the night and ruin another day of your vacation. Therefore, below is a suggestion of a few red-eye flight tips I would be recommending to you when forced to take the flight.
It may help you get through to the following evening, where you’re bound to hit the mattress early, have a whole night’s sleep, and are ready for a holiday the next day.
You are looking at how to find cheap red-eye flights? Check out Skyscanner prices for your next holiday abroad.
Red-eye flight meaning
A red-eye flight is a late-night flight that arrives at its destination early in the morning. These flights are usually overnight and can be long, often lasting more than eight hours. Red-eye flights are typically cheaper than daytime flights, making them a popular choice for budget-minded travellers.
Red-eye flight Essentials
You can do a few things to make your red-eye flight more bearable. First, be sure to dress comfortably and in layers. You may want to bring a blanket or scarf to keep you warm, as the temperature on the plane can be pretty cool.
It’s also important to stay hydrated during your flight, so be sure to drink plenty of water. And lastly, be sure to bring snacks with you to keep your energy up.
Red-eye flight tips for when on the flight
Let’s begin with a few tips for during the flight. It may help ease the stress on your tiresome body.
Get some sleep before your flight.
Some shut-eye may seem obvious, but getting as much sleep as possible is essential before your red-eye flight. If you’re well-rested before you board the plane, you’ll be more likely to be able to get some rest on the flight.
Bring a neck pillow
A neck pillow can help you get comfortable and fall asleep on the plane. It’s also worth bringing a blanket or scarf to keep yourself warm, as red-eye flights can be pretty chilly.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Caffeine and alcohol will make it harder for you to sleep on the plane, so it’s best to avoid them before and during your flight. Instead, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Walk around the cabin.
Get up and walk around the cabin every few hours to keep your blood circulation going. Walking up and down the aisles will help you avoid stiffness and soreness during your flight.
Stretch your limbs
Stretching your muscles will also help you avoid stiffness and soreness during your flight. If you can’t walk around the cabin, do some simple stretches in your seat.
Eat light
Eating a heavy meal before or during your flight can make you feel sluggish, so it’s best to eat light. Stick to healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables, and avoid sugary or fatty foods.
Stay hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is essential for preventing jet lag. Bring an empty water bottle to the airport to fill it up before your flight.
Tips for the red-eye flight after landing
We have discussed tips while on the plane. Now let’s move on and talk about what you can do after you’ve landed to help you recover from your red-eye flight.
Get some sunlight
Get some sunlight to help reset your body’s clock as soon as you land. If it’s still dark out, sit near a window where you can get natural light.
Head straight to the hotel
Catching the red-eye flight, you will likely arrive at your destination by mid-morning, at the latest. That’ll leave a lot of time vacant in your weary day.
The first thing you should do is head straight to your pre-booked hotel. While the chances of an early check-in are slim, it never hurts to ask and never know; you may get lucky on the odd occasion.
At least you will be able to drop off your luggage and take them off your hands immediately to take away the extra heavy burden for a while.
Take a walk and stretch those legs.
You’ll be most buoyant upon first arriving at your destination, and it will be the moment that you have the most energy when desiring to learn about the area you’re holidaying.
It will be short-lived.
Take a walk around your area, and get familiar with the locations, such as bars and cafés, public transportation and possible future day trips that may present themselves to you. You may be ready to check in to your hotel and have a little relaxation time by completing your walk.
Have a small nap – But not too long now
Have a brief power nap but not too long because that will ruin it entirely for you where you can’t sleep at night.
A short one-hour nap in the afternoon will help reduce a little of your fatigue from the overnight flight the previous night.
Make sure you sleep at an appropriate time that night and travel-ready from the get-go the next day.
Don’t make any significant plans for day one – if you can help it
Plan your holiday wisely.
If you know that you are catching those dreaded overnight flights, don’t make any major plans on the first day because fatigue will set in come evening time, and it’s at those times the right decisions are usually not made.
Save any significant reunions, business plans and day trips for another day.
Here you can read about a disaster South Korean experience to see what can go wrong on the same day as a red-eye night flight.
Go to bed early – It’ll be worth it the next day.
Your body and mind will appreciate it, and so will your mind if you do the right thing by it from the beginning.
Go to bed at a reasonable hour, rejuvenate yourself and wake up feeling like a million dollars the following day.
It’s time to officially start your holiday, recovered from the dreaded red-eye flight.
Do you have any tips for recovering from a red-eye flight? Please share them in the comments below!
I hope these red-eye flight tips help you recover quickly from your next late-night flight! Safe travels! :)” />. If it’s still dark out, sit near a window where you can get natural light
Check out your red-eye deals and find cheap flights by clicking on the Skyscanner link.
Take Action. Do you catch the red-eye flight often? What do you do to recover from the dreaded flight?
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