Suni&Jay

We always land at 6.35AM into Brisbane. Always takes about a week to settle in. Especially the first few days , falling a sleep in the afternoon, waking up at 3/4am.

thebears

Did not suffer any - reason

We broke the trip down to at least 2 nights in each time change

1 week in Geneva/France
1 week in Naples/Amalfi coast Italy
2 nights in Dubai
10 nights Singapore/KL/Singapore (this is where we normally get it but the Dubai part helped alot).

Bella Donna

We left LHR 10:00 p.m. and flew to Sydney via Bangkok, arriving at 7:30 a.m. local time. Dh and dd (8) slept on second leg, I didn't. We used Helios' homoeopathic remedy for travellers, taking one pillule at each change of time zone. No jet lag at all.

Homoeopathic arnica is also good for combatting jet lag.

Sue

Bert'n'Stella

You're supposed to allow one day per HOUR of time difference, to recover. It's a bit quicker if you land here at night and then go straight to bed. If you land in the morning it is nay impossible to stay up all day till evening, and so takes longer to adjust.

S

Pollyana

I've only actually had jetlag once, that was the time I landed here in the morning, gave in and went to bed. Every other time I have forced myself to stay awake and get used to local times on the first day, and I've been fine.

cinderella

Take some Melatonin before you go to sleep for the first 2 nights, works a treat. You can buy it on Singapore Airlines.

The Muppets

I agree with Pollyanna the earlier you get into your new time the better it is. Only really affected us the first day we got here , good luck I am sure it will be fine

northerner

Blimey - 1 day per hour!!!!

As others have said, you need to get your body clock into sync as soon as you can - if you are weak (like pollyanna ) and give in to your natural will to go to sleep it may well take a while to get over it (still not convinced it could ever take 11 days though...).

Whenever we've gone to Oz or SE Asia we normally arrive first thing in the morning. What we do is 'allow' yourselves a couple of hours sleep when you arrive, but set the alarm, put it the other side of the room and force yourself up. Get out of your hotel/house and go do something. Go for a walk, go to the zoo - whatever. Stay up till 9/10pm and hit the hay.

Next morning no problems whatsoever - completely back into the swing of things.

It feels like the most unnatural thing in the world to stay awake when you are desperate for your bed, but in our experience you'll seriously regret it if you don't nip it in the bud and get your body clock right on the first day.

Graham

Poppy

We left Heathrow at night around 10pm, thought that would be great so that the kids would sleep, but from our experience, I wouldn't do that again as the kids were too excited to sleep , which meant we couldn't sleep either and we were beside ourselves!

We arrived in Sydney at around 6.30am and tried to stay awake, but felt physically sick with exhaustion and only lasted until 1pm and went to bed, what a mistake, as we knew it would be! we slept through until around 8pm, had something to eat and then slept again and woke up at 2am. I know it's our own fault, but we couldn't last and our jet lag lasted a week! Needless to say, we will be getting a morning flight when we do the big move at the end of October .

Different things work for different people, I'm sure a lot of people work well with night flights, especially childfree people who have been given a valium ! Which is what I did years ago when I went to Thailand and I slept through the lot which was perfect!

All the best.

Pollyana

Cheek! Like I said, I only did it once!! Regretted it for about 3 days afterwards!
When I fly north I really have quite a spectacular reaction - usually land about 5am, manage to stay awake till about 10pm and then I just fall over! Eyes shut, totally oblivious to the world, able to do nothing but crawl into bed! My sisters kids find it hilarious the way my brain just seems to close down. Next morning I'm fine!

Poppy

Hi Pollyanna

That wasn't directed at you as I hadn't read your post, that was just a personal view based on experience, it is good though and I would do it again, but unfortunately I don't think the other passengers would be too chuffed if we did it now and let the kids run riot whilst we got some in!!!! Shame, nevermind the youngest is 4, so there is time in the distant future when we can do it again!!

GinaUK

Just to second what others have said: I find if I can get my body straight into sync with local time, then I don't suffer jet lag.

When we flew to Perth we got an 11am flight to Singapore, which arrived around 7am local time (which according to my body clock was 11pm, so not too tired at that point - never managed to sleep on a plane).

Got connecting flight to Perth at 9.30am which landed in Perth at 2.30pm local time. Forced myself to stay up till about 8.30pm, slept for about 12 hours and woke up feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. No jet lag.

Gina

Pollyana

Hey, don't worry, I took it in the spirit you said it!!
I'm actually reading these posts about flying with kids from a new perspective now with my sister planning to bring hubby and kids for a holiday next year (fingers crossed) - he flies a lot in Eurpoe, but the rest of them are new to itand I've got to put a flight guide together for them
Worst one is going to be my nephew, who will be 14 - he will want to sit glued to the games the whole way, eyes on stalks as he fights sleep :scared:

Poppy

I think a morning flight would be good for them because maybe the novelty of the games will have worn off by night time and your nephew just might for a while! If they then arrive in Oz the evening, it won't be long before it's time for bed anyway and you and your sis can get some in which will help her sleep too!

Sorted!

I know, it's not that easy, if only it was!

geordie mandy

im hoping your theory works.
Me and hubby are flying to Melbourne in Oct, we set off at 8am from Geordie land and arrive in melbourne 8pm the next evening.
Im not a seasoned travellor and an anxious passenger. i just hope i wont get jet lag.
Mandy