Long Haul travel advice please

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Tree13

Tree13

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After many months of saving, Mrs. Tree and I are now able to plan a belated honeymoon. For various reasons, we are currently considering New Zealand in July 2017.

Longest flight I've ever done is to Antigua so I'm after a little advice...

1) Is it true that flying westwards causes less jet lag than eastwards? If so, are we better off flying to NZ via somewhere like Las Vegas or LA?

2) Anyone able to recommend a decent airline? I have heard that the likes of Qatar, Emirates, Thai, Singapore and Cathay Pacific are miles better than everyone else - is this true?

3) Given that there will need to be at least one stop on the way out and the way back, I wondered about doing each leg of the journey with a different airline just so we could experience a few different airlines -worth the extra hassle of booking separately, or not?

Thanks in advance for any opinions on the above!
 

Cathay Pacific is great. Not sure about the others...

I would only change airlines if they will transfer your luggage between flights for you... if you only have a few hours and have to wait at the baggage claim while in transit, then find the new check-in counter, line up, and re-check your bags, it's probably not worth it - unless you're planning for more than a few hours in transit. Also, if you book each leg with each airline separately (as opposed to all at once with something like Kayak.com) it will probably be much more expensive.

To avoid jet-lag, try to time your sleep in accordance with what time it is at your destination. When i fly to Asia from the US East Coast, the flight always leaves late at night US time and arrives early in the morning, Asia-Pacific time. So I stay awake on the plane as long as possible, and then time things so that I'm waking up where it's morning just as the plane arrives. Easier said than done...
 

Tree13 said:
After many months of saving, Mrs. Tree and I are now able to plan a belated honeymoon. For various reasons, we are currently considering New Zealand in July 2017.

Longest flight I've ever done is to Antigua so I'm after a little advice...

1) Is it true that flying westwards causes less jet lag than eastwards? If so, are we better off flying to NZ via somewhere like Las Vegas or LA?

2) Anyone able to recommend a decent airline? I have heard that the likes of Qatar, Emirates, Thai, Singapore and Cathay Pacific are miles better than everyone else - is this true?

3) Given that there will need to be at least one stop on the way out and the way back, I wondered about doing each leg of the journey with a different airline just so we could experience a few different airlines -worth the extra hassle of booking separately, or not?

Thanks in advance for any opinions on the above!
Click to expand...

I think you would find flying darn unda via the Middle East to be better in terms of jet lag.
My youngest went to NZ for her honeymoon and went via Dubai and Melbourne.
They went with Emirates and rated their overall service at very, very good.
Qatar are pretty good for long haul, have flown to Japan myself with them.
 

if you struggle to sleep on planes dont do an overnight flight, i did that once thinking i would sleep the whole way...arrived with no sleep and completely knackered, coupled with jetlag it ruined 1st few days...
 
Just make sure your wait in transit is as short as possible - this is (arguably) the worst bit about the journey. Singapore is a nice airport to go through.

Wouldn't bother about booking with different airlines, unless it's easier/cheaper to do so. I've only ever gone with Emirates and Singapore Airlines but both are good.
 
Go via Asia it will certainly help with jetlag. I have been to Thailand twice and Hong Kong and never got much jetlag at all. Been to USA east coast 3 times and each time got hammered with jetlag despite it being much closer to the UK. Regarding airlines I would use Cathay pacific if available as they were absolutely superb, Emirates came in a close second.
 
Tree13 said:
After many months of saving, Mrs. Tree and I are now able to plan a belated honeymoon. For various reasons, we are currently considering New Zealand in July 2017.

Longest flight I've ever done is to Antigua so I'm after a little advice...

1) Is it true that flying westwards causes less jet lag than eastwards? If so, are we better off flying to NZ via somewhere like Las Vegas or LA?

2) Anyone able to recommend a decent airline? I have heard that the likes of Qatar, Emirates, Thai, Singapore and Cathay Pacific are miles better than everyone else - is this true?

3) Given that there will need to be at least one stop on the way out and the way back, I wondered about doing each leg of the journey with a different airline just so we could experience a few different airlines -worth the extra hassle of booking separately, or not?

Thanks in advance for any opinions on the above!
Click to expand...

1) I don't think direction of flight matters as much as time zone differential. Lay off the caffeine and alcohol a few days before you go and travel well-rested if you can. Then switch to and stay on the local time as much as you're able.

2) I'd pick an airline that specializes in long haul flights, and know their codeshare partners. You don't want to buy a ticket through Cathay only to realize too late that your last leg is with Bungle Air.

3) I wouldn't switch airlines unless you have a reason for this. And unless you plan on spending a day in your layover, I'd pick the layover based on the quality of the terminal.

Have fun.
 

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