Dealing with the flight to LA

[Tigerlily75]

Last time we flew to Los Angeles we had an evening flight, departing Sydney about 6.30pm. This worked perfectly, because it was dinner, a couple of movies, and some weird-plane-sleeping. We arrived in Los Angeles about 1pm (I think) and it all worked out perfectly, not too tired (very excited), spent the evening in Disneyland, went to bed, got up the next day good to go - zero jet lag.

This time we have a morning flight, departing Sydney at 9.50am. But we have to get there from Melbourne first - departing 6am. Which means getting to the airport at 4am (I just can't come later, despite this leg being domestic, I will stress). Which means leaving home at 2.30am.

My question is - would you bother going to bed, or just stay up, and hope to sleep on the plane? If I do go to bed, I'll probably have trouble falling asleep due to excitement, but maybe even a couple of hours is better than none.

My fear if I stay up is then not being able to sleep on the plane, and being awake 40+ hours.

Arrival in LA is 6.30am, so a very long time until bed time! And we have one day in LA with plans, before heading to NYC the next day (followed by Disneyland!).

 

[aussie shaz]

I've never had to leave that early for a flight, but even getting up at 4am for me is horrendous! We have started staying at the airport the night before.
In your case, I'd consider flying to Sydney the night before and staying at a hotel at the airport. I don't think either way will be comfortable at all. I know I wouldn't be able to sleep if I had to leave at 2.30am, but I also couldn't cope without sleep as I don't sleep on the plane.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Tigerlily75]

Thanks, flights are booked and can't be changed, but I might consider staying at the airport.

 

[aussie shaz]

We stay at the Parkroyal which is just across the walkway. You'd probably feel more comfortable about only checking in an hour ahead if you knew you were already there. I live about an hour from the airport, but usually make sure I leave about 4 hours before our international flight leaves, but only because I'm making sure I get there still if there's delays on the road. Being at the airport already you can take that out of the equation.

 

[BecBennett]

Who's flying? Any kids? If there are no kids then I would consider staying up all night. Make a bit of a party of it, double check your packing, have a few drinks, some awesome food from somewhere special, get excited. Sounds like fun really. Then fingers crossed there are no flight delays or other things that will mess you up with sleeping on the plane (I took some phenergan once to make sure I slept on the plane, fell asleep pretty much as soon as we boarded, unfortunately we couldn't get cleared for take off, I woke up two hours later, very well rested to find that we were still on the tarmac...)

However I also like the idea of staying at the airport.

 

[Tigerlily75]

LOL at the phenergan! I have to say I didn't really consider delays in my plan to stay up. I'm thinking now I'll try to get at least a couple of hours.

I am traveling with three teenagers, my daughter and her two best friends (16, 17, 17). It was their idea to stay up all night, and I think they are planning to that regardless of what I decide to do!

 

[zanzibar138]

I would definitely consider staying at an airport hotel. We've stayed at the Park Royal before too, which was awesome! There are lower budget options around though.

We have also done the whole 'stay up all night' before a long haul flight, and I definitely found it easier to sleep on the plane. If your body is tired enough, you will sleep.

Having said that, if you do somehow manage to stay awake the whole time and arrive in a zombie-like state, don't completely disregard the idea of having a nap. I know that everyone says it's better not to for jet lag, but if you're arriving first thing in the morning, you can be better off having a short nap that will get you through to a reasonable bed time, rather than trying to make it through without one and ending up crashing too early. If you're going to do it, do it as soon as you arrive at the hotel (don't think you'll see how you feel in the afternoon - that's what will mess with your overnight sleep pattern). Set several alarms to make sure you get up and get on with your day in 1 or 2 hours. We took a 2 hour nap when we first arrived in Anaheim the first time we went, and it worked perfectly. We were actually able to enjoy our first day, and were still able to get a good night's sleep that night and get straight into the new time zone.

 

[crazy Cat Lady]

I second the Park Royal. That way you get up a sensible time, you can check your bags and then if you have time pop back across for a nice breakfast before heading through security and on to your plane (think the melb - Syd leg is domestic correct?).

Personally, I love the flight you are on, but I sleep on the plane. I love the idea that I land in the USA with a full day ahead of me.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

I second Aussie Shaz and Zanzibar. I'd stay the night before at the airport. We can't sleep on the plane - your teens will probably crash. If they are committed to an "all night party" at that age though they won't change their mind as its all part of the excitement ... til they get too tired and get cranky then crash during the flight - lol! But we also have had 2 hr cat naps (and a 4 hour catnap on a very early arrival) after long flights before going out for several hours having fun. It refreshes us enough and then we just often go to bed a bit earlier than normal and sleep fine all night just waking up a bit earlier (partly depending on if we've flown to USA or Europe).

 

[PrincessInOz]

Another vote for staying at the airport the night before.

When I was a lot younger, I did stay up all night and got on a plane the next morning....flew to the US and stayed up all day. That's 2 days without sleep. I was completely out of it for a whole week! That's not a good way to start a vacay.

 

[AussieCaribou]

Another one for getting a room at the airport hotel.

I'm heading to LA with my 17 year old daughter in just over 20 days. We will sleep and then get to the airport for our 630 flight (yuck). We arrive in LA at 700am.

So, we sleep the night before, then go get breakfast at the airport. We change our watches to California time when we get on the plane. The first few hours (before dinner) we watch movies and read. After we eat, we 'sleep' until breakfast and arrival at LAX. It works okay.

 

[bswift]

I stayed at the Ciloms airport hotel before my 10:15am flight to LAX last year. I unintentionally only got about 2 or 3 hours sleep. I thought I'd be fine and sleep on the plane... nope. I think I slept for about 1 or 2 hours on the plane, on and off. Landed at LAX at 7am and was heading straight to DL. I was exhausted but made the most of it. I went back to my room in the afternoon and showered but didn't nap. When I finally did get to sleep that night, it was one of the best sleeps I'd ever had. I normally sleep okay on planes so I'm not really sure what happened that time

 

[Tashinwdw]

We did the 9.50 flight to LA in May and I could not sleep a wink, I had only 2 hours sleep the night before as I was so stressed about leaving 2 of our kids behind (first time) It was horrible, then when we landed we had to drive to Las Vegas, DH who did sleep a little on the plane ended up doing all the driving as I was wasted. I preferred the later flight that leaves in the afternoon, at least those times I dozed a little bit. I do envy ppl who can sleep on planes though.

 

[jacs1234]

I think I would stay at the airport AND try to get some sleep but if the girls are partying that will be a bit hard in a hotel room. Even a two hours sleep would be a help.

 

[viaggiamo]

I would stay at the airport too and try to have a few hours. We have had some shockers to the USA. I make the children sleep after the first two hours as we went once and DD did not sleep the whole way, then when we arrived it was early morning and we had to stay up. She was so sick with tiredness we had to sleep in the afternoon but I set the alarm after 3 hours. It was so difficult for any of us to get up again but I knew how bad it would be if we didn't.
I also ALWAYS book the hotel for the night before if we arrive in the morning so we can check straight in and sleep for a bit and shower etc. I highly recommend this when travelling with children and even though it adds another expense of an extra night, once you arrive it is well worth it. I do make note on our booking and email a few days before to remind them that we won't be there until the early morning so they don't sell the room as a no show.

 

[Tigerlily75]

Thanks everyone. I was all set to book Parkroyal which was coming up at only $279 for an early bird special, but no one wants to! The parents of the kids I'm taking are going to drive us instead (and they want to wave them off, since I'm taking them to the other side of the world!).

So I'll try to get a few hours sleep beforehand and then doze on the plane. I won't be driving at all that day and we'll play it by ear as to whether a nap (with alarm) will be needed or not.

 

[lffamDSon]

Being a teenager, I find that I never sleep on the way over (mostly due to excitement) but if you've got a fully planned first day, then I, personally would struggle. I crashed for a few hours in the hotel room and woke up around 4pm and then we went for food and then I was a little bit more perky. Hope that helps...

 

[BecBennett]

but if you're arriving first thing in the morning, you can be better off having a short nap that will get you through to a reasonable bed time

I agree with this, but keep in mind that if you arrive first thing in the morning, chances are you won't have anywhere to nap until after check in time, which is often late.

 

[zanzibar138]

I agree with this, but keep in mind that if you arrive first thing in the morning, chances are you won't have anywhere to nap until after check in time, which is often late.

I would consider booking a hotel for the night prior to arrival if there's any chance that they might want to nap. I've actually been really lucky in the US and have always been able to check in straight away, but you definitely can't count on it.

 

[lffam]

I would consider booking a hotel for the night prior to arrival if there's any chance that they might want to nap. I've actually been really lucky in the US and have always been able to check in straight away, but you definitely can't count on it.

+1 on that. 2 out of 3 times we have done this and the 1 time we didn't we really regretted it. For the cost of one extra night it is well worth it.