Flight time advice going east to west

[KGmomoftwins]

Morning! My family is heading to Vancouver in august. We have not flown in forever and our DDs 9 have never gone west. We have 2 choices in flight time from our NY airport of choice on Saturday before the cruise. Which one would be best to adjust to our new time? Thanks!

6:30am connects in Chicago lands in Vancouver 11:30am local time. This would require a 3am wake up call to drive a little over an hour to the airport.

4:00pm connects in Denver lands in Vancouver 9:10pm local time. This would require leaving home around 1pm.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Do the later flight. They will pass out when you get to your hotel straight away.

The 3am wakeup means they will also pass out at your hotel on arrival. But you will struggle to keep them awake for dinner.

Of course if you have any concerns about the flights take the earlier. More time to reroute.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Morning! My family is heading to Vancouver in august. We have not flown in forever and our DDs 9 have never gone west. We have 2 choices in flight time from our NY airport of choice on Saturday before the cruise. Which one would be best to adjust to our new time? Thanks!

6:30am connects in Chicago lands in Vancouver 11:30am local time. This would require a 3am wake up call to drive a little over an hour to the airport.

4:00pm connects in Denver lands in Vancouver 9:10pm local time. This would require leaving home around 1pm.

Where are you starting exactly? If you're somewhere in Connecticut, Air Canada runs a direct flight from Boston to Vancouver and they're priced INSANELY well right now. If it would only be an extra hour drive, I'd take that tradeoff for the direct flight.

But yes, I'd do the later flight and then stay at the Fairmont inside the Vancouver airport so you can pass out as soon as you land.

 

[lovingeire]

So we're in a similar boat, although mine have gone east to west before. (BWI to LAX previously, although that's direct). To go to Vancouver we chose the early flight connecting through Chicago. (Our options were to connect through Chicago or Toronto.) We are staying at a park and fly hotel the night before by the airport as we live two hours from the airport. Kids will sleep on the plane for a little bit to be honest. I didn't want to land with it being midnight Eastern time since our bodies still be on Eastern time. My plan is to do some walking around Stanley Park once we get checked in to the hotel in Vancouver so our body clocks can adjust a bit. Then we'll do an early dinner and get some rest before getting ready to board the next day.

ETA: how old are your kids, because that might figure into things too. Mine are 8 & almost 12 so I know they can handle it. They did pretty well when we went to LA to see family. But I also grew up with a dad who made us keep the hours of the place we flew into every time we traveled growing up. He said it helped our body clocks adapt and I've kept it up my whole life so I guess this is no different!

 

[KGmomoftwins]

Where are you starting exactly? If you're somewhere in Connecticut, Air Canada runs a direct flight from Boston to Vancouver and they're priced INSANELY well right now. If it would only be an extra hour drive, I'd take that tradeoff for the direct flight.

But yes, I'd do the later flight and then stay at the Fairmont inside the Vancouver airport so you can pass out as soon as you land.

Are home airport is Syracuse NY and that’s a little over an hour for us. To go to any of the NYC or Newark is over a 3 hour drive and DH is a country boy. I’ve driven myself to Newark in the past but I don’t think it’s worth it with everyone in tow plus flight cost is the same so not saving any money.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Are home airport is Syracuse NY and that’s a little over an hour for us. To go to any of the NYC or Newark is over a 3 hour drive and DH is a country boy. I’ve driven myself to Newark in the past but I don’t think it’s worth it with everyone in tow plus flight cost is the same so not saving any money.

Hm... Did you check Toronto?

 

[KGmomoftwins]

So we're in a similar boat, although mine have gone east to west before. (BWI to LAX previously, although that's direct). To go to Vancouver we chose the early flight connecting through Chicago. (Our options were to connect through Chicago or Toronto.) We are staying at a park and fly hotel the night before by the airport as we live two hours from the airport. Kids will sleep on the plane for a little bit to be honest. I didn't want to land with it being midnight Eastern time since our bodies still be on Eastern time. My plan is to do some walking around Stanley Park once we get checked in to the hotel in Vancouver so our body clocks can adjust a bit. Then we'll do an early dinner and get some rest before getting ready to board the next day.

ETA: how old are your kids, because that might figure into things too. Mine are 8 & almost 12 so I know they can handle it. They did pretty well when we went to LA to see family. But I also grew up with a dad who made us keep the hours of the place we flew into every time we traveled growing up. He said it helped our body clocks adapt and I've kept it up my whole life so I guess this is no different!

They will be 2 days away from turning 10 and no telling how they will handle it either flight lol. We flew once 6:30 out of Orlando once when they were 5 and one was miserable one fine another time coming home from a cruise we flew the later flight same thing only it was the opposite kid lol. So I’m thinking go with whatever makes hubby less grump?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

ETA: how old are your kids, because that might figure into things too. Mine are 8 & almost 12 so I know they can handle it. They did pretty well when we went to LA to see family. But I also grew up with a dad who made us keep the hours of the place we flew into every time we traveled growing up. He said it helped our body clocks adapt and I've kept it up my whole life so I guess this is no different!

I think the horrors of flying with littles are overstated. We've done Boston to Honolulu direct (11 hours) twice with kids 7, 4, and 2 on the most recent trip, and 5, 2, and 8 months pregnant on the trip before. For us at least, all of the hassle of flying with kids takes place in the packing, parking, hauling bags, and boarding, but all of that headache is the same whether you're flying 2 hours or 10 hours.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

I’d take the later flight. We flew NYC to Vancouver when DS was 8. Get in later in the day, get to bed, and wake up feeling good!

 

[Travel60]

I'd take the earlier. The way flights are going these days you have a good chance of cancellation. My DD &SIL fly out of Syracuse and being a smaller airport, they seem to cancel/delay with regularity. Earlier means you have time to react.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Take the early flight. You have Plan A but need a Plan B.

 

[lovingeire]

I think the horrors of flying with littles are overstated. We've done Boston to Honolulu direct (11 hours) twice with kids 7, 4, and 2 on the most recent trip, and 5, 2, and 8 months pregnant on the trip before. For us at least, all of the hassle of flying with kids takes place in the packing, parking, hauling bags, and boarding, but all of that headache is the same whether you're flying 2 hours or 10 hours.

So true! Even at 8 and almost 12 my kids will have snack bags, shows downloaded on their tablets and I always pack a few surprises in my carry-on to give them when the boredom really hits. They're pretty good travelers, but I've learned it's all about appeasing them for the hours in the air and the airport!

So I’m thinking go with whatever makes hubby less grump?

This sounds like a good plan to me. We're up early for school and work normally so early isn't horrible, although none of us are necessarily morning people...we just get up out of necessity. I know it's hard to choose!

 

[KGmomoftwins]

So true! Even at 8 and almost 12 my kids will have snack bags, shows downloaded on their tablets and I always pack a few surprises in my carry-on to give them when the boredom really hits. They're pretty good travelers, but I've learned it's all about appeasing them for the hours in the air and the airport!


This sounds like a good plan to me. We're up early for school and work normally so early isn't horrible, although none of us are necessarily morning people...we just get up out of necessity. I know it's hard to choose!

That’s what hubby says we are up at 5 and girls at 5:30. I guess he’s right (don’t tell him I admitted it) but I was also thinking if we took the later flight we could drop puppy off that Saturday morning vs Friday night. I do worry about getting stuck in Denver with the later flight like one of the posters said didn’t think about that!

 

[TPgal]

West coast gal here, I'm going to throw out an opposite opinion, as I am risk averse. I would always opt for the earlier flight - that way if ANYTHING goes wrong you've got time to adjust during the travel day. Getting up at 3 is very much not ideal, but put those kids to bed in their travel clothes and wake them up right before you leave the house. Bring something cozy for them to wrap up in on the flight and maybe the sleep faery will shine on you. When you get to Vancouver you can have a GIANT lunch, then take a nap (with an alarm clock), get up at west coast dinner time to go for a walk and a late dinner. Vancouver is so very beautiful and really walkable.

Getting in at 9:30 pm means the only food options at the hotel or in the areas will be hard to find or targeted for adults, and if your kids are like my kid - food is life. You could eat at the Vancouver airport, but even then options will be limited and if you're flying from a US city to Vancouver you've got to go thru customs. (Canada customs is super efficient, but it won't be fun when your body clock says it's 12:30am.)

Enjoy your trip!

Edit to add: In August, the sunset is at 9:40 or so, so there will be PLENTY of light clues to help those kids on that late walk. Plus, Vancouver has ice cream, and I'm never above a bribe.

 

[lklgoodman]

I'd take the earlier. The way flights are going these days you have a good chance of cancellation. My DD &SIL fly out of Syracuse and being a smaller airport, they seem to cancel/delay with regularity. Earlier means you have time to react.

I was going to say the same. If your cruise is the following day, take the earlier flight. We had an Alaska cruise 2014. We flew out the day before our cruise. Our flight was suppose to leave around 6am. We live about an hour from the airport so we had to get up around 3am also. Our flight got canceled right before boarding. Couldn't get on another flight for several hrs. Missed our connection in MN. Had to wait hours again for another flight. We orginally were suppose to get to Vancouver around noon. Ended up not getting there until after midnight. My dd was 6 yrs old and hadn't flown before. Thankfully she slept some on the flight. We were cruising with extended family who had all flown to Vancouver from different parts of the US. We had all planned on touring the city together, but because we arrived so late, we missed out. We are doing another Alaska cruise summer of 2023 out of Seattle on NCL. We're considering flying out 2 days ahead of the cruise this time.

 

[TPgal]

I was going to say the same. If your cruise is the following day, take the earlier flight. We had an Alaska cruise 2014. We flew out the day before our cruise. Our flight was suppose to leave around 6am. We live about an hour from the airport so we had to get up around 3am also. Our flight got canceled right before boarding. Couldn't get on another flight for several hrs. Missed our connection in MN. Had to wait hours again for another flight. We orginally were suppose to get to Vancouver around noon. Ended up not getting there until after midnight. My dd was 6 yrs old and hadn't flown before. Thankfully she slept some on the flight. We were cruising with extended family who had all flown to Vancouver from different parts of the US. We had all planned on touring the city together, but because we arrived so late, we missed out. We are doing another Alaska cruise summer of 2023 out of Seattle on NCL. We're considering flying out 2 days ahead of the cruise this time.

A) that trip sounds horrible, but I'm very glad you made it.
B) As a Seattle based person, if you can come a day or more ahead I recommend it. There are some lovely things to do in Seattle and the late summer/early fall weather is amazing. NCL lets you book "excursions" in the departure city if you want a guided event.

 

[KGmomoftwins]

West coast gal here, I'm going to throw out an opposite opinion, as I am risk averse. I would always opt for the earlier flight - that way if ANYTHING goes wrong you've got time to adjust during the travel day. Getting up at 3 is very much not ideal, but put those kids to bed in their travel clothes and wake them up right before you leave the house. Bring something cozy for them to wrap up in on the flight and maybe the sleep faery will shine on you. When you get to Vancouver you can have a GIANT lunch, then take a nap (with an alarm clock), get up at west coast dinner time to go for a walk and a late dinner. Vancouver is so very beautiful and really walkable.

Getting in at 9:30 pm means the only food options at the hotel or in the areas will be hard to find or targeted for adults, and if your kids are like my kid - food is life. You could eat at the Vancouver airport, but even then options will be limited and if you're flying from a US city to Vancouver you've got to go thru customs. (Canada customs is super efficient, but it won't be fun when your body clock says it's 12:30am.)

Enjoy your trip!

Edit to add: In August, the sunset is at 9:40 or so, so there will be PLENTY of light clues to help those kids on that late walk. Plus, Vancouver has ice cream, and I'm never above a bribe.

Thank you didn’t think about food situation. Girls and hubby are all very food and ice cream motivated!

 

[KGmomoftwins]

I was going to say the same. If your cruise is the following day, take the earlier flight. We had an Alaska cruise 2014. We flew out the day before our cruise. Our flight was suppose to leave around 6am. We live about an hour from the airport so we had to get up around 3am also. Our flight got canceled right before boarding. Couldn't get on another flight for several hrs. Missed our connection in MN. Had to wait hours again for another flight. We orginally were suppose to get to Vancouver around noon. Ended up not getting there until after midnight. My dd was 6 yrs old and hadn't flown before. Thankfully she slept some on the flight. We were cruising with extended family who had all flown to Vancouver from different parts of the US. We had all planned on touring the city together, but because we arrived so late, we missed out. We are doing another Alaska cruise summer of 2023 out of Seattle on NCL. We're considering flying out 2 days ahead of the cruise this time.

That’s terrible! Hopefully 2023 will be smoother! This would be for 2 days before the cruise.

 

[Kwami]

I'd take the earlier. The way flights are going these days you have a good chance of cancellation. My DD &SIL fly out of Syracuse and being a smaller airport, they seem to cancel/delay with regularity. Earlier means you have time to react.

Or, if you have the budget for it, take the later flight and go an extra day early. Enjoy a day in Vancouver if all goes well.

 

[lilsonicfan]

We fly out of Vancouver and the options are never great, similar to yours it's either leaving super early or arriving super late, made worse by the time change in the 'wrong' direction.

My suggestion for either flight is to look at what food options you can get by Uber Eats or similar at that late time of day and make a tentative plan ahead of time. We landed in NOLA at 10:20pm or so and after a long day of travel, didn't want to venture to any restaurants so instead we got delivery food by Uber ... It was probably way overpriced but sometimes you have to pay to save your sanity. At least at age 9/10 they are easier to reason with than at toddler age!