Talk me out of taking the red eye home.

[phillmolly]

We are taking an Alaskan Cruise in August and I am getting ready to buy plane tickets. Right now I am leaning towards taking the red eye home. We would leave about 11:00 pm on the day we get off the boat and get home around 9:30 am the next day, we would have a two hour layover in Toronto at like six in the morning.

It is a significant savings, about $600, for the three of us, me, DH and DS 8. We would be able to hang out with my parents and sister in law's hotel rooms until it was time to go to the airport. My DH will need to go back to work on Wednesday. My son and I would have a few days to recover.

 

[prestoncaldwell]

DH goes back to work Wednesday.....What day of week do you arive home?

 

[anricat]

What's the alternative scenario? Taking an earlier flight home or flight the next morning? Just wondering which one is $600 more.

We decided to skip the red eye. Neither myself or my DD (also 8) sleep well on planes. We spent the night at the hotel in the airport (Fairmont) and took a 6:40 AM flight home. We're central time so getting up for the 6:40 flight actually put us back on central time schedule pretty much right away. It was actually pretty great.

Either way, enjoy the day in Vancouver. There's a service in the port terminal called CDS Baggage. For $40 (CAD) they will take up to 4 bags to the airport (for us, we told them we were going to the Fairmont and upon checking in, they were brought right to the room for us). We were able to sightsee without baggage.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Vancouver is a beautiful city to enjoy for the day! My DD and I often take red-eye flights home when returning from the west coast. While it's not for all, after a 'rough' day 1 back on EST, we find it easier to get over the jet lag as our bodies are tired earlier in the evening due to an abnormal sleep on the flight.

 

[Geomom]

We did the red-eye home. Did an all day excursion the day of debarkation. DD12 didn't do very well with the red-eye (felt sick to her stomach) as she couldn't get to sleep on the plane. DD16, DH, and I survived it fine. (None of us could sleep very well, but lack of sleep affected DD12 the most, as well as a little turbulence.) Once we got home everyone took afternoon naps. DH was able to go to work the next day without a problem. Kids had 2 weeks to get back into our time zone before school started up--so it was really just that 1 bad day. As the next day flights were at 6:30AM, we would have been getting up at 2:30AM anyway (likely not sleeping very well as you know you need to get up really early) to get ready and head to the airport--for us it was just better to fly overnight. Maybe if the next day flight was at 9AM or later we'd have done that...but I am a cheapskate...so depending on how much you're already spending, that $600 might be worth saving.

 

[bumbershoot]

don't do it.

Has your 8 year old ever been on a redeye? Can he sleep on a plane? My son has proven time and time again that sleeping is NOT something he does well on a plane (same with me but I keep my misery quiet) and he makes ME miserable every moment. He kicks and thrashes and moans and it's like he's a toddler again. Huge pain in the neck.

6am Toronto time will feel like what time to yoru bodies after west coast time for a week? (yes I can look it up but I bet you know off the top of your head) We had a layover in Newark last month at the equivalent of 3am to us, and it was rotten.


Your sure that booking flights 7 months out is the right thing?

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Neither myself or my DD (also 8) sleep well on planes.

As the next day flights were at 6:30AM, we would have been getting up at 2:30AM anyway (likely not sleeping very well as you know you need to get up really early)

Those are the key questions. What are your alternatives and can you sleep on a plane? That and how many days after you get home does your husband have to work?

If the alternative is a 6:30 AM flight that you have to get up at 2:30 AM for, to me, that is worse. But then, I sleep fine on planes (or anywhere else). Plus $600 sounds like a pretty good incentive.

 

[FigmentSpark]

What airline is it on? Also, does that airline have a habit of changing it's flights 3 months before you take them? Will they become earlier or later flights? How long a wait is your connection in Toronto? Also, make sure, at 6am that you aren't having to change terminals in Toronto.

You will be going through U.S. customs in Toronto, as well, so will you be able to navigate that while exhausted? Will your kids, or will they be whiny for the agents and possibly cause a red flag?

These are all things to consider for a red-eye flight.

 

[tigerchic89]

we did it after Alaska, it was a pretty miserable 24 hours.

 

[anricat]

As the next day flights were at 6:30AM, we would have been getting up at 2:30AM anyway

We had the 6:40 AM flight and we got up at 4 AM and made it down to the airport by 4:30, which is still over two hours early. And 4:30 is really 6:30 central time, which isn't so bad. Why would you get up at 2:30? That seems like way more time than one needs. We made it through customs and passport control with time enough to grab breakfast at the Burger King near our gate.

 

[phillmolly]

The cruise is Monday August 7th to Monday August 14th. Right now we are talking about me and DS flying in on the Thursday the 3rd with the rest of my family and spending a few days in Vancouver. DH would fly in either Friday the 4th, my preference, or Saturday the 5th depending on his work schedule. The flight there would leave Detroit about six and we would get to Vancouver around 11:30. My parents are renting a house for the time we will be there.

DS has never flown and its been about 10 years since I've been on a plane, and that was to Orlando. I've really never been on a plane longer than a few hours. We usually drive down south when ever we go out of town.

If we could I would drive to Vancouver, I'm not a good flyer and much rather be in my van and take what I want. I am super nervous about being limited to 2 bags.

DH will need to go back to work on Wednesday the 16th for sure.

 

[Geomom]

We had the 6:40 AM flight and we got up at 4 AM and made it down to the airport by 4:30, which is still over two hours early. And 4:30 is really 6:30 central time, which isn't so bad. Why would you get up at 2:30? That seems like way more time than one needs. We made it through customs and passport control with time enough to grab breakfast at the Burger King near our gate.

Being unfamiliar with international flights, we likely would have tried to get to the airport 3 hrs early to get through customs and security (that 1 time we almost cut it too close in Orlando and got to the gate as they were boarding the plane makes us get to airports extra early now...) We would have stayed in an off airport hotel to save money, so, say 1/2hr transportation--and if it's a free hotel shuttle, those might only be leaving at certain times. Then the time to shower, get dressed, pack the last minute things. Kids would've slept in clothes, so they'd have been fine and would sleep until we had to leave the room.

 

[MotherKnowsBest]

Are you coming from Detroit? I would just drive to the Toronto airport and then direct flight it to Vancouver. Westjet and Air Canada have a ton of direct options everyday. Then you would go through customs at the border crossing of Detroit/Windsor and not at the airport (which in Toronto can be a real pain). Plus only one flight for you to white knuckle it through.

 

[FigmentSpark]

West Jet has a flight home that will leave at 5:15pm and get to Toronto just after midnight. It's the same price as their overnight flight - $251 CAD each. At least you could grab a hotel for a little sleep.



The overnight on WestJet is this:


Is that the same one or does Delta have an earlier flight out of Toronto? (assuming this is the airline you're looking at )

 

[dtrain]

Red Eyes are the worst, they absolutely destroy my body and mind for days after. I'd forgo the savings to have normal travel times.

 

[darwinsrule]

We have Alaska booked on another line from Seattle in August. We won't do the red eye with the kids. DW and I have done them coming back from Vegas, and they do wipe you out for at least 24 to 48 hours. Our plan is to get back in to BUF late. We are looking at flights right now getting in around midnight - but after a week on the west coast that is only going to feel like 9 pm. Plan is to hit a hotel for the night with the kids on this end and then we will make the 2 hour drive back home to Toronto the next day. Lot easier to make the adjustment when we are home and can transition everyone over a couple of days.

 

[Shanti]

We are taking an Alaskan Cruise in August and I am getting ready to buy plane tickets. Right now I am leaning towards taking the red eye home. We would leave about 11:00 pm on the day we get off the boat and get home around 9:30 am the next day, we would have a two hour layover in Toronto at like six in the morning.

It is a significant savings, about $600, for the three of us, me, DH and DS 8. We would be able to hang out with my parents and sister in law's hotel rooms until it was time to go to the airport. My DH will need to go back to work on Wednesday. My son and I would have a few days to recover.

Don't take the red-eye if you can afford another option. It's a most unpleasant way to end a vacation. Since you're "not a good flyer" I especially recommend against it in your case.

If it's really all you can afford, then grin and bear it. But if you are just trying to save money despite being able to afford the more comfortable alternative, I definitely recommend the more expensive & comfortable alternative in this case.

 

[JW9DVC]

Since you have use of a hotel room. Might you be able to sleep a few hours before the flight? Not just a power nap. My kids have done the red eye flights from LAX to MCO many times. Arriving us at Orlando 6am. That's 3 am our time here in CA. We just took a nap later in the day of arrival and everything was fine the next day.

JW

 

[nycdisneygal]

Well we are doing it because there are hardly any direct flights. It was red eye or the other option was too early (wouldnt make it). I knew I would be tired even if I stayed overnight in a hotel and flew back home the next day-- this way I can nap at home
We have done overnight to europe with the older DD and it was fine....

 

[jvweston]

What we did last summer after an AK cruise was to stay in Vancouver for a few days at the Metropolitan. We then took a flight home on Westjet with a 23 hour layover in Toronto. That gave us enough time to drive to Niagara, stay the night and make it back in time for our flight to ATL. It sounds like you may not have enough time, but you may get creative with your layover and see something exciting and save a few bucks. I found the flight through skiplagged.