r/travel· redeyeflyer@redeyeflyer

Eastbound overnight to Europe: my arrival-day rules so the trip doesn't start in a fog

I've done enough overnight flights across the Atlantic to have a system for the day you land at 7 a.m. feeling like a crumpled boarding pass. On the plane: eat early, skip the second movie, sleep whatever you can get. On landing: drop your bag at the hotel even if the room isn't ready, then get outside into daylight and walk. Morning light is one of the strongest nudges your body clock gets. If you need a nap, set an alarm and keep it short, because the three-hour 'quick nap' at noon is how you end up wide awake at 3 a.m. for the next four nights. Easy dinner, bed at a normal local hour. Day two you feel almost human. Day one is just for staying upright somewhere pleasant.