Plane Fatigue?

[Tengotodo 52]

Not quite fair from my perspective to ask this question, but I think it still applies to all travelers. What do you prefer? straight, non-stop direct flight from A to B (with no beverage service, drink or dinner service), where you arrive fresh and read to go. Or.... do you prefer a layover inbetween loooong flights so as to wash up, shave, exercise a bit, walk around, etc...

 

I only ask this question because recently I had the opportunity to expereince both. To me, it depends on the length of the lay over. Give me 2-3 hours to walk arouind, buy shit, etcc.. After that, I spend too much time in the bar buying $10 rum and cokes.

 

Bottom line.. Do you like to spend time between flights walking the airport and shopping duty-free? Or do you hate waiting and it's the worst part of the trip?

 

I wanted to make this a poll but lost track of my thoughts. (duh). Just indicate if you prefer non-stop or layover. thanks.

 

-Pat

Edited January 26, 2007 by Tengotodo

[too_mutt 10]

Layover. Have a chance to stretch your legs and get some fresh air for a few hours.

 

Regards

[gentlemangeoff 16]

Not quite fair from my perspective to ask this question, but I think it still applies to all travelers. What do you prefer? straight, non-stop direct flight from A to B (with no beverage service, drink or dinner service), where you arrive fresh and read to go. Or.... do you prefer a layover inbetween loooong flights so as to wash up, shave, exercise a bit, walk around, etc...

 

I only ask this question because recently I had the opportunity to expereince both. To me, it depends on the length of the lay over. Give me 2-3 hours to walk arouind, buy shit, etcc.. After that, I spend too much time in the bar buying $10 rum and cokes.

 

Bottom line.. Do you like to spend time between flights walking the airport and shopping duty-free? Or do you hate waiting and it's the worst part of the trip?

 

I wanted to make this a poll but lost track of my thoughts. (duh). Just indicate if you prefer non-stop or layover. thanks.

 

-Pat

 

 

I infinitely prefer a direct flight and am willing to pay extra, suffer worse service etc. in order to get to my destination a.s.a.p.

 

For me there is very limited attraction in browsing duty-free shops in airports and purchasing warm beer at 3 times the price I would pay for it at home. I also doubt that layovers are particularly relaxing in any case.

 

Just my point of view. I accept that others will hold a contrary view. Up to you.

[Owl_ 0]

The airline I fly to Asia is Cathay Pacific, so I fly to Hong Kong first with a few hours lay over before my flight to Bangkok. So I guess my answer would be layover!

 

The flight I take leaves San Francisco around midnight so I will be up a little bit eat something and then sleep most of the way until an hour or two before landing where we are served breakfast. I like walking around Hong Kong airport since it such a nice airport and check it out for anything I haven't seen since my l;ast trip. I then board my flight to Bangkok and arrive at around around 11.00 am get thought customs and get picked up by my driver and away we go to Pattaya!

[Rex7777 0]

I've tried it both ways and have to say I don't really mind a short layover in a place like Tokyo.

 

Rex

[Bullfrog 2,224]

There is nothing so overated as a bad blowjob and nothing so underated as a good shit!!

 

So I always go for a flight with a couple of hours stop over to have a good relaxing crap in a shitter with room. This is then followed by a good shower ( I always fly business) and a few free half pints of port on ice!!!

[wacmedia 277]

Hi,

 

Always like direct flight, but am a non smoker and a break may suit some people. Qatar were offering a good deal from LON recently £331 but with a 7 hr stopover in Doha on the way back. That is a good deal if you dont mind the stopover.

[MrMango 665]

(with no beverage service, drink or dinner service),

I have never taken a long flight without food and booze service.

[Feileacan 32]

I prefer to go direct. When I say direct I mean direct from Heathrow to Bangkok. I am not including the short flight from Ireland to UK.

Stopping half way is irritating and find myself wandering about the airport waiting to get back on the plane or sitting next to the boarding gate until it opens. I prefer not to drink on the plane or at a stopover either. The onjly time I book a flight with a stopover is if the direct flights are too expensive, like flight last month

[meatball 0]

I prefer to go direct. The sooner I get to LOS the better. The first time i went I went via Dubai and the 3 hours there were very long. Now i just take Thai airways direct. The free drink helps and then its off to sleep for about 5 hours.

[probe 11]

Because of my location (Midwest U.S.) I have no choice. A 2 or 3 hour layover isn't bad for stretching and people watching, depending on where it is. I enjoyed the layover at Nakita my last trip.

[Eneukman 1]

As there are no direct flights between Thailand and Scotland, I have no option to have a stop over, be it Heathrow or Amsterdam etc. From there, I want to fly direct. The BA flight arrives in Bangkok shortly before 4.00 pm, which is an ideal time as by the time I get back to my condo I will be able to go out on the prowl if I so desire in the evening.

 

Alan

[don_dadda 0]

I would rather tough it out. Took a trip from O'hare to Narita once...non stop..it was murder, but I would rather do that than sit around an airport for 4-5hrs

 

 

on the other hand I have a nose for booze so if I have longer than an hour I usually make it to the local watering hole with no problems...and it makes the rest of the trip alot shorter

[rascall 130]

I have never flown to BKK from LHR with a stop over. Have always gone direct with Thai or Eva. Getting to the LOS never seems a problem, but the journey back is always painfully long to me. This year, for the first time, I am goinf to have a stop over. I am flying with Qatar via Doaha and have a little bit of time to stretch and get some fresh air.

 

I have never flown with Qatar before so fingers crossed.

[bigone 0]

i am flying qatar for the first time next week not direct

but i only paid 374 all in only problem long stopover in doha

on my past trips i was with eva but they wanted crazy money this time

[Big_Brian 179]

My flight is London-Bangkok (11-12 hours direct), my first few had short hops to the continent, then a long trip to Bangkok or a long leg to Singapore, then a short hop to Bangkok. Those have all the disadvantages of a layover AND of a direct flight.

 

Later on I went direct, which was faster, but being cooped up in a small seat was very tiring.

 

Last trip I went with Etihad via Abu Dhabi, so I had a 2-3 hour layover both ways. It was MUCH better IMO, especially because Abu Dhabi is such a small airport - the time could be used, not just spent getting to the next gate. I've booked the same again.

[TheFiend 1,181]

I go for the Emirates otion, don't mind the 3 hour break in Dubai, gives me an opportunity to stretch my legs. Did the KLM non-stop from Amsterdam once, never again!

[Owen` 2]

A lot of this depends on duration, time of day and class.

 

I have spent a career on airplanes. Overseas stuff is all long so duration is a common denominator.

 

The two other items are crushing. If you are coming from the US and live anywhere other than a debarkation city, you have a couple of hours just to get to that city, and layover there. This is means . . . call it an hour to your home airport, 30 mins waiting to board, depart and get to the debarkation city. Total so far since you woke up, maybe 4 hrs. The domestic flights don't have flat first class seats so you won't sleep.

 

The next leg is California to Japan or Taiwan or Hong Kong. It's 11-13 hrs. Plus the hour on the ground at the debarkation city. Total since you woke up, perhaps 16 hrs.

 

The key at this point is did you get first or business. If not, you sat upright. And you're getting tired.

 

From there, an hour on the ground at Narita or HK or Taipei and then off you go for another 6-7 hour flight to BKK. Total up to 23ish hrs. Then 2 hrs to deplane, traverse customs and get driven to Pattaya and it's 25ish hours door to door.

 

If you can get Business or First you have the flat seats and can sleep. If not, you can't. Simple as that. If you can't get Biz or First (and sometimes you can't because they are full), the whole thing is brutal.

 

So mark me down like so. If you're gonna be in Coach, get the non stop (if you can). If Bizness, no reason not to stop and see something other than the inside of the cabin.

Edited January 28, 2007 by Owen`

[don_dadda 0]

I go for the Emirates otion, don't mind the 3 hour break in Dubai, gives me an opportunity to stretch my legs. Did the KLM non-stop from Amsterdam once, never again!

The airport in Dubai has the largest duty free store I have ever seen

[Bullfrog 2,224]

The airport in Dubai has the largest duty free store I have ever seen

 

 

Yeh..but too many gold shops for the TW to check out!!

[don_dadda 0]

Yeh..but too many gold shops for the TW to check out!!

I really dont remember any gold shops..but then again I only had 30min on the ground so I didnt have a chance to really look

[growler 0]

Disregarding short flight from Ireland I prefer to go direct. Last 5 or 6 I have gone elite class with Eva from London. 38" seat pitch makes the journey far less demanding. Next trip I am going through Amsterdam. They still use 747's on this route so I am looking forward even more to Evergreen De Luxe. Same 38" seat pitch but wider seats and space at the back to watch the world go by.

[alexist 12]

I find it difficult to sleep on planes, so this year I'm gonna break up the flight by going Emirates. On the

 

way out' its only a 3 hour stop over which isn't really that long. It may sound strange but I think I will be

 

able to cope better with two 7 hour flights than one of 11. On the way home I'm thinking of treating myself

 

to a couple of days in Dubai cos I've heard so much about the place.

[BigDUSA 71]

There is nothing so overated as a bad blowjob and nothing so underated as a good shit!!

 

So I always go for a flight with a couple of hours stop over to have a good relaxing crap in a shitter with room. This is then followed by a good shower ( I always fly business) and a few free half pints of port on ice!!!

 

I agree, I've done both and like the 2 hour layover in NRT. I get free access to UA Red Carpet Club where the drinks are FREE (cheap Charley lubs FREE drinks). I have the time to grab some quality toilet time and the chance to smoke a few.

[blink 2]

Ive done both 12 hr direct & Stopover flights to various places round the world & have to say it suits me best if going to LOS from UK to have a stopover.

 

I like to be able to stretch my legs & get off the aircraft for a while. This option is normally also a little cheaper.

However if the stopover is much more than 3hrs i would have severe reservations unless a hotel room was provided.

 

 

Its very much horses for courses & what suits you best though. A mate of mine much prefers direct flights.