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Travel

14hr flight

(49 Posts)
Cath9 Fri 26-Dec-25 20:07:12

Hi again.
You are all SO helpful although this query maybe more difficult
If anyone has taken the 14hr return flight from Singapore to London how long did it take to feel better after the jet lag?
I have added this to a reply message also but decided to send a separate message.
I am in my late 70s so need as much information as possible

Etoile2701 Tue 30-Dec-25 18:15:47

19 years ago I spent a short while in Sydney and it took me a year to recover from the jet lag.

Elsi Tue 30-Dec-25 18:28:34

How old are you.thats an horrendous ly long time

SunnySusie Tue 30-Dec-25 20:12:09

I use melatonin for jet lag and it works for me. I dont take it on the plane, just when I get home. I try to get a flight arriving late afternoon, get home early evening, have a light snack, take the pill and go to bed. Often I sleep until morning and then go straight outside into daylight for at least an hour. Second night bed at the normal time with the melatonin, morning daylight again. After three nights I stop taking it. Not sure you can buy it in the UK. My son brings it over from the U.S. for me. You can buy it in all the health food shops over there.

Mojack26 Tue 30-Dec-25 20:13:13

I did it and felt fine then had another 8 hrs to Brisbane. Changi airport is fab but huge, Make sure you request assistance prior to going if you need it as airport is massive. I never manage to get any decent sleep but if you can try maybe even take a mild sleeping tablet. I flew with Singapore Airlines, has to be in top 3! Good luck

win Tue 30-Dec-25 21:02:24

If you avoid eating and drinking alcohol completely and definitely no screen time you should be OK. My nephew is the entrepreneur of the Timeshifter App. read his advise and he guarantees you will not have jet lag. It is supported by most major airlines. www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.timeshifter.com/&ved=2ahUKEwjm08O6muaRAxUJUUEAHc1QMAEQFnoECA0QAQ&usg=AOvVaw1vJhwfyNkr-xJN0aq7MeJq

Juicylucy Wed 31-Dec-25 00:51:19

I have done this flight 4 times now and the jet lag coming back to UK is tough. It took me 4-5 days each time to feel normal again. I’d crawl up to bed around 8pm every night and awake at 3am. Nothing I took or did worked so I just went with it and factored it in to my return. I classed it as worth it to see my DD and GC

Etoile2701 Wed 31-Dec-25 12:06:05

I was in my fifties. Older now.

Goldieoldie15 Wed 31-Dec-25 12:26:13

fly business

Allira Wed 31-Dec-25 12:28:36

win

If you avoid eating and drinking alcohol completely and definitely no screen time you should be OK. My nephew is the entrepreneur of the Timeshifter App. read his advise and he guarantees you will not have jet lag. It is supported by most major airlines. www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.timeshifter.com/&ved=2ahUKEwjm08O6muaRAxUJUUEAHc1QMAEQFnoECA0QAQ&usg=AOvVaw1vJhwfyNkr-xJN0aq7MeJq

What is the science between not eating for the duration of the long flight?

It's not always possible to eat at the departure airport, transit might be too short to get a meal, goodness when you might get to your destination.
Due to a complete mix-up by the airline, my DD was left without food for a very long time and felt ill as a result.

Allira Wed 31-Dec-25 12:29:24

between
Not between - behind.

Cath9 Wed 31-Dec-25 17:04:40

Allira, at first I thought you were correcting my bad English!
No matter how you wrote it, my upmost thanks to all.
I will look up what you added.
I will admit I am dreading the return flight of 14hrs which will be the day after the longish flight from Auckland to Singapore. Also I will have to sort out a taxi to bring me back from Heathrow which will add nearly 3 hrs.

Allira Wed 31-Dec-25 17:11:43

Cath9

Allira, at first I thought you were correcting my bad English!
No matter how you wrote it, my upmost thanks to all.
I will look up what you added.
I will admit I am dreading the return flight of 14hrs which will be the day after the longish flight from Auckland to Singapore. Also I will have to sort out a taxi to bring me back from Heathrow which will add nearly 3 hrs.

No, it's me trying to type with a stylus then autocorrect takes charge and changes what I thought I said!

At least you are booking a taxi, make sure it's a reliable firm you know.
We've used National Express and once it broke down, the replacement didn't go as far as our town but they then provided a taxi, the driver had only been in the UK for a week and didn't know where he was going.

Eil4 Wed 31-Dec-25 19:12:08

Try Nytol before your journey if you’re planning to use it. It gave me restless leg syndrome- a common side effect apparently- the worst flight ever even though I had a bed!!

Celeste22 Wed 31-Dec-25 22:32:09

Goldioldie
I agree. Fly Business. We're off to Singapore in march, flying Business class, via Edinburgh &LHR . Our journey to Japan two years ago was so much more comfortable being able to relax and doze or sleep in between being offered tasty meals, snacks and drinks etc. Before retirement we flew in economy but I felt I couldn't do any more long haul like that.
We did not come from wealth but we've been careful through the years and been able to help our two DC get on the property ladder and we help with the DGC. With their encouragement, in our 70s it's now "our turn" to make life easier. Business class is, yes, expensive, but the journey itself was a pleasure, not a thing to be endured to arrive at a destination.
The tax man will take when we "go" and we never know when that will be so we're enjoying the fruits of our labour now while we can.
If you can manage, even one way, it'll be well worth it.

Cath9 Fri 06-Feb-26 07:48:43

Well, next week I will have to take the 14 hr return flight after a 10hr flight from Auckland to Singapore.
No matter how I feel on arrival back in the uk it has all been a fantastic experience.
I went on a 11 day great cruise up the east side of Australia to the Barrier Reef which I snorted over.
After the cruise I flew to Auckland from Sydney. My son met me in Auckland and drove me back to his house in the Bay of Plenty where he has been spoiling me with some fantastic walks over wobbly bridges, across rapids, visiting gardens etc and a swim in a lake, a river and of course the sea.

TerriBull Fri 06-Feb-26 07:59:44

I did the London to Singapore flight years ago, it took much longer than it was supposed to due to an unscheduled stop in Bahrain. Subsequently missed connecting flight down to Australia. However did give us the opportunity to hang round Changi airport, which will always remain the most impressive I've ever visited. I do remember it took me several days to recover from hours of flying once we arrived in Australia.

Ladyleftfieldlover Fri 06-Feb-26 08:09:23

I’ve done the 14 hour leg from Singapore a few times - the last time was a year ago. I don’t really sleep on planes so by the time I get home I am exhausted. It’s never taken more than a few days to get back to normal.

NanaTuesday Mon 09-Feb-26 15:03:25

I will be doing that Auckland - Singapore- LHR mid March .
It’s the jet lag re time differences on the return that I know will affect me & my travelling companions. I am also in the same age range as yourself .

Cath9 Mon 09-Feb-26 19:10:32

I can’t say think of me on Sunday in the air from 9.30 NZ time as you will be sleeping during most of my flights!
I will take a short flight from Tauranga to Auckland then the 10hr flight that leaves at 15hr.15 NZ time from Auckland to Singapore where I will have a short night at a hotel before the final flight that arrives 5.50 at Heathrow which will be 6 pm what I have been used to in NZ,. Hopefully, I will be ready for a sleep when I eventually get back to the house and hope to recover quickly as I am off again on March 13th but this time only for 10days to Gran Canary so not a long flight.

Basgetti Mon 09-Feb-26 22:45:06

Whenever I’ve had to take a long haul, I’ve tried not to sleep the previous night. Works well for me.

HomeAgain123 Tue 10-Feb-26 05:54:50

Hi just did the Singapore to London flight arrived at 6.15am Heathrow … had a few catnaps on plane but yesterday pushed myself through the day … went for walk in afternoon as felt sleepy … in bed at 7.40 woke at 4.50 decided to get up as work this morning but feel ok another early night tonight I suspect…
Flight was a quiet one watched all downton abby series and the film 😂😂

NanaTuesday Fri 13-Feb-26 08:19:07

I am about to do these trips both Japan NZ & Singapore all over the next 5 weeks .
I’ve done long haul Oz & NZ with no stopovers just transit stops around 6 times previously. Only had one trip that included flight to Oz ,then NZ finish8ng with a stay in Fiji , that was fabulous.

I’m thinking the homeward trip this time will be the killer as such . But I’ve already decided no alcohol not sure why the ‘ No Food ‘ is. Thing ,, ?
you have to eat .

keepingquiet Fri 13-Feb-26 08:26:23

Melatonin hs to build up in your system to become effective- so really a waste if you just take the one dose.

However, it seems to help some people.

My sister travels long haul a lot and is in her 80s.
Her tips are to travel business class (not an option for everyone) and her method is to drink one glass of white wine after take-off, take two paracetomol and put on her eye mask.

It seems to work for her!