I am planning a family RTW trip later next year & undecided whether to start with US (eastward) or Asia (westward) first.
I guess the benefit of choosing eastward is flying in tailwind (hence lesser time on air) however the downside is jet lags due to many overnight legs. Going westward means more time on air but most legs depart & arrive during decent day times.
I tend to start in Asia and head east Asia-NA-EU-Asia. Going west has screwed me around in the past with sleep patterns etc more then east (the 10-12 hour Asia-Europe day time flights are a real killer)
Going east I get almost no jetlag like issues. Going west, I get lots.
That said, it's looking like my trip this year is going to have to be westward due to when things are on and the times I am more likely to get leave.
AU-Europe I prefer going via Asia, and home via LA/SFO. Its all personal preference but I like flying during the day as I can't really sleep on planes. And all of those sectors are day flying except LA/SFO-Australia but they're such long sectors with night-time darkness the entire way I usually manage a decent sleep somewhere as far as Hawaii below me. The worst flight in the world is Australia-USA. Darkness outside of the aircraft at 2 in the afternoon. Gross!
Over the years I've done a number of RTW trips. Mostly starting eastward bound for family reasons. Only once gone the 'west way" and it was certainly better for me in terms of jetlag.
Done the RTW twice westward and twice eastward. All future trips will be westward whenever possible - not suffered jetlag - whereas eastward i'm a write off for 24 hours.
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Round the World - eastward or westward
Lchen3328
Lchen3328
Member since 08 Nov 2015
Total posts 16
Hi everyone
Dredgy
Dredgy
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Apr 2017
Total posts 180
Westward is a serious help with jetlag, and if you’re flying in business class then more time in the air is a plus :p
russell
russell
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 04 Nov 2011
Total posts 232
West is best...always work to that rule.
Red Cee
Red Cee
Member since 15 Feb 2018
Total posts 151
I always fly West when possible. Many more sleep opportunities, and you are much less subject to jetlag.
Himeno
Himeno
Member since 12 Dec 2012
Total posts 295
I tend to start in Asia and head east Asia-NA-EU-Asia. Going west has screwed me around in the past with sleep patterns etc more then east (the 10-12 hour Asia-Europe day time flights are a real killer)
Going east I get almost no jetlag like issues. Going west, I get lots.
That said, it's looking like my trip this year is going to have to be westward due to when things are on and the times I am more likely to get leave.
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
Member since 19 Apr 2012
Total posts 731
I prefer westward as it seems to suite my sleep pattenrs better.
richard89
richard89
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Mar 2017
Total posts 42
AU-Europe I prefer going via Asia, and home via LA/SFO. Its all personal preference but I like flying during the day as I can't really sleep on planes. And all of those sectors are day flying except LA/SFO-Australia but they're such long sectors with night-time darkness the entire way I usually manage a decent sleep somewhere as far as Hawaii below me. The worst flight in the world is Australia-USA. Darkness outside of the aircraft at 2 in the afternoon. Gross!
lafleche
lafleche
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 08 Jun 2016
Total posts 24
Over the years I've done a number of RTW trips. Mostly starting eastward bound for family reasons. Only once gone the 'west way" and it was certainly better for me in terms of jetlag.
Lchen3328
Lchen3328
Member since 08 Nov 2015
Total posts 16
Thanks all for the advice.
worldwanderer
worldwanderer
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 13 Jan 2017
Total posts 17
Done the RTW twice westward and twice eastward. All future trips will be westward whenever possible - not suffered jetlag - whereas eastward i'm a write off for 24 hours.