Flights - what time of day?

[steraw]

Dubai is a good example of how flight schedules are planned around both connecting passengers and local demand. A lot of arrivals are timed so travelers can easily transfer or continue into the city, and having a Nol card ready for public transport can make that part of the journey much smoother. It's interesting how airlines, airports, and even ground transport end up being planned as part of the same overall travel experience.

 

[Bletchleyite]

To those who travel by air for work, do employers expect some work completed on travel days?

When I did it very much yes (though short haul). First flight out and working by the early afternoon at the latest, early evening flight back working until about 2pm.

Long haul it would in the past have come down to "business class and work, economy class and not work", though these days companies are not as accommodating I have only done long haul a few times. As I can't sleep on planes even if I was in first class (not that I've done that) I'd generally choose economy and not work.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Never on long haul. Short haul - dinner at night with the boss or colleague and most definitely customers was classed as work. Also I have done short haul followed by afternoon meeting.

 

[pitdiver]

I am going to be a bit boring. We regularly go to Fuerventura from East Midlands with Jet2. Always use the same flight 1500ex EMA arrives 1915. Our return is 2005 ex FUE arrives back at EMA 0010. This is fine with us as we are only 30 mins from EMA.

 

[telstarbox]

That sounds very civilised - no need to get up early on the departure day, and you arrive back in time for a good night's sleep

 

[Jimini]

[Deleted.]

 

[pitdiver]

That sounds very civilised - no need to get up early on the departure day, and you arrive back in time for a good night's sleep

Yes it is. We take a casual drive down the M1 get to EMA at about 1230. We park in the Meet and Greet car park as we get a discount. My wife being a Blue Badge holder,.
When we get back if on time and the Car Park office is free we can normally be home by 0130.

 

[thejuggler]

A retired colleague's son is a BA pilot on short/medium haul and the one trip never enjoyed was the late Heathrow-Moscow in winter.

It was one of the last to leave Heathrow at about 11pm and due to time difference arrived early morning in Moscow. Returning to be in Heathrow for breakfast.

Whole trip in the dark, weather generally worse as you neared Moscow, generally uncooperative airport staff. At the present time this is obviously not a route he has to worry about.

 

[Cloud Strife]

To those who travel by air for work, do employers expect some work completed on travel days?

When I was doing it within Europe, I was pretty much left to decide by myself how to approach things. Usually the travel was about meeting potential partners, so no-one really cared about how I did things. My usual rule was to try and book flights that would leave in the early evening, so I could eat a decent meal at the airport, and I would usually go to the office in the morning to pick up whatever was needed for the journey.

Then on the return, I'd usually try and get flights at the same time, with the mornings planned and the afternoon free. Usually these trips were crammed full of meetings and late dinners, so it all equalled out.

 

[xotGD]

When I was doing it within Europe, I was pretty much left to decide by myself how to approach things. Usually the travel was about meeting potential partners, so no-one really cared about how I did things. My usual rule was to try and book flights that would leave in the early evening, so I could eat a decent meal at the airport, and I would usually go to the office in the morning to pick up whatever was needed for the journey.

Then on the return, I'd usually try and get flights at the same time, with the mornings planned and the afternoon free. Usually these trips were crammed full of meetings and late dinners, so it all equalled out.

The problem with evening flights on a work trip is that if there is a delay you don't reach your hotel until really late, and then have to get up early the next day for work.