A First-Hand Experience Of Taking A Red Eye Flight!

Oct 19, 2023

Last Updated on: Oct 18, 2024

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Red eye flights are overnight flights that usually arrive at their destination in the morning. Since passengers on these flights may not get enough sleep, they may experience fatigue, which could result in red eyes.

Red eye flights are commonly longer in duration and are more frequently available in regions outside of the Western world. This is partly due to the fact that airport curfews are more stringent in Europe, Australia, and North America compared to other regions.

However, this doesn’t imply that airlines in the Western world don’t offer red eye flights. In reality, when flying westbound transatlantic services, they are nearly always the standard for European and American airlines.

In this article, I will be explaining the reasons behind the existence of red eye flights and weighing the advantages and disadvantages of taking them. Once I am done, you will feel like you just had a first-hand experience of taking a red eye flight yourself!

What Is A Red Eye Flight?

What Is A Red Eye Flight

Whether you enjoy these nighttime hauls or not, red eye flights are quite a regular thing for people flying long distances. They depart from their home terminal at night and reach their destination in the morning. They are so named because of the physical toll it takes on the passengers, causing them to get red eyes. Most of these red eye flights take off when flying to the east side. For instance, when you fly from Los Angeles to New York or From New York to London.

But there are exceptions to such flights, such as when you are flying north or south between long distances. For example, if you fly between North and South America or Europe and Africa.

The whole idea behind red eye flights is to save daylight and maximize your time spent at home and at your destination. Flying through the night helps you avoid losing a day in travel. It also helps save money spent on a night stay at a hotel. They are cheaper than day flights, too, making it a cost-effective option for budget travelers.

In some cases, there are actually no other options but to take a red eye flight because your origin and destination do not have day flights to begin with.

My Red Eye Flight Experience From Bahrain To London

My Red Eye Flight Experience From Bahrain to London
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Recently, I had the experience of taking three flights for one destination. I flew three different classes of travel on a single ticket.

I bought a Premium Economy round-trip ticket from London to Bahrain ten months before my flight. In this firsthand red eye flight experience, I will share my pretty good experience with Lufthansa during my return journey from Bahrain to London Heathrow, which involved a layover in Riyadh.

The expenses of Lufthansa flights to the Middle East did not follow a linear increase as the departure day approached. I have included two charts below to show how the price of my flight changed leading up to the day of departure and after the flight’s schedule was revised. Lufthansa operates a daily flight from its ground base in Frankfurt to Bahrain International Airport with a layover in Riyadh.

This is a usual setup as it’s a daily flight to Dammam via Kuwait. Both Bahrain-Riyadh and Kuwait-Dammam cannot be booked as fifth freedom flights. Intriguingly, Lufthansa continuously adjusts its schedule for destinations in the Middle East. According to Routes Online, Lufthansa would originally fly to Bahrain via Doha in 2014, but it stopped in 2015 when services to Doha renewed operations to Muscat instead.

Before Lufthansa stopped all flights to Doha in 2017, they operated Frankfurt-Kuwait-Doha flights. In 2017, flights to Bahrain were via Dammam, and in 2018, they were via Kuwait. When I bought my ticket in August 2018, my planned route was Heathrow-Frankfurt-Kuwait-Bahrain, but it changed to Heathrow-Frankfurt-Riyadh-Bahrain in September 2018.

Lufthansa used to operate Riyadh as a non-stop flight without onward legs in 2015, but after discontinuing Doha in 2017, they started flying Frankfurt-Riyadh-Dammam while also initiating flights to Bahrain via Kuwait. However, things were changed again in 2018.

Flight 1: Premium Economy, Bahrain To Riyadh

Premium Economy Bahrain to Riyadh
thriftytraveler.com

Upon arrival at Bahrain International Airport via Uber, I made it through passport control and security within 15 minutes. The aircraft assigned for the flight was D-AIKN, which is an A330-343X. Boarding began at 23:20, which was slightly delayed, but it didn’t matter since only 20 passengers were boarding the red eye flight A330.

In fact, the gate push-off time was 11.42 pm, eight minutes early. The Premium Economy section of the plane had four rows with seven seats each. There were only seven passengers, resulting in a load factor of 25% in this segment. The legroom was spacious enough, allowing the passenger in front to recline without any pressure on the person seated behind.

The amenity kit for the Premium Economy included a toothbrush and toothpaste, a refreshment towel, a sleeping mask, earplugs, and a thick pair of socks. Although the earplugs were weak and the face mask didn’t isolate light fully, the socks were comfortable. The IFE system was not as good as Emirates, but it had decent options.

One of the few features was live GPS tracking of the aircraft. During the Bahrain-Riyadh journey, the movie “100 Things,” a 2018 German film, was played. Despite leaving Bahrain eight minutes early, the plane arrived in Riyadh five minutes late, as we had to wait for our gate to be vacated.

Flight 2: Business Class, Riyadh To Frankfurt

Business Class Riyadh to Frankfurt
onceinalifetimejourney.com

During the second flight from Riyadh to Frankfurt, since it wasn’t a fifth freedom flight, passengers traveling to Frankfurt from Bahrain were not required to leave the aircraft in Riyadh. After being told to stay seated for ten minutes while the plane refueled, a representative from Lufthansa’s Riyadh airport asked me to follow him into Business.

I was given seat 10H since the Premium Economy and Economy classes were set to fill up with passengers for the Riyadh-Frankfurt flight. The flight from Riyadh to Frankfurt was entirely full in Economy, Premium Economy, and Business.

The headphones provided by Lufthansa in Business were exceptional, as they blocked out all noise. The sound quality from the IFE was also excellent, allowing me to sleep soundly. The headphones were attached to the seat, so they couldn’t be removed. My red eye flight departed from Riyadh King Khalid at 2:10 am, 15 minutes late, and arrived in Frankfurt at 7:14 am, one minute early. The average delay for the flight LH637 is ten minutes.

Flight 3: Economy, Frankfurt To London Heathrow

Economy Frankfurt to London Heathrow
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com

Regrettably, the last flight of my three-flight sequence was delayed despite arriving early from its previous flight. The reason for the delay was that the aircraft, which was Lufthansa’s first A320neo with the registration D-AINC, took over an hour to clean.

Although I managed to secure an emergency exit row window seat, which I chose for free during check-in, the legroom on short-haul flights with Lufthansa was a bit disappointing for me. Moreover, the sandwich served on the flight contained cream and cheese, which was not suitable for me as I do not eat dairy. Unfortunately, there were no alternative options available for me.

Another slight disappointment was that the crew refused to serve water before takeoff, and I had to wait for a long time before we took off due to the delay. The flight was full in Economy and Business class, and despite the plane being on time on average, we arrived 40 minutes late at our destination in London after pushing off from Frankfurt 29 minutes late.

Additionally, we spent a considerable amount of time circling around London. It was not a big inconvenience, but the service was not as good as my previous flights with Lufthansa. However, I must acknowledge that Lufthansa quickly and smoothly compensated me with 600 Euros for the missed connecting flight during my outbound journey.

Wrapping Up

Honestly, I was so impressed with their customer service that I would choose Lufthansa for all my future connecting red eye flights.

If you have thoughts to share or questions to ask, please leave a comment below! We would love to hear from you!

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Abdul Aziz Mondol is a professional blogger who is having a colossal interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, he loves to share content related to business, finance, technology, and the gaming niche.

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BY  Barsha Jan 14, 2023

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Are Priority Pass Lounges Usually Crowded? Here Is My Experience With The Priority Pass Lounges!

BY  Abdul Aziz Oct 6, 2023

Are you thinking of getting a Priority Pass? Does lounging at the airport, with good food, good drinks, some rest, and luxurious amenities tickle your fancy?  Well, I have been a Priority Pass member for more than two years. And before you test the waters of a Priority Pass, hear me out on some of the best and worst airport lounges that I have been to around the world. You are bound to benefit greatly from my experience with the airport lounge membership network. How To Avail A Priority Pass? Image Source: thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net With the Priority Pass, my experience, on average, has been good. I am a sucker for access to the airport lounges while I travel around the world, although some are comparatively better than others. Some of the airport lounges I have had the pleasure of visiting are in Atlanta, Vancouver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Istanbul, Boston, Washington DC, Miami, Madrid, Hong Kong, and Paris. 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Kennedy International Airport in New York and Corona Beach House at The Miami International Airport are examples of such. If you want to redeem a voucher or credit, talk to the server before placing an order. Some restaurants will ask upfront, whereas others will ask for the Priority Pass membership card once it's time to pay the bill. These passes also have partnerships with airport spas, which could be free or discounted. Their apps will give you all the information you require to know about their services, treatments, and hours of availability. How To Avoid Lounge Crowds? Image Source: upgradedpoints.com Are priority pass lounges usually crowded? This is one of the most asked questions by travelers looking to get one of these memberships. Priority Pass lounges tend to limit entry during specific crowded hours. Sometimes, the lounge might be very full when you do get an entrance. One of the downsides of this membership is you do not have much control over when you get to visit the lounge because the visit depends on the time of your flight. All you can do is predict the crowd based on the departure schedules around the time of your visit. For instance, many hub airports in the US have international red-eye flights. Usually, the lounges get a thick crowd in the evenings in those parts of the airport. Sometimes, due to the crowd, you may have to put your name on a waiting list or simply get turned away. Priority Pass Airport Lounges Image Source: thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net Here are some of the Priority Pass Lounges I have visited that you would want to know before you invest in a membership or visit the particular airports. 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I found them offering apples, bananas, chips, and ramen. Ramen noodles, though, were what surprised me the most. It's a lucky coincidence that I do not take flights through Vegas too often. IGA Lounge At Istanbul International Image Source: cdn.onemileatatime.com Location: International Terminal, on the mezzanine floor on the right-hand side Opening Hours: 24 hours daily Istanbul is not a pinchpenny when it comes to its lounge size. When you are flying business via Turkish Airlines or Star Alliance partners, the vast 60,000-square-foot business-class lounge will treat you like royalty. This lounge takes up the entire upper level of the main foyer. If you are flying economy or non-Star Alliance international flights, you will be more than happy to relax in the 48,000-square-foot IGA Lounge located in the International Terminal. You will find on this floor amenities like a pool table, a cinema room, a kid's playroom, and a quiet room with sleeping pods. It obviously houses a cocktail bar, supersized food spreads, and lots of seating options. Chase Sapphire Lounge By The Club At Boston Logan International Image Source: thriftytraveler.com Location: Terminal B to C Connector, between gates B40 and B39 Opening Hours: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily This lounge is open to the public since May 2023. This is the first Chase Sapphire lounge to be opened in the United States. It is packed with amenities, spacious with an area comprising 11,640 square feet. It is teeming with design-driven nooks for preflight relaxation and layover rejuvenation. Located in Boston, Logan’s newly opened Terminal B and C Connector. The central bar anchors its midcentury modernist-inspired area with many dining areas. They feature self-service, as well as service via the Club’s app. Its cuisine is supervised by Chef Douglass Williams, who owns the forever favorite restaurant of Boston’s South End, Mida. There are two wellness rooms with antigravity massage chairs, a private nursing room, and two dual-head shower rooms when you move deeper into the lounge. Dulles Airport, Washington DC: Air France Lounge This lounge is great overall. It does get busy, but it makes up for it with its French food and drinks that make it all too worth visiting. I visited this lounge before one of my Paris flights, and the lounge was positioned just across my departure gate. The convenience of it won me over. It was probably one of my best flying experiences. They also offered me one of those French Michel et Augustin chocolates. Turkish Airlines Lounge At Washington Dulles International Image Source: cdn.onemileatatime.com Location: International Terminal, Concourse B, near gate B43 Opening hours: 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily This lounge kind of eases the otherwise rough experience of flying out of Washington Dulles in comparison to the centrally located DCA. The layover, too, is long and exhausting. But it is one of those experiences you still look forward to because of its delicious food options. If you visit them, you must try their mezze with pita. They also have a speedy bar service and a floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the tarmac. With Dulle’s airside connectivity, it is also accessible to travelers moving from other concourses by train or walkway. Turkish Airlines Lounge At Miami International Image Source: thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net Location: South Terminal Concourse H; take the elevator located midway between Concourses H and J to the third floor. The lounge is on the left. Opening hours: 4 a.m. to midnight daily It is one of the two Turkish Airlines Lounges that is accessible to Priority Pass members at the Miami airport, but the other one, located in the Central Terminal, is pretty basic and disappointing. The amenities available in the 10,000-square-foot lounge comprise a full-service bar, a buffet with hot and cold items, two shower suites, a kid's area, and seating spaces to accommodate both single and group travelers. The lounge is also used by business and first-class passengers of all the Star Alliance flights that depart from the terminal. Priority Pass users are asked to arrive earlier, packing some patience in order to enjoy the services this lounge has to offer. It gets periodically restricted in case of overcrowding. Barajas Airport, Madrid: Cibeles Lounge Image Source: dynamic-media-cdn.tripadvisor.com I have come to love this lounge. It is highly spacious, with three of its walls made of floor-to-ceiling glass windows. A long bar in the middle of the lounge offers all kinds of snacks for you to enjoy. I had to visit the lounge for a morning flight, and it got me a nice little breakfast to go. 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This Airport boasts the world’s best lounges, including many top-tier Cathay Pacific lounges and the notable American Express Centurion Lounge. Although Chase does not offer what Cathay Pacific and AmEx offer, it is the best option accessible through Priority Pass, and it does not fall short of its reputation. The 12,000-square-foot Chase Sapphire Lounge is a mix of a huge dining area and small nooks, including a beautiful triangular bar, booths, and a relaxation zone. There are dim sums available all day, complemented by a range of Chinese dishes (it includes congee) and international cuisine. You can self-serve or order via the Club’s app. This lounge is available to both Priority Pass holders and non-Reserve Priority Pass members through the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The regular membership rules apply. Star Alliance Lounge At Paris Charles de Gaulle Image Source: morepremium.com Location: Terminal 1, after passport control but before security on level 11 Opening hours: 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (though hours vary according to flight schedules) Assuming you spent your life’s worth of money in Paris, this lounge is where you can have some premium drinks, light snacks, and pre-flight relaxation without any charges. If the low ceilings make you feel out of breath, head to the outdoor terrace for some fresh air. This is also where others go for a smoke break. The lounge is placed after passport control and before security check-in. This is where most Star Alliance flights depart. If you are flying some of the flights that depart from terminal 2, like Air France or American Airlines, you won’t be able to visit this lounge because the terminals are not connected airside. Can You Use Priority Pass On Arrival? Image Source: travel-dealz.com In most cases, the answer is no. 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BY  Ankita Jan 10, 2024

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It's about more than just eating; it's about experiencing the world through its flavors and connecting with places through their food.  So pack your bags and prepare your taste buds for an unforgettable journey into the delicious and diverse world of culinary travel. Savoring Local Flavors Gatlinburg, nestled in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, is a culinary treasure trove renowned for its diverse and delicious food offerings. When traveling, one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the local culture is by indulging in its culinary specialties. Take, for instance, if you want to visit the finest steakhouse Gatlinburg is the perfect destination, offering a range of options like Alamo Steakhouse, The Peddler Steakhouse, Bullfish Grill, Greenbrier Restaurant, and Cherokee Grill & Steakhouse, each offering their unique take on classic and innovative steak dishes. These establishments not only offer delicious cuts of meat but also provide a taste of the local flavors and cooking styles. To find the best steakhouses, look for places crowded with locals, as they often know the top spots for authentic and tasty food. Don't hesitate to ask for recommendations from local residents or your hotel staff. Remember, part of the adventure is discovering hidden gems that aren't always in the guidebooks. Street Food Adventures Street food is the heart and soul of many cuisines around the world. It's where you'll find the most authentic, traditional, and often innovative dishes. From the bustling markets in Asia to the colorful food trucks in the Americas, street food provides an unfiltered experience of a country's culinary essence. However, it's important to eat street food safely.  Always choose stalls where the food is prepared fresh in front of you, and the turnover of customers is high – it's a good sign of freshness and quality. Also, follow the locals — they know where the best and safest food can be found. Food Markets Food markets are vibrant hubs of activity and the epicenter of local cuisine. These markets offer a variety of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and other artisanal goods. They are ideal places to sample a range of dishes and ingredients unique to the region. Engage with local vendors to learn more about the food you're buying — many will be happy to share recipes or cooking tips. Markets are not just about food; they're cultural experiences that engage all your senses. Food Tours and Cooking Classes Participating in organized food tours and cooking classes is a fantastic way to delve deeper into a region's culinary traditions. These tours, often led by local experts, take you off the beaten path to try the best food that you might not find on your own.  Cooking classes, on the other hand, offer a hands-on experience, teaching you how to prepare local dishes, which is a skill you can take home. These activities provide not only culinary delights but also insights into the local way of life. Dietary Restrictions and Allergies Traveling with dietary restrictions or food allergies can be challenging, but with a bit of planning, it's entirely manageable. Research the local cuisine beforehand to identify dishes that meet your dietary needs. Learning key phrases in the local language to communicate your dietary restrictions can be incredibly helpful.  Additionally, consider carrying allergy cards written in the local language to convey your dietary needs clearly. Many restaurants are now accustomed to handling special dietary requests, so don't hesitate to communicate your needs. Pairing Food with Local Beverages A great meal becomes exceptional when paired with the right beverage. When traveling, seize the opportunity to taste local drinks that complement the cuisine. In wine-producing regions, visiting a vineyard can offer insights into pairing local wines with regional dishes. In places known for their breweries, a craft beer might be the perfect match for a hearty meal.  Non-alcoholic options, such as traditional teas or coffees, also play a significant role in some cultures. The key is to ask locals or your server for recommendations, as they can guide you to pairings that elevate your dining experience. Documenting Your Culinary Journey Documenting your food adventures enriches the experience and lets you share it with others. Start a travel food blog or use social media to post your culinary discoveries. When photographing food, try to capture the essence of the dish and the atmosphere of the place. Sharing stories behind the dishes can make your content more engaging. This not only creates a personal memento of your journey but can also guide other food enthusiasts in their travels. Sustainable and Ethical Eating As a foodie traveler, it's important to consider the impact of your dining choices. Opt for restaurants that source ingredients locally and practice sustainable methods. This supports the local economy and reduces the environmental impact. Additionally, being mindful of food waste and respecting local customs and cuisines are crucial aspects of ethical eating. In some cultures, certain foods may be considered delicacies, and trying them can be a way of honoring local traditions while also being conscious of ethical considerations. Budget-Friendly Foodie Travel Enjoying a world of flavors doesn't have to break the bank. Look for local eateries off the beaten path, as they often offer delicious food at lower prices than tourist hotspots. Street food is another affordable option that provides authentic taste experiences. Planning your meals and setting a daily budget can also help manage expenses. Remember, some of the best food experiences come from simple, humble places. Conclusion Exploring the world through taste is not just about indulging in different cuisines; it's about connecting with diverse cultures and traditions. Each dish tells a story, and each flavor opens a new window to understanding a place and its people. As you embark on your culinary journeys, remember to embrace local traditions, respect sustainable practices, and cherish the memories you create. So, pack your appetite and let your taste buds lead the way to unforgettable experiences. Read Also: From Sunrise To Sunset: A Day’s Itinerary For Exploring Benidorm Things To Do In Leeds: Dive Into The Dynamic Heart Of Yorkshire Hidden Gems: Unearthing The Best Things To Do In Nottingham