Work travel WWYD (flights)

[7costanza]

I have to go to a training next month on the east coast, flying out of Seattle. It starts at 4pm and so I need to fly in the day before because none of the same day flights get me there in time. Would you book a non stop flight during the day or a one layover overnight? The training starts on a Monday so I’d have to give up my entire Sunday to travel for the non-stop flight.

[Deleted]

Are you saying your options are nonstop during the day Sunday or a red-eye Sunday night?

[TR]

What city? You don't actually have to answer, but just think about if it's somewhere interesting where you could hang out a bit on Monday. If so, I'd do the non-stop on Sunday. You'll lose half the day anyway, I assume, with the first leg so it's not like you'd be able to plan much to do that day. I'd rather get in, get settled and have an easy day before it starts at 4pm.

[TR]

Also an overnight layover sounds terrible.

[sonrisa]

I can't imagine choosing a red eye layover over a daytime non-stop flight. I can't sleep on planes and I'm miserable for take off and landing (I used to throw up after most landings and at every layover stop).

[mpc]

non-stop sunday hands down. I am too old for red eye flights - they are miserable. Embrace the extra time you will have at your destination. Go out and do something you feel comfortable with or watch TV in your pajamas at the hotel.

[tealblue]

In pre-Covid times, I would fly internationally and always had to give up most of my weekends to fly because of the time change.

I would suggest a non stop flight getting you there on Sunday. Monday you could wake up and explore the city/surrounding area or just relax before the conference.

Luckily, flying back home, you’ll time hop and get some time back.

[egishere]

not the overnight layover. Will your work give you a comp day basically to make up for giving up your Sunday and you can take another day off later in the week or next when you are home? I used to travel a lot for my old job and my boss was always great to let us do that.

[7costanza]

Jan 27, 2022 13:08:05 GMT -5 @princessbubbleyum said:

Are you saying your options are nonstop during the day Sunday or a red-eye Sunday night?

Correct.

[7costanza]

Jan 27, 2022 13:08:15 GMT -5 TR said:

What city? You don't actually have to answer, but just think about if it's somewhere interesting where you could hang out a bit on Monday. If so, I'd do the non-stop on Sunday. You'll lose half the day anyway, I assume, with the first leg so it's not like you'd be able to plan much to do that day. I'd rather get in, get settled and have an easy day before it starts at 4pm.

The city is Orlando, but because it’s our own training/conference center a company car will pick me up at the airport and take me to the training site, and once I’m there I can’t leave. I would just work from my room Monday until the training starts.

[mala]

non-stop. Sucks to loose a whole Sunday, but an overnight with the time change sounds like a terrible idea.

[7costanza]

Thank you all, non-stop daytime flight it is!

[Deleted]

Seeing that it's a red-eye Sunday night for a Monday work event, my answer is 100% the non-stop on Sunday. That sounds miserable.

[preppy]

Daytime flight. I hate re-eyes and travel on weekends for work regularly so I wouldn't even consider the red-eye.

[InBetweenDays]

No way would I want to have to do a layover on a red eye. Are you sure there are no nonstop redeye flights? My friend used to fly from Seattle to Orlando a decent amount pre-COVID and I thought they often did direct red eye on Alaska. But maybe that's changed since covid. If it isn't available I'd do the day before.

[sonrisa]

Jan 27, 2022 13:13:01 GMT -5 7costanza said:

it’s our own training/conference center ... and once I’m there I can’t leave. 

Given that it's Florida, I'm envisioning Scientology. Let us know if you need help getting out!

[egishere]

sonrisa, I can't stop laughing!!

[7costanza]

Jan 27, 2022 13:21:55 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Jan 27, 2022 13:13:01 GMT -5 7costanza said:

it’s our own training/conference center ... and once I’m there I can’t leave. 

Given that it's Florida, I'm envisioning Scientology. Let us know if you need help getting out!

Lol! I can promise it’s not Scientology but if I get there and they ask me to sign a billion year contract I’ll let you all know.

[krystee]

I would very happily give up my Sunday to have a few hours on a plane to read and a whole night/next morning and afternoon to have a solo mini vacation! Even if it’s not somewhere interesting, room service, a movie and a glass of wine sounds delightful!

ETA: can you leave if you get a Lyft or taxi? If you would be in your room and not at the event, it doesn’t seem like it would matter. Since you gave up your Sunday to travel for work, seems like you should get some free time on Monday!

[Deleted]

Non stop. Like not even a question.

[SusanBAnthony]

Sunday and I'd take an Uber on my own dime to go do something fun.

[ECB]

I flew home to Maryland from Seattle a few years ago. I made the HUGE mistake of taking a red-eye home Friday night. Huge. Didn't sleep at all, got home and was a WRECK the next day. All the time I thought I "saved" by flying at night was lost when I had to sleep 1/2 the next day.

[TR]

But OP isn't even talking about taking a red-eye Sunday night. It sounds like she'd take an evening flight, stop and have a layover somewhere, and then have a morning flight. Which sounds even WORSE lol.

[bex1973]

I did a red eye from Seattle to Michigan once and it was miserable. I don't recommend it. I think you've made a wise decision going the other option.

[7costanza]

I wish I could Uber somewhere or take one from the airport, but because of covid protocols they track your flight, send an car or shuttle for you, and do not allow you to leave the property and come back. I also have to do an antigen test (which they will send to me) 24 hrs pre flight and PCR when I arrive. It’s all very structured and would be a major major issue if I violated any of these policies, partially due to my role at the company (HR/ethics). Luckily the facility is supposed to be beautiful and has some outdoor space I can use, so I won’t be totally confined to my room.

[lemoncupcake]

Jan 27, 2022 13:24:36 GMT -5 krystee said:

I would very happily give up my Sunday to have a few hours on a plane to read and a whole night/next morning and afternoon to have a solo mini vacation! Even if it’s not somewhere interesting, room service, a movie and a glass of wine sounds delightful!

ETA: can you leave if you get a Lyft or taxi? If you would be in your room and not at the event, it doesn’t seem like it would matter. Since you gave up your Sunday to travel for work, seems like you should get some free time on Monday!

All of this. Assuming it’s an ok hotel and you have a way to get good food, I’d jump on the opportunity to be absolutely alone for a day.

[lemoncupcake]

Jan 27, 2022 13:57:32 GMT -5 7costanza said:

I wish I could Uber somewhere or take one from the airport, but because of covid protocols they track your flight, send an car or shuttle for you, and do not allow you to leave the property and come back. I also have to do an antigen test (which they will send to me) 24 hrs pre flight and PCR when I arrive. It’s all very structured and would be a major major issue if I violated any of these policies, partially due to my role at the company (HR/ethics). Luckily the facility is supposed to be beautiful and has some outdoor space I can use, so I won’t be totally confined to my room.

Is there good food/room service you could get on property?

[7costanza]

Jan 27, 2022 13:55:48 GMT -5 TR said:

But OP isn't even talking about taking a red-eye Sunday night. It sounds like she'd take an evening flight, stop and have a layover somewhere, and then have a morning flight. Which sounds even WORSE lol.

It does sound terrible, but so does giving up my entire Sunday 😩 Plus the company was being stingy and made me submit a policy exception request because the non-stop was too pricy. Luckily I was able to find a non-stop schedule that didn’t make me jump through hoops. Kind of annoying for a multi billion dollar company.

[7costanza]

Jan 27, 2022 13:58:47 GMT -5 lemoncupcake said:

Is there good food/room service you could get on property?[/quote]


Yes! Not totally sure about room service but the food is supposed to be good and lots of snack bars around.

[lemoncupcake]

Jan 27, 2022 14:05:24 GMT -5 7costanza said:

Jan 27, 2022 13:55:48 GMT -5 TR said:

But OP isn't even talking about taking a red-eye Sunday night. It sounds like she'd take an evening flight, stop and have a layover somewhere, and then have a morning flight. Which sounds even WORSE lol.

It does sound terrible, but so does giving up my entire Sunday 😩 Plus the company was being stingy and made me submit a policy exception request because the non-stop was too pricy. Luckily I was able to find a non-stop schedule that didn’t make me jump through hoops. Kind of annoying for a multi billion dollar company.

Rather than thinking of it as giving up your Sunday, think of it as setting yourself up for a successful & enjoyable trip on Monday. I know that I would be miserable and useless for work stuff if I had been up all night on multiple planes and getting through airports.