You don’t want to see red on a night flight.
A bad experience at the airport can mean the wrong start to your trip or ruin the rest of your vacation, which is why choosing the right location for a night flight is extremely important.
To ensure that your night flight doesn’t become a tearful experience, travel expert Gilbert Ott tells you the best and worst airports for night flights.
“People shouldn’t hate night flights – I think they can be really cool,” the guru told Business Insider. “But you don’t want to appear worn out.”
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If you have a late flight, Ott recommends avoiding Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The expert stated that although Georgia’s airport is the largest in the country, it mainly serves fast food, which does not necessarily help you feel good in the morning after getting off the plane.
“Atlanta’s food offering is weak,” he said. “It’s very fast food-oriented.”
If you are flying abroad, Ott recommends avoiding London Heathrow Airport on night flights as it is difficult to find your way around.
“There aren’t many of them, but it’s just a long, tedious airport – everything is disjointed,” he said.
Instead, the travel blogger recommends LAX and specifically points out that there are many options for healthy food at Los Angeles Airport.
“I don’t want to eat greasy fast food before I get on a plane for six hours,” he explained. “I like a place that has a (salad restaurant), a sushi kiosk, poke bowls or anything that’s a little lighter and easier to handle.”
New York also appeared on Ott’s list of good places to eat.
He mentioned John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) as another good option with restaurant choices and lounges.
“They’ve done a good job of recruiting some decent restaurants,” he said. “They have a lot of lounges and there are a lot of ways to get into the lounges.”
“All of these spaces are better than fast food,” he added.
What you eat will affect your energy levels as you try to adjust your body to the time zone you’ve landed in. Some compounds are digested differently at higher altitudes, meaning the foods you eat before or during a flight should be chosen with extra care.
“Most night flights are associated with jet lag because you’re usually crossing a time zone, which is the reason for the night flight,” Ott said. “I try to eat before a night flight because sleep on the plane is vital. You should try to get as much sleep as possible.”
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“That’s a critical difference because then you can eat before the flight and get as much rest as you need,” he said. “And then when you get on the plane, it’s just about getting as much rest as possible.”
But it’s not just what you eat before your flight that matters. Scientists have found that eating a hearty breakfast after landing can help prevent jet lag.
