Is it because typically during these long flights there is a a change in multiple time zones and that messes your circadian rythm?
In: 541
It’s the change of time, not the change of location, essentially.
You could be flying for most of your day and, in effect, not pass more than 60 minutes.
You could be on a train all day and not even change time zone, so time would pass like normal.
Jet lag happens when your body’s internal clock gets disrupted by traveling across time zones quickly. Long flights can lead to jet lag because they cover a lot of time zones in a short time. Trains don’t usually cross many time zones fast, so they don’t cause the same jet lag feeling.
I’d like to throw in that *usually* the whole process of flying anywhere is inherently more exhausting than train traveling all together anyway on top of everyonee else’s timezone reason.
Jet lag doesn’t have anything to do with travel. It’s the time zone change. If your body thinks it’s 3pm, but now you’re in a time zone where it’s 10pm, it’s going to be hard to fall asleep because your body is saying “it’s not 10pm bedtime, it’s 3pm party time!”. It takes some days to adjust to the new time zone. That’s all jet lag is.
Jet lag isn’t a result of flying but rather a result of changing time zones, and a 15 hour flight can take you through many more time zones than a 20 hour train ride can because planes are much faster.
In disagreement with almost everyone else who describe is just related to timezone change I would say that Jetlag is the combination of:
Quick changes in timezone – Quick east-west movement
Changes in daylight length – Large changes in North South location even in the same timezone. These effect your body since it uses daylight to help regulate your body clock.
Travel stress and routine disruption. – Early start / late arrival on day of travel even when traveling short distances (2-3 hours) – This includes the stress of getting to airports on time, security etc which is inevitably worse than train travel
Aircraft environment – Air in aircraft is not pressured to sea level but approx 2500 meters (7000feet) to reduce stress on the fuselage and is kept at a lower humidity to prevent metal corrosion. This has an effect on your body which has to compensate and is tiring.
Concequentaly I would say its quite possible to get a degree of jetlag on a 2 hour flight that might only cross one timezone.
Jet lag comes from being in a different time zone. After a 14 hr flight you’re on the other side of the globe and your brain (and stomach and other things) are on a schedule that is 12 hours off from where the sun and society are. A 20 hour train journey in most cases puts you 1 or 2 hours off (and did it much more slowly over the course of a day).
I’ve been on a 12 hour train + bus ride i side the same timezone and had jetlag simply because I had to stay awake for too long
One thing not mentioned is generally you have hella more room in a train, and can even walk back to the club car, etc. on a plane you are crammed into a narrow seat that doesn’t recline. All that cramp Ed’s takes a toll
Jet lag is part. Being confined to a very small seat for a very long time is part. Dehydration is also part.
Air in an aircraft is pressurized from the compressor section of the jet turbine. It starts out at -40F/C, then gets heated to a few hundred degrees. Any moisture in it is absolutely destroyed.
Then it gets cooled off, and pumped into the cabin.
The relative humidity in an aircraft at altitude is 10% or less, and all that comes from OTHER people’s breath.
If you seriously want to feel better after a long flight, wear a mask and drink at least 1-2 liters of water. It’ll keep you hydrated better.
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