Should I take a red-eye or a daytime flight?

Red-eyes are only worth it if you actually sleep seated. If you don’t, they double fatigue and pain sensitivity.

• If you reliably sleep on planes and wake better → red-eye can save a day.
• If overnight sitting triggers stiffness/migraine → daytime wins.
• If you’re traveling east across big time zones → avoid red-eye unless medically advised.

Sleep debt raises pain volume. Don’t trade tomorrow’s function for tonight’s convenience.

What if red-eye is cheaper? Add your “recovery cost” to the fare.

Can sleep meds make red-eye safe? Only if they work for you at home. Test first.

How about short red-eyes? Those are worst—too short to sleep, long enough to flare.

• CDC jet-lag guidance emphasizes timing sleep/light and avoiding forced adaptation for short trips.
• Sleep debt increases pain sensitivity and migraine risk.
• Micro-anchor (migraine): If sleep disruption triggers attacks, avoid red-eyes unless you have proven sleep strategies.
• Micro-anchor (back pain/OA): If stiffness builds overnight, choose daytime to allow movement resets.