Jet Lag, Insomnia and Seasonal Affected Disorder....SAD.

When I was taking groups on cruises and tours, I frequently suffered from jet lag of the worst kind.

Don't let 'jet lag' spoil your trip.

 A report of international air travelers reported that 94% suffer from jet lag. Most of them with severe symptoms, as in poor concentration, irritability, stomach upsets, daytime sleepiness, and feeling tired which greatly hampers the get-up and go and enjoying your trip.

Don't let 'jet lag' spoil your trip.

One of the tricks I eventually learned was to start adjusting my going to bed time before traveling. I wish I had done it before my trip to Australia. I suffered jet lag the first two days there and a couple days when I got home.

Dr. Howard Roffwarg, director of the Division of Sleep Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has devoted his professional life to the study and protection of one of America’s most endangered and least appreciated natural resources: sleep.

Research has shown, light and adjusting body temperature rather than pills combats jet lag. 

According to several studies, researchers were able to reset sleep-wake cycles naturally using exposure to strong lighting, possibly in as little as 48 hours.

My further research compared full spectrum lighting that mimics sunlight but not as intense or bright is often used for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder, aka, SAD. 

A 1980 National insititute of Mental Health study revealed the absence of Natural Light can significantly disrupt biological functions. 

I remembered the OttLite being used by people with Seasonal Affective Disorder.  Can the same be true for jet lag sufferers?

Can  small doses of full spectrum lighting similar to the OttLite
help people with severe Insomnia?

Looking out the window, the overcast sky for the past  few days makes me wish I hade an OttLite.

Hidden Airline Fees and Delta's New 5 tiers seating for 5 different prices.

Remember the days when you called your travel agency and let them do the work to get you the best fares? Those fares were based on First Class and Coach. Soon came First, Coach, and Business. 

Now we go online to find out own best deals and Delta has just made it a little more difficult with 5 tiers and 5 different fares.

  

Here are your choices:

The "First Class" fare includes "first to board" rights, preflight alcoholic drinks, snacks on flights longer than 250 miles and meals on flights longer than 900 miles. 

The "Delta One" elite first class fare includes access to Delta Sky Clubs, full flat-bed seats on wide body aircraft, in-flight bedding, chef-curated menus, noise-reduction headsets and more.

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The "Basic Economy" bare-bones coach fares will be available on domestic routes, and they're already available in some areas where Delta competes with deep discounter Spirit Airlines.

The "Main Cabin" coach fares on domestic and long-haul international flights will allow seat selection at time of purchase and flexibility for flight changes. On long-haul international flights, the fare will include alcoholic drinks, meal service and a sleep kit.

The "Delta Comfort+" coach fare on all flights will include priority boarding and dedicated overhead bin space, alcoholic drinks, premium snacks, premium entertainment, up to 4 more inches of legroom and quilted seat covers.

Will the other airlines follow Delta's lead? Most likely.

Hidden fees are happening on almost all airlines.

Carry-on bag: free to $45.

Checked baggage: first bag: free to $45. Second bag: Free to $55. Third bag: $50 to $150.

Pet boarding: $10 to $200.

Flight-reservation cancellation or change: free to $150.

Over-the-phone and in-person booking: free to $45.

In-flight TV or movie: free to $8.

In-flight Wi-Fi: $5 to $14 for a 24-hour unlimited pass.

Unaccompanied minor: free to $100.

Extra legroom and picking a seat: $4 to $199.

Snack: free to $10.

Meal: $3 to $14.

Nonalcoholic drink: free to $10.

Alcoholic drink: $5 to $10.

Pillow or blanket: free to $10.

Maybe it is time to go back to our travel agent and let them search for all the hidden fees and special tier fares.