Jetlag is a significant contributor to an individual's state of well-being when travelling on business. Despite common misconception, it's not an uncontrollable factor but cost-driven travel policies often exacerbate it. Flying to New York and back in a day in economy class may seem a more economic option on the surface, yet the impact it has on the traveller and their cognitive performance can negate any monetary saving.
“While it might be more cost effective, if they are not performing cognitively in that meeting, they run the risk of not collecting the information they went for or the deal not coming off and the whole point of the business trip is potentially wasted,” says Papillon Luck, whose company 15th Degree specialises in mitigating the less desirable effects of travel. “Enhancing the cognitive and physical function of the traveller not only gives greater return for the corporate but it is a better, more enjoyable experience for the traveller.” If there were any doubt, jetlag costs UK businesses £241 million a year.
The earth turns 15 degrees every hour, the equivalent of a time zone, and it takes 24 hours for every time zone crossed for the body to acclimatise cognitively. So a return flight to New York, involving a five-hour time change, will incur 10 days’ recovery time. The main factors are sleep, light, nutrition and hydration. Lack of hydration on the ground is amplified at 30,000 feet and results in cognitive impairment, headaches and overall health issues; and the body’s intestinal gas can expand as much as 50%, affecting normal digestion and gut rhythm. Hypoxia (lack of oxygen) is also a factor.
In 2018, Qantas conducted a clinical trial with University of Sydney on the flight from London to Perth to make the 17-hour marathon viable. Passengers wore technology that measured their responses and biomarkers, and analysis of that data led to the airline introducing nutritional menus in all classes, meditation on flights and the right shade of light to adjust to circadian rhythms for showers on arrival.
“A business traveller’s schedule is determined by external factors, namely other people’s availability, costing, diary management, logistics – health is tacked on to the end or not considered at all,” says Luck. “If someone’s cognitive peak performance is between 10.00 and 13.00, they need to schedule meetings then. My vision for two years to come is that we plan our business schedule around our health.”