Beating jet lag

Because of the long distances and numerous time zones you must cross, travel to Asia has the potential to result in serious jet lag. Here are some hints to help combat it:

1. Eat dried cherries. According to Dr. Russel Reiter, a nutrition researcher, tart cherries contain melatonin, which, when absorbed into the bloodstream, can help straighten out your biological clock.

2. Get on local time. Many experienced fliers swear by setting your watch to your destination time as soon as you board the plane. Then, while flying, try to have your meals and sleep on a schedule as if you were already there.

3. Cut out the alcohol. Do whatever you can to resist drinking in-flight. Alcohol further dehydrates your body, which is already drained by the elevation and cabin pressure. Drink copious amounts of water instead.

Getting upgraded

If the steep price makes first or business class out of the question, now is the time to burn all those miles you’ve earned in your favorite U.S.-based carrier’s frequent flier program.

For example, the Star Alliance offers one-segment upgrades from economy to business class for 25,000 or 30,000 miles, depending on where in Asia you are flying. So, you can use miles you have accumulated with United, US Airways or Air Canada to upgrade your transpacific coach ticket on any of those airlines or other alliance members, such as ANA, Asiana or Thai Airways.

Choosing a carrier

Just like in the U.S., hub-and-spoke route structures are the rule when flying to Asia. Unless you’re traveling to one of the major capital hubs, be prepared to connect within Asia to get to most places. For example, Northwest and United both use Tokyo’s Narita Airport as their Asian hub, so you will connect through Japan if you travel on these two biggest U.S. carriers in the region.

Major flag carriers in the region, such as Cathay Pacific and Korean Air, fly nonstop from North America only to their home markets (Hong Kong and Seoul, respectively), so these airports become your hubs. Given these parameters, be sure to choose an airline that is part of the same alliance as the U.S. carrier to which you are most loyal. The high number of elite qualifying miles up for grabs on these flights may mean the difference in the level of frequent flier status you attain for next year.