How bad is jet lag flying to Auckland?

It depends where you start. From Los Angeles you cross 19 time zones travelling east, which typically takes about 19 days to shake off. From cities in a similar longitude to Auckland there is little or no jet lag at all.

Is jet lag worse flying east or west to Auckland?

Flying east — where you lose hours and have to fall asleep earlier — is generally harder than flying west, for the same number of time zones. The table above marks the direction of each route so you know which kind of adjustment to expect.

How long does it take to get over jet lag in Auckland?

A common rule of thumb is one day of recovery per time zone crossed when heading east, and a little faster heading west. Bright light at the right time of day and adjusting your sleep before you fly both speed it up.

Jet lag when you fly to Auckland

Auckland is on Pacific/Auckland. How much jet lag you get depends entirely on where you start — how many time zones you cross, and in which direction. Travelling east is the harder direction. Shift your bedtime earlier for several days beforehand and seek bright morning light on arrival.

Jet lag to Auckland by departure city

From	Time zones	Direction	Distance	Flight (approx.)	Recovery
Los Angeles	19	→ east	10,496 km	13 hours	~19 days
New York City	16	→ east	14,194 km	17½ hours	~16 days
São Paulo	15	→ east	12,020 km	15 hours	~15 days
London	11	→ east	18,336 km	22½ hours	~11 days
Paris	10	→ east	18,546 km	22½ hours	~10 days
Johannesburg	10	→ east	12,187 km	15 hours	~10 days
Dubai	8	→ east	14,192 km	17½ hours	~8 days
Mumbai	7	→ east	12,297 km	15 hours	~7 days
Singapore	4	→ east	8,410 km	10½ hours	~4 days
Tokyo	3	→ east	8,841 km	11 hours	~3 days
Sydney	2	→ east	2,156 km	3½ hours	~2 days

Distances are great-circle; flight times are rough nonstop estimates. Recovery uses ~1 day per zone east, faster west.

Beating jet lag in Auckland

Jet lag happens because your body clock stays on home time for a while after you land. The bigger the offset between Auckland and where you flew from, the longer it takes to catch up — roughly a day for each time zone when you travel east, and somewhat faster when you travel west, because it is easier to stay up late than to force yourself to sleep early.

A few days before you fly, nudge your sleep schedule toward Auckland time — earlier if you are heading east, later if west. On arrival, get outside: daylight is the strongest signal for resetting your clock. Morning light helps after an eastward trip; evening light helps after a westward one. To see the exact current offset, check the current time in Auckland.

Frequently asked questions

How bad is jet lag flying to Auckland?: It depends where you start. From Los Angeles you cross 19 time zones travelling east, which typically takes about 19 days to shake off. From cities in a similar longitude to Auckland there is little or no jet lag at all.
Is jet lag worse flying east or west to Auckland?: Flying east — where you lose hours and have to fall asleep earlier — is generally harder than flying west, for the same number of time zones. The table above marks the direction of each route so you know which kind of adjustment to expect.
How long does it take to get over jet lag in Auckland?: A common rule of thumb is one day of recovery per time zone crossed when heading east, and a little faster heading west. Bright light at the right time of day and adjusting your sleep before you fly both speed it up.