The best flights from Phoenix to London

These overnight flights will be easier to sleep through. Your body clock will still be on your Phoenix timezone, so getting to sleep will be easier for flights after 6pm. By the time dinner is cleared away, it will be about 8pm and you'll feel naturally tired.

The second big benefit is that the flights will land nearer a time you would typically wake up in Phoenix. Your body will have had more chance to rest and recharge without interruption at a somewhat normal time. Earlier flights will leave you sleep deprived. Remember, you'll typically be offered breakfast 1-2 hours before landing too. That will feel easier nearer 6-7am on your body clock than 1-2 am.

If you do have to take an earlier flight, see if you can get the earliest possible flight then get home or to a hotel for a "proper" sleep until lunchtime in London the day you land (your body will want to this anyway). If you can land around dawn, get out the airport quickly, and beat the morning rush hour traffic home, this also works. Your flight then isn't so critical for sleep.

You might be too awake to go to bed in the new local time. Even if you haven't slept well inflight, your body clock will be on morning time in your Phoenix timezone. It's easier if you have more hours in London to adjust and tire out again before bed. If not, you may struggle to get to sleep again on the first night that you land, so your day 2 jetlag will become much worse.

If you do have to take these later flights, try not to sleep all the way through. Instead, try waking up about halfway through the flight and "starting your day" on London time. It won't feel easy, but you'll be more ready to click into the new timezone on arrival.

Studies show the effects of lower cabin altitude (more oxygen and humidity) help with feeling less fatigued when you land.

787s, A350s and A380s have lower cabin altitudes than other aircraft. On long flights, like from London to Phoenix, you'll notice your skin, mouth, and nose dry through the flight.

Most travellers will hit rush hour traffic en route to the airport. Expect the heaviest traffic in Phoenix from 3pm to 6pm.

If you depart Phoenix between 6pm and 9pm, you'll hit the traffic on the way to the airport and check-in. Taxis and Ubers will be more expensive too.