By Diana Fairechild First Published 9-23-03 in the Jet Smart Newsletter

"Diana Fairechild, a former flight attendant who writes about and does consulting on the health risks of flying, says some frequent travelers often fail to connect the dots between their travels and chronic ailments." -Alina Tugend, The New York Times

"Diana Fairechild likens air flight to childbirth. In her simile the passenger is like the baby and the jet the womb which, unlike mom's, fails to adequately sustain the well-being of its inhabitants." -Maui News

DEAR DIANA

I am a Hotel Management Undergraduate student, and my dissertation project refers to JET LAG: symptoms, pre and post-flight therapy, and how hotels can help customers to minimize this sickness; and therefore, provide them a rapid welfare. In order to deepen my research I would like to have your opinion/suggestion and informed point of view on this matter.

Thanking you in advance, I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience for your kind assistance."

Renata Cury Farha
Brazil

DEAR RESPONDS

Dear Renata

There are many things that hotels can do to help their customers quickly bounce back from jetlag. One very important thing hotels can do is to make sure the light sources in the guest rooms have variable settings.

Light can speed up or slow down metabolism. This is explained in detail in my book Jet Smarter: The Air Traveler's Rx.

Hotels can help air travelers by offering both strong and soft light settings in the guest rooms, so people can give themselves more or less light according to their energy needs. Big windows which let in outside light are also important, as are blackout curtains, in case guests want to sleep in total darkness.

I also find that I personally do not sleep well on polyester or part-polyester sheets, and this is true for many people who are sensitive. Hotels which offer 100% cotton sheets show that they really care for their guests on more than a superficial level.

There are many more things hotels can do to truly nurture their guests over jetlag, but this is a good start.

Warm regards,
Diana Fairechild