When looking for flights to Europe, you might notice a common pattern: most flights depart later in the day.

Bob van der Linden, the curator of air transportation at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, explained, “People usually fly in the late afternoon or evening and arrive early the next day. This is simply because airlines cater to what passengers want.”

According to van der Linden, many travelers prefer to take overnight flights so they can sleep on the plane and get straight to their activities upon landing in the morning.

While I understand this perspective, I believe that many people are mistaken in thinking this is the best option.

I am an advocate for daytime flights to Europe, and I’d like to share my reasoning.

Why Overnight Flights to Europe are the Norm

Van der Linden attributes the prevalence of overnight flights to two main factors: profitability and passenger preferences.

“Airplanes only generate revenue when they’re in the air,” he stated. With overnight journeys to Europe, planes land in cities like London or Paris early in the day, ready for their return trip to the U.S. shortly after.

In contrast, daytime flights arrive at night, which may require the aircraft to sit idle for hours before taking off again due to the airline’s scheduling needs.

Additionally, van der Linden noted that many travelers (albeit, in my view, incorrectly) favor night flights to Europe.

“Most passengers want to arrive in Europe as the sun rises. If they haven’t slept soundly, they can watch a movie, have a meal, and when they wake up, they’re at their destination where the day is just beginning,” he said.

Why I Favor Daytime Flights to Europe

The crux of my argument is van der Linden’s comment about “attempting to sleep.”

I honestly don’t know anyone who gets quality rest while flying, especially in economy class. I can manage some sleep on planes, but I’m never ready to jump into the day after an overnight flight.

For me, the major downside of an overnight flight—something van der Linden suggested others enjoy—is arriving with a full day ahead of you.

If you’ve flown to Europe, you probably know the feeling: you land in the morning, still tired from a night of restless travel, having maybe had just two to four hours of patchy sleep.

You’re in dire need of rest and a shower, but your hotel check-in isn’t until 4 p.m., so instead you find yourself trudging through a day of sightseeing, fueled by too much caffeine until you can finally lie down.

Whenever I mention my preference for daytime flights, the typical reaction is, “But you’ll lose a day traveling!”

To which I respond, “Is that first day after arriving in the morning genuinely productive?”

As someone who naturally gets sleepy, I value resting, and that’s where daytime flights shine.

Instead of landing in Europe in the morning and dragging through the day, I can arrive early in the evening, enjoy dinner, relax for a few hours, and then go to bed at a reasonable hour. The next morning, I wake up feeling refreshed, with little to no jet lag.

Recently, I flew from New York at 8 a.m. and landed in London at 8 p.m. I spent a few hours catching up with family over drinks before heading to bed, and the next day, I woke up at a normal time, feeling energized.

As van der Linden mentioned, most travelers still seem to prefer evening flights to Europe for some reason, but if your options include daytime flights, I encourage you to consider it for your next vacation.

(I realize that business travelers may have different requirements and often fly in better seating arrangements, so this advice may not be as relevant for them.)

There’s also a financial aspect to consider when flying during the day. Many travelers reserve an extra hotel night when arriving in Europe in the morning to avoid check-in delays, but choosing a daytime flight integrates that first night’s stay into your travel plans.

Story continues below.

Strategies for Reducing Jet Lag

Daytime flights align well with the advice I’ve received from experts on managing jet lag.

“If you’re arriving in the morning, you should aim to rest or sleep as much as possible on the flight,” Dr. Charlene Gamaldo from the Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep and Wellness and a neurology professor, once shared with me. “Conversely, if you’re arriving around dinner time, it’s best to avoid eating on the plane and have dinner after your arrival to transition into sleep.”

As I mentioned earlier, even those who can sleep well on planes don’t usually achieve quality rest, making Dr. Gamaldo’s recommendations simpler to implement with a daytime flight schedule.

Seriously, give it a try and see the difference for yourself.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column. He is based in New York.