Boom is the aeronautics company that’s trying to bring back supersonic travel, with its signature Overture product. There’s no denying that there are a lot of smart people working at the company, and that the technology to bring back supersonic travel is there.
However, I think the market has evolved, and I don’t think there’s any business case for it, especially with the operating limits of the Overture. Anyway, that’s neither here nor there…
The reason for my post is that Boom CEO Blake Scholl is quite a guy, who has a lot of opinions on a lot of things (like abolishing airport security), and he likes to share them online. Scholl’s latest online “tips” are quite something. There’s a lot of advice out there about how to battle jetlag, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like this before.
In this post:
Boom CEO Blake Scholl’s complicated way to combat jetlag
Boom’s CEO has taken to Twitter/X, to share his approach for battling jetlag on eastbound transatlantic flights. It’s quite something, so here’s what he wrote:
My eastbound red eye protocol (most flights US->Europe):
– eat before I leave home/office
– blue light blocking glasses the moment I enter airport (I look like a dork but DGAF)
– buy two of the largest water bottles available, there is never enough hydration on board
– vitamin c and tart cherry powder at same time
– melatonin and magnesium as soon as I’ve boarded
– as much omega-3 and vitamin e oil as I can stomach
– eye mask on, earplugs under noise cancelling headphones, aim to fall asleep as quickly as possible
– fly business if at all possible, seat back/flat as soon as possible after takeoff
– no booze or food on the flight – sleep until absolutely necessary to wake
– coffee and high protein food after waking
– high dose methyl B6 and B12
– keep taking omega-3 and vitamin e every few hours
– same protocol next few days (vitamins B in the morning, melatonin and magnesium for sleep)H/T @FountBio for turning me on to much of this. I can now warp between time zones with impunity. And this will be extra valuable when supersonic makes transiting time zones even faster.
Oh, and I forgot: I pack pajamas in my carryon. Change into them in the lav before takeoff while others are boarding. Change back before landing.
Is this complicated of a strategy really necessary?
My goodness, no wonder this guy is trying to create a new way to fly, because the current way sounds downright exhausting. 😉
I don’t want to completely dismiss the concept of trying to take some basic measures to battle jetlag, and try to arrive as well rested as possible. However, it sure feels to me like this advice falls more into the category of “tech bro pontificating about his travel superiority” rather than actual reasonable tips that are logical.
Like, conversely, here’s my jetlag strategy for an eastbound transatlantic flight — eat all the food, get kind of wasted, and then pass out for a few hours. Okay, I’m kidding (sort of), but this whole thing just feels like Lufthansa Allegris levels of over-engineering.
Okay, sure, I get melatonin and magnesium. But vitamin C and tart cherry powder at the same time? And as much omega-3 and vitamin E oil as you can stomach? And methyl B6 and B12? And blue light blocking glasses? And two massive bottles of water before going to sleep (obviously we have different kinds of bladders!)? Like, you’re sure all of these things are incrementally contributing to feeling well?
Bottom line
Boom’s CEO, Blake Scholl, shares a lot of his thoughts online. His takes are generally pretty “out there,” though I have to say, his strategy to combat jetlag on overnight flights is perhaps the most extreme strategy I’ve ever seen from anyone.
What do you make of the Boom CEO’s anti-jetlag strategy?
Boarding a flight in pyjamas should be banned. Honestly.
I love how half of his "routine" is just throwing random crap inside him. Are we sure he's a CEO of a plane company, not a dietary supplement producer?
My rule for any longhaul is simple: I can extend the day but I can't shorten it. So whenever I travel, I push through with minimal sleep until it's time to go to bed at my destination and that's it. I book flights that make this...
I love how half of his "routine" is just throwing random crap inside him. Are we sure he's a CEO of a plane company, not a dietary supplement producer?
My rule for any longhaul is simple: I can extend the day but I can't shorten it. So whenever I travel, I push through with minimal sleep until it's time to go to bed at my destination and that's it. I book flights that make this easy whenever possible. Short power nap on eastbounds (e.g. to Asia) is okay but I'm cautious to not make it too long or I'd have trouble falling asleep in the evening.
You can preempt that by missing sleep at the origin. I recently needed to choose a connection to free up married segment award availability for an AF transatlantic flight departing CDG at 10:35. Instead of doing the 'sensible' thing and getting a connection from Italy etc and an airport hotel, I chose a 04:30 departure from IST in order to battle through with little/no sleep and make sure I'm tired enough to get 3-4 sleep...
You can preempt that by missing sleep at the origin. I recently needed to choose a connection to free up married segment award availability for an AF transatlantic flight departing CDG at 10:35. Instead of doing the 'sensible' thing and getting a connection from Italy etc and an airport hotel, I chose a 04:30 departure from IST in order to battle through with little/no sleep and make sure I'm tired enough to get 3-4 sleep on the plane, powering me through for a few more hours but also making me feel sleepy again at around my normal bedtime in the new time zone.
*3-4 hours of sleep on the plane
I guess i am superman
I reside in Vegas
I do west coast - Italy twice a month on average in J or F for a Fri-Mon weekend. I leave from the office and after i wake up from my US bound redeye i start working at 7am. In Italy i go straight to the tennis or golf club after the redeye, then i drive to my hometown for 2.5 hours, to return...
I guess i am superman
I reside in Vegas
I do west coast - Italy twice a month on average in J or F for a Fri-Mon weekend. I leave from the office and after i wake up from my US bound redeye i start working at 7am. In Italy i go straight to the tennis or golf club after the redeye, then i drive to my hometown for 2.5 hours, to return to FCO before my AM flight to the US.
The remaining two weekends I spend them in NYC where i fly redeye (F or J its still an upright seat) and back to the Ewest coast with an evening flight, after which i resume my work routine.
Twelve months a year for the past 3 years with some exceptions (in the winter those weekends can become skiing weekends in Utah). I do not say no to some limited booze in the lounges and planes, I eat on board often, do not use melatonin or other medications, perhaps I should hydrate more but certainly do not bring extra water. And I am perfectly fine (or so i think!)
To your last point, I am not so sure!
I think he should focus more on the fact that his sst doesn't have a suitable engine.
So.... a benadryl and a gin & tonic is no longer the plan?
It’s complicated but whatever works for someone. Those are strict rituals that likely fall into other facets of his life.
Me , I like the precision of 4pm departures from Houston that arrive into Europe the next morning at 7am. I can unwind on the flight , fall asleep, then hit the ground running.
Ben - after a flight you are heading to a nice hotel to sleep or write a trip report. He has 20 meetings after landing where he needs to make big decisions, so staying at 100% performance level and combating jet lag is a necessity. I honestly appreciate his advice.
Vincent - a little rude. Show some respect.
I hope you noticed as well how just starting with one's name is also rude.... how do you like it?
Russ - would you kindly point out which part of my reply was rude? I’m suggesting we should think about different perspectives and the fact that we all have different lifestyles, jobs and the demand on our mind and body from those activities. The CEO’s job is demanding and has a significantly impact for his company, employees and customers.
Starting with one’s name has been the tradition of written communication for hundreds of years...
Russ - would you kindly point out which part of my reply was rude? I’m suggesting we should think about different perspectives and the fact that we all have different lifestyles, jobs and the demand on our mind and body from those activities. The CEO’s job is demanding and has a significantly impact for his company, employees and customers.
Starting with one’s name has been the tradition of written communication for hundreds of years and still the standard today. By starting with ‘Ben’, I’m simply directly responding to Ben who wrote this blog, rather than other people like those in the comment section.
And no, I don’t find it offensive that you respond with my name at the beginning. What I find rude and condescending is when people make accusations without basis and want to lecture others based on prejudice.
Vincent, your nuts are still hiding up there like they owe someone money and your personality never left the womb either. Whining about “tradition” while slurping billionaire boot like it’s your job?
You wrote a whole dissertation to defend starting a sentence with a name because you’re too soft to handle a comment section without a safe word. Pathetic. Keep crying, keep coping, and keep those sad little peas warm up there, buster. The...
Vincent, your nuts are still hiding up there like they owe someone money and your personality never left the womb either. Whining about “tradition” while slurping billionaire boot like it’s your job?
You wrote a whole dissertation to defend starting a sentence with a name because you’re too soft to handle a comment section without a safe word. Pathetic. Keep crying, keep coping, and keep those sad little peas warm up there, buster. The rest of us will be down here with actual balls and zero time for your fragile nonsense.
Anyone who says DGAF in public is probably someone I don't really respect the opinions of. Especially someone in a leadership position.
Agree it would be better if in more moderate language, such as "tough".
But the fact that it is immediately after admitting to looking like a dork suggests some modesty.
Working with (let alone FOR) this as*hat must be an absolute joy). The smart money is on BOOM going BUST before they enter production. Nothing but cleverly-allocated PR expenditures for any airlines who are “invested.”
Perhaps it’s performing the overly complicated routine that corrects for the jet lag, like a placebo effect? As a result, his routine works so well because he’s giving himself an entire pill bottle worth of placebos
Seems a bit excessive :)
My routine:
- eat at the airport if the flight departs around 8PM or later, otherwise on the plane
- take a ”long-lasting” prescription sleeping pill when the plane is in the air
(- eat if flight departs no later than 8PM)
- brush teeth etc
- recline seat and take another, stronger prescription sleeping pill
- put on Bose Quietcomfort
- sleep until landing
- drink a lot of water the first day
Works perfectly fine :)
Minus some of the hyperspecific vitamins and supplements. This really isn't that complicated, I think many people take those in some shape or form anyways.
It's actually pretty sound advice for sleeping in general, and applying it in the context of flying on an airplane. Feels like we're making mountains out of molehills.
@ yoloswag420 -- "Minus some of the hyperspecific vitamins and supplements." Right, but there are eight of them...
"Oh, and I forgot: I pack pajamas in my carryon. Change into them in the lav before takeoff while others are boarding. Change back before landing."
That's probably worth forgetting. How'd you like to find yourself standing on the tarmac alone in your jammies if something goes wrong during takeoff and requires an emergency evacuation?
Though I guess a lot of Americans do basically wear pyjamas as clothes anyway.
You forgot where seemingly every male wears ugly shorts and flip-flops.
+1 on your point, removing shoes for amenity kit socks and pyjamas is a recipe for disaster.
If he's working this hard to be asleep as soon as possible onboard, and stay asleep as long as possible, what exactly is all that water for?
I'm always super careful about keeping water with me when I travel as well but I've never consumed nearly that much even on a 15-hr ultra-long-haul.
If I drank two huge bottles of water, there wouldn’t be much sleeping.
I don't see a correlation. It is a fact that being well-hydrated is extremely beneficial to sleep quality.
Your Bladder Must Vary
Most of my flights across the pond from North America to Europe or the UK leave late evening and arrive at zero dark thirty the next morning. My routine is eat before the flight, ignore the meal after take off if one is offered, no alcohol, sleep. eat breakfast, such as it is on most flights, then to the hotel. Book an extra night, i.e. the night before arrival in order to have the room...
Most of my flights across the pond from North America to Europe or the UK leave late evening and arrive at zero dark thirty the next morning. My routine is eat before the flight, ignore the meal after take off if one is offered, no alcohol, sleep. eat breakfast, such as it is on most flights, then to the hotel. Book an extra night, i.e. the night before arrival in order to have the room available when I arrive at the hotel, usually around 8 am. Shower, sleep for three hours then get up for lunch and usually I can function normally after that. The cost of the extra night is minimal compared to feeling human the first day.
That’s great advice
I have been pondering something similar with regards to the Hotel
How do you keep the Hotel from cancelling your booking, if you show up the next morning after you are supposed to check-in? Is a mail to Them explaining you Will show up in the morning enough?
Excellent tips. Will endeavor to employ them on my next TATL flight.
Oh, 1990, is this another one of your personas?