Have you ever crossed the INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE?

[AviatorTom]

The International Date Line (IDL) is an imaginary line that defines the boundary between one day and the next. It is roughly located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean at longitude 180 degrees, separating Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Have you ever crossed the IDL?

If so, what direction did you go? And how did it affect you?

FYI... I've crossed the IDL several times, in both directions, on business in a plane, as I worked on projects in Australia and Asia from my base in the USA.

Yes - East to West crossing

Yes - West to East crossing

Yes - both directions East to West and West to East

No - never crossed the IDL

[SolivagantRises]

I used to work on container vessels. So yes, I have crossed the IDL many times. For me, it had an adverse effect psychologically because crossing the pacific takes takes a minimum of 10 days at an average speed of 20 kts. Which means that we would have to repeat an entire day or completely skip a day since we had to adjust the ship's clocks according to the arrival destination date and time. It was crazy. :D

In short, repeating a day sucked and skipping an entire day was a blessing for our minds. Lol.

[KrakenAttackin]

@SolivagantRises 20 knots? Damn, that's quite a bit faster than I would have thought.

[SolivagantRises]

@KrakenAttackin We took 10 days from Busan to Tacoma at an average of 22 knots. The current helped with the speed. Lol. Container ships have to be faster, but of course it consumes a lot of fuel per day.

[KrakenAttackin]

@SolivagantRises. I get the need for speed, it just amazes me that such large vessels could make turns for such speed. A friend of mine is a senior manager in the ULCC tanker industry and he says these beasts easily average 17 kts, which is amazing to me. But oil has to move.

[GuyAnswersGirls123]

I think at least 200 times now both ways. I had to travel a lot growing up as well for my work, most commonly from various parts of Japan to various parts of the US and vice versa. I've accumulated some epic FFP points.

As for effect, I get jet lagged really badly so I always asked my company to fly me in at least one day earlier if we have to work in the office the next day. I spend that entire day just bumming out in the hotel to help fix my eating/sleeping patterns for the rest of the week (s) I stay. Otherwise my internal clock will be messed up and I'll be feeling terrible for almost an entire week.

[midnightmoon05]

Back and forth a couple of time going to Asia. (China to US. US to HK. US to Korea. US to Japan and back).
We are going again this summer. Landing in Korea from east coast US to Korea. Coming back…we will come back from Thailand then London then east coast US.
so my kids and hubby will not have the experience flying back from Asia to US from east to west.

[Amy10223]

Is it also called the Prime Meridian?
If so, then Going to England and Spain, I did cross that. If not then I guess not!

[AviatorTom]

@Amy10223 No, the International Date Line is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, exactly 180 degrees on the other side of the world from the Prime Meridian. You would cross it going from North America to/from Asia or Australia.

[Amy10223]

I’ll be crossing it next month then. Thank you! Now I know the difference.

[exitseven]

No, I don't stray too far from home anymore

[ArrowheadSW]

No, I never have crossed that. I used to be an active ham radio operator and I would talk to people on the other side of that line. I'd always have to keep it in mind that they could be in a different day depending on the time of day.

[electromagnetic]

I’ve closed it west to east many time to get from Canada to Asia or Australia. Stupid expensive though.

[V_Injector]

I've crossed all the lines. I went there and took a shit or two and banged hookers... and did drugs. I lived in Japan, all over the states at this point, stayed in Hong Kong, and so on. I've been all over. I think that's why I'm not really a "vacation" sort of guy... I've seen enough, there is nothing for me to see. I've already seen it all.

I was in the military, if you're wondering why. If it wasn't some shit hole it was somewhere else, I've been there.

[andreasderjuengere]

Once - from Hong Kong to New York.
I gained a day, but personally I found it to be a waste of time.
As return went East again, I'm now a day older than I am.

[Red_Arrow]

Yes I have crossed the IDL. In planes and on ships. Both ways. I have also crossed the equator.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

Yes, so many times in my lifetime.

So far, already 4 times this year.

[purplepoppy]

Sadly not. I wonder what happens if you just stay on it.

[OlderAndWiser]

Not me. I don't wander far from home very often!

[Peter_Penetrator]

If you are new to the Navy, and cross the IDL, expect to get hazed.

[MicroJ]

No, I have not. Most of my travels have taken me to Canada and Europe.

[Dargil]

I have flown from the USA to the Philippines round trip twice.

[Alex-Snow]

Yes when we went on a trip to Australia. What a nice country

[douride2]

No I have never crossed in either direction.

[Anonymous]

Yes. I was going east across it. So I've seen one more sun rise than most people my exact age.

[msc545]

I've crossed in both directions several times. It didn't seem to do much of anything to me.

[Daniela1982]

If I crossed the line my date would be pissed, especially if they were from another country.

[Nikki1989]

Dozens of times.

[PeachyPie93]

Yes crossed both ways a few times.

[slatyb]

DFW -> NRT and return

[Unit1]

Nah, i never did that before.

[BCRanger10]

Yes. I went to Australia back in 2008.

[strateguy632]

nope.

[strateguy632]

it SHOULD be improved nearer n. z. 179 e. not bump to west hemisphere.

[riverrat3]

Time travel

[AviatorTom]

Yes... I remember the standard 747 flight from Hong Kong to Chicago. Took off at 905 am and landed at 900 am, same day, 5 minutes earlier in time.

[laly520]

I did