red-eye flight

Meaning

A commercial flight that departs late at night and arrives early the next morning. The name comes from the red eyes passengers often get from not being able to sleep well on an overnight flight.

Examples

• I took a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to New York and arrived exhausted.

  I took a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to New York and arrived exhausted.

• Booking a red-eye flight is usually cheaper, but you lose a night of sleep.

  Booking a red-eye flight is usually cheaper, but you lose a night of sleep.

• She has a meeting at 9 AM, so she's taking the red-eye flight tonight.

  She has a meeting at 9 AM, so she's taking the red-eye flight tonight.

• I hate flying, especially when it's a cramped red-eye flight.

  I hate flying, especially when it's a cramped red-eye flight.

• If you take the red-eye flight, you can maximize your time on vacation.

  If you take the red-eye flight, you can maximize your time on vacation.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am flying with a red-eyes flight tonight.

  ✓ I am taking a red-eye flight tonight.

  'Red-eye' is singular when used as a compound modifier before 'flight'. Also, the verb 'take' or 'catch' is more natural than 'fly with'.

• ✗ The flight was very long, so it was a red-eye flight.

  ✓ The flight was overnight, so it was a red-eye flight.

  A 'red-eye' specifically refers to an overnight flight, not just any long-distance flight.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I'm going to be exhausted tomorrow because I'm taking a ___.

  💡 An overnight flight that arrives in the morning

  Show answer

  red-eye flight

• The ___ was cheap, but I couldn't sleep a wink on the plane.

  💡 Late-night flight

  Show answer

  red-eye flight