Everybody`s different but for me I always preferred the last flight from London, about 10.20pm from Heathrow I think. Then via Hong Kong and just a short connecting time, enough to have a small cigar in the smoking room and pace about a bit. Then it`s only 1hr 40 mins to Phil from there.
If I started work at 6am and had the last flight then i`d always sleep for a while but not too long.
Yeah its a long flight and I made my 7 trips by myself so i got used to it but never enjoyed it!
Emirates stop at Dubai which isnt quite halfway. It depends whether he prefers 2 long flights of 7-8 hours or one long flight and one short.
As far as i`m aware the shortest flying time is via Hong Kong with BA and its about 13 hours total.
Emirates I seem to remember is about 15hrs or so.
If he doesnt like flying i`d suggest that the shortest flying time is the best for him.