Shortest continental US flights? | FerrariChat

Shortest continental US flights?

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by BMW.SauberF1Team, Jan 22, 2020.

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  1. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

    Dec 4, 2004
    14,244
    I'm ignoring the interisland flights that Hawaiian Airlines does as those are pretty short, but what are the best guesses for the shortest continental flights using commercial jets and not propellers?

    Shortest I've flown is Phoenix to Tucson and vice versa in a 737 (AA) and flight time was 20 minutes. Under 120 miles if one were to drive. It was a connection btw...would be crazy to book something like that and I'm not sure it's possible to book that.
     
  2. Ianjoub

    Ianjoub Formula Junior

    Dec 22, 2019
    899
    Homosassa, FL USA
    Full Name:
    Ian Joubert
    Tampa to Orlando @ 90 miles
    Boston (Logan) to Providence @ 60 miles
     
  3. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

    Dec 4, 2004
    14,244
    TPA to MCO I can't find a non stop flight. The other is a Cessna 172 that is $4k a seat and not a jet...
     
  4. tonyswfla

    tonyswfla Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 2, 2007
    823
    Florida
    MCO to RSW 135miles
     
  5. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Feb 27, 2004
    15,924
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    Jim Pernikoff
    I took a flight from PDX to SEA that took about 26 air minutes in a Delta Embraer 175. We climbed to 18,000 feet, stayed there for about 3 minutes, and then began our descent into Sea-Tac.

    Some years earlier, I flew a Carnival 727 (former Eastern equipment) from PBI to Freeport that was about a minute shorter, and we never did level out; it was a ballistic trajectory.

    But I understand there were once jet flights between San Francisco and Oakland!
     
    Texas Forever likes this.
  6. IndianaNative

    IndianaNative Rookie

    Jul 21, 2019
    16
    Full Name:
    OldJohnBoy
    Yes, there were repositioning flights by United from SFO to OAK many years ago. I remember reading about them when people started booking these flights to earn miles during some type of promotion. You could earn some substantial minimum miles regardless of the distance of the flight.
     
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  7. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

    DEN (Denver) to COS (Colorado Springs).

    Less than 50 miles. Airbus.
     
  8. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

    How about the longest per mile from Origin to Destination...

    American Airlines: ALB (Albuquerque) to SAF (Santa Fe)...11 H 45 min.... 2 stops in Phoenix and LA....

    It's about an hour Lyft.
     
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  9. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Feb 27, 2004
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    Jim Pernikoff
    Anyone who does that is probably just trying to earn frequent flyer miles! Or just likes flying around on the same aircraft. (I presume this is all one flight?)
     
  10. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 19, 2008
    37,984
    Clarksville, Tennessee
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    Terry H Phillips
    54 statute miles (46.9 nm) from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. Sign is right where I get on I-25.
     
  11. zygomatic

    zygomatic F1 Rookie
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    Jun 19, 2008
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    Washington, DC
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    Chris
    BWI to PHL ~90 miles
     
  12. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

    Oops.... It's ABQ, not ALB.... typo...
     
  13. jcurry

    jcurry Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 16, 2012
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    ORD to MKE, about 80 mi

    These flights are definitely a great way to waste time.
     
  14. Townshend

    Townshend F1 Veteran
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    Jul 20, 2005
    6,672
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    Walter
    I was just going to say that one. AA usually runs the CRJ-700. You actually spend more time taxiing than you do in the air
     

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  15. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Feb 27, 2004
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    18 minutes in the air after taxiing for 32 minutes? Sheesh.....
     
  16. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

    Dec 4, 2004
    14,244
    Google maps says 1hr 6 min drive (72.5 miles) between the two airports. At that point they should just taxi the plane all the way to the other airport on regular roads to save on fuel and airframe wear/tear haha. I guess they really need the aircraft at those places for the next flight so cheaper to run a real route than deadhead regularly.
     
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  17. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 5, 2002
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    I'm pretty sure the shortest one is SFO-OAK. About 9 miles, I think?

    When LA had a big summer of freeway construction, SWA (I think?) was running a BUR-LGB shuttle.

    The SFO-OAK thing was because they had to reposition the airplane, not really because they expected anyone to get on in SFO and fly to OAK, although with traffic these days, maybe it makes sense!
     
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  18. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    I was leaving from ONT on a sunny morning once, and at the next gate were passengers waiting to board a ONT-LAX shuttle, which wasn't going anywhere since LAX was fogged in and closed! I saw some of the passengers, in desperation, head for the rental-car counters! I think that ONT-LAX would be pretty short, but I believe they were using a turboprop.
     
  19. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    I'm pretty sure SFO-OAK was a widebody (777 or 747-- maybe DC-10 in the old days).
     
  20. FL410guy

    FL410guy Karting

    Apr 18, 2015
    64
    Fort Lauderdale
    I just flew SJC - OAK, to reposition a 737... 5 mins of airtime. Crazy quick


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
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  21. rngssw

    rngssw Rookie
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    Mar 30, 2017
    20
    Illinois, USA
  22. FL410guy

    FL410guy Karting

    Apr 18, 2015
    64
    Fort Lauderdale
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  23. David_S

    David_S F1 World Champ
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    Nov 1, 2003
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    My first guess would have been the "Janet" flights from LAS to KXTA... Something just shy of 90 miles?

    Guess that wouldn't count as "commercial," though. :p
     
  24. tejasemser

    tejasemser Rookie

    Jul 1, 2015
    18
    Like Tcar ... DEN to COS. Many years ago....
     
  25. Jedi

    Jedi Moderator
    Moderator Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Mar 18, 2008
    31,528
    Seattle Area
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    Dave
    Shortest for me was PUW in Pullman, WA to LWS in Lewiston, ID (Horizon Air, on a multi-stop flight to Montana) - 34 air miles. Took something like 8 minutes in the air.

    Stupidest flight I've ever been on - but had no choice - it was a scheduled stop on a 5-stop flight to Bozeman

    Jedi
     

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