Two "longest" flights

The only affair I would make sure of is that I was booked in 1st/Business.

 

That's friggin' ludicrous!

Having said that, it was something similar for SFO -> LHR back when I was doing it a lot. Fortunately, doing it regularly often meant upgrades to business, and a couple of times into first, which was nice. I can't remember now, but the first class fare was just completely *insane*!

Just looked on BA's site for that route for a return about a month out, returning two weeks later;

Economy; $652
Premium economy; $929
Business; $3729

Can't even get a quote for first!.... But my guess is well over $10k.....

Cheers,
Ian

 

For a flight that long, I'd say that Premium Economy was probably the best value for money.

 

+1

I did that when I went over for my sons wedding last year. It was pretty good, & the additional space certainly justified it for me.

Used to (sometimes) justify Club when I was working as I could get off the plane & go to work - Was a "consultant" and they charged *lots* for my time. Economy needed a day to "recover", so it was pretty much a wash.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Holy cripes! I've done 10+ hour jaunts to Asia and South Africa, and those were brutal enough. Hope you're one of those folks who can sleep on a plane, Bubbles. Safe travels!
T

 

10mg of Valium and two beers before boarding and you'll sleep the whole way even if you're stuck between two fatties in coach!

 

While reading these comments of the " comforts" of modern travel I couldn't resist thinking of the 314 Clipper with a dining salon, a library, comfortable berths, and room to wander around between them. Seventy four pax with room to WALK someplace. Progress?

 

Flying to Paris via Zurich (Swissair 1st Class) this Summer with my wife and our 2 boys.
Used Centurion to buy the tickets that were about $10500 each.
Got the deal "2 for 1" so it cost me $5k per person now.
Flew with Swissair before and it was the only time I was able to sleep on the plane.
Speaking of long flights, my 18 y old son flew 2 weeks ago to Kathmandu on Etihad.
Chicago to Abu Dhabi 13 hours, 1 hr layover and 4.5 hr to Kathmandu.
Bought him Economy for $1600, and offered $1100 for upgrade to Business which was accepted(on Etihad it is like 1st Class on BA or Lufthansa).
Unbeatable deal.

 

I very definitely hear you! It must have been fabulous to do a "round the world" trip on such planes back in those days

It was (obviously) before my time, but some of the "re-creations" I've seen on film of the "luxury" offered look awesome.

Almost akin to the "Orient Express" style of travel. Except that was (a little, given the BS these days) slower.

Closest thing these days may just be the "luxury" trains that run around the country - I'm trying to justify a trip up thru the Rockies to Chicago right now - Stop off & do some snowboarding in Tahoe, jump back on the next one, etc.

Maybe I've just spent too many hours on airplanes, but short of first class, I try & avoid it as much as possible.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Used to regularly due LAX-BKK on Thai Airways. Non-stop on A340-500. I heard rumors of their being a coach class. Booked a 17:40 to BKK but it regularly arrived early.

Jeff

 

Sweet! (Nice airline too.)

Cheers,
Ian

 

How many hours is that Miserable Flight?

 

17:30 west bound was the airline schedule but not all of that was in the air.

Even in Royal Silk the butt gave out before the flight was over from sitting in the seat.

Duration was significantly shorter flying back.

Singapore Airlines had their LAX non-stop flight that was about 40 minutes longer. Never did that one.

Both airlines lost money with the runs.

Jeff

 

I was thinking about long flights and I remember that the PBY5 could go from sun up
to sun up the next day . Using higher math, I figured that was 24 hours.

 

+1

That's at least a part of the problem though..... Seemed I was *always* stuck between two fatties..... One had "irritable bowel syndrome" and the other needed to pee every ten minutes!

"OK, please let me sit by the window....."
"Oh no, couldn't possibly swap seats....."



Cheers,
Ian

 

New longest flight in the world, soon by Emirates (Dubai to Panama City) using a Boeing 777-200LR.

Top 20 longest flights (in km) if interested:

These are the 10 longest non-stop commercial flights | World Economic Forum

 

That one from Dubai to Panama City is 7463 nm, a fur piece. Circumference of the earth is 21,600 nm, and that is a good chunk of it.

 

Wish they'd listed equipment... Boeing ERs, mostly?

 

I was in SE Asia last year traveling between jobs, when I got a phone call in Malaysia saying I got the job I wanted and they wanted me back quicker than my RT would allow. I rebooked on AA from HK to DFW which was 8119 miles and 15 hours, in a middle seat, but thankfully in Premium Economy. It was still brutal. The 3 hour flight back to San Diego seemed to be a 30 minute flight....slept the entire way.