# Longest regular non-stop airplane flight. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 25, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881 "2010-11-25T15:43:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/1 "2010-11-25T15:43:07Z")
In _Inception_, Sato mentions that Sydney, AUS to Los Angeles, USA is one of the longest flights. What is the longest? Must be a flight serviced by a commercial airliner on a regular (let’s say at least once a week) basis and non-stop. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/2 "2010-11-25T15:47:07Z")
Chicago to Tokyo? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/3 "2010-11-25T15:48:42Z")
Toronto to Delhi? Toronto to Tokyo? Both nonstop. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/4 "2010-11-25T15:56:19Z")
Also Toronto to Beijing–13.5 hours nonstop. I’m trying to make Air Canada’s site cough up durations for the other two nonstops I mentioned, but a friend who went to Delhi said it was 14h. ---
**Author:** ![chillihead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@chillihead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chillihead)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/5 "2010-11-25T16:00:52Z")
Wikipedia has it as Singapore Airlines SQ21 at an arse numbing 18 hours and 50 mins. Singapore to Newark. [Link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-stop_flight) [Flying today](http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByFlight.do?id=210132284&utm_source=airlineInformationAndStatus&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=co-op) Longest I’ve ever done is Manchester Singapore at about 13 hours. That was bad enough. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/6 "2010-11-25T16:13:10Z")
I did New York to Johannesburg, about 18 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/7 "2010-11-25T16:18:27Z")
I think I’d go nanners if I was on a plane for almost 19 hours. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/8 "2010-11-25T16:42:37Z")
Wikipedia has an article on it. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-stop\_flight](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-stop_flight) The longest flight it lists is Newark to Singapore at 15,345km and 18h 50m. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/9 "2010-11-25T17:26:44Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > I think I’d go nanners if I was on a plane for almost 19 hours. And that’s after getting to the airport a couple of hours ahead of the flight, the check-in and security folderol, boarding half an hour before pushback … I hope tickets on the Singapore flight include massage therapy after landing to prevent permanent paralysis. ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/10 "2010-11-25T17:48:31Z")
Is coach on an 18hr flight the same as on a cross country flight? Are the seats configured for a bit more comfort? I’m 6’2" and was pretty uncomfortable after 3 hrs from Atlanta to Las Vegas. No way could I do 18hrs that cramped. It was a Delta 757 I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/11 "2010-11-25T18:14:38Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > Is coach on an 18hr flight the same as on a cross country flight? Are the seats configured for a bit more comfort? The seat pitch for cattle class on the Royal Brunei Airlines flight from the U.K. to Brunei (short layover in Abu Dhabi) and on to Australia was no different than that for a short hop. I booked myself a business class seat. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/12 "2010-11-25T18:15:02Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > Is coach on an 18hr flight the same as on a cross country flight? Are the seats configured for a bit more comfort? > > I’m 6’2" and was pretty uncomfortable after 3 hrs from Atlanta to Las Vegas. No way could I do 18hrs that cramped. It was a Delta 757 I believe. No. I’ve been in coach for quite a few 15ish hour flights. It’s the same configuration. Good damned thing I’m only 5’8". What amazes me about these kinds of flights is: you take off, have a snack, watch a movie, read, fall asleep for a few hours, wake up, and still have half the fight left to go! Bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/13 "2010-11-25T18:44:05Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > I did New York to Johannesburg, about 18 hours. I thought that stopped at Ilha do Sal. Are they doing it non-stop these days? ETA: never mind. I see SA204 is indeed nonstop JFK-JNB. The scheduled duration is 15 hours now. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/14 "2010-11-25T21:55:14Z")
Note that Qantas desperately wants to run a non-stop Sydney-London flight to be able to bypass the busy asian hubs that they now have to refuel in. There are plans using new refinements of the Airbus A380 to improve range and also potentially a Boeing 777 improved long range version. When that eventually happens it will be 19 hours London-Sydney and 21 hours Sydney-London !!! The flight is possible now with current planes in a configuration with business and first class only (120 passengers) on a 777 but so far they haven’t taken that option. See here: [http://www.seattlepi.com/business/247908\_qantas11.html](http://www.seattlepi.com/business/247908_qantas11.html) and [http://www.travelhouseuk.co.uk/news/index.php/non-stop-flights-between-australia-and-london-creep-back-into-the-background-briefings/](http://www.travelhouseuk.co.uk/news/index.php/non-stop-flights-between-australia-and-london-creep-back-into-the-background-briefings/) ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/15 "2010-11-26T01:15:24Z")
Hmm I wonder if they should fly with the prevailing jet streams for the longer leg, not against them (i.e. across the Pacific and North America). ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/16 "2010-11-26T01:21:34Z")
I did Atlanta to Shaghai, which was 15 or 16 hours. Not sure, only thing I remember is it was a 2 ambien flight. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![IdahoMauleMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71c47a/32.png) [@IdahoMauleMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IdahoMauleMan)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/17 "2010-11-26T02:36:55Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > I did New York to Johannesburg, about 18 hours. I used to do that one all the time. I thought it was about 14-15 hours. Whoops. I see above somebody already jumped in. ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/18 "2010-11-26T04:31:23Z")
> [@chillihead](#): > > Wikipedia has it as Singapore Airlines SQ21 at an arse numbing 18 hours and 50 mins. Singapore to Newark. > > [Link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-stop_flight) I’ve done that flight, and it was closer to 20 hours. Fortunately it was business class, which was about 10X better than coach (and 10X the price). It wasn’t bad at all - nearly lay-flat seat/bed combo, private DVR/video game system, huge amounts of room, etc. I looked back at coach a couple of times, and they didn’t look happy. Singapore Airlines is known for their top-notch business and first class treatment. The 2 hour flight from Newark to my final destination on Continental was actually worse. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/19 "2010-11-26T19:50:38Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > I think I’d go nanners if I was on a plane for almost 19 hours. So would I. Possibly if I could afford the first class cocoon or cabin or whatever they call it, it would be more bearable. But I don’t even like to stay in my house that many hours on end, so I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/20 "2010-11-26T20:05:51Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > In _Inception_,Sydney, AUS to Los Angeles, USA is one of the longest flights. This seems easily superceded by a SF to Sydney flight, which I’ve taken. SF is rather north of LA, so it would seems only logical that the flight from SF would be a few hundred miles longer than the flight from LA, since Sydney is considerably south of both. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881.md?page=2)