# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/81 "2015-09-03T19:48:05Z")
I wouldn’t hit the Persian Gulf. It hits back. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/82 "2015-09-03T21:21:10Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Update: We have a new winner, or we will have once service commences next February 1. That’s when [Emirates will launch nonstop service between Dubai and Panama City](http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/13/travel/emirates-longest-flight/). > > That’s 17 hours and 35 minutes in the westbound direction, traversing 13,800 kilometers or 8580 miles. I had to read the link twice before I understood they weren’t flying to Panama City, Florida.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/83 "2015-09-04T02:19:14Z")
I just a few months ago did SF-manila in economy on a 777-300ER. Even with my not so dainty 375lb self the 13.5 hour flight wasnt bad, wasnt great, but not bad. If I do it again I will seriously consider business class. This particular plane, we all had individual entertainment units in the seatbacks, about 80 movies to choose from, a dozen or so games, and internet(additional fee). It was kinda nice being able to putter around FB and chat with friends while I was in the air. It was also 19" wide seats in coach (17" is very common) IIRC the business class was 21-22" ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/84 "2015-09-04T23:48:32Z")
And as for Emirates itself, I’ve never flown them, but I know a lot of people who do, and they all rave about the airline. Economical, efficient and just plain good by all accounts. I think every Brit I know who makes regular trips back to the UK flies Emirates by choice. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/85 "2015-09-26T15:29:43Z")
The Emirates proposal has been one-upped, but I’m pretty sure the Emirates Dubai-Panama City route is more of a definite thing. Air India has recently proposed a new flight route linking the IT hotspots of Bengaluru and San Francisco, located a staggering 8,699 miles (14,000km) apart. If approved, this particular path would be the world’s longest non-stop commercial route with an estimated flight time of between 17 to 18 hours. ([Air India proposes world's longest non-stop flight between Bengaluru and San Francisco | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3248750/Good-luck-economy-Air-India-proposes-world-s-longest-non-stop-flight-18-hour-8-700mile-marathon-Bengaluru-San-Francisco.html)) Boeing 777-200. Elsewhere the article proves that the lede[sup]1[/sup] is not just buried[sup]2[/sup] but false: In a statement to the Times of India, a spokesperson for Air India said: 'We are planning to have a nonstop from either Delhi or Bengaluru to San Francisco on our Boeing 777-200 long range aircraft. ‘And in addition, we are planning a direct service between Ahmedabad and London due to the huge demand for travel between these two cities.’ It’s expected that the official announcement of the flight path will take place when the Prime Minister of India visits Silicon Valley this week.Two newspapers in one! The article does have a nice chart on the longest and shortest flights in the world–but given the accuracy in this article, its validity as SD must be considered suspect. 1. The opening paragraph which “leads” the article and summarizes the most important newsworthy item about which the rest of the article will continue. It is term common among journalists and other people who analyze how “the news” is presented and manipulated. 2. “Burying the lede” is suppressing by choice or poor editing/writing the actual novel or “newsworthy” facts that ostensibly justify the arricle’s being printed at all. It is a term common among journalists and other people who analyze how “the news” is presented and manipulated. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/86 "2015-09-26T16:29:16Z")
I have done NYC to Lahore once. 13 hours. Leave at night. Arrive an hour later the next night. Fucking awful. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/87 "2015-09-26T17:47:48Z")
Any major cities located on almost opposite locations on the globe? That would be a ~12,000 mile flight, taking about 20 hours, depending on jet streams and such. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/88 "2015-09-26T18:05:29Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Any major cities located on almost opposite locations on the globe? > > That would be a ~12,000 mile flight, taking about 20 hours, depending on jet streams and such. Lots of them! > **[Antipode Map of Shanghai](https://www.findlatitudeandlongitude.com/antipode-map/)** > > Map of Shanghai and its antipode Entre Rios Province, Argentina. Lima to Phnom Penh looks like fun. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/89 "2015-09-26T18:55:15Z")
My record as a passenger is Los Angeles to / from Auckland = 5650nm. That ride was fairly pleasant, but with an additional connecting leg on each end = 28 hours from door to door = yecch! I’ve also done Los Angeles to / from London = 4740nm. Neither of which are even remotely competitive with the serious long-haul stuff. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/90 "2015-09-26T19:54:19Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > My record as a passenger is Los Angeles to / from Auckland = 5650nm. That ride was fairly pleasant, but with an additional connecting leg on each end = 28 hours from door to door = yecch! I’ve also done Los Angeles to / from London = 4740nm. > > Neither of which are even remotely competitive with the serious long-haul stuff. If you are flying to the US from basically East of Turkey, you are facing an 20-24 hour door to door even with travel to simply your point of departure and point of landing. And this means facing the nice fellows from the US Immigration, and seriously, try not looking and sounding suspicious then, when you struggle to formulate a coherent sentence. Which is why pre clearance is a god send. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/91 "2015-09-29T16:33:56Z")
Our record is LAX-Guangzhou and then back again the other way. Official distance is 7,233 miles. About 15 hours in the air to get there, and about 13 to get back. But we started in Lubbock, Texas, so counting other flights and layovers and such, plus the fact that Guangzhou wasn’t our final destination, it took another 19 hours of actual travel time on top of the 15 to get where we were wanted to go. Our route didn’t take us over the open Pacific, but rather along the North American coastline, along the southern edge of Alaska, and then down to China. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/92 "2015-09-29T17:19:21Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > The Emirates proposal has been one-upped, but I’m pretty sure the Emirates Dubai-Panama City route is more of a definite thing. > > Air India has recently proposed a new flight route linking the IT hotspots of Bengaluru and San Francisco, located a staggering 8,699 miles (14,000km) apart. > If approved, this particular path would be the world’s longest non-stop commercial route with an estimated flight time of between 17 to 18 hours. ([Air India proposes world's longest non-stop flight between Bengaluru and San Francisco | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3248750/Good-luck-economy-Air-India-proposes-world-s-longest-non-stop-flight-18-hour-8-700mile-marathon-Bengaluru-San-Francisco.html)) > Boeing 777-200. > > Elsewhere the article proves that the lede[sup]1[/sup] is not just buried[sup]2[/sup] but false: > In a statement to the Times of India, a spokesperson for Air India said: 'We are planning to have a nonstop from either Delhi or Bengaluru to San Francisco on our Boeing 777-200 long range aircraft. > ‘And in addition, we are planning a direct service between Ahmedabad and London due to the huge demand for travel between these two cities.’ > It’s expected that the official announcement of the flight path will take place when the Prime Minister of India visits Silicon Valley this week.Two newspapers in one! > > The article does have a nice chart on the longest and shortest flights in the world–but given the accuracy in this article, its validity as SD must be considered suspect. > > 1. The opening paragraph which “leads” the article and summarizes the most important newsworthy item about which the rest of the article will continue. It is term common among journalists and other people who analyze how “the news” is presented and manipulated. > 2. “Burying the lede” is suppressing by choice or poor editing/writing the actual novel or “newsworthy” facts that ostensibly justify the arricle’s being printed at all. It is a term common among journalists and other people who analyze how “the news” is presented and manipulated. SFO-DEL has been announced. But that’s only a little over 7700 miles, so it’s long but not one of the longest. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/93 "2015-09-29T17:52:21Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > 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. Longest flight I’ve been on was 11 hours, and for me, boredom and restlessness was a lot bigger problem than physical discomfort. I mean, I read several hundred pages, watched a couple of movies, and STILL had like 4 hours to go before landing. I’d have to sedate myself for an 18 hour flight if I didn’t have a laptop or tablet with a power plug. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/94 "2015-09-29T18:32:09Z")
Delta’s Detroit-Nagoya nonstop used to be 13.5 hours on a 747. Last year they switched to an Airbus A-330, which apparently flies slower: official gate-to-gate time increased to 14.5 hours. What’s worse is that there was engine malfunction as we were leaving the gate, which required us to be towed back to the gate so they could reboot the computers or something; that added an extra hour, so yes, 15.5 hours gate to gate. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/95 "2015-09-29T19:36:30Z")
Air New Zealand used to have a nonstop flight (at least until the early nineties) from London Heathrow to Auckland on a 747. ~12,000 miles or 22 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/96 "2015-09-29T19:47:53Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Air New Zealand used to have a nonstop flight (at least until the early nineties) from London Heathrow to Auckland on a 747. ~12,000 miles or 22 hours. That’s pretty amazing, considering [the 747-300 had a maximum range of only 7700 miles.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747#Specifications)😃 Perhaps you meant “direct” (which would include one or more stops enroute) rather than “nonstop”? ---
**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:** [September 29, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/97 "2015-09-29T19:57:29Z")
They flew very fast to get there before they ran out of fuel. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/98 "2015-09-29T20:08:49Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > That’s pretty amazing, considering [the 747-300 had a maximum range of only 7700 miles.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747#Specifications)😃 > > Perhaps you meant “direct” (which would include one or more stops enroute) rather than “nonstop”? :smack: Yes. Direct, not nonstop. One stop in LA. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/99 "2015-09-29T21:27:08Z")
I’ve done that LA to/from Auckland on the ANZ 747-400 a few times. And at LAX the airplane either came from or was going to LHR depending on which direction it was flying. This was a few years ago now, 2007-2009. It got a fresh crew in LAX unsurprisingly. Though many rather bedraggled passengers got off in LA, milled around the holding lounge for the ~2 hours it took to turn the aircraft, then climbed back aboard for the second leg. Sucks to be them. As of 2014 they’ve parked all those 747s and now use 777s on the route. That’s slightly slower, by maybe 1/2 hour per leg. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/100 "2015-09-29T21:46:38Z")
I slept through the whole thing. Including the layover. It was the first time I was able to sleep on a plane (I was 12 or so) and I basically slept for the middle 11 hours. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881.md?page=6)