• Top 7: Longest domestic US flights
• Top 10: Longest Domestic Flights in the World
• Top 12: Longest Non-Stop Delta Flights in the World
• Top 15: Longest Fifth Freedom Flights in the World
• Top 16 Longest Emirates Fifth Freedom Routes: Coming to a City Near You
• Top 14: Longest United Airlines Flights In the World

…but what about the longest non-stop flights in the world? Airplane manufacturers are always pushing the envelope trying to design planes that fly faster, farther and more efficiently. So far, the plane that has held the record is an Airbus A340-500 with a range of 9,000 nautical miles (10,357 miles) but it’s interesting to see that Boeing largely dominates the ultra long-haul list.

Here’s an interesting post from the gcmap.com blog:

On Sunday, Boeing announced the launch of the 777X with orders for 259 airplanes including 34 for Lufthansa, 25 for Etihad Airways, 50 for Qatar Airways, and 150 for Emirates. The orders cover two members of the 777X family. The 777-9X will seat over 400 passengers and have a range of more than 8,200 nm. The 777-8X will be similar in size to the current 777-300ER and to the Airbus A350-1000, seating 350 passengers with a range of more than 9,300 nm.

Today’s Featured Map illustrates the range of the 777-9X and 777-8X from Dubai, the hub airport for Emirates. Only a portion of the South Pacific is beyond the range of the 777-8X.

Emirates’ new fleet of 150+ Boeing 777-8/9x will be able to fly non-stop to just about anywhere in the world

Edit record: 11/26/13, 5/12/14, 11/24/14, 1/5/16, 2/20/17

Top 10 Longest Non-Stop Flights in the World

So, what are the top 10 longest (by distance) non-stop flights in the world?

1- Auckland, New Zealand-AKL <–> Doha, Qatar-DOH is the newest flight on the list, having just begun on Feb 6, 2017. The flight will have you seated for a mind and bun-numbing (or comfortable, top notch experience in Business–sorry, no First Class offered on this route) 17 hrs 30 mins on Qatar’s Boeing 777-200LR/F. The flight (QR 921 / QTR921 – click to track) covers 9,032 miles (14,536 km).

Cabins offered: Business (9.1) & Economy (8.2).

2- Auckland, New Zealand-AKL <–> Dubai, UAE-DXB is certainly the longest Airbus A380 flight in the world, clocking in at 8,824 miles (14,201 km). The flight is scheduled to take 17 hrs 25 mins so, if you have to take this flight, just make sure it’s in the lap of luxury in one of the 14 closed suites that Emirates offers on the A380. You can track the flight here: EK 449 / UAE449. This flight began on March 2, 2016.

Cabins offered: First (9.9), Business (9.9) & Economy (8.9).

3- Dallas-DFW <–> Sydney-SYD, once the leader of the list, now comes in 3rd place at 8,578 miles (13,804 km). As of Sep 29, 2014, Qantas switched from flying this route on a Boeing 747 to a new Airbus A380. Unlike the B747, the new A380 aircraft prevents QF 8 (QFA8 – click to track) from having to make a stop in Brisbane-BNE on the westbound flight so the flying time is now 16 hrs 55 mins. The A380 now carries up to a whopping 484 passengers in 4 classes of service. Before switching to an A380, the route began in May 2011 using a Qantas 747-400ER (more details on this specialized aircraft here) at a scheduled time of 15 hr 25 min. With the B747, only the eastbound SYD-DFW flight was non-stop. The distance was such a stretch that the B747 had to make a stop in Brisbane on the westbound flight (DFW-BNE-SYD) see #4 below. This made the overall trip appx 19.5 hrs.

Cabins offered: First (9.6), Business (9.3), Premium Economy (9.0) & Economy (8.5).

4- San Francisco-SFO <–> Singapore-SIN, is a rather recent addition having just been started by United on June 1, 2016. United flight # UA 1 / UAL1 (click to track) is operated by a Boeing 787-9 aircraft and takes a full 17 hrs 25 mins to cover the 8,446 miles (13,593 km). Not wanting to be left out, Singapore Airlines started service shortly after United on October 23, 2016, and use one of their 10 (of 14 total ordered) new Airbus A350-900 on the route.

UA Cabins offered: Business (9.5), Premium Economy (9.1) & Economy (8.8).
SQ Cabins offered: Business (9.8), Premium Economy (8.9) & Economy (8.8).

5- Johannesburg-JNB <–> Atlanta-ATL comes in at 8,439 miles (13,582 km) and is operated by Delta’s Boeing 777-200LR, taking 16 hr 55 min.

Cabins offered: Business (9.7), Premium Economy (8.7) & Economy (8.4).

Note: it’s quite interesting that the next 4 flights on the list are all flights operated by Persian Gulf carriers (Etihad, Emirates, Qatar and Saudia) to Los Angeles-LAX. And all 4 flights are within 84 miles of each other!

6- Abu Dhabi-AUH <–> Los Angeles-LAX takes number 6 with a scheduled flying time of 16 hr 45 mins. Etihad Flight # EY 171 (ETD171 – click to track) covers 8,390 miles (13,502 km) aboard a Boeing 777-200LR/F. When this flight began on June 1, 2014, Los Angeles became the 4th U.S. city served by Etihad.

Cabins offered: First (9.8), Business (9.7) & Economy (8.2).

7- Dubai-DXB <–> Los Angeles-LAX comes in 7th with 2 flights daily aboard Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER (EK 217/UAE217 – click to track) and Airbus A380-800 (EK 215/UAE215 – click to track). The 16 hr 15 min flight covers 8,339 miles (13,420 km). Cool part? The A380 model seats 489 people!  “Emirates A380 offers 14 Private First Class Suites, 76 lie-flat beds in Business Class and 399 spacious seats in Economy Class.”

A380 Cabins offered: First (9.9), Business (9.9) & Economy (8.9).
B777 Cabins offered: First (9.8), Business (9.1) & Economy (8.4).

8- Jeddah-JED <–> Los Angeles-LAX started service on March 31, 2014, and, just 7 miles shorter than Dubai-Los Angeles, is currently the 8th longest flight (it started off as 4th but has since moved down the list) in the world. The 8,332 mile (13,409 km) flight takes 16 hr 40 mins aboard Saudia’s Boeing 777-300ER, track flight SV 41 / SVA 41 here.

Cabins offered: First (9.8), Business (9.7) & Economy (8.6).

9- Doha-DOH <–> Los Angeles-LAX is flown by Qatar Airways using Boeing 777-200LR/F equipment. Flight # QR 739 / QTR739 (click to track) clocks in at 16 hr 15 min, covering 8,306 miles (13,367 km). This route was announced back in May 2015 and went into service on Jan 1, 2016.

Cabins offered: Business (9.1) & Economy (8.2).

10- Dubai-DXB <–> Houston-IAH takes 16 hr 45 mins on Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER and covers a distance of 8,168 miles (13,144 km). Track flight # EK 211 / UAE211 here.

Cabins offered: First (9.8), Business (9.1) & Economy (8.4).

Runners-up

11- Abu Dhabi-AUH <–> San Francisco-SFO is another recent addition by Etihad Airways, having flown its first flight on November 18, 2014. This made it the 6th US city served by Etihad. The 8,158 mile (13,129 km) journey takes a scheduled 16 hr 15 mins to complete. Flight number EY 183 (ETD183–click to track) is flown on a Boeing 777-200LR/F.

Cabins offered: First (9.8), Business (9.7) & Economy (8.2).

12- Dallas-DFW <–> Hong Kong-HKG is one of the only recent additions to the list by a U.S. based carrier. American Airlines flight # AA 125 (AAL125) started service in June 2014 and now claims the title of 12th longest non-stop flight in the world. The 8,123 mile (13,073 km) route has a scheduled westbound flying time of 16 hr 55 mins aboard a Boeing 777-300ER.

Cabins offered: First (9.4), Business (9.7), Premium Economy (8.9) & Economy (8.2).

13- Dubai-DXB <–> San Francisco-SFO comes in at #13 at a distance of 8,103 miles (13,041 km) on Emirates’ Airbus A380-800. The scheduled flying time for flight # EK 225 (UAE225)  is 16 hr 00 min.

Cabins offered: First (9.9), Business (9.9) & Economy (8.9).

14 & 15- New York-JFK/Newark-EWR <–> Hong Kong-HKG — Hong Kong-HKG to New York-JFK/EWR is a popular route! There is essentially a tie between 3 flights, technically the Cathay Pacific route from New York-JFK is the just 7 miles further than the Newark-EWR origin:

1. JFK–>HKG on Cathay Pacific. They fly this route appx 3x times per day on Boeing 777-300ERs, covering 8,072 miles in around 15 hr 55 mins to 16 hr 10 mins.
   Cabins offered: First (9.5), Business (9.5), Premium Economy (8.8) & Economy (8.4).
2. EWR–>HKG on Cathay Pacific. This 8,065 mile route is offered 1x per day on Boeing 777-300ER. Flying time is scheduled at 15 hr 50 mins. Flight # is CX 899 / CPA899.
   Cabins offered: Business (9.5), Premium Economy (8.8) & Economy (8.4).
3. EWR–>HKG on United Airlines’s Boeing 777-200. The scheduled flying time for flight # UA 179 / UAL179 is 16 hr 00 mins.
   Cabins offered: Business (9.3), Premium Economy (8.9) & Economy (8.4).

Between these 5x daily flights there are appx 1,369 seats a day on the NYC-HKG route, pretty crazy!

16- Abu Dhabi-AUH <–> Dallas-DFW currently registers on the list at #16 and was started on December 3, 2014. When it was started, Dallas became the 5th US city served by Etihad direct from Abu Dhabi. The 16 hrs 35 min flight covers 8,071 miles (12,989 km). If you’re interested in flying EY 161 / ETD161, you’ll end up on an Etihad Boeing 777-200LR/F.

Cabins offered: First (9.8), Business (9.7) & Economy (8.2).

17- Doha-DOH <–> Houston-IAH is operated by Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-200LR/F. At 8,047 miles (12,951 km), the 16 hrs 40 mins flight has been in service since 2009. Track flight # QR 713 / QTR713 here.

Cabins offered: Business (9.1) & Economy (8.2).

18- Dubai-DXB <–> Dallas-DFW gives Emirates its 4th route in the top 20 longest non-stop flights. The 8,040 mile (12,939 km) trip takes 16 hr 15 min. Flight # EK 221 / UAE221 (click to track) is operated by a Boeing 777-300ER.

Cabins offered: First (9.8), Business (9.1) & Economy (8.4).

19- Guangzhou-CAN <–> New York-JFK started operations in August 2014. The 2x daily flights cover an 8,002 mile (12,878 km) distance that takes a scheduled time of 15 hr 40 mins on China Southern Boeing 777-300ERs. The late night flight is CZ 399 / CSN399 and the early evening flight is CZ 300 / CSN300.

Cabins offered: First (9.2), Business (9.5), Premium Economy (8.8) & Economy (8.4).

20-Hong Kong-HKG<–> Boston-BOS gives the Hong Kong based Cathay Pacific its 3rd flight in the top 20. This route is scheduled to take 15 hr 45 min abroad a Boeing B777-300ER. You can track the 7,970 mile (12,826 km) flight here: CX 812 / CPA812.

Cabins offered: First (9.5), Business (9.5), Premium Economy (8.8) & Economy (8.4).

21- Johannesburg-JNB <–> New York-JFK now comes in at #21 on the list thanks to new routes bumping it down (it was once # 10!). The 7,969 mile (12,825 km) flight takes 16 hr 10 min on a South African Airbus A340-600. Track the flight here: SA 204 / SAA204.

Cabins offered: Business (9.1) & Economy (8.1).

Retired flights

–> Newark-EWR <–> Singapore-SIN held the title as world’s longest flight for nearly 10 years (service ended on Nov 23, 2013). The all-business class Airbus A340-500 flew the planned distance of 9,534 miles (15,343 km) in 18 hr 50 min. Singapore has just resumed non-stop service from the US to Singapore with the addition of a flight from San Francisco to Singapore.

Cabins offered: Business only!

–> Los Angeles-LAX <–> Singapore-SIN had a similar start and end date as Newark-Singapore. The all Business Class A340-500 flew appx 18 hr 05 min and covered a distance of 8,770 miles (14,114 km).

–> Dallas-DFW <–> Brisbane-BNE was another Qantas route served by their Boeing 747-400ER. At 8,303 miles (13,363 km) they’d get you there in appx 16 hrs. When Qantas switched the aircraft on this route from the B747 to an A380, the stop at BNE was no longer necessary and, as a result, this route stopped service on September 28, 2014.

Future record holder? Turkish Airlines has announced plans for a route from Istanbul-IST to Sydney-SYD, 9,293 miles apart. This route would beat current record holder, Auckland-Doha, by over 250 miles. More details on the announcement here: Turkish Airlines to start world’s longest non-stop flight, to Australia. The airline says they’ll likely use a Boeing 777-300ER on the route.

The post Top 10: World’s longest non-stop flights first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

• Added SFO-SIN
• Added TLV-SFO
• Removed IAD-DXB

I recently researched and completed a list outlining the longest Delta flights in the world and was surprised to see that Delta is considered to be one of the biggest airlines in the world based upon a number of metrics. However, I also became curious about the other U.S. based carriers.

Other posts in this series:

1. Top 7: Longest domestic US flights
2. Top 10: Longest Domestic Flights in the World
3. Top 12: Longest Non-Stop Delta Flights in the World
4. Top 15: Longest Fifth Freedom Flights in the World
5. Top 10: World’s longest non-stop flights
6. Top 16 Longest Emirates Fifth Freedom Routes: Coming to a City Near You

Delta might have United beat based upon number of passengers:

Delta carried 164.6 million passengers in 2013 vs United’s 139.2 million

But United excels based upon passenger-miles flown:

In 2013 United had 330 million passenger kilometers flows vs Delta’s 313 million

A few interesting points from this list:

• While United loves their Boeing 777-200s, we’re starting to see a shift to the B787. It used to be that of the 18 longest United flights, 13 were operated using the B777-200ER aircraft. They have about 74 of them in their fleet, making up about 10% of the total aircraft. But now, out of 18 flights, 6 are operated by B787s and 10 are flown on B777s.
• Although most of the hubs make an appearance a few times on this list, the Houston-IAH hub has the fewest ultra-long haul flights, making an appearance only once.
• It makes sense that United beats Delta based upon passenger-miles flown. For example, United has about 18 flights that are longer than 6,500 miles vs Delta’s 10 flights above that threshold.
• Of their 23 B787-9s on order, United has already taken delivery of 18 of them. And as expected, they’ve been adding more ultra-long haul routes between unique city pairs (San Francisco to Tel Aviv, for example).

Top 14 Longest Non-Stop United Flights

(Update 9/1/16):
1. San Francisco, CA-SFO –> Singapore-SIN takes place as the new #1 longest United route with 8,446 miles (13,593 km) aboard a new B787-9. The route, UA flight # 1 or UAL1, is scheduled at 16 hr 35 min. Service began on June 1, 2016, and United is tied with Singapore Airlines for 3rd longest flight in the world on this route.

2. Newark, NJ-EWR –> Hong Kong-HKG is currently 2nd longest United flight in the world at 8,065 miles (12,979 km). The 15 hr 50 min flight is operated by United’s B777-200. UAL179 (UA flight # 179) is also tied with Cathay Pacific for the 14th longest flight in the world.

3. Los Angeles-LAX –> Melbourne, Australia-MEL clocks in as United 3rd longest flight. Scheduled service began on October 26, 2014 and was made possible by the airline’s shiny new Boeing 787-9. UA flight #98 (UAL98) will take 15 hr 45 min to cover 7,921 mi (12,748 km). Shared with Qantas, this is currently the 23rd longest flight in the world.

4. Newark, NJ-EWR –> Bombay, India-BOM has a scheduled duration of 15 hr 50 min for the 7,807 mile (12,564 km) journey. Coded as UAL49 (UA Flight # 49), the flight is operated by a Boeing 777-200. This is also the 26th longest flight in the world, shared with Air India.

5. Chicago, IL – O’Hare-ORD –> Hong Kong-HKG is also operated by a B777-200. UA flight # 895 covers 7,794 miles (12,543 km) during the 15 hr 55 min flight. Cathay Pacific is tied with United for this route in sharing the 27th longest flight in the world.

6. Los Angeles-LAX –> Sydney, Australia-SYD, UA flight # 839 (UAL839) scheduled flight time is 15 hr 05 min. A Boeing 787-9 covers the 7,488 mile (12,051 km) route.

(Update 9/1/16):
7. Tel Aviv-TLV –>San Francisco, CA-SFO became the 7th longest United flight when it began service on March 30, 2016. The 7,422 mile (11,936 km) flight is operated by a B787-9. The route, UA flight # 955 or UAL955, is scheduled at 15 hr 05 min.

8. San Francisco, CA-SFO –> Sydney, Australia-SYD comes in at number 6 with 7,417 miles (11,936 km) aboard a B787-9. The route, UA flight # 863 or UAL863, is scheduled at 14 hr 55 min.

9. Newark, NJ-EWR –> Shanghai, China-PVG covers a distance of 7,384 miles (11,883 km) during the 14 hr 55 min flight. UA flight # 86 (UAL86) is flown on a, you guessed it, B777-200.

10. Newark, NJ-EWR –> Delhi, India-DEL, aka UA flight # 83 (UAL83) makes for the 2nd non-stop US to India destination coming in at 7,324 miles (11,787 km). A B777-200 operates the 15 hr 15 min flight. 

11. Chicago, IL – O’Hare-ORD –> Shanghai, China-PVG breaks up the B777-200 trend and finally gives us a route operated by a Boeing 747-400. UA flight # 835 (UAL835) lasts appx 14 hr 10 min covering 7,057 miles (11,357 km).

12. San Francisco, CA-SFO –> Hong Kong-HKG aka UAL869  (UA flight # 869) is the second (and final) B747-400 route on this list at 6,927 miles (11,148 km). The flight is scheduled to take 14 hr 15 min.

13. Washington, D.C. – Dulles-IAD –> Beijing, China-PEK has a scheduled flying time of 14 hr 00 min under UA flight # 807 (UAL807). The 6,921 mile (11,138 km) route is operated by a Boeing 777-200.

14. San Francisco, CA-SFO –> Chengdu, China-CTU rounds out the (self-admittedly arbitrarily) cutoff list at number 14. It is also United’s 6th longest Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight at 14 hr 20 min. UA flight # 9 (UAL) covers 6,870 miles (11,056 km).

Other notable mentions

15. Newark, NJ-EWR –> Beijing, China-PEK. The 6,831 miles (10,993 km) long route is coded as UA flight # 89 (UAL89) with a duration of 13 hr 50 min aboard the B777-200.

The next 3 are grouped together since they’re all United hubs to Tokyo-NRT. I find it pretty interesting that all of the flights are within about 100 miles of each other:

16. Washington, D.C. – Dulles-IAD –> Tokyo, Japan-NRT = UA flight # 803 (UAL803) and covers 6,753 miles (10,868 km) over 14 hr 05 min on a B777-200.
17. Newark, NJ-EWR –> Tokyo, Japan-NRT = UA flight # 79 (UAL79) and covers 6,732 miles (10,834 km) over 14 hr 00 min on a B777-200.
18. Houston, TX-IAH –> Tokyo, Japan-NRT = UA flight # 7 (UAL7) and covers 6,643 miles (10,691 km) over 13 hr 45 min on a B777-200.

19. Chicago, IL – O’Hare-ORD –> Beijing, China-PEK = 6,579 mi (10,588 km)

Discontinued longest non-stop United Flights

The only discontinued ultra-long haul United flight I could find data was JFK-HKG, if you know of any others, please post them in the comment section below!

New York, NY – Kennedy-JFK –> Hong Kong-HKG was one of the shortest lived ultra-long haul flights in history. UA Flight #821 (UAL821) began service on April 1, 2001 and was cancelled within 5 months. The 8,072 mile (12,991 km) flight held the record as the longest flight in the world when it first began. Those that flew this rare route spent appx 15 hr 40 min aboard a Boeing 747-400.

(Update 9/1/16):
Washington, D.C. – Dulles-IAD –> Dubai, United Arab Emirates-DXB used to be United’s 9th longest flight before it was cancelled on Jan 23, 2016. When operating, it was scheduled to take 14 hr 25 min aboard a Boeing 777-200. UA flight # 977 (UAL977) covered a distance of 7,069 miles (11,376 km). Interestingly, this was the only route that United fly to Dubai-DXB and now there are none.

The post Top 14: Longest United Airlines Flights In the World first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

According to official data from Airbus, the A380 has a range of 9,444 miles (15,200 km) with its 84,500 US gal fuel capacity. Let’s see how far they’re actually flying this behemoth.

1. Qantas from Dallas-DFW to Sydney-SYD (flight number QF 8 / QFA8 – click here to track) is both the longest route operated by an Airbus A380 and also the longest non-stop scheduled commercial flight in the world. The trip covers 8,578 mi (13,805 km) in 16 hr 55 min and carries up to a whopping 484 passengers in 4 classes of service.

2. Emirates from Dubai-DXB to Los Angeles-LAX (flight number EK 215 / UAE215 – click here to track) begins the 4-in-a-row sweep of Emirates flights to/from the US. Covering 8,339 mi (13,420 km) in 16 hr 15 min, this route also earns the title of 4th longest non-stop flight in the world (Top 10: World’s longest non-stop flights).

3. Emirates from Dubai-DXB to Houston-IAH (flight number EK 211 / UAE211 – click here to track) covers 8,168 mi (13,145 km) in 16 hr 45 min. Previously flown on an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER, Airbus A380 service began in December 2014. In addition to being the 3rd longest A380 flight, it is also the 6th longest flight in the world.

4. Like #3 above, Emirates from Dubai-DXB to San Francisco-SFO (flight number EK 225 / UAE225 – click here to track) was also switched from a Boeing 777-330ER in December 2014 to one of Emirates’ beloved A380s. The 16 hr 00 min flight covers a distance of 8,103 mi (13,040 km).

5. Emirates from Dubai-DXB to Dallas-DFW (flight number EK 221 / UAE221 – click here to track) ends the 4-in-a-row Emirates sweep with a 4th US destination flight. Frequent travelers on this route got the upgrade from a Boeing 777-200LR to the A380 in October 2014. The course covers 8,040 mi (12,939 km) in 16 hr 15 min of scheduled flying time.

6. Qantas has been flying their A380 from Los Angeles-LAX to Melbourne-MEL for quite a while– since 2008. Flight number QF 94 / QFA94 – click here to track covers 7,921 mi (12,748 km) in 15 hr 50 min.

7. Etihad from Sydney-SYD to Abu Dhabi-AUH (flight number EY 455 / ETD455 – click here to track) covers 7,492 mi (12,057 km) in 14 hr 40 min. The service was started in June 2015, making it one of the most recent additions to the top 20 list.

8. Qantas from Los Angeles-LAX to Sydney-SYD (flight number QF 12 / QFA12 – click here to track) covers 7,488 mi (12,051 km) in 15 hr 00 min.

9. This route from Sydney-SYD to Dubai-DXB is a tie between Emirates and Qantas (flight number EK 413 / UAE413 – click here to track) covers 7,481 mi (12,039 km) in 14 hr 30 min. The Qantas route (flight number QF 1 / QFA1 – click here to track) is scheduled at 15 hr 05 min.

10. Emirates from Brisbane-BNE to Dubai-DXB (flight number EK 435 / UAE435 – click here to track) covers 7,442 mi (11,977 km) in 14 hr 35 min.

11. Etihad from Melbourne-MEL to Abu Dhabi-AUH (flight number EY 461 / ETD461 – click here to track) will cover 7,235 mi (11,644 km) in 14 hr 05 min when it takes its maiden flight on June 1, 2016.

12. Is a 3-way tie:

China Southern Airlines from Los Angeles-LAX to Guangzhou-CAN (flight number CZ 328 / CSN328 – click here to track) covering 7,231 mi (11,637 km) in 14 hr 50 min.

And also tied for 12th is: Melbourne-MEL to Dubai-DXB is another tie between Emirates (flight number EK 407 / UAE407 – click here to track) and Qantas (flight number QF 9 / QFA9 – click here to track). The route covers 7,231 mi (11,637 km) in 14 hr 05 min for Emirates and 14 hr 10 min for Qantas.

13. Korean Air flies the A380 on its Atlanta-ATL to Seoul-ICN route (flight number KE 36 / KAL36 – click here to track). Coming in at #13, the total journey takes 15 hr 10 min, covering 7,152 mi (11,510 km) of ground.

14. Korean Air from New York-JFK to Seoul-ICN has 2x scheduled flights per day (flight number KE 82 / KAL82 – click here to track and flight number KE 86 / KAL86 – click here to track) covers 6,906 mi (11,114 km) in 14 hr 20 min. Between the 2 flights on the monstrous A380, Korean Air offers a total of 814 seats per day between New York and Seoul.

Also covering the route is Asiana from New York-JFK to Seoul, South Korea – Incheon International-ICN (flight number OZ 221 / AAR86 – click here to track). It covers 6,906 mi (11,114 km) in 14 hr 30 min. The Asiana route seems a bit less desirable as they cram 495 seats on board each A380, 21% more than Korean Air.

15. Emirates from Dubai-DXB to Toronto-YYZ (flight number EK 241 / UAE241 – click here to track) covers 6,899 mi (11,103 km) in 14 hr 10 min.

16. Etihad from Abu Dhabi-AUH to New York, NY – Kennedy-JFK (flight number EY 103 / ETD103 – click here to track) covers 6,867 mi (11051 km) in 14 hr 05 min.

17. Emirates from Dubai-DXB to New York-JFK operates twice daily (flight number EK 201 / UAE201 – click here to track and flight number EK 203 / UAE203 – click here to track) and covers 6,849 mi (11,022 km) in 14 hr 20 min.

18. British Airways and Singapore Airlines are tied for the Singapore-SIN to London Heathrow-LHR, 6,765 mi (10,887 km) route. British Airways operates its A380 once daily (flight number BA 12 / BAW12 – click here to track) in 13 hr 50 min, while Singapore has 2x daily flights between the cities (flight number SQ 308 / SIA308 – click here to track and flight number SQ 322 / SIA322 – click here to track). The scheduled duration is 14 hr 10 mins.  The 3x flights per day make this route the most heavily saturated A380 route in the world, offering 1,287 seats daily between Singapore and London on the aircraft type.

19. Singapore from Singapore-SIN to Paris-CDG (flight number SQ 336 / SIA336 – click here to track) covers 6,666 mi (10,728 km) in 14 hr 00 min.

20. Malaysia Airlines operates 2x flights on their A380s between Kuala Lumpur-KUL to London Heathrow-LHR (flight number MH 4 / MAS4 – click here to track and MH 2 / MAS2 – click here to track). The route covers 6,593 mi (10,610 km) in 14 hr 05 min.

The post Top 20: Longest Airbus A380 Routes in the World first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

Criteria:

• Must be a Category 4 Hyatt hotel
• Relatively expensive in $ to other Cat 4 properties (based upon 2 sample bookings with price averaged together)
• Minimum of 4.5 TripAdvisor rating
• Well reviewed or recommended as a good Category 4 property here

Ways to stay for free:

• Use a free night certificate from the Chase Hyatt credit card
• Spend 15,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points for a free night
• Spend 7,500 HGP points + $100 for a free night

16. Andaz Savannah

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $278.50

15. Hyatt Escala Lodge at Park City

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $511.50

14. Park Hyatt Toronto

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $251.50

13. Park Hyatt Busan

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $284

12. Hyatt French Quarter New Orleans

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $303

11. Grand Hyatt Dubai

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $315

10. Park Hyatt Saigon

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $321

9. Park Hyatt Siem Reap

TripAdvisor: 5

Sample price: $335.50

8. Hyatt at Olive 8

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $361.50

7. Grand Hyatt Berlin

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $382

6. Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $509.50

5. Park Hyatt Hamburg

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $330.50

4. Grand Hyatt Seattle

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $361.50

3. Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $210

2. Grand Hyatt Melbourne

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $239.50

1. Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort

TripAdvisor: 4.5

Sample price: $523

The post Hyatt Top 16: Best Use of Free Night Certificates (Category 4 Hotels) first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

1) These sunglasses are a) on sale and b) fantastic for each and every face shape. I’m dying for a pair of sunglasses that are nice enough to really keep my eyes shaded but also can withstand the dark spaces deep within my purse. Usually when I travel, I take only my cheap-o pair of sunglasses, but they’ve endured one too many scratches and I’m ready for a new pair! (nordstrom.com)

2) I have been obsessing over Asia lately, and this book would be the ideal tool to help with my research. There are so many cities in Asia that are begging to be explored, and this New York Times book has a unique suggestion for each one. I’ve used the 36 Hours in the US and Canada quite often, and the “closed door dinner” suggestion for Buenos Aires (in 36 Hours in South America) turned out to be my favorite experience of our trip! Bonus: It’s on a sale for only $23.23! (amazon.com)

3) Aren’t you always jealous of the girls at TSA check points that look so put together while you struggle to put your shoes back on? I am. But, with this black passport cover, you can at least look like you’ve got it all together. It’s not too obnoxious so you won’t be embarrassed to pull it out at customs in a strange place. (anthropologie.com)

4) Even though you can sleep in ratty T-shirts at home, I always like fancy pajamas for traveling. These fit the bill perfectly — because who doesn’t love rompers?! (shopbop.com)

5) The holidays are the perfect time to visit old friends and, luckily, most of my friends live just a few hours away. I’m planning a few weekend trips to celebrate the season with them, and what better to pack in than this super-cute weekender bag? The quilted pattern on this all black bag adds an extra bit of glam without being over the top. Plus, it’d fit perfectly in an overhead bin for visits with friends who live an airplane ride away instead of a drive. (nordstrom.com)

Featured image source: By: JD Hancock – CC BY 2.0

The post TUESDAY’S TOP 5 first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

1) Although Thanksgiving is thought to be a purely American holiday, I found this fascinating website detailing how other countries around the world celebrate the harvest holiday. For example, did you know that, in India, Thanksgiving is widely known as ‘Ladin’ or ‘Ladainha’ and is typically celebrated by Christians in the Goa region. Check it out! (thanksgiving-day.org)

2) The perfect holiday shopping guide with something for everyone, especially the traveler. A Mexican Cookbook? Yes, please! (victoriamcginley.com)

3) Did you know that Black Friday and (especially) Cyber Monday deals carry over into travel booking? It’s not the first thing you think of, but there are plenty deals to be found — including $7 rooms all over the US on Hotel Tonight AND a whopping 55% off the majority of 2015 at Turtle Beach in Barbados. Perfect treat for finishing all your Christmas shopping early? I think so. (hoteltonight.com AND fodors.com)

4) The best way to snag great Cyber Monday deals is to avoid exhausting Thanksgiving travel woes. Here’s some tips from the folks at Travel Channel on how to simplify your Thanksgiving travel plans AKA the busiest travel week of the year. (travelchannel.com)

5) After your big Thanksgiving meal is the perfect time to snuggle up with your family and dive into Netflix. One of our favorites lately has been Ricky Gervais’ 2010-2011 An Idiot Abroad series. If you’re a big fan of travel, I think you’ll find it extra-funny. And who doesn’t love dry British wit? (netflix.com)

Featured image credit: By: Satya Murthy – CC BY 2.0

The post Tuesday’s Top 5: Thanksgiving Edition first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

We decided to brush up on our aviation history (some of you might consider it a trip down memory lane) and outline some of the most awesome and badass wonders of aviation we’ve ever seen.

…A time when the flight attendants wore short shorts and bought you liquor drinks two at a time.

By: Mike Lewis – CC BY 2.0

By: Daniel Lobo – CC BY 2.0

1. The Qantas Captain Cook Lounge – Boeing 747

First up is the Captain Cook lounge aboard Qantas’ Boeing 747s. Situated on the top deck, the lounge offered space for a full luxury dining experience.

Source: aussieairliners.org/

Source: airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/3969134/

Source: aussieairliners.org/

2. The American Airlines “LuxuryLiner” with Piano Bar and more!

For those (like me) that needed to do a double take for the photo below:  yes, that is a piano installed on a Boeing 747! Sometime around 1972, American Airlines introduced their new “LuxuryLiner” fleet.

American Airlines’ new “LuxuryLiner” fleet featured many of their McDonnell Douglas DC-10, Boeing 707 and Boeing 747-100 aircraft. The Boeing 747-100s were probably the coolest in that the airline removed 60 seats and placed a living room-sized lounge and piano bar for its coach passengers to enjoy. Just look at how much fun they’re having (in this staged photo by a professional photographer):

Source: http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/3969134/

The lounges were all equipped with Wurlitzer electronic organs:

Source: http://www.710kmpc.com/photo.htm

And, flying in First Class didn’t suck either:  passengers were able to reserve a table for up to 4 people to eat dinner, hangout etc…

Source: http://airlinespastpresent.blogspot.com/

Here are a few commercials touting the new “coach lounge”:

And even when American Airlines wasn’t installing very nice Wurlitzer electric organs in its planes, it didn’t skimp out on the awesome lounges:

3. Continental Polynesian Pub on the DC-10

Continental first rolled out their new “Polynesian Pub” concept on their fleet of 747s and then, in the early 1970s also included the lounge/bar on their DC-10s. Unfortunately, as a result of the 1973 oil crisis, more seats were needed and the DC-10 pubs were removed.

Either way, looks like a pretty great place to pass the time on a flight. The DC-10 pubs we located in economy class and open to all passengers.

Source: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1344151-traveling-back-70s-3.html

4. TWA’s 707 Coach Lounge

“In October of 1971, TWA introduced a coach lounge on its 707-131Bs. This was an extension of the Ambassador service theme, first introduced in November 1970. Note the bar and the coach ‘twin seat’ with center table folded down. Seat covers 12 (fuschia), 15 (brown) and 9 (gold-orange).”

5. Braniff Boeing 747 Upper Deck

“Braniff operated a sole Boeing 747, affectionately titled ‘Big Orange’ and ‘Fat Albert’ from 1971 to 1978. The 747 flew exclusively on DFW-Honolulu until the arrival of additional Boeing 747s when it embarked on its fatal deregulation ‘route gorge.’

When the Boeing 747 was introduced in the early 1970s during the throes of a recession, passenger capacity exceeded demand. Also, the Upper Deck was not initially certified to carry paying passengers during take-offs and landing. Thus, airlines used them as premium lounges. Continental and American Airlines even added pubs and organs in theirs. Braniff went for a very stylish (for the time) approach. A side note, at the time Braniff’s “Big Orange” was the highest utilized Boeing 747 in the world.”
Airwaysnews.com

Source: airwaysnews.com

Source: airwaysnews.com

6. Singapore Airlines B747 “Slumberette”

The upper deck lounge on Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 747 started in 1976:

In 1976, Singapore Airlines redesigned its first class upper-deck to create ‘slumberettes’ – 6 custom divans that turned into beds.

The post Top 6: Awesome Vintage Airline Lounges ON Airplanes first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

Like many other hotel chains, stores and restaurants, Park Hyatts are all pretty similar in “niceness” but have different concepts and experiences. However, the caliber of service never changes — at least not at any Park Hyatt I’ve stayed in so far. Never before have senior hotel management staff literally waved me off until I disappeared into the distance until we visited the Park Hyatt Maldives – and, there, it happens to each guest. If you’re looking for luxury, the Park Hyatt brand promises luxury with no compromises.

First, a little about the Park Hyatt brand:  Hyatt hotels were established in 1957 (and now have 490 hotels worldwide), but it wasn’t until 1980 that the Park Hyatt luxury brand was first established. These hotels are mid-sized properties located only in premier destinations. Now, there are 34 Park Hyatts in the world:  8 in the Americas, 13 in Asia, 3 in Australia, 7 in Europe and 3 in the Middle East. Two more are slated to open by the end of 2014. (For a list of all Park Hyatts, see the bottom of this post.)

Each Park Hyatt has its own personal style, with features from the city and region woven seamlessly into the design and decor of the hotel. Each hotel has stunning artwork and regional art experiences to enjoy. From light installations to art galleries to sculptures, each hotel is perfectly unique and little details of the city are found in every corner of the hotel. In India, the Park Hyatt Chennai showcases a butterfly silk fabric to honor the city’s history of textile weaving. In Paris, the Park Hyatt Vendôme has unique bronze sculptures and light fixtures by Roseline Granet placed throughout the hotel and in each hotel room. The Park Hyatt Washington houses an art installation of square canvases in “regimental order;” called The Continental Amy, this piece is evocative of soldiers in the American Revolution — fitting for the nation’s capital.

Of the 34 Park Hyatts, I’ve been lucky enough to stay in five so far – and, as I said, these are my favorite hotels! Although it’s difficult to compare hotels you’ve stayed in to hotels you haven’t stayed in, I am happy researching Park Hyatts all day long and day-dreaming about my “someday” stay in those I haven’t seen IRL just yet…

Without further ado, here’s my list for the top 10 coolest Park Hyatts in the world. And, even though I haven’t stayed in all of them, you better believe I have my fingers crossed that Jeffrey will surprise me with a stay in each one day.

10.
Park Hyatt Sydney
7 Hickson Rd, The Rocks NSW 2000, Australia

This Park Hyatt starts off the list of the Top 10 Coolest Park Hyatts simply because of its location. Located right across from Sydney’s Opera House, almost every room has a view. Its stunning location beats every other hotel in the city, including the Four Seasons. If you’re staying in Sydney, why not stare at the world-famous Opera House as long as possible?

9. 
Park Hyatt Zurich
Beethovenstrasse 21, 8002 Zürich, Switzerland

This hotel consistently ranks among one of the top Park Hyatt hotels, so I felt I had to include it. Although I haven’t visited, the photos show a clean and sophisticated hotel — and a Park Hyatt with a more traditional design. Although it doesn’t have the crisp lines and clean-cut modern touch that others (like Tokyo) have, I have no doubt that every amenity is totally and completely luxurious. And, the location can’t be beat:  it’s located just 5 minutes by tram from the central train station.

8. 

Park Hyatt Busan
South Korea, 부산광역시 해운대구 마린시티1로 51

The Park Hyatt Busan, aside from being ranked #1 (out of 100) hotels in Busan, South Korea, is also one of the most outstanding Park Hyatts in the world. The views of the city are fabulous — mostly because the hotel is a skyscraper made up almost entirely of floor to ceiling windows. And, couple that with ultra-sleek decor… you’ll never want to leave.

7.
Park Hyatt Vienna
Am Hof 2, 1010 Wien, Austria

This is one of the newest Park Hyatts to the world, opening in Summer 2014. It may be the newest Park Hyatt, but it’s housed in an old bank, adding old-world charm to the brand new. A polar opposite of the Park Hyatt Busan, this particular Park Hyatt is steeped in tradition. Not only is its shell an old bank, but the designers have kept much of the dark wood interior. The stately decor makes you feel like you’re visiting Austrian royals — this hotel is certainly not modern (save for its up-to-date technology).

6.
Park Hyatt Abu Dabi Hotel and Villas
Sheikh Khalifa Highway (E 12 Road), Jazirat As Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi 52007, United Arab Emirates

The only thing I know about the UAE is that it’s a tiny little country with great wealth. Nothing illustrates this fact as well as the Park Hyatt in one of the UAE’s biggest cities. The Park Hyatt Abu Dabi is more of a resort than a hotel and it is located right on the Persian Gulf. Pools, sand and cabanas galore, this resort has it all. While I’d classify the decor at the Park Hyatt Vienna as sleek, I tend to reserve the adjective for the more modern designs, and this time the Park Hyatt went back to its modern and sleek side when decorating this one.  And, from the looks of it, it looks like the Park Hyatt Abu Dabi delivers on the nightly treats. While some Park Hyatts deliver a sweet treat only at check-in, others leave a nightly dessert after each turn-down service.

5.
Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa
Arossim Beach | South Goa, Cansaulim 403712, India

The Park Hyatt Goa is sprawled on 45 acres of garden and lagoons with plenty to do just at the spa. For a relaxing vacation, the Park Hyatt Goa has you covered. Completely different than the rest of India, I’d recommend spending a few days in “normal” India, visiting the Taj Mahal and other tourist destinations and then making your way towards the Park Hyatt Goa as your final destination. I don’t think you’d want to start here and go backwards…

The rooms are huge with a stunning view from each one. There’s plenty to see a do, but you’d find me on the beach all day long (except for when I was at the spa…)

4.
Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
Av Alvear 1661, C1014AAD Buenos Aires, Argentina

Jeffrey and I recently stayed at the Park Hyatt BA and it was extravagant, luxurious and everything I could have hoped for…including an art gallery in the basement. It’s located in the Recoleta neighborhood of BA, which is one of the best areas of the big city. It was once just Palacio Duhau, a 23-room mansion built in 1934. Next door, built on what was once a bluff, is the 142-room Posadas building– the more modern of the two (with larger hotel rooms, too). If you’re looking for quaint rooms with added charm, hardwood floors and heavy silk curtains, request to stay in the old mansion. For a bigger family or just more room with a contemporary flair, request the larger Posadas building. The two buildings are linked underground (beneath the gardens) and an art gallery fills the walls.

We recently stayed on the Palacio Duhau side — the very large room had a bathroom to die for (walk-in shower, marble bathtub, more counter space than you can dream of…) and a beautiful view of Ave. Alvear. We could easily walk all over the city and felt very safe — but barely wanted to leave the luxury of the Park Hyatt.

3.
Park Hyatt Tokyo
3-7-1-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo,  Japan, 163-1055

Every bit of the Park Hyatt Tokyo is located above the 41st floor of a skyscraper in Tokyo. So, every hotel room’s view is a-mazing. And, even though Japan is known for advanced technologies and a sleek, modern feel, this hotel takes it to the extreme. What’s more? You can even see Mt. Fuji in the distance. The crisp, clean and a neutral pallet complete this modern, technologically-forward hotel and it truly is luxurious, even for the seasoned business traveler.

2.
Park Hyatt Vendôme
5 Rue de la Paix, 75002 Paris, France

I’m admittedly very biased towards this Park Hyatt because it was the first one I stayed in… but, I think maybe the Park Hyatt hotel brand was made for Paris. Couple the luxury of Paris with the Park Hyatt name and you have the perfect Parisian vacation filled with old-world style. The Park Hyatt Vendôme service is second-to-none and the decor is subdued and exquisite. My room looked out over a snow-covered courtyard. The bathroom and closet were just as large as the bedroom area – even in Europe’s notoriously small hotel rooms. The service was excellent, with a bottle of champagne waiting on us upon our arrival. What’s more – the location can’t be better; the hotel is just steps away from the Louvre. I fully believe that my love for Park Hyatts is solely because of this hotel.

1.
Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa
Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Maldives

The Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is my ultimate favorite Park Hyatt because almost one-third of its rooms are over-the-water bungalows. And you just can’t beat that.

We were lucky enough to stay in an over-the-water bungalow on our honeymoon trip to the Maldives and it was truly the trip of a lifetime. On its very own private island just miles away from the Equator, the Park Hyatt Hadahaa is luxury at its very finest. The small island (it takes only about 7 minutes to walk around the entire island) has only 50 villas (including over-the-water and beach villas). To get there, you have to fly into Male (the capital of the Maldives), then take a smaller plane and a boat. But, there’s plenty to do on the island itself– we went snorkeling and scuba diving along the house reef that surrounds the island and went fishing the traditional Maldivian way — and ate our catch for dinner.

Crystal clear blue waters, brightly colored fish, an over-the-water bungalow AND superb service — it’s not too good to be true:  it’s the Park Hyatt.

ALL PARK HYATTS:

Americas
Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
Park Hyatt Aviara Resort [San Diego]
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa
Park Hyatt Chicago
Park Hyatt Mendoza
Park Hyatt New York (opened summer 2014)
Park Hyatt Toronto
Park Hyatt Washington

Asia
Park Hyatt Beijing
Park Hyatt Busan
Park Hyatt Changbaishan
Park Hyatt Chennai
Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa
Park Hyatt Hyderabad
Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa
Park Hyatt Ningbo Resort and Spa
Park Hyatt Saigon
Park Hyatt Seoul
Park Hyatt Shanghai
Park Hyatt Siem Reap
Park Hyatt Tokyo

Australia
Hyatt Hotel Canberra
Park Hyatt Melbourne
Park Hyatt Sydney

Europe
Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow
Park Hyatt Hamburg
Park Hyatt Istanbul – Macka Palas
Park Hyatt Milan
Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme
Park Hyatt Vienna
Park Hyatt Zurich

Middle East
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas
Park Hyatt Dubai
Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa

Opening Soon
Park Hyatt Zanzibar (opening end of 2014)
Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort (opening end of 2014)

Featured Image Source:  http://bit.ly/1BKqis4

The post Top 10 Coolest Park Hyatts first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

1. Top 7: Longest domestic US flights
2. Top 10: Longest Domestic Flights in the World
3. Top 12: Longest Non-Stop Delta Flights in the World
4. Top 15: Longest Fifth Freedom Flights in the World
5. Top 10: World’s longest non-stop flights

Emirates has been more and more aggressive with Fifth Freedom routes (read more on Fifth Freedom routes here:  What are “Fifth Freedom” Airline Flights and Routes?)– probably the most active of any other airline in recent times. But, that just might be our skewed perception from all of the recent press; within about a year, Emirates:

• was approved for a Fifth Freedom route from Milan-MXP to New York-JFK – Early 2013
• began operating the route – Oct 2013
• had an Italian court take action to remove Emirates’ right to fly it – April 2014 (although it’s still being operated)

…Not to mention, Emirates’ often outspoken CEO, Tim Clark, isn’t shy about his ambitious plans.

Back in June 2013, Tim Clark talked about adding more and more routes:  “Emirates President Tim Clark said plans would hinge on transporting passengers on a fifth-freedom basis using Open Skies agreements the United Arab Emirates had signed with the US, Singapore and Thailand and a more liberal bilateral air services agreement with Japan” (CH-Aviation.com).

In another article, the CAPA discussed Emirates’ plans for even more trans-Atlantic Fifth Freedom flights:  “Emirates for some time has spoken of ‘connecting the dots’ and offering greater fifth freedom services. The most recent talk is from northern UK to the US. Emirates’ rationale is similar to Milan-New York:  traffic is being routed through connecting cities and it could serve the market directly” (centreforaviation.com).

Emirates: Coming to a city near you

But, all of the hysteria aside, Emirates doesn’t operate that many Fifth Freedom routes, after all. In fact, nine of 16 of their Fifth Freedom routes have at least one point touching Australia or New Zealand.

Anyway, let’s get to it; here are Emirates’ 16 Longest (and complete) Fifth Freedom Routes:

1. Sydney-SYD <–> Bangkok-BKK currently holds the title of Emirates’ longest Fifth Freedom route in the world. EK Flight # 419 (UAE 419) departs SYD at 6:45pm, arriving BKK 9 hr 25 mins later at 1:10am. The Boeing 777-300ER covers 4,662 miles (7,503 km) on this portion of the trip. After a 1 hr 30 min layover at BKK, the EK 419 continues with a 6 hr 05 min flight DXB. The trip doesn’t begin at SYD though …skim down to #10, where you’ll find its true origin; it’s like 2 Fifth Freedoms in one!

2. Milan-MXP <–> New York-JFK comes in at second place with a 9 hr 0 min flight that covers 3,995 miles (6,429 km). EK Flight #205 (UAE 205) begins with a 7 hr 05 mins flight from DXB to MXP before continuing onward to JFK. This has been the most contentious of all of Emirates’ Fifth Freedom routes lately. They began service in October 2013 after receiving approval from both US and Italian authorities (read more on Fifth Freedom routes here: What are “Fifth Freedom” Airline Flights and Routes?), but it didn’t take long for the domestic carriers to file formal complaints. The Italian group that represents Alitalia and other Italian airlines “argued that the right to use Milan as a stopover cannot be granted to a non-European Union carrier or to an airline from a country that isn’t the point of departure or the destination” (USA Today). The gist is that Emirates is added competition and also delivers a better product, so Alitalia’s sales are hurting as a result. Although an Italian court moved to block the route in April 2014, it’s still bookable and continues to be flown, so we’ll have to see how it shakes out.

3. Melbourne-MEL  <–> Kuala Lumpur-KUL is one of the many Australian Fifth Freedom routes and comes in at 3rd longest. The 8 hour 5 minute flight covers 3,918 miles (6,305 km) on a Boeing 777-300ER. EK Flight # 409 (UAE 409) continues to Dubai with a 6 hr 50 mins flight from KUL to DXB.

4. Brisbane-BNE <–> Singapore-SIN is scheduled to take 7 hr 45 mins to cover the 3,816 miles (6,141 route). EK Flight # 433 (UAE 433) is operated using a B777-300ER.

5. EK Flight # 405 (UAE) between Melbourne-MEL <–> Singapore-SIN is flown aboard a Boeing 777-300ER and, although tied for 3rd based upon scheduled flying time, it is actually ~150 miles shorter at 3,744 miles (6,025 km) — over 8 hours 5 minutes. From SIN, the flight takes 7 hr 10 mins to return to the Dubai-DXB hub.

6. Colombo, Sri Lanka-CMB <–> Singapore-SIN covers 1,709 miles (2,750 km) in 4 hours 0 mins aboard an Emirates B777-300ER. EK# 348 (UAE 348) begins with a 4 hr 15 min flight from DXB-CMB, and then continues onward to SIN after a 1 hr 25 min stop at CMB to change passengers.

7. Auckland-AKL <–> Melbourne-MEL beings the series of the Australia to New Zealand routes. The flight from Auckland to Melbourne takes 4 hours and 10 minutes on an Airbus A380-800. After a short layover at MEL, the flight then continues onward to Dubai-DXB for another 14 hours 0 minutes of flying.

8. Auckland-AKL <–> Brisbane-BNE is the second longest Trans-Tasman Fifth Freedom flight operated by Emirates and the second to be operated by the Airbus A380-800. Its scheduled flying time is 4 hr 0 min and covers a distance of 1,428 miles (2,298 km). EK Flight # 435 (UAE 435) continues onward to Dubai with a 14 hr 20 mins flight.

9. Auckland-SYD <–> Sydney-SYD is the 3rd and final city that has A380 service between Auckland and Australia, and EK Flight #413 is the shortest of the 3 at only 1,345 miles (2,165 km) and a flying time of 3 hr 30 mins. But, if you’re continuing on to Dubai, this won’t necessarily save time as it has an increased time between SYD and DXB of 14 hr 30 mins in the air.

10. Although number 10 on this list, Christchurch-CHC <–> Sydney-SYD is by far the longest flight based upon total flying time. Starting in Christchurch, EK Flight # 419 (UAE 419) has a pretty quick 3 hr 20 min, 1,323 miles (2,129 km) hop from New Zealand to Australia. It then begins Emirates’ #1 longest Fifth Freedom flight (see above) before continuing on to Dubai. All told, this flight (if taken from Christchurch to Dubai) would take you 21 hr 50 mins due to all of the layovers.

11. Rio de Janeiro-GIG <–> Buenos Aires-EZE is the airline’s only Fifth Freedom flight in South America. EK Flight # 247 (UAE 247) beings in Dubai-DXB with a 14 hr 20 min flight to Rio de Janeiro before continuing onward to Buenos Aires with a 3 hr 30 min flight. Total distance covered on the B777-300ER:  1,240 mi + 7,384 mi = 8,624 mi (13,879 km).

12. The Larnaca, Cyprus-LCN  <–> Malta-MLA flight takes 2 hr 55 min, covering 1,082 miles (1,741 km). This is one of the few Fifth Freedoms that is operated by a regular Boeing 777-300 (not -300ER).

13. Hong Kong-HKG  <–> Bangkok-BKK covers 1,049 miles (1,688 km) on an Airbus A380-800. The 2 hr 55 min flight is just one of the very many Fifth Freedom flight routes operated out of Bangkok-BKK.

14. Colombo, Sri Lanka-CMB <–> Male, Maldives-MLE is flown on a Boeing 777-300ER and covers 483 miles (777 km) in 1 hr 30 mins.

15. Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire-ABJ <–> Accra, Ghana-ACC is the first Emirates’ Fifth Freedom route operated in Africa. Although it’s coded as Emirates Flight # EK 787 (UAE 787), don’t get your hopes up for Dreamliner service, it’s flown using a B777-300ER. The very short hop from ABJ to ACC takes a mere 1 hr 05 mins, a distance of 260 miles (418 km).

16. Finally, we have Emirates shortest Fifth Freedom route:  Harare, Zimbabwe-HRE  <–> Lusaka, Zambia-LUN. With a scheduled flying time of 1 hr 10 min, the Airbus A340-300 covers 250 miles (402km). From Lusaka, EK Flight #713 (UAE 713) will take you another 7 hr 10 mins to reach the Dubai-DXB hub.

Notable mentions

 – Conakry, Guinea-CKY –> Dakar, Senegal-DKR is flown in just the one direction but doesn’t have Fifth Freedom privileges, meaning you’re not allowed to book just the CKY-DKR route but can fly CKY-DKR-DXB.

– Malta-MLA –> Tripoli, Libya-TIP is the same as the above flight–it can operate but isn’t allowed to pick up passengers in Malta and carry them to Tripoli. The most likely explanation? The route is already well served:  both Air Malta and Libyan offer daily non-stop service. In total, the native airlines are capable of carrying ~350 passengers daily between the 2 cities; they likely decided that swamping the market by doubling capacity with an additional 360 seats (8 first, 42 business and 310 economy) would have been horrible for their businesses and voted against it.

The post Top 16 Longest Emirates Fifth Freedom Routes: Coming to a City Near You first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

• Top 7: Longest domestic US flights
• Top 10: Longest Domestic Flights in the World
• Top 10: World’s longest non-stop flights
• Top 12: Longest Non-Stop Delta Flights in the World

Why Do I Care About Fifth Freedom Routes?

Simply put, fifth freedom routes are cool. They’re unique and unusual. It’s the whole idea of how small and interconnected the world is that I find the coolest. Real quick, the fifth freedom right of the sky is what enables United and Delta Airlines to fly many routes from Tokyo-NRT to a whole host of Asian cities. It allows (allowed?) Emirates Airlines, a Dubai-based carrier, to fly revenue passengers between New York-JFK and Milan, Italy-MXP, two foreign countries–this flight is on the chopping block now, it might be cancelled by Italian officials. There are other examples (many of which will come in a later post), but here are a few:  Delta flies direct from Amsterdam-AMS to Mumbai-BOM and Air China flies from Madrid-MAD to São Paulo-GRU.

Top 15 Longest Fifth Freedom Flights in the World

Update 4/21: Reader sierra3tango pointed out I missed Air New Zealand’s LHR-LAX flight, it has been added as #9. Some interesting things to watch out for:

• Boeing 777-300ER is a very popular choice for these long routes, making an appearance on the list 10 times.
• It’s interesting that some routes (#7 and #10) were tied. This means that 3 governments had to approve the route twice and were OK with even more competition to their national carriers.
• Singapore Airlines makes the list 5 times, proving just how difficult it is to reach Singapore from the Western Hemisphere.

1. The longest 5th Freedom flight currently operated in the world is New York-JFK to Osaka-KIX on China Airlines. The flight is scheduled to take 14 hrs 20 mins on a Boeing 747-400 flying westward over the Pacific and covers 6,946 miles (11,178 km). From Osaka, CI Flight #19 (CAL19) continues onward to Taipei, Taiwan-TPE. The total journey from JFK to Taipei-TPE takes 18 hr 40 mins.
2. Singapore Airlines‘ San Franciso-SFO to Hong Kong-HKG flight comes in at a close second with 6,927 miles (11,148 km) and is technically scheduled to take appx the exact same time as #1: 14 hr 20 mins. SQ #1 (SIA1) is flown on a Boeing 777-300ER and from HKG continues onward to Singapore-SIN for a total journey time of 19 hr 30 mins.
3. This seems to be one of the more obscure or unusual routes: São Paulo-GRU to Los Angeles-LAX flown by Korean Air. Operated on a Boeing 777-300ER, KE Flight #62 (KAL62) makes the 6,156 mile (9,907 km) journey in 12 hr 30 mins. From Los Angeles-LAX, the flight continues onward to Korean Air’s hub in Seoul-ICN. Including the 2 hr 00 min stop at LAX, the entire journey from São Paulo-GRU to Seoul-ICN takes a crazy 27 hr 40 mins!
4. Thai Airways’ one-and-only U.S. destination is Los Angeles-LAX, with a flight going to Seoul-ICN. TG Flight #693 (THA693) covers a distance of 5,994 miles (9,646 km) in 12 hr 35 mins on Thai’s Boeing 777-200. Naturally, the flight continues onward to Bangkok-BKK with a total journey time of 19 hr 50 mins.
5. Breaking up the streak of US cities is EVA Air‘s route from Bangkok-BKK to London-LHR, coming in at 5,958 miles (9,588 km). The 5th longest Fifth Freedom flight in the world takes 12 hr 25 mins on a Boeing 777-300ER. BR Flight #67 (EVA67) originates at the EVA Air hub in Taipei-TPE for a total flight time of 17 hr 15 mins from TPE to LHR, with the 1 hr 15 min stop in BKK.
6. Singapore Airlines Flight# SQ 62 (SIA62) carries passengers from Moscow-DME to Houston-IAH in 12 hr 15 mins. The 5,936 mile (9,553 km) flight is operated on a Boeing 777-300ER. The flight originates in Singapore-SIN and total flying time from Singapore-SIN to Houston-IAH, including the 1 hr 30 min stop in Moscow, takes right at a full day of your life: 24 hr 25 mins.
7. The Fifth Freedom flight between Bangkok-BKK and Amsterdam-AMS is a tie between China Airlines and EVA Air, both headquartered in Taiwan. At 12 hr 25 mins, technically the China Airlines route is “longer” but only because they’re slower, so not really a win there. EVA Air flies the 5,727 mile (9,217 km) route in 11 hr 55 mins on a Boeing 777-300ER (Flight# BR 75 or EVA75). China Airlines Flight # CI 65 (CAL65) uses a A340-300, which adds about half an hour. Both flights originate in Taipei-TPE. (7½) Update 4/21: We’re calling this one 7½ because reader laxjaydub pointed out that it’s not technically a 5th Freedom flight because French Polynesia is a territory of France.Next up is a flight from Paris-CDG to Los Angeles-LAX, covering a distance of 5,670 miles (9,125 km) in 12 hr 00 mins. The flight, TN Flight #7 or THT7, is operated by Air Tahiti Nui and flown on an Airbus A340-300. After a brief 1 hr 49 min stop at LAX, the Airbus continues onward to Papeete-PPT for a total travel time of 22 hr 25 mins. I’msure it’s well worth the trip!  Cool fact: I’ve added the orange route on the map to show what a non-stop flight from Paris-CDG to Papeete-PPT would look like. Direct distance = 9,765 miles, distance with a stop at LAX = 9,765–it doesn’t get more perfectly on the way than that!
8. Up for a 3rd time, Singapore Airlines‘ flight from San Francisco-SFO to Seoul-ICN has a scheduled flying time of 12 hr 25 mins and a distance of 5,658 miles (9,106 km). A Boeing 777-300ER is used for flight SQ #15 (SIA15) and takes a total of 19 hr 40 mins from SFO to Singapore-SIN.
9. Air New Zealand makes an appearance with their 11 hr 30 mins flight from London-LHR to Los Angeles-LAX on a, you guessed it, Boeing 777-300ER. The 5,456 mile (8,781 km) flight continues onward from LAX to Auckland-AKL for the (slightly longer) 13 hr 00 min segment. In total, NZ #1 (ANZ1) from LHR to AKL will have you seated for 26 hr 30 mins, including the 2 hr 00 min stop at LAX.
10. Tied for 10th place, we have Malaysian Airlines and Singapore Airlines from Los Angeles-LAX to Tokyo-NRT. Interestingly, both flights have identical scheduled flight times of 11 hr 30 mins and cover a distanced of 5,451 miles (8,773 km). Singapore’s flight SQ #11 (SIA11) is flown on an Airbus A380 whereas Malaysian’s flight MH #93 (MAS93) uses a Boeing 777-200. MH #93 continues onward to Kuala Lumpur-KUL for a total travel time of 20 hr 45 mins. SQ #11 makes it from LAX to Singapore-SIN in a total of 20 hr 15 mins.Cool fact: This is another route with a stop that is perfectly on the main flight path. Total distance LAX-KUL direct = 8,808 miles vs 8,808 miles with a stop at NRT.
11. Making it’s 5th (and final) appearance in this top list is Singapore Airline’s 5,432 miles (8,742 km) flight from Barcelona-BCN to São Paulo-GRU. SQ #68 (SIA68) uses a Boeing 777-300ER on the 11 hr 10 min flight. This is a painfully long flight time as well: Singapore-SIN to São Paulo-GRU with a 1 hr 20 min stop in Barcelona takes a whopping 26 hours!
12. EVA Air flies a route from Bangkok-BKK to Vienna-VIE on an Airbus A330-200. The trip takes 11 hr 10 min, covering a distance of 5,256 miles (8,459 km). To fly the entire Taipei-TPE–>Bangkok-BKK–>Vienna-VIE flight takes 16 hr 00 mins– not too bad. Interestingly, this is far from the quickest option if going from Taipei to Vienna: China Airlines has a 12 hr 30 min non-stop flight; Air China and Korean Air can also get you there in under 16 hrs.
13. This is another that seems more exotic to me: Air China’s 5,192 miles (8,356 km) flight from Madrid-MAD to São Paulo-GRU. The 11 hr 10 min route (CA #907 or CCA907) is aboard an Airbus A330. Originating in Beijing-PEK, the total flight time to São Paulo-GRU via a 2 hr 10 min stop in Madrid-MAD is 25 hr 40 mins. Interesting fact: This is a highly competitive route. There are already 4 non-stop flights, making the Air China route the 5th to join the party.
14. Update 4/21: This one might also be downgraded to a half-step, 13½, as reader 2travel2know2 points out that the Cook Islands are essentially a part of New Zealand. It sounds like this one could be argued either way so I’ll leave it as is until I hear a more convincing argument.Despite once being a large US World War II base in the Pacific, the only carrier with direct flights from the Cook Islands to the US is New Zealand-based Air New Zealand. The route from Los Angeles-LAX to Rarotonga-RAR takes 10 hr 00 min, covering a distance of 4,670 miles (7,516 km) on a Boeing 767-300. This route isn’t just an operational stop though, Air New Zealand has 2x non-stop flights daily from LAX to Auckland-AKL that take 13 hr 00 mins total, whereas the LAX to Rarotonga-RAR to Auckland-AKL flight takes 15 hr 45 mins.
15. Finally, at #15, we have our first Emirates Fifth Freedom flight from Sydney-SYD to Bangkok-BKK on an Boeing 777-300ER. The flight duration is 9 hr 25 mins over 4,662 miles (7,503 km). Emirates Flight EK #419 (UAE419) is actually a series of Fifth Freedom Flights: Christchurch-CHC –> Sydney-SYD, Sydney-SYD –> Bangkok-BKK and then Bangkok-BKK –> Dubai-DXB. If you ever flew this full, lengthy route, you’d be looking at a total travel time of 21 hr 50 mins.

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