Comments on: Going the Distance

By: wiredog

wiredog — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 12:14:10 +0000

My longest flights were when I was stationed in Korea when I was in the Army. The Korean Air 747s flights between Seoul and Dulles were long, but I don’t remember anything special about them. I think we refueled in LAX? It was 40 years ago..

But the first flight to Korea, on a Northwest Orient MAC charter… A 747 full of soldiers who were used to running 5 miles or more every morning trapped in coach for the hop across the Pacific, and not allowed to get off to stretch at the stop in Japan. The only things preventing a riot were military discipline and free booze.

By: Michael Kennedy

Michael Kennedy — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 21:35:12 +0000

At the other end of the spectrum I used to do EMB 120 flights IAH/EFD – 27 miles. Why? At the time it was free for connecting Continental passengers as was parking at Ellington. We did the before landing checklist prior to takeoff and had all the radio frequencies preset. Not a good way to build flight time.

By: Mark Albrecht

Mark Albrecht — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 20:10:56 +0000

I’ve been reading your stuff for years, but unless I’ve missed it, you have never told us how you and other airline crew deal with jet lag. I’ve used No Jet Lag homeopathic pills with some good results, but I don’t fly overseas all that often. What are your recommendations? Maybe you’d like to do an article on this important topic.

By: Thomas Flynn

Thomas Flynn — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:18:12 +0000

I love long-distance flying and just came off a marathon journey from Melbourne, Australia to New York (MEL-SIN @ 7h30m / SIN-MUC @ 12h15m / MUC-JFK @ 7h45m)…loved every minute of it, but thankfully we were not seated in the “back of the bus,” except for MEL-SIN. Of course, we went the long way around…could have saved a ton of time going on a single connection via the Pacific, but that would not be as much fun. My longest flight by mileage was SYD-LAX back in the 90s – I believe it was the longest flight in the world (by mileage) at that time. My longest flight by time was LAX-HKG at 15h to the minute – seated in economy class mind you, starboard side. It was worth every hour as the landing was at Kai Tak Airport. We flew the checkerboard approach to runway 13 – now, that was a thrill like none other!

By: Slobs

Slobs — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 19:16:34 +0000

Great story Patrick. And timely

By: mysterr9

mysterr9 — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:24:46 +0000

Last flew SQ21 / SQ22 between EWR-SIN in May 2023. If you must fly Premium Economy, there is a preferred spot. Due to the tapered structure of the A350, the last three rows have single seats on the left and right sides. In the space where the window seat would be located, there is a VERY LARGE storage box with a latched lid. This can be used as a side desk. The seat does not recline flat, but is nevertheless very comfortable. Note that there is a slight price increase for this seat over the standard Premium Economy (approx USD 165), but it is well worth the upgrade.

A poor man’s business class seat for about 25 percent of the business class price!

By: james

james — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 15:34:55 +0000

I also flew the Detroit to HK 16+ hour flight a few times, but in economy—-it was very close to torture. I now always fly such long distances with connections to keep sane.

By: Chris H.

Chris H. — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 19:57:56 +0000

The longest flight I’ve taken was last October, Delta 268 JFK to HNL and back Delta 190 HNL to JFK.

About 4900 miles and 10 hours each way, which wasn’t bad in Delta One, but I wouldn’t want to spend much longer in a plane, regardless of the class. I definitely couldn’t stand 18 hours in a plane.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:37:39 +0000

In reply to Nigel.

The air is thinner at elevations like those of MEX and BOG. Thinner air means the engines don’t put out as much thrust, and the wings produce less lift.

To achieve the necessary airspeed targets for takeoff and landing, planes will be at significantly higher GROUND speeds, thus needing more runway.

It’s more of a factor on takeoff than landing: at a given weight, a plane taking off from a high-altitude airports requires a lot more distance to become airborne than it would at sea level. To meet the required runway and climb performance criteria, flights are often subject to weight penalties. In other words, they can’t always carry enough fuel. Shorter flight are generally no trouble, but trying to reach Asia from South America? That’s a problem.

High temperatures have a similar effect. So the worst combination is an airport that’s both hot and high-up.

By: Nigel

Nigel — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 21:27:21 +0000

“…Bogota’s 8000-foot elevation would pose restrictions.”
“…because of the altitude of MEX, operates nonstop only on the eastbound leg.”

What exactly are the technical restrictions on a long-haul flight originating or terminating at a high-altitude airport?

Seems to me the plane is already up there or headed that way. 🙂

Just curious.