Having just completed a 10-hour flight, the thought of sitting on a plane for 18+ hours sounds horrific.
Yet airlines are regularly breaking the records. As aircraft get more fuel-efficient, they can travel longer distances. The new record is just short of 10,000km on the Singapore to New York route. That journey will take almost 19 hours. Add security, boarding and disembarking and it is the best part of a full day of flying.
It is hard not to be impressed by the progress. At the same time, even a 16-hour flight sounds like a daunting prospect – especially in economy.
The positive is that you won’t need to change plane or stop for fuel. A big advantage to those determined to make super-long journeys.
Below you’ll find a quick summary of the current record-breaking routes. After that is my guide to what to pack, and tips for surviving super-long flights.
The World’s Longest Flights: Current Top Five
I used the word current in the title as this list keeps changing. With recent increases in fuel prices, I’m sure engineers are hard at work on the next generation of airplanes. Who knows when these records will be broken once again. This list is current at the end of 2022.
#1 – New York to Singapore
There are two flights, one from JFK and the other from EWR in New York that fly direct to Singapore. The longest (from JFK) takes a staggering 18 hours and 50 minutes. The Newark one shaves a full five minutes from this time. Both are with Singapore Airlines.
#2 – London to Perth
The former record holder is a Qantas flight from Perth in Australia to London Heathrow. This covers a distance of almost 9,000 miles. The duration is a 17 hours and 15 minutes. Having previously switched in Singapore on my way to Australia, this is far quicker than using a two-leg approach.
#3 – New York to Auckland
New Zealand is an obvious candidate for a long flight, and this scheduled service from JFK airport in New York to ALK in Auckland is a regular fixture. The distance is 8.8k miles and the flight takes just over seventeen and a half hours.
#4 – Los Angeles to Singapore
Singapore gets another record flight time listing with this LA service. While not as long as the East Coast flights, the time of just a little over seventeen hours certainly deserves a spot on in the rankings. Like the entries above, this service is run by Singapore Airlines.
#5 – Dallas to Sydney, Australia
The are some other variations of US cities to Singapore, though the next longest unique flight route is DFW to SYD. This is around 8,500 miles and takes around 16 hours and 45 minutes. Like the Perth route above, it is operated by Australian airline Qantas.
What to Pack for a Mega-Long Flight?
The importance of smart packing for a mega-long flight means you won’t want to leave out any essentials.
While the details vary by route, and how the time zones match up with your current sleep / wake schedule, there are some key things to pack. Here is my hit-list, feel free to add to it!
- Entertainment / Work: That back of the seat console will only entertain you for so long. A super-long flight is the perfect time to read that book you always wanted to, enjoy a podcast or two, or get some work done (with the help of onboard Wi-Fi).
- Eye Mask: Passengers will be flying to different time-zones, and the day / night cycle will get mixed up – whichever direction you are going in. An eye mask, together with ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones, is essential to maximise your chance of getting some rest.
- Toothbrush / Freshening Kit: While you might get away with this on a moderately long flight, a toothbrush becomes essential on a longer one. Staying fresh will make you more comfortable through the flight and will put you in the best possible state for landing.
- Comfortable Clothing / Footwear: Loose clothing, with soft fabrics are a great starting point. I also recommend some oversized comfortable socks, plus sandals or flip-flops for any trips to the toilet.
- Medicines / Headache Pills: No need to bring the entire pharmacy, though don’t forget to get essential medicines into your hand luggage before embarking. This should include a nasal spray, headache pills, eyedrops and anything else that will help to make your journey more comfortable.
How to Survive on the World’s Longest Flights?
I won’t rehash the details too much here, as this is similar to the regular 10+ hour journey advice you’ll find elsewhere here at Luggage Review.
The nuts and bolts are:
- Move: Get up regularly, wiggle those toes, stretch, and straighten.
- Drink: Water is essential to a comfortable long journey. Drink it often.
- Avoid Booze: As tempting as that drink trolley may be, too much drink will make for an uncomfortable experience.
- Sleep: Aim to get rested in line with the time zone you are going to. Remember, a short rest (even shallow sleep) is always better than none at all.
If you do take the world’s longest flight, and our paths cross, with me on the plane flying the other way – don’t forget to wave!
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