The definition of a ‘long’ flight can be subjective. For some, that’s anything longer than a handful of hours. While for others, it’s any flight with a duration in the double-digits (of hours, that is – not minutes).
There are a few ways to classify a ‘long flight’. There are also several factors that can affect the duration of a flight, including headwinds and type of aircraft.
But for this article, we’ll focus on the scheduled distance of non-stop flights. If you’ve ever wondered how you’d go flying for hours on end, we’ve listed some of the world’s longest flight routes below.
Singapore (SIN) to New York (JFK)
| Distance: 15,348 kilometres Flight time: 18 hours, 50 minutes Ease of booking with points: Possible to find two Business reward seats if booking in advance |
Clocking in at just under 19 hours and covering a whopping distance of 15,348 kilometres, the longest flight in the world is between Singapore and New York.
Singapore Airlines operates the stretch from Singapore’s Changi Airport to New York (JFK) on an Airbus A350. The daily SQ24 flight departs Singapore around midday, arriving at JFK at approximately 7 pm the same day.
Undoubtedly, it’s a lot of hours to spend on a plane. But you’ll find Singapore Airlines’ excellent A350 Business Class product on this route. If you’ve got KrisFlyer miles up your sleeve, you’ll pay just $152 in fees for the welcome luxury of a flatbed on a 19-hour journey.
Also read: Experience Business Class luxury to New York on the world’s longest flight
Singapore (SIN) to Newark (EWR)
| Distance: 15,345 kilometres Flight time: 18 hours, 25 minutes Ease of booking with points: Possible to find two Business reward seats if booking in advance |
Just a few kilometres shy of the world’s longest flight route, Singapore Airlines’ flight between Singapore and Newark covers a distance of 15,345 kilometres.
The daily non-stop flight between Singapore and Newark has a scheduled departure of 11:35 pm, arriving at EWR at 6:00 am the next day. Similar to the SIN-JFK route, Singapore Airlines uses an A350 on its flights to Newark.
If you fancy being perched up the pointy end of the plane for 18 hours (who doesn’t?), keep an eye out for Business Class reward seats on this route. You may be able to book this flight using Velocity Points, or transfer them over to KrisFlyer at a 1.55:1 conversion rate for a better chance of finding reward seat availability.
Also read: How to transfer Velocity Points to KrisFlyer
Boost your Velocity Points balance with a sign-up bonus!
Doha (DOH) to Auckland (AKL)
| Distance: 14,535 kilometres Flight time: 17 hours, 35 minutes Ease of booking with points: Possible to find two Business reward seats if booking in advance |
Considered one of the longest non-stop flights in the world, Qatar Airways’ daily flight from its base in Doha to Auckland spans 14,535 kilometres.
This flight is one of only two connecting New Zealand directly to the Middle East, with the other flight being Emirates’ Dubai-Auckland service that takes a little over 17 hours.
On this route, Qatar Airways uses its A350 fitted with the airline’s renowned Business Class product, Qsuite (which you’ll also find on some Boeing 777s from Australia).
The only thing better than flying in one of the world’s best Business Class cabins for 17+ hours is using points to book it for less. Here’s how to book Qatar Airways Business Class with points.
Perth (PER) to London (LHR)
| Distance: 14,498 kilometres Flight time: 17 hours, 20 minutes Ease of booking with points: Difficult to find Business reward availability outside of the occasional ‘batch drop’ |
Australia’s geographic location lends itself to some lengthy flights. So, it comes as no surprise that we have one of the longest flights in the world: a 14,498-kilometre journey from Perth to London.
Qantas’ flight provides a direct link from Australia’s west coast to London onboard its Boeing 787 Dreamliner. This is an excellent way to fly non-stop from Australia to the UK, with a 6:30 pm scheduled departure from Perth and touching down at London’s Heathrow Airport around 5 am the next day.
If you prefer to fly direct to Europe instead, Qantas also operates a seasonal Perth-Rome flight, and a year-round Perth-Paris route – both of which also rank among the longest flights in the world.
Melbourne (MEL) to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
| Distance: 14,471 kilometres Flight time: 17 hours, 35 minutes Ease of booking with points: Difficult to find Business reward availability outside of the occasional ‘batch drop’ |
On the opposite end of Australia – and flying in the opposite direction – you’ll experience one of the longest flights in the world from Melbourne to Dallas Fort Worth.
The flight covers a distance of 14,471 kilometres from Australia’s East Coast to Texas. Operated by Qantas, flight QF21 has a scheduled departure of 8 pm from Melbourne. It lands at Dallas Fort Worth at around 8:50 pm on the same calendar day, after flying for 17-and-a-half hours.
For comparison, Qantas’ Sydney to Dallas Fort Worth flight covers a slightly shorter distance of 13,805 kilometres.
On both of Qantas’ routes between Australia and Dallas Fort Worth, you’ll find the Boeing 787 Dreamliner which features an exceptional Business Class. While it’s not easy finding Business Class reward seats on popular flights between Australia and the US, it’s not impossible. Or, you could enlist the help of a reward booking service like Point Hacks Concierge to help you redeem points to fly Business Class for less.
Now, it’s over to you – what’s the longest flight you’ve ever taken? Or, would you fly one of these routes non-stop? Let us know in the comments below.
If the thought of spending 19 hours on a plane doesn’t tickle your fancy, you may be relieved to know that some of the shortest flights in the world are just a few minutes long!
Featured image: Eva Darron, Unsplash
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