World's Longest Commercial Flight Coming to an End

[Murdoughnut]

Wow. And you know at least one unsuspecting traveler is like "well at least we're in Newark now..."

http://www.jaunted.com/story/2013/9...buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer

 

[SeanD]

Can you imagine doing that flight in economy?

 

[BobDDuck]

Can you imagine doing that flight in economy?

No economy on the plane. It was an A340 set up with 100 business class seats.

 

[SeanD]

No economy on the plane. It was an A340 set up with 100 business class seats.

I know I was just saying how brutal it would be otherwise. I get cranky on a 4 hour flight from LAS to IAD in economy.

 

[ChasenSFO]

Its a shame the A340-500s are going bye bye. What's really interesting is how SIN-EWR takes about 2 hours more than SIN-LAX. Always blew my mind.

 

[Deleted member 27505]

Singapore Air? Biz Class? $7500 RT? In a new(ish) 340? That's a pretty darned good deal considering a recent one way from Santiago to Miami in an old 767 cost $4900.

 

[TallFlyer]

I think it's kinda funny that an airplane that can do 18 hours in the air is described as "gas guzzling."

 

[Deleted member 27505]

I think it's kinda funny that an airplane that can do 18 hours in the air is described as "gas guzzling."

Hey Big Iron Guys... In a Thunder Mustang I can turn off 6 of the 12 cylinders during cruise flight and save octane for when I need it. Do you guys have a similar option with a 4 engine A/C? BA 747 service LA to London notwithstanding, can you shut down two engines at FL to fly more efficiently?

 

[CirrusMonkey]

Can you imagine doing that flight in economy?

I think that even 18 hours in first class would suck. Even with SAs service.

 

[ChasenSFO]

I think that even 18 hours in first class would suck. Even with SAs service.

Unless you can coax some additional service out of a Singapore girl.

 

[WhatRJ]

Very sad, the A340-5/6 are my favorite buses. Going to be sad when they all disappear.

 

[swisspilot]

Can you imagine doing that flight in economy?

It depends on the airline, I wouldn't do it on AA. I use to cross the South Pacific 4 times a year, I would go westbound non stop from Santiago on Lan Chile, not 18 hours but pretty close. My only other option were two flights of 15 hours each leg with Emirates to reach Sydney from South America. The Lan flight was pretty nice, the service in economy is superb, amazing wines and decent food. The emirates flight had a long layover but they would give you free access to the lounge, even on a economy ticket, if you take them 2-3 times a year they will upgrade you to business for free if you show up early enough and they have empty seats.

The worst is doing long flights on smaller airplanes, which seems to be the trend. Flew many times from South America to the US on 737-800....they are just not made for that

 

[swisspilot]

Very sad, the A340-5/6 are my favorite buses. Going to be sad when they all disappear.

I like them too. I don`t know if it`s related to the MEL but on the South Pacific route I use to take, the A340s were always late and had things to fix in order to be legal to go over that much water..

 

[Boris Badenov]

Good thing it's a long trip, as I'm told a fully laden 340 requires the curvature of the earth to "climb".

 

[skypilot6]

Pretty cool read.

When I was 12 I got to goto New Zealand and Australia, IIRC the flight from LAX to Auckland was 14.5 hours aboard a Qantas 747-400 in coach, that was a long one and even tho I was only 12 I remember it well.

 

[Cal Goat]

I'm baffled that the latest generations of the A340, which came on line in the last decade are now perceived as outdated or inefficient.

 

[saria19]

I've made this flight in economy and let me say this: it was still a better experience than I have ever had while in First Class for America-based airlines. Singapore Airlines really knows how to treat their customers no matter which class they're in and I have enjoyed the various trips I've made on their airline immensely.

 

[motoboy]

Cool write up, thanks for posting @Murdoughnut

 

[NewYorkophile]

I did 14 hours in a 767 that was half-full on a rotator from Liepzig, Germany to Fort Hood, Texas direct. That was loooong. Couldn't imagine doing it on a full airplane.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

Hey Big Iron Guys... In a Thunder Mustang I can turn off 6 of the 12 cylinders during cruise flight and save octane for when I need it. Do you guys have a similar option with a 4 engine A/C? BA 747 service LA to London notwithstanding, can you shut down two engines at FL to fly more efficiently?

"Air France 47 heavy, are you an A330 or 340?"
"Sir, we are an Airbus A340, Air Fronzzzz forty-seven heavy."
"Can you switch on the other two engines and give me a better climb, please?"