This Johannesburg flight is one of the longest in the world

[BusinessTech]

This Johannesburg flight is one of the longest in the world

A new report shows there has been a steady resurgence in long-haul flights.

 

[cguy]

I've flown that flight a few times. Friggin nightmare - sleep for 8 hours, wake up and there's still 7+ hours. I usually go via Amsterdam or London now.

 

[Sinbad]

I did Joburg to new york with a refueling stop on Ilha do sol. That was a fkn nightmare.

 

[Freshy-ZN]

Flew non-stop from JFK to JHB in '96 on SAA. Was a frikkin nightmare.

 

[alternate]

I did Joburg to new york with a refueling stop on Ilha do sol. That was a fkn nightmare.

Uhhhgg JHB to Atlanta. Almost died on the landing at Ilha do sal.

 

[Arthur]

Yeah, done that a good number of times. Glad for halfway stops these days.

 

[Gordon_R]

Flew from Joburg to Lisbon via Kinshasa in an old Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, seated next to the toilet. That was a f*** nightmare!

Edit: Not allowed off the plane, due to 'security' considerations...

Edit: Engine wouldn't start! The nightmare is coming back to me...

 

[Hamish McPanji]

Flew from Joburg to Lisbon via Kinshasa in an old Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, seated next to the toilet. That was a f*** nightmare!

Edit: Not allowed off the plane, due to 'security' considerations...

Edit: Engine wouldn't start! The nightmare is coming back to me...

Did you have to push?

 

[JustPlainLucas]

Has to be horrible if you take a family with kids on such route. Would rather prefer a UK connection flight to the US.

 

[werfie]

Uhhhgg JHB to Atlanta. Almost died on the landing at Ilha do sal.

This. Have flown this flight a good couple of times. Never gets better. Absolutely worth the price for a Premium Economy upgrade.

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

Been on this nightmare flight twice, the ONLY upside is it's so shyte it makes the long haul flights to Europe comparatively easy to deal with afterwards.

 

[killerbyte]

I've done the Dubai to LA trip. 8 hours from JHB to Dubai, then another 16hrs from Dubai to LA.
As Cguy said... you sleep for as many hours as possible then you wake up and realise you have so many more ahead of you. You feel like you are going crazy.

 

[itareanlnotani]

Flew SAA. Was a frikkin nightmare.

FTFW

 

[Gordon_R]

For anyone interested, the world's longest flight (17 hours+) is currently in the air, QF9 Perth to London non-stop: https://flightaware.com/live/flight/QFA9/history/20180324/1104Z/YPPH/EGLL

It will be interesting to hear the passenger response (if any).

Edit: Article on the evolution of long-distance flights from the UK to Australia: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-43453264

Qantas will begin the first non-stop flights between Australia and the United Kingdom on Saturday. The 17-hour trip is a departure from an era when glamorous perceptions masked the tedium of a days-long journey. Now, as Julian Lorkin reports from Sydney, much focus is on the body clock.

 

[HavocXphere]

Also...

SA has the 7th longest runway in the world (Uppington)

And the continent's busiest airport

 

[Gordon_R]

Nice animated video of the top 10 longest flights:

 

[Lew Skannen]

Nice animated video of the top 10 longest flights:

Very interesting watch. Thank you.

 

[genetic]

Flew Delta JHB to Atlanta in early 2017 economy. Will never fly that distance in economy again. Worst experience ever.

 

[Gordon_R]

Flew Delta JHB to Atlanta in early 2017 economy. Will never fly that distance in economy again. Worst experience ever.

In the video they say that premium economy is the optimum for ultra long distance flights. The fares charged for economy do not cover the costs, so there is no point in packing the plane full of cheap sets.

Edit: 16.5 hours, ouch! They still seem to have customers. See: https://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL201/history/20181211/1905Z/FAOR/KATL

 

[Freshy-ZN]

Us 6 foot plus poor people hate longhaul......