Originally Posted by zoonil

I guess a lot of people are thinking four engines are better than two! Why else will Virgin Atlantic paint all their planes with "four engines for the altantic" or something similar to that ( I don't remember the exact phrase)

So you are certainely not alone with your thoughts. Incidently, the LONGEST non-land segment is between the western USA (LAX, SFO, SEA etc.) to the Hawaiian islands. That is the longest segment over water and practically no land over the 2500 mile journey..