Fun with the GCM
 

I've been playing around with the GCM and the *A .pdf timetable, as well as with the 'Flight Search' and 'Destinations' tools on the *A website.

It looks to me like NRT-YVR (4674) is the shortest *A non-stop trans-Pac. Yes? NRT-HNL-SFO (3819+2399=6218) breaks it up. Is there a shorter two-flight solution? ANC would be a good stopping point but there aren't any flights coming into ANC from the west. Is there any three-flight routing where the longest leg is less than 3819?

Similarly, I found LHR-YHZ (2857) as the shortest *A trans-Lant. Anything else? There don't even seem to be any likely stops between Europe and the east coast of North America: KEF is actually out of the way, and in any case there's no service (on *A) between there and NA.

Natal in Brazil (NAT) and Dakar (DKR) are both *A cities and the GCM distance is only 1870, but somehow I don't think that route is coming any time soon -- the Flight Search tool can't even construct an itinerary with connections!

Sunday morning musings... :)

cheers,

Henry

Your idea of fun????

I think technically the shortest flight between Europe and North America is CPH-SFJ with 2138 miles. Doesn't get you anywhere but thats what it is.

For an excercise like this it would be really good if *A would have a tool similar to OW Map.

Greenland is North America now? Hmmm, learn something every day. In any case, it's not TATL because it strands you out in the middle. Kangerlussuaq has the same problem as KEF: no action westbound.

Why am I doing this? Well, Mrs 999 and I have been doing RTWs for 15 years and our incessant raving about them has finally motivated some friends of ours to think about trying one. Two problems, though: they're somewhat reluctant to splash out for the C class fare but they also don't fancy the idea of ultra-long flights in sardine class. So, I thought I'd see if I could help them find the shortest possible long flights.

Of course, there may well be better possibilities for them on the other alliances or with a series of point-to-point one-way tickets. But the *A RTW system is the one that I know, so that's where I'm looking.

cheers,

Henry