Shortest Round the world?
 

Anyone knows the record for the fastest time around the world on schedule carriers?

I know that US used to have a flight around the globe but was that fast?

Oh boy, what a challenge!

Gave myself 10 minutes only and came up with this:

London Heathrow 1825 Day 1 BA 25
Hong Kong 1415 Day 2

Hong Kong 1620 Day 2 CX 882
Los Angeles 1245 Day 2

Los Angeles 1445 Day 2 NZ 2
London Heathrow 0910 Day 3

Total time 38 hours 45 minutes.

My quick effort

BA 182
JFK 11:15P
LHR 11:20A

BA 005
LHR 12:25P
NRT 09:01A

NH 010
NRT 11:00A
JFK 09:15A

34 Hours Exactly

I spent 15 minutes trying to make this work with COncord via either LHR or CGD, but it will not fly.

You guys are the superstars of routing, but I am just wondering if anyone tried a south Southern hemisphere routing, like
Jo'burg-Rio-Sydney-Jo'burg -- or even if such a routing is possible?

I think we should only count a route that crosses the equator (e.g., JFK-LHR-SYD-LAX-JFK).

Otherwise, you could fly any old plane in a little circle around the north pole or south pole in just 10 minutes. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

OK, who's up for making up a team to actually go out and give this a go ??

Shouldn't it also cover mileage equivalent to the circumference of the earth (~24,902 miles)?

Good point.

[This message has been edited by JS (edited 03-21-2003).]

From To Distance
5 segment path: 21602 mi
CGK (06°04'S 106°23'E) HKG (22°19'N 113°55'E) 2015 mi
HKG (22°19'N 113°55'E) SFO (37°37'08"N 122°22'29"W) 6926 mi
SFO (37°37'08"N 122°22'29"W) LHR (51°29'N 00°28'W) 5367 mi
LHR (51°29'N 00°28'W) SIN (01°13'N 103°35'E) 6755 mi
SIN (01°13'N 103°35'E) CGK (06°04'S 106°23'E) 536 mi


too short http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/frown.gif

There was a thread on this very subject -- shortest RTW on scheduled airlines -- that I remember reading probably last fall. I cannot recollect what forum it was in, but there was some pretty extensive investigation by the participants to find the best routing -- minimal layovers, etc. If I recall correctly the best they did was in four flights, through Oz or NZ.

Hopefully someone else will remember that thread and can dig it up and post a link.

Can we go bipolar?

Sure. Nearest you can get to the South Pole is on the Sydney - Johannesburg run. At the North Pole, the CO from Newark to Hong Kong goes right over the top.

New York EWR 1215 Day 1 CO 99
Hong Kong 1715 Day 2

Hong Kong 1920 Day 2 CX 111
Sydney 0710 Day 3

Sydney 1035 Day 3 QF 63
Johannesburg 1525 Da 3

Joannesburg 2000 Day 3 SA 201
New York JFK 0710 Day 4

Total time 66 hours 55 minutes

Those who saw Michael Palin's TV series "Pole to Pole" a few years ago will know he took a little longer!

Wow WHBM! FT has all knowledge!

Sydney to Johannesburg - what an idea.

I often take that flight - I just wish it was more than 4 times per week

I tried planning a fastest RTW touching all 6 continents a few years ago.. ended up being something like 80 hrs; DFW-CCS-MAD-CAI-DXB-SIN-SYD-LAX-DFW, 26k miles.