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.

So much for Jules Verne and around the world in 80 days! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

RichardInSF:

Had to wait for a spare half an hour on Sunday night to do this one!

Sydney 1030 Sunday Aerolineas Argentinas AR 1183
Buenos Aires 1305 Sunday

Buenos Aires 2045 Sunday Malaysian MH 202
Johannesburg 1240 Monday

Johannesburg 1750 Monday Qantas QF 64
Sydney 1435 Tuesday

Total time 52 hours 5 minutes

This is the only possible combination of direction, point of departure/return and day of the week that works on this route, as these flights all operate only a few times a week. Otherwise there's a day or two wait somewhere. However this one works so well it's only 13 hours more than my Northern Hemisphere one.

WHBM:

Thanks, that's WAY longer than the Northern hemisphere route. Surprising.

Well, that routing actually is: SYD-AKL-EZE-CPT-JNB-SYD, with the two extra stopovers adds a few hours.

This is the fastest 6-continent RTW I have been able to find:

CCS-MAD-CMN-DXB-SIN-SYD-LAX-MIA-CCS, clocking in at just over 75 hours (54h30m in the air).

dep CCS 5:20PM APR03 arr MAD 7:45AM APR04 Iberia 6702 (8:25)
dep MAD 10:10AM APR04 arr CMN 9:55AM APR04 Iberia 6967 (1:45)
dep CMN 14:35PM APR04 arr DXB 2:15AM APR05 Emirates 752 (7:40)
dep DXB 8:15AM APR05 arr SIN 7:35PM APR05 Emirates 410 (7:20)
dep SIN 8:45PM APR05 arr SYD 6:05AM APR06 Emirates 410 (7:20)
dep SYD 9:40AM APR06 arr LAX 6:15AM APR06 United 9570 (13:35)
dep LAX 7:50AM APR06 arr MIA 3:47PM APR06 AA 898 (4:57)
dep MIA 5:20PM APR06 arr CCS 8:45PM APR06 AA 903 (3:25)

Could be done with a oneworld RTW + Emirates ticket. Any takers? http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by hauteboy (edited 03-24-2003).]

Well, you folks may have talked me into it. I have never done a mileage run, but on my next RTW, instead of just getting it over with, I am tempted (especially since on this kind of trip I definitely pay up to F).

I know this thread wasn't about that, but it started me thinking, along with what I've been reading about the OneWorld RTW fare based on continents, not miles.

Sounds like a lot of experienced RTW flyers out there.
Now that we have the shortest RTW itinerary figured out, can I get some advice regarding paying for it?
Where would you originate your RTW and what package (Star, Oneworld, or other combo of carriers) is the least expensive for F class? Assume the first level RTW (Star1 for 29,000 miles)
I've heard CAI and JNB have some of the best fares to originate from. $4200 from CAI for Star1 in F is the best I've heard of so far.
Thanks in advance for your expert advice!

Found one even shorter! (I have too much time on my hands http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif )

CDG-CCS-SJO-LAX-SYD-SIN-DXB-CAI-CDG in 72h35m, about ~50h flying time.

APR4 CDG 10:45 CCS 14:35 AF 460
APR4 CCS 16:15 SJO 17:05 LR 611
APR4 SJO 17:40 LAX 21:35 LR 611
APR4 LAX 23:00 SYD 07:40+2 QF 150
APR6 SYD 15:50 SIN 21:50 SQ 222
APR6 SIN 23:25 DXB 02:30+1 SQ 428
APR7 DXB 03:35 CAI 05:20 SQ 428
APR7 CAI 06:35 CDG 11:20 AF 503