Ugh... I have to fly SEA-PKC but my employer only authorized me economy. Thirty+ hours in economy will be painful
I'm hoping for upgrading on Delta using miles between JFK and SVO and then paying out of pocket for business on SVO-PKC, difference between Y and D is $250 but after so much flying I think it'll be worth it.

Another option is to take a break in Moscow (but I've been there gazillion times already!)...

I have to go east in order to get to the west. Routing going west from SEA absolutely such... SEA-JFK-SVO-PKC seems to be the best one.
Instead of 2 segment path: 6257 mi
SEA (47°26'56"N 122°18'34"W) NRT (35°45'53"N 140°23'11"E) 300° (NW) 4769 mi
NRT (35°45'53"N 140°23'11"E) PKC (53°10'04"N 158°27'13"E) 30° (NE) 1488 mi

I have to do 3 segment path: 11286 mi
SEA (47°26'56"N 122°18'34"W) JFK (40°38'23"N 73°46'44"W) 82° (E) 2421 mi
JFK (40°38'23"N 73°46'44"W) SVO (55°58'22"N 37°24'53"E) 34° (NE) 4661 mi
SVO (55°58'22"N 37°24'53"E) PKC (53°10'04"N 158°27'13"E) 36° (NE) 4203 mi

I hope your employer isn't one of those a-hole companies that tries to keep the miles as well.

Nope, thankfully the Congress changed that in 2001 or so.

I don't understand why you don't refuse to take the trip. If it's a government job, as you hint, you aren't going to get fired. There are health concerns, serious ones, about a trip of that length in economy.

Well... In my case I'd be violating a couple of criminal articles.

Hey,

I don't mind 30 hours on a plane if the airline has PTV units, free alcohol and good meals. Plus I would accumulate miles and use them for a fun trip later on this year(:. And I would ask for a week off upon my return due to jetlag(hint you sleep on the plane and you have no jetlag or a little bit of jetlag and you have a week off to do something fun). Play the game you do what they want they should let you have time off for the 60 hour flight.

Good luck.

You've been subpoena'd or arrested? I can't understand how it can be a criminal violation to refuse to take an unreasonable risk to health.

To Daniel, I've never had a good meal in coach. It just doesn't happen. And the employer who refuses to buy a business class ticket for travel of 30 hours of duration is not going to grant an entire week of vacation either. Jerky employers are jerky employers to the bone.

I vote the guy should look for another job!

This is a joke of course, but I got one suggestion.... benzodiazepines...

I'm guessing herzmeh is referring to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Overnight somewhere in the middle to at least get yourself out of a plane. Surely you can get the government to give you that.

But, you must remember, there are far more people who do trips like these in economy than those who ride up front and they turn out just fine. Not quite as rested, but they got to their destination just the same. It seems there are a lot of folks here who would rather not travel at all if it meant sitting with the unwashed masses.

As I don't understand the routing abbreviations, I don't understand your routing. However, I need to go from NY to Jakarta fairly often in economy, and the SQ airlines flights direct from either Newark or LA are fabulous (for an 18-hr flight)

Aha. The light dawns. It never occurred to me that the military wouldn't want their people to be well-rested. I hope they can figure out SOMETHING better than 30 straight hours in economy. I wouldn't be in shape to cross a street, much less take down a terrorist, after a trip like that!