Calculating flight times
 

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong forum.

I am looking at the kayak.com website for booking HKG-ABZ (Aberdeen). KLM airlines shows as the best price. The schedule for the leg to Amsterdam is:

Departs: 11:10a Hong Kong Intl (HKG) Arrives: 4:40p Amsterdam- Schiphol (AMS) 12h 30m

I believe that AMS is GMT+1 and HKG is GMT+10 which should give a flying time of 14h 30m. Can someone tell me which is correct mine or 12h 30m?

I believe you might get a better answer to your question in travelbuzz. Maybe a mod will move it there for you.

When you look at an itin, doesn't it give you the total travel time?

I looked at Cathay and they calculated the duration of the flight at 12:55 hrs.

Their website quotes 12h 30m.

KL says 12:30, CX says 12:55, so I assume your total flight time will be closer to those numbers than to the 14-ish hours you calculated.

You're probably correct. I would still like to know how they work it out. I do it by normalising departure and arrival times to the same time zone so departing HKG at 1110 is equivalent to 0210 AMS time. Arrival time is 1640 (at AMS) so that means a flight time of 1640 - 0210 = 14h30m. Someone tell me I'm not going mad!

Bear in mind that, due to DST in the (Northern) summer, AMS may be GMT+2.

But it's winter in the northern hemisphere now.

True, but you hadn't specified your flight dates in the OP!

Sorry yes, 10th March.

please continue to follow this thread in the travelbuzz! forum. thanks for your understanding.

regards,

chrissxb
moderator
europe forum

Erm, I believe HKT is GMT+8 and not GMT+10 as used above.

Doh! You are right. Thanks.