Circumnavigating the globe by UA flyers
#47
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Join Date: Aug 2015
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Just to be clear, are we defining 'circumnavigating the globe' as crossing every longitude and the equator? (Or as an alternative, crossing every latitude twice? Although I believe that is surely not possible with commercial travel.)
I do believe an answer to that would constitute a hint.
I do believe an answer to that would constitute a hint.
#48
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 484
Sometimes the EWR-HKG flight flies a route which is technically east bound (although still goes quite near the pole). E.g. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...925Z/KEWR/VHHH
Then from HKG you can continue eastward and end up in EWR again (it almost always routes via Japan/North Pacific/Alaska).
Then from HKG you can continue eastward and end up in EWR again (it almost always routes via Japan/North Pacific/Alaska).
Last edited by Ryu2; Sep 30, 2018 at 12:34 am
#49
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Ryu2 got it. A RT from any city east of the Mississippi (and North of the Mason Dixon line) to Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, or Hong Kong usually goes east the entire trip and will cross all the longitudes. If you want to cross the equator as well, you would to need jog down to UIO or LIM on your way back (or you could back track to SYD or MEL.)
#50
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I have been doing *A RTW itineraries every year since 2008. Usually doing it in the minimum time allowed (10 days).
When PMUA flew RTW all on its own metals, I have done it a few times as well.
Note: this topic is not UA related
When PMUA flew RTW all on its own metals, I have done it a few times as well.
Note: this topic is not UA related
#51
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
Sometimes the EWR-HKG flight flies a route which is technically east bound (although still goes quite near the pole). E.g. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...925Z/KEWR/VHHH
Then from HKG you can continue eastward and end up in EWR again (it almost always routes via Japan/North Pacific/Alaska).
Then from HKG you can continue eastward and end up in EWR again (it almost always routes via Japan/North Pacific/Alaska).
I was assuming just the longitudes, but you could include the equator as well. It would take a couple of extra flights, but it's still possible.
Ryu2 got it. A RT from any city east of the Mississippi (and North of the Mason Dixon line) to Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, or Hong Kong usually goes east the entire trip and will cross all the longitudes. If you want to cross the equator as well, you would to need jog down to UIO or LIM on your way back (or you could back track to SYD or MEL.)
Ryu2 got it. A RT from any city east of the Mississippi (and North of the Mason Dixon line) to Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, or Hong Kong usually goes east the entire trip and will cross all the longitudes. If you want to cross the equator as well, you would to need jog down to UIO or LIM on your way back (or you could back track to SYD or MEL.)
edit add:
For fun, here is an approximate depiction of how EWR-HKG-EWR can do RTW (longitude only).
And here is EWR-HKG-SFO-IAH-LIM-EWR (longitude & equator).
Last edited by fumje; Sep 30, 2018 at 9:28 am Reason: add pictures
#52
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine
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Posts: 2,732
Seems pointless to me other than the MQM to stick to UA metal.
The "just slightly east of the North Pole" is not really circumnavigating anything. If you walk around the North or South Pole, you have not traveled around the world ...
The "just slightly east of the North Pole" is not really circumnavigating anything. If you walk around the North or South Pole, you have not traveled around the world ...
#53
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#55
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Crystal City, VA
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Did a W->E:
OGG-SFO-SEA-IAD-JNB-CPT-JNB-SIN-NRT-HNL-OGG
and an E->W:
OGG-HNL-NRT-DOH-DXB-IAD-JAX-ORD-DAY-ORD-LAX-OGG
All booked in segments (not a RTW ticket).
OGG-SFO-SEA-IAD-JNB-CPT-JNB-SIN-NRT-HNL-OGG
and an E->W:
OGG-HNL-NRT-DOH-DXB-IAD-JAX-ORD-DAY-ORD-LAX-OGG
All booked in segments (not a RTW ticket).
#56
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC, BLR, LHR, SIN and a few others
Programs: UA 1K 1.01 MM
Posts: 1,245
With Air NZ used to be able to do AKL-LAX-LHR-HKG-AKL all on Air NZ aircraft
Great Circle Mapper
Now LHR-HKG is on CX
Great Circle Mapper
Now LHR-HKG is on CX
Around the World in Under 60 Hours
just completes an around the world trip. Did it in 12 days. EWR-AMS; BRU-MUC-HKG: TPE-SFO-EWR.
i have another one in 16 days in january EWR-HKG-SIN-AMS-EWR.
my question is who has done this? How quick of a routing? How many stops?
i used UA for everything except the BRU-HKG segment in the middle
i have another one in 16 days in january EWR-HKG-SIN-AMS-EWR.
my question is who has done this? How quick of a routing? How many stops?
i used UA for everything except the BRU-HKG segment in the middle
Around the World in Under 60 Hours
Will be doing it on SQ next month, JFK-FRA-SIN-EWR in J, but will be staying there for 4 days. The NZ trip was departing after work on Friday night, AKL-LAX-LHR maybe 8 hours in the UK, then LHR-HKG-AKL, and back for work on Monday AM. I guess this is 2 stops, although 1 is a connection and the other is a stop.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 12, 2018 at 1:13 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
#57
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
GC Mapper today features a map for SQ's SIN/EWR service that circumnavigated the globe, which coincidentally happens to do a similar routing to the earlier-discussed EWR/HKG. Wonder if Mr. Swartz noticed my futzing around to make the maps for that.
Singapore Airlines Resumes Singapore to Newark Non-Stop (13 October 2018) - Featured Map - Great Circle Mapper
Singapore Airlines just completed the first round-trip of their renewed Singapore to Newark (New York) non-stop, the longest non-stop airline route at 8,285 nm. Singapore Airlines last flew this route in October 2012 with Airbus A340-500 aircraft seating just 100 passengers, all in Business Class. The new flights use the Airbus A350-900ULR (Ultra Long Range) with 161 seats, including 67 Business Class seats and 94 Premium Economy Class seats. The first of these aircraft was delivered 2.5 weeks ago; the flights will operate thrice-weekly until 18 October 2018 when delivery of a second aircraft will allow the start of daily operations.
Delivery of the remainder of Singapore Airlines' order for seven A350-900ULRs will enable the resumption of non-stops to Los Angeles on 2 November 2018 (a route which United is dropping at the end of this month in favor of twice-daily SFO-SIN service), and an expansion of the current daily service to San Francisco (which uses standard A350-900 aircraft).
Today's Featured Map shows the path of this first round trip, along with the most northerly point on each flight path, plus the great circle path and the Arctic Circle in red. SQ 22 departed Singapore just before midnight Thursday and rode tailwinds to the east, gradually tracking somewhat north but never crossing into the Arctic region. In contrast, yesterday's return from Newark as SQ 21 followed the great circle route quite closely, flying nearly due north and within 125 nm of the north pole before continuing south to Singapore.
Delivery of the remainder of Singapore Airlines' order for seven A350-900ULRs will enable the resumption of non-stops to Los Angeles on 2 November 2018 (a route which United is dropping at the end of this month in favor of twice-daily SFO-SIN service), and an expansion of the current daily service to San Francisco (which uses standard A350-900 aircraft).
Today's Featured Map shows the path of this first round trip, along with the most northerly point on each flight path, plus the great circle path and the Arctic Circle in red. SQ 22 departed Singapore just before midnight Thursday and rode tailwinds to the east, gradually tracking somewhat north but never crossing into the Arctic region. In contrast, yesterday's return from Newark as SQ 21 followed the great circle route quite closely, flying nearly due north and within 125 nm of the north pole before continuing south to Singapore.
#58
Hmm. I've got some vacation in November with no plans... I'm tempted to do something like this for the heck of it (and lack of anything else to do around that time). I'm mid trip right now, but I wonder how many days one would need to make it possible. 4? 5?
#59
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
I think you have to overnight at HKG. You might be able to line up a connection from HKG-SFO and SFO-IAH without spending a day at SFO. It looks like you can do an immediate turn at LIM, although I've never been, so I have no idea how easy or difficult that actually would be.
So it seems like 4 is theoretically the minimum, but 5 would probably be a lot easier on the body.