BootsnAll Travel Community

I've been thinking about this some more, and while I voted for >=7 hours (since that's about a flight to London), I've decided it's not the hours that count...it's the destination.

Intercontinental flights, or even flights to Mexico, where there's a real shift culture, language, etc, are long haul to me. For instance, in my upcoming trip to Ecuador, the longest single flight is only a little over 5 hours (Toronto-Bogota), and I consider it long haul. But its only about an hour longer than the flight to Toronto, which is distinctly not.

On the other end of the spectrum, any flight I can finish before breakfast is short haul. I'm off to Victoria next week, and I'll be there by 8:40. I love quick hops.

Most of North America, though, I'd consider to be "mid-haul."

quote:
gypsygirl60 claims:
Anything under 18 hours is a Breeze

Bull shit. Faux bravado will get you now where around here. This is not a penis measuring contest
...............

Calm down Dear, Calm Down (Add by Michael Winner)

I was only amusing myself. It really wasnt intended to be a stressful comment.

Anyway, Lets talk about the contest........

quote:

Originally posted by gypsygirl60:
I was only amusing myself. It really wasnt intended to be a stressful comment.

Sorry. We just get so many "my travel penis is bigger than your travel penis" posts around here, which detract from the thread, so...you suffered the wrath of Stoo.

Do you have a real opinion on the subject?

A long haul flight is one where you get tired just sitting still.

On the packed commuter flights, that happens fast.

If you have a neighbor that smells, talks too much, with screaming kids all around, and worse, 6 screaming children, 20 minutes can be purgatory, especially if the seat is uncomfortably, you've forgotten your ipod, and theres not even anything to read.

Another definition is when you arrive dog tired, usually at the wrong time of night or day, and the trip isn't over YET.

Sometimes, its not the flight, its the pre-flight. Like in waiting 3 hours in Heathrow because their x-ray machines are broken, and they search everyone baggage by hand BEFORE the flight.

Hi Stoo

Im definately Not a 'My Penis is bigger' type of gal,but do understand what you were saying

My opinion for long haul is prob 8 hours, As consisting of a couple of meals, a few drinks, couple of movies ( though I wish they had ones that I liked!)

Also, I see long haul as when heaps !! of people are out of their seats looking out the windows at the back of the plane, always near the loo's gazing at whatever is down below...

Ahh, I love flying ! True

And secretly Love the food

quote:

Originally posted by Papaya:
As someone who flies routinely between Asia and the States, I don't even bat an eyelash at flights less than 10 hours.

I sort of have the same experience (just came off a 13 hours flight between LA and Taipei), so flight between US and Europe is rarely a long-haul for me!

Well, as long as they serve free alcohol...which is not the case for many US-based airlines these days LOL!

quote:

Originally posted by Riley Lewis:
18 hours? You would go mad. ...

Well, I actually would have such one long-haul flight to reach my destination than taking several mid-haul flights and are forced to sit in various airports waiting....

Last year I flew from Chicago to Jo'Burg with such route: CHI--> Newark--> Frankfurt--> Dubai ---> Jo'Burg, with 6 hours' layover in both FRA and Dubai. I left on Friday afternoon and did not reach South Africa until Sunday morning... None of the flights was longer than 8 and1/2 hrs (so not really long-haul flights on my own definition). However, I would have done Chi --> WAS DC --> Jo'Burg but it was a few hundred dollars more...

On a long haul flight, I can at least do a lot of things, and sometime even - sleeping...

Personal perception of a long haul flight, if not strictly counting the hours:

1) At least 3 meals: 2 real meals and one snack (usually served while you are sleeping)

2) You can watch at least 3 movies and 2 other TV shows/cartoon. So of course you are better off on a plane with personal entertainment system with a lot of choices...

3) And...you still have time too sleeep, maybe after a few drinks

I notice that Air Canada is offering a non stop flight between Sydney and Vancouver 14hrs, finally. Not that I've done it. Started up last year apparently, I kinda missed it.

Now if only someone would start up a Aust-Europe non-stop since I agree with the above. I'd rather do one long flight if I have to than a heap of 'little' ones.

There's been some talk from various airlines but no one has followed through yet.