More than 100 years ago, US Army Air Service Captain Earl French White made history with the longest non-stop flight ever. You might be imagining a record-breaking trip across the country or even an ocean, but remember, this was 1919: just 16 years after the Wright Brothers’ first flight. The Dayton-Wright DH-4 biplane flown by Captain White made the trek from Chicago to Long Island, which is a trip of about 740 miles. Today, the longest commercial flight available breaks that record, although it is so long that it requires a refueling stop in the middle.
The boring, boring, and uncomfortable, long-haul flights can feel endless, even with high-tech gadgets to keep you entertained. You may be jet-lagged after crossing time zones and dealing with sore muscles after sitting for so long. However many people will take a long flight on having multiple stops each day. Flights can be long, but some may even enjoy the extended time to work or nap. For those who can afford premium tickets, flights are more comfortable than ever, with upgraded dining options and room to stretch out.
Passengers on this record-breaking flight will appreciate any extra legroom they can get, as they will be in the air for more than 24 hours. China Eastern Airlines flight MU745 will take passengers from Shanghai to Buenos Aires, Argentina twice a week. The new flight cuts the travel time it used to take to reach South America from China by more than four hours.
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The flight that takes more than a day
China Eastern Airlines Boeing 777-300ER on the runway – Vytautas Kielaitis/Shutterstock
The new flight breaks the old record for the longest non-stop flight, previously held by Singapore Airline’s 9,537-mile, 19-hour flight between New York and Singapore. The China Eastern Airlines flight covers more than 12,000 miles and will take a staggering 29 hours. It is so long that it requires a refueling stop in Auckland, New Zealand, but passengers only need one ticket for the entire flight.
You get some bragging rights if you buy a ticket for this flight. Not only is it the longest one-way flight in the world, but it also crosses the Eastern and Western Hemispheres — as well as both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This route uses a new route called the “southern corridor” by the airline, as it stops in New Zealand instead of taking a northern route that typically includes a refueling stop in Europe or North America. To complete the route, China Eastern Airlines is using a Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft, which is an extension of the long-range Boeing 777 family of jets.
According to Forbes, it is not known if passengers will be allowed to board at the Auckland refueling stop, which is bad news for anyone wanting to stretch their legs. In addition to 258 economy passengers, the flight also carries six first class passengers and 52 business class passengers. This may be the one time you have to pay for that upgrade.
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Read the original article on SlashGear.