Long-Haul Flight Breakup
Jul 9th, 2014, 10:40 AM
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Long-Haul Flight Breakup
Hi Everyone!
My wife and I are planning our winter trip and are intrigued by some of the beach possibilities in Asia. In looking at the flights from JFK airport it seems like a lot involve 13-15 hour flights, then a brief layover, and a shorter 1-2 hr flight to the eventual destination. Does anyone have tips on ways to break up the flight time with a layover in between? Something like 7-8 hours on a flight, then a layover, then another 7 hours? If not, we'll probably suck it up and make the most of it, but this could be a way to see another country for a day along the way.
My wife and I are planning our winter trip and are intrigued by some of the beach possibilities in Asia. In looking at the flights from JFK airport it seems like a lot involve 13-15 hour flights, then a brief layover, and a shorter 1-2 hr flight to the eventual destination. Does anyone have tips on ways to break up the flight time with a layover in between? Something like 7-8 hours on a flight, then a layover, then another 7 hours? If not, we'll probably suck it up and make the most of it, but this could be a way to see another country for a day along the way.
Jul 9th, 2014, 10:47 AM
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If you fly one of the Middle Eastern airline (Emirates, Qatar and Ethihad) then the flying time will be around 12.30 hours for JFK to either Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi. From these cities to BKK or SIN it will only be another 6 hours. You can also do a stopover to break up the trip and often these airlines will have a good deal for a stopover. I've stopover in Dubai with a free 5 star hotels for 2 nights!
Jul 9th, 2014, 10:51 AM
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Thanks! Yeah I did notice the Middle Eastern option. I'm wondering if there are any ways to get it even further down. Something like USA to Country X for 7-9 hours. Then stay in Country X for a day. Then Country X to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia or somewhere in Southeast Asia that's another 7-8 hours. I'll keep researching. Just trying to gather all possible information now!
Jul 9th, 2014, 11:43 AM
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Remember that the more stops you make, the longer it will take to get there. I find I do best with the most direct (least stops) flight possible. I get into Bangkok near midnight and am able to get up in the morning in that time zone. Stops - especially multiple stops - will just confuse your body and it will then take longer to get into that time zone.
If you are intent on stopovers, you might look at something like Finn Air for a stop in Europe.
If you are intent on stopovers, you might look at something like Finn Air for a stop in Europe.
Jul 9th, 2014, 01:44 PM
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If you fly to Western Europe (Frankfurt, Paris) and stop over, your onward flight to Bangkok (as an example) is roughly 10 hours. I like returning via Europe (to Chicago) as the two flights are a little more "even" timewise.
Jul 9th, 2014, 05:16 PM
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Helsinki and Finnair try to market themselves in exactly this way. HEL is a tad under half way between JFK and BKK and more or less on the great circle: 4,117 plus 4,916 miles for a total of 9,033, compared with 8,665 miles nonstop (but there are no nonstop flights).
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=jfk-hel-bkk
There are comfortable hotels right at HEL airport that have good day rates (I've used the Hilton) as well as overnight, and Helsinki itself is worth a day or two (though maybe not in winter).
Stockholm (ARN) and SAS could also work, but the legs are a bit less balanced.
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=jfk-hel-bkk
There are comfortable hotels right at HEL airport that have good day rates (I've used the Hilton) as well as overnight, and Helsinki itself is worth a day or two (though maybe not in winter).
Stockholm (ARN) and SAS could also work, but the legs are a bit less balanced.
Jul 10th, 2014, 05:17 AM
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We have done the HEL route several times. Both flights from JFK and HEL are night flights, after a day in town. we love it, and you arrive somewhat refreshed. No matter how you fly it is a long one.
Jul 10th, 2014, 11:54 AM
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we also love Korean air from jfk, but times are long on first leg--we take pills.
air france can work much like the finn air flight the last time I took it..
we flew the 2PM finn air flt from jfk, arr in early AM, booked holiday inn at airport, slept all day, had a nice dinner in their very good restaurant and reboarded for onward overnight flt to bkk.
air france can work much like the finn air flight the last time I took it..
we flew the 2PM finn air flt from jfk, arr in early AM, booked holiday inn at airport, slept all day, had a nice dinner in their very good restaurant and reboarded for onward overnight flt to bkk.
Jul 10th, 2014, 03:05 PM
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Warm morning greetings ejseidman, and do hope your long-hauls come to pleasant fruition -- perhaps all the way to our fine home of Singapore.
The following will be a bit Singapore Airlines focused, as SIA is my primary business travel carrier (and will be flying her later today, Hong Kong home to SIN). One ex-JFK option for you is SQ25, non-stop to Frankfurt. Upon FRA arrival, you have the SIA choice of brief stop (~ 2 hours), followed by another SQ25 on to SIN. Or, you can layover ~ 11 hours (or a few days; your choice) and fly SQ325 to SIN. San Francisco Bay Area (SFO) is my primary N. America business travel port, but can assure you, the few times I've flown SQ 25 & 325 for work, no complaints. (And, as always, do keep abreast of SIA schedule changes and offers via the ever-evolving: singaporeair dot com/
[And do concur with the earlier Dubai suggestion. Have had the privilege of two separate business trips to DXB over the past ~ eight months, and must say, have truly enjoyed the experiences. (Then, my current work does entail certain facets of the aviation and lodging industries; always a pleasure to analyze the 'competition', namely, Emirates and her home port, for my Dubai stays.) Should you layover in Dubai, can highly vouch for Emirates Towers (lodging) and Pierchic (dining), as noted on my profile page.]
However you fly and layover, savour your planning; very happy for you. Warm Friday morning and weekend wishes to you and all,
macintosh (robert)
... Singapore Airlines, You're a Great Way to Fly ...
The following will be a bit Singapore Airlines focused, as SIA is my primary business travel carrier (and will be flying her later today, Hong Kong home to SIN). One ex-JFK option for you is SQ25, non-stop to Frankfurt. Upon FRA arrival, you have the SIA choice of brief stop (~ 2 hours), followed by another SQ25 on to SIN. Or, you can layover ~ 11 hours (or a few days; your choice) and fly SQ325 to SIN. San Francisco Bay Area (SFO) is my primary N. America business travel port, but can assure you, the few times I've flown SQ 25 & 325 for work, no complaints. (And, as always, do keep abreast of SIA schedule changes and offers via the ever-evolving: singaporeair dot com/
[And do concur with the earlier Dubai suggestion. Have had the privilege of two separate business trips to DXB over the past ~ eight months, and must say, have truly enjoyed the experiences. (Then, my current work does entail certain facets of the aviation and lodging industries; always a pleasure to analyze the 'competition', namely, Emirates and her home port, for my Dubai stays.) Should you layover in Dubai, can highly vouch for Emirates Towers (lodging) and Pierchic (dining), as noted on my profile page.]
However you fly and layover, savour your planning; very happy for you. Warm Friday morning and weekend wishes to you and all,
macintosh (robert)
... Singapore Airlines, You're a Great Way to Fly ...
Jul 10th, 2014, 11:37 PM
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I have never been a proponent of breaking up flights. It just makes me more tired. Moving bag and baggage to a hotel for 1 night and then repeating the trip to the airport, security, immigration, etc. the next day is just exhausting as far as I am concerned.
I totally recommend you suck it up and do the long flight. I LOVE the long flight: you can work, read, watch movies, catch up on emails, etc and you still have 8 hours or so of sleep. People bring you food and drinks. No phone calls. Bliss to me.
If you are looking at a beach location in Asia, then the best way to do this IMO is to fly on-stop to a major city in Asia first for a few days. Hong Kong, Singapore or Bangkok work well. Kuala Lumpur is a possibility. Then go to your beach location. You get to see city and then beach. Flying all he way to SE Asia just for a beach is, to me, a bit of a waste. The beaches are nice, but nothing better than you could have in the Caribbean (other than the Maldives, which is a pain to get to from the US most any way you slice it. But beaches are the very best in Asia, IMO.) So it’s better to mix up city and beach so you get some bang for your buck – and flight time.
You can choose your city depending on the beach you want. If your want Bali, then going to Hong Kong first makes sense (Signore works as ell). If you want to go to Phuket or eastern Thailand, then Bangkok words (hard to find non-stops to Bangkok, Thai Airways may be the only one, but perfectly good airline.)
You could also consider Tokyo (not a bad flight from the US) and then onto a beach destination; other than Okinawa, you are looking at some longish flight times to reach South Asian beaches, but there is pretty good non-stop service from Japan to beach locations in Asia.
Also bear in mind that you can do open-jaw and go to several places. Fly into Hong Kong, then Bali, then Singapore, then home. On the flight to the US flying via the US coast you “gain” a day going back, which is a good reason to fly east back from Asia.
Flying through the Middle East really only makes sense to me if you are going to the Maldives, as it may break up those flights a bit. But Dubai is a total yawn to me. Dunkin' Donuts with sand. I would choose Jordan and go to Petra for a few days.
I totally recommend you suck it up and do the long flight. I LOVE the long flight: you can work, read, watch movies, catch up on emails, etc and you still have 8 hours or so of sleep. People bring you food and drinks. No phone calls. Bliss to me.
If you are looking at a beach location in Asia, then the best way to do this IMO is to fly on-stop to a major city in Asia first for a few days. Hong Kong, Singapore or Bangkok work well. Kuala Lumpur is a possibility. Then go to your beach location. You get to see city and then beach. Flying all he way to SE Asia just for a beach is, to me, a bit of a waste. The beaches are nice, but nothing better than you could have in the Caribbean (other than the Maldives, which is a pain to get to from the US most any way you slice it. But beaches are the very best in Asia, IMO.) So it’s better to mix up city and beach so you get some bang for your buck – and flight time.
You can choose your city depending on the beach you want. If your want Bali, then going to Hong Kong first makes sense (Signore works as ell). If you want to go to Phuket or eastern Thailand, then Bangkok words (hard to find non-stops to Bangkok, Thai Airways may be the only one, but perfectly good airline.)
You could also consider Tokyo (not a bad flight from the US) and then onto a beach destination; other than Okinawa, you are looking at some longish flight times to reach South Asian beaches, but there is pretty good non-stop service from Japan to beach locations in Asia.
Also bear in mind that you can do open-jaw and go to several places. Fly into Hong Kong, then Bali, then Singapore, then home. On the flight to the US flying via the US coast you “gain” a day going back, which is a good reason to fly east back from Asia.
Flying through the Middle East really only makes sense to me if you are going to the Maldives, as it may break up those flights a bit. But Dubai is a total yawn to me. Dunkin' Donuts with sand. I would choose Jordan and go to Petra for a few days.
Jul 11th, 2014, 12:20 AM
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When I was traveling frequently between Asia and New York, I usually chose the Singapore flight Singapore-Frankfurt-New York and spent a couple of days in Europe along the way. But that was because I wanted to stop in Europe. [The biz class non-stop Newark to Singapore was a great flight, but alas it's no more.]
Aside from Europe and the middle east there are several gateway cities in Asia that would make good combinations with a beach holiday, like Tokyo, Hong Kong or Singapore.
I agree, though, that stopping mid-route doesn't really have much impact on jetlag, and can be just another aggravation -- more airports, more checking in and out.
When I was on a limited time vacation and Bali was my destination, I always traveled straight through even though it meant some 30 hours of plane and airport time. As the flight progresses you lapse into travel limbo and once you're there, you're there. That's the reward.
Aside from Europe and the middle east there are several gateway cities in Asia that would make good combinations with a beach holiday, like Tokyo, Hong Kong or Singapore.
I agree, though, that stopping mid-route doesn't really have much impact on jetlag, and can be just another aggravation -- more airports, more checking in and out.
When I was on a limited time vacation and Bali was my destination, I always traveled straight through even though it meant some 30 hours of plane and airport time. As the flight progresses you lapse into travel limbo and once you're there, you're there. That's the reward.
Jul 12th, 2014, 01:06 PM
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If you want big cities with big beaches attached, make Australia your destination. The population is strung along the ocean shores (except for Canberra, the capitol.) Break up the flight in any of the more northerly Asian gateway airports because you probably will be making a stop somewhere. The old way, when jets couldn't fly so far, was across the Pacific with a stop in Hawaii, no hardship. Ditto New Zealand.
Flying east, I'd prefer Air France with both the necessity and possibility of a stop-over in Paris.
Flying east, I'd prefer Air France with both the necessity and possibility of a stop-over in Paris.
Jul 12th, 2014, 02:34 PM
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I would agree to just get it over with. Yes, it's a long haul, which can't be helped. It's the other side of the world, more or less. I like to fly ORD-HKG and then on to BKK, but it's a bit more expensive than ORD-NRT-BKK. Flying via Europe is also more costly, but I've managed to do that one using miles, and in 1st class, thus far. Knock on wood....
Australia is a fabulous destination. I've been 8 times. Enjoyed every part of the country I've visited, coast to coast plus Tasmania, but you are talking more expensive once you get there than, say, Bangkok/Phuket/Samui.
Australia is a fabulous destination. I've been 8 times. Enjoyed every part of the country I've visited, coast to coast plus Tasmania, but you are talking more expensive once you get there than, say, Bangkok/Phuket/Samui.
