See http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051110/.../record_flight

A Boeing 777 flew over 12,000 miles nonstop.

Took 23 hr.

Would you want to fly in coach for 23 hr?

A great deal more than I'd want to be thrown off at LAX after 10 hours, go through immigration, hang round for a couple of hours then have another ten hours before getting to Sydney or Auckland.

Which is what happens to thousands of us every day.

And a lot less painful than the trans-Europe train journeys most of used to take 30 or more years ago.

Good one flanneruk -- toss in double miles and where do I sign up???

Ira - Many moons ago when South African Airways was not allowed to fly over Africa and had to go around 'the bulge', we flew 19hrs to Tel Aviv with a refuel in Lisbon. That was bad enough!

As long as the wine is free. I guess that means it won't be a U.S. airline.

Don't worry, Wally. No US airline has ordered the 772LR yet; and was that you who tell me Air Canada still gives free drinks?

But the plane that did it was Pakistan's PIA. On which the only free drinks are tea.

And - I swear - the pre-landing announcement goes "Ladies and gentlemen. If God is willing, we will shortly be landing at Karachi"

Personally, I prefer less tentative announcements. And if they want to worry us, I'd rather they served G+Ts at the same time.

flanneruk - That's a good one!

I hear they are setting up special Immigration lines for whiners.

rkkwan, as I recall from a previous thread, Air Canada's drinks are only $4, as opposed to AA's drinks for $5. This is not a determining factor for you or me, but for Wally this constitutes a substantial savings.

Here's one on the house, Wally!!