As flight's duration is much more important to travelers, US News Travel sought out the most painstakingly long journeys in the sky. 1. Los Angeles to Singapore, Singapore Airlines • Miles: 9,500 • Scheduled Duration: 18 Hours 30 Minutes Currently, Singapore Airlines operates the longest flight in the world by duration, racking up 18 hours and 30 minutes in the air in just one go. From Los Angeles to Singapore, a business-class only airplane shuttles 100 passengers halfway across the globe. Most people are surprised to learn that this trip takes longer than the airline's Newark-Singapore flight, which travels about 800 more miles. The Newark flight path across the North Pole subjects the aircraft to less wind resistance, allowing it to travel faster than the flight from L.A., which crosses the Pacific Ocean. 2. Newark to Singapore on Singapore Airlines • Miles: 10,371 • Scheduled Duration: 18 Hours From Newark to Singapore, travelers aboard this 18-hour jaunt receive some much-needed pampering. For this long voyage, Singapore Airlines (SA) employs an Airbus 340-500. Normally holding more than 300 passengers, SA's luxury aircraft hosts only 100 seats. 3. Dallas-Fort Worth to Brisbane on Qantas • Miles: 8,584 • Scheduled Duration: 16 Hours Jumping 16 hours ahead, travelers flying from Texas Cowboy Country to the Australian Outback will probably experience some jet lag. Add to that 15 hours of airtime, and the trek could be downright painful. Luckily, Qantas pampers its passengers with ergonomic seats, personal on-demand entertainment sets, three meals, and self-service snack bar fully stocked with free goodies. 4. Dubai to Los Angeles on Emirates Airways • Miles: 8,335 • Scheduled Duration: 16 Hours 30 Minutes Emirates Airways runs a flight between glamorous L.A. and even more opulent Dubai. On the massive Boeing 777-200LR, passengers can choose to spend the 16.5 hours in the 216-seat economy cabin, the 42-seat business class area (that features lie-flat seats), or the eight ultra-posh suites. Each cabin showcases Emirates' unique starlit ceiling that reflects the time of day at the destination. 5. Atlanta to Johannesburg on Delta Airlines • Miles: 8,433 • Scheduled Duration: 16 Hours 15 Minutes It takes four pilots and two separate flight crews to handle Delta Flight 200 from Atlanta, Ga., to Johannesburg, South Africa. The Boeing 777LR used to make this trip travels 8,433 miles between the two cities and consumes almost 40,000 gallons of fuel. 6. Los Angeles to Bangkok on Thai Airways • Miles: 8,260 • Scheduled Duration: 17 Hours 30 Minutes Aside from having the most delicious food for economy travelers, Thai Airways operates one of the longest flights in the world, traveling from L.A. to Bangkok. Spanning 8,260 miles, the path of this Airbus A340-500 takes 17 hours and 30 minutes. 7. Dubai to Houston on Emirates Airways • Miles: 8,164 • Scheduled Duration: 16 Hours 20 Minutes From oil capital to oil capital, Emirates Airways brings people from Dubai to Houston on a lengthy nonstop flight. Commonly called a luxury carrier, the airline prides itself on its service on and off the plane 8. Newark to Hong Kong on United Airlines • Miles: 8,065 • Scheduled Duration: 16 Hours Departing from NYC's stepsister, travelers on United Flight 79 must sit tight for 16 hours before reaching their final destination. 9. Doha to Houston on Qatar Airways • Miles: 8,047 • Scheduled Duration: 16 Hours 15 Minutes Qatar Airways operates a marathon flight route between sunny Doha, Qatar, and humid Houston, Texas. Flying westward to the United States, the journey usually takes just over 16 hours. 10. Johannesburg to New York on South African Airways • Miles: 7,970 • Scheduled Duration: 16 Hours In May 2011, South African Airways began its nonstop service from Johannesburg, South Africa, to New York's JFK airport. Operating once a day, an Airbus 340-600 shuttles more than 300 passengers around the globe.
