Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with new information.
As discussed in a episode of “Have Points, Will Travel,” Ian Agrimis learned a subtle but important distinction in the world of aviation when he discovered that there is indeed a big difference between a “direct” flight and a flight. Direct Flight”. Confused? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.
While both options will get you to the destination printed on your ticket on a single plane, a direct flight can actually take longer than a direct flight. That’s because direct flights can sometimes stop at multiple airports along their route, as long as the number of flights stays the same.
For example, Singapore Airlines offers two options for traveling from New York to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): a direct flight from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and a direct flight from John F International Airport Kennedy (JFK), with a stop at Frankfurt Airport (FRA).
JFK-SIN flight is now flight longest in the world in operation, is expected to take just 19 hours of port-to-gate flight on an Airbus A350-900ULR over approximately 9,527 miles. Non-stop will also generally cost you more — the only service types available on the A350 serving the route are leading economy And business. The A380 serves the route through Frankfurt in economy class and first class.
While a direct flight is undoubtedly the fastest way to get from the East Coast of the United States to Singapore, the nonstop, stopover, still has a loyal and favorable following. For one thing, it features Singapore’s legendary first class suitesbut other than that, on such a long journey, some travelers like to rest and relax.
Before the 1980s, nonstop flights were much more popular. Arriving in East Asia from the US East Coast or Europe requires stopping to refuel at least once.
“I am old enough to remember that I flew the DC-10 to Hong Kong: Geneva, Zurich, Karachi,” said Guillaume de Syon, a history professor at Albright University who has studied aviation history. Hong Kong. “I never got off a plane.”
Related: The longest non-stop flights in the world
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De Syon says that before the 1980s, jet engines were not reliable or efficient enough to fly continuously over such long distances.
“There was a technical change that started in the late 70s and firmly established in the 1980s that so-called non-stop flights were no longer necessary,” he said. “Suddenly you have better engine, longer range.”
Almost overnight, he said, direct routes like New York to Johannesburg, which previously always required at least one technical stop, became possible.
Gregory Alegi, an aeronautical historian who teaches at Luiss University in Rome, said today’s jet engines are “much more reliable”. “You can basically fly straight between two points anywhere on Earth,” he added. “You take it for granted that you can fly safely anywhere.”
The rise of non-stop flights and the introduction of long-range medium-sized jets such as A321XLR That means the entire shape of the aviation industry is changing, according to Alegi. In addition to having fewer non-stop flights, it also means connecting flights are gradually becoming less popular.
“You might think, in Europe, places like Amsterdam: It’s in a small country – a rich country, an advanced country, but with a very small local base. It thrives because people fly there, change planes and then go to their final destination,” he said. “If I could fly non-stop from another medium-sized city to my destination, I would skip Amsterdam.”
Related: Maximize Your Airfare: The Best Credit Cards to Book Flights
For Alegi, however, there’s always a case for stopping on super-long routes like New York-Singapore, even if they’re not technically necessary.
“Do you consider stopping an inconvenience, meaning that you will only go if the price is cheaper, or do you think it is an advantage because you are stopping where you want and it will take you six hours? ? to visit the city?
Alegi answered her own question: “I think the data shows that people would rather go straight to a destination or stay for a few days, than just do it lightly for a few hours.”
Airlines are increasingly making stopovers more flexible, allowing passengers to spend more time (think days, not hours) in the cities where they make their stops.
As stopovers and connecting flights become less common, Alegi also thinks airports could shrink in size and commercial reach.
“If there were fewer stops, if there were less time to kill, perhaps we would see airports shrinking, shrinking, back towards providing technical services rather than travel experiences. calendar.”
According to Alegi, the appeal of air travel in general is efficiency, so airlines tend to emphasize how efficient their services are.
Direct flights were once the fastest way between two points, even if they had multiple stops. The term stuck, even as nonstop flights have become more time-efficient alternatives. That’s part of the reason this can be so confusing: All non-stop flights are non-stop, but not all non-stop flights are non-stop. So next time you book, double check: is your flight direct or direct? Otherwise, you might be surprised to find yourself on the ground at some unexpected airport for a few hours
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