These are the longest nonstop flights from the U.S.
What’s the longest flight you’ve ever taken? Maybe it was a six-hour journey from coast to coast or perhaps an eight-hour hop across the pond? Well, I hate to tell you but those are regional routes compared to the record-breaking long-haul flights available now. Starting in major U.S. cities, you can fly to Hong Kong, Dubai, Sydney and many other amazing destinations located on the other side of the globe.
Here are the 10 longest flights (ranked by miles traveled) to get you as far from the U.S. as possible with no stops. Minus the time suck of a layover, you can get where you’re going that much faster. If you haven’t racked up quite enough miles to splurge yet, you can file this list away for daydreams about an epic escape to come.
10. Los Angeles to Doha, Qatar
Distance: 8,301 miles
Duration: 15 hours, 45 minutes
Qatar’s direct route from Los Angeles to Doha spans more than 8,000 miles. Nearly 16 hours after taking off from LAX, travelers arrive at their destination. Originally filled with fishing and pearl-diving villages, the city now features an impressive skyline along the crescent-shaped bay, making it well worth the trek. Soccer fans will have a reason to take that flight in 2022, when Qatar hosts the FIFA Men’s World Cup.
9. Los Angeles to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Distance: 8,328 miles
Duration: 15 hours, 50 minutes
This super-long Saudi flight crisscrosses the entire U.S. before flying over the Atlantic and landing in Saudi Arabia. It’s a lot of air time but you should find plenty to do once you land. Known as the most open city in the country, Jeddah is the commercial capital and second largest city in Saudi Arabia.
8. Los Angeles to Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Distance: 8,339 miles
Duration: 16 hours, 20 minutes
Emirates has been flying this direct route from Los Angeles to Dubai since fall 2008. Passengers onboard the Airbus A380 that makes the trek have more than 16 hours to soak up the airline’s world-renowned service before landing in this luxe, modern city.
7. Los Angeles to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Distance: 8,390 miles
Duration: 16 hours, 30 minutes
Launched on June 1, 2014, Etihad shuttles passengers from LAX to the UAE’s capital city on this route. This lengthy journey is just shy of 8,400 miles.
6. Atlanta to Johannesburg, South Africa
Distance: 8,439 miles
Duration: 16 hours, 27 minutes
Since June 1, 2009, Delta has offered this direct route from the Southern U.S. to South Africa’s largest city. Johannesburg’s diverse neighborhoods and history provide ample reasons to make the long flight.
5. San Francisco to Singapore
Distance: 8,447 miles
Duration: 17 hours, 20 minutes
United and Singapore Airlines both connect these cosmopolitan port cities. Both airlines also launched the more than 17-hour journey from San Francisco to Singapore in 2016.
4. Dallas-Fort Worth to Sydney, Australia
Distance: 8,578 miles
Duration: 17 hours, 15 minutes
Qantas transports travelers from the Lone Star State to Sydney in just over 17 hours. The airline has been flying this route since September 2014. Unfortunately, according to FlightStats, this route has poor on-time performance.
3. Houston to Sydney, Australia
Distance: 8,596 miles
Duration: 17 hours, 30 minutes
One of the newcomers to the ultra-long haul list, this flight launched Jan. 18, 2018. To promote it, United held a contest open to people with the first or last name “Sydney.” United picked five winners and guests to be on the inaugural flight and included hotel accommodations for five nights at The Westin Sydney and $500 in the prize package.
2. Los Angeles to Singapore
Distance: 8,770 miles
Duration: 17 hours, 55 minutes
United started flying this lengthy route on Oct. 27, 2017. It jets passengers across the Pacific Ocean to the bustling city-state of Singapore, where visitors can get a taste of the “Crazy Rich Asians” culture all around them.
1. Newark to Singapore
Distance: 9,521 miles
Duration:18 hours, 45 minutes
This route re-launched early in 2018 and blew away the competition for ultra-long haul flights. It’s made possible with the A350-900ULR jet, which can fly more than 1,800 miles farther than the standard A350-900. It also features improved cabin pressurization and humidity, which reduces passenger fatigue, and multiple lighting and climate-control options make the Singapore Airlines journey bearable … if you can handle nearly an entire day in the air!
What’s the longest flight you’ve ever taken?