Round World Record

[katman]

Does a record exist for the fastest round world trip by a passenger using commercial flights ?
A friend of mine and I are considering a charity event the involves a round world flight as fast as possible using LHR and LAX as transit points on a RW SYD/SYD trip we think could be done in under 72 hours.
A sponsor has already agreed to stump the ECY fares if there is a chance we could set a record which would be recognised by Guinness.

 

[djfuzz]

Welcome to AFF.

Does the record exist? Who knows, but I'm sure you'll have done some research if you're getting Guinness involved.

As for doing it in under 72 hours - that's pretty generous. By taking QF11 / BA278 / QF32, you could leave at 1300 one day, and be back by 1915 two days later, so only 54.25 hours.

Having said that, I'm not sure that's really an achievement above and beyond what anyone else with the time, money and inclination could do, and would be a little strange to be recognised as a 'record'. Good luck with it in any case, and best wishes for your charity.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Air NZ flys around the world: AKL-LAX-LHR-HKG-AKL

 

[Travel Guru]

I've got a colleague who spent 5'ish months a few yrs back visiting every single country in the world in the 1 trip...that I find quite interesting, a record for flying via LAX and LON holds little interest from me.

I guess it's like Base Camp Everest, if anyone could do it, it wouldn't be special.

TG

 

[Bundy Bear]

Around the World in Under 60 Hours - FlyerTalk Forums

Around the World in Under 60 Hours by Kiwi Flyer

Intro

A short report on my fastest trip around the world.

A few weeks ago Air NZ had a one day 2-for-1 "Mothers Day" sale for all international economy travel on Air NZ in May, limit one per person (I guess they had FTers in mind with this clause!)

This is a great deal as it was valid on all economy fares, unlike the usual sales. So naturally, even though I had a full schedule in May I looked for an opportunity to use the sale for an interesting trip and/or mileage run.

So it was that after some hurried phone calls, tht and I booked a quick weekend trip to London and constructed as a RTW in order to maximise time in London. This allows me to take a side trip, and tht to have a suprise visit for mother for her birthday. We made sure to choose mileage earning fare classes and were set.

I put my NZ FFP# in the booking so as to get best access to the good seating with my higher status, and called Air NZ to select from those available.

I know of other FTers who are also doing an under 60 hour RTW on this sale

[FONT=ARIAL,][FONT=ARIAL, Helvetica, Geneva]
4 segment path: 23643 mi
AKL (37°00'29"S 174°47'30"E) LAX (33°56'33"N 118°24'26"W) 50° (NE) 6504 mi
LAX (33°56'33"N 118°24'26"W) LHR (51°28'39"N 00°27'41"W) 34° (NE) 5456 mi
LHR (51°28'39"N 00°27'41"W) HKG (22°18'32"N 113°54'53"E) 57° (NE) 5994 mi
HKG (22°18'32"N 113°54'53"E) AKL (37°00'29"S 174°47'30"E) 135° (SE) 5688 mi [/FONT][/FONT]

 

[medhead]

What about fastest round the world under 80 days - that is you gotta visit the same places as philius fog.

I guess it's like Base Camp Everest, if anyone could do it, it wouldn't be special.

TG

Umm, anyone can do base camp everest. getting higher is the problem.

 

[SimonM]

I've got a colleague who spent 5'ish months a few yrs back visiting every single country in the world in the 1 trip...that I find quite interesting, a record for flying via LAX and LON holds little interest from me.

TG, that wouldn't be a Kiwi guy would it? A team of NZers visited all world's capitals on a charity run a few years ago and there was supposed to be a TV show and book about the trip, but I've never been able to find any mention.

 

[katman]

THANKS for all the interest and information.
Especially to DJ Fuzz, I guess those flights would make them just about the fastest flights to take. It seems that for Qantas to be involved, they want to use their flights as much as possible naturally,with the BA sector LHR/LAX, being what they consider acceptable. Problem is the lay over in LHR is a bit too long for my liking at this stage, 6 hours eats up too much flight time.
Yes, I am sure others have done a similar trip to kick in a few more points, but this is something that is being encouraged by enthusiastic family oriented people who want to do something a bit different to the every day "weekend away".
Even if it isn't a record, the idea of collecting $$$ and promoting the cause is what matters I guess.

 

[Travel Guru]

TG, that wouldn't be a Kiwi guy would it? A team of NZers visited all world's capitals on a charity run a few years ago and there was supposed to be a TV show and book about the trip, but I've never been able to find any mention.

No, its a TA I know but not sure who he did it with.

Pretty amazing trip, especially when you consider some of the more hostile counties they visited.

TG

 

[SimonM]

OK, thanks TG. Perhaps I should get Googling again and see if I can track them down. The DVD would be well worth a watch when, as you say, you consider where they went.

 

[futaris]

Comes up on flyertalk fairly often

Circumnavigation - FlyerTalk Forums
Fastest Circumnavigation On Scheduled Flights - FlyerTalk Forums
Shortest Round the world? - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[dajop]

From Singapore it can be done in 42.5 hours, depending on specific flight paths taken which will dictate if RTW or not, SQ 22 SIN-EWR for a 5 hour connection to SQ21 EWR-SIN! Or with a car to whisk you to JFK from EWR, could guarantee RTW by transferring to SQ 25 which goes JFK-FRA-SIN in 42.75 hours.

 

[medhead]

From Singapore it can be done in 42.5 hours, depending on specific flight paths taken which will dictate if RTW or not, SQ 22 SIN-EWR for a 5 hour connection to SQ21 EWR-SIN! Or with a car to whisk you to JFK from EWR, could guarantee RTW by transferring to SQ 25 which goes JFK-FRA-SIN in 42.75 hours.

I'm not exactly sure about the location of SIN, but if it is north of the equator that trip doesn't count as round the world. All record challenges involving round the world have to cross the equator.

 

[tuapekastar]

I'm not exactly sure about the location of SIN, but if it is north of the equator that trip doesn't count as round the world. All record challenges involving round the world have to cross the equator.

SIN is indeed ~90 miles North of the equator!

 

[djfuzz]

I'm not exactly sure about the location of SIN, but if it is north of the equator that trip doesn't count as round the world. All record challenges involving round the world have to cross the equator.

Agree - the circumference of the Earth at the equator is 24,901.55 miles (and 24,859.82 from pole to pole), so you'd want to be close to that.

The SYD-LAX-LHR-SIN-SYD route gives you 23,634 and looks almost like a great circle, which is within about 5% of that, whereas the SIN-LAX-LHR-SIN route (which is not really anything close to a great circle) is 20,998.

MEL-AKL-LAX-HEL-SIN-MEL comes a little closer at 24,133 and is even closer to a great circle, though distorted a little by LHR.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Maps for SQ & Air NZ :-
SIN-EWR-JFK-LHR-SIN
AKL-LAX-LHR-HKG-AKL