A piece of humor from kottke.org. The comments are also worth a look.
https://read.scottmonaco.travel/p/please-return-to-your-seat
On the experience of the long haul flight. “The meal cart appears two hours in. You can hear it banging into passengers’ knees before you see it, and the sound causes the entire cabin to sit up slightly, like meerkats detecting motion on the savanna.”
That was probably one of the more pleasant, and accurate, travel articles to read in a long time. I could completely relate to his experience, and have seen quite a number of things in economy in several dozen flights over oceans.
I willingly though suffer through, as he said "no one was here for the plane ride", it is merely, in my view, the penance before enjoying the trip.
Yes, I could afford to upgrade to whatever top-tier class, but the frugal soul inside me just cannot stand to spend thousands for a bit more room and luxury, only to get there no quicker.
If one is really keen to experience a true long haul flight, then QANTAS’s 22hr non stop flight Australia to the UK, might just be the ticket for you.
This article is so accurate. Thanks for sharing. Many relatable comments but one in particular stuck with me.
“ A child three rows back is fully unconscious, limbs splayed, sleeping better than any of us have slept in years. This is the last time in his life he will find an economy seat comfortable, and he doesn’t know it. “
"I know that ultimately, what I will watch is whatever the person diagonally in front of me chooses." Yup!
"If one is really keen to experience a true long haul flight, then QANTAS’s 22hr non stop flight Australia to the UK, might just be the ticket for you."
Well, a couple of hours longer than 22 but close enough. And if the supersonic plane proves itself, maybe shorter.
Qantas plane flies for more than 24 hours in record-breaking flight
The A350 landed in Toulouse 24 hours and 24 minutes after leaving Melbourne as airline plans direct London service
edit: If it takes (a little more than) 24hrs, and it crosses back over the International Date line, could you have it landing 20 or so minutes after it's taken off?
The meerkat line is gold. The whole piece captures economy class misery perfectly. Socks in the bathroom line is a choice I'll never understand.
I have flown many long-haul flights to India from the US. The longest was on the Emirates DBX-LAX leg at 16 hours plus. Those are taxing to say the least. I am an avgeek, and I have been enthusiastically following every detail of the Qantas test. However, the idea of 24 hours in economy gives me the heebie-jeebies.
I think QANTAS, on their website had been spruiking the flight as 22 not 24. Either way, I can’t see much enthusiasm for economy class seats, given the airline’s poor reputation these days when it comes to inflight service
That was funny and refreshingly witty. I haven't flown long haul economy in years, but yeah....
Have not laughed so hard in a long time. The faint clink of real silverware. We’ve sprung for premium economy twice but for our next trip couldn’t justify spending the difference between economy and premium. We thought we were safe with getting bulkhead but have now been moved to the back by the restroom.
Thirty years ago, I flew Minneapolis to Sydney in an aisle seat in economy. Sitting next to me were three already fairly drunk young Australian guys who then drank steadily in flight. They had to go use the bathroom a lot and got to the point, presumably trying not to bother me even though I was wide awake and would have moved, of standing up on the armrests and walking on them to the aisle. Luckily, I'm the kind of person who thinks things like this are very funny, and I let them do it.
Never have been on a non-stop flight for more than 11 hours, basically from SFO to FRA or Paris. That you get used to, no problem for me now since you know essentially what to expect. Falling asleep , the more the better, I will do. The question is for how long. I'm there to put up with it, choosing to go the cheapest way offered as I've always done, Basic Economy , overnight flight.
I have done 24 hours on the train, the night train in Sweden one summer. The scheduled duration was 22 hours but it ended up 24.
