DALLAS — One airline plans to find out if solitude-seeking travelers will pay a hefty extra charge to avoid sitting near babies and little kids.
Corendon Airlines says that it will sell an adults-only zone — no one under 16 — on flights between Amsterdam and Curacao starting in November.
Jens Meyer, Associated Press
Senior cabin crew member Magdalini Michailidou stands on the gangway on July 2, 2020, prior the first holiday flight of the Corendon Airlines Europe to the Greek destination Rhodos at the airport Erfurt-Weimar in Erfurt, Germany. Corendon says that it will sell an adults-only zone — no one under 16 allowed — on flights between Amsterdam and Curacao starting in November. Â
The Turkish carrier says people traveling without children will get quiet surroundings, and parents won’t have to worry that their crying or fidgeting kids will annoy fellow passengers.
Corendon announced last week that it will set aside 93 regular seats and nine extra-legroom seats in the adult zone in the front of its Airbus A350 jets, which have 432 seats in all. A wall or curtain will separate the section from the wailing masses farther back.
The airline said on its website that it will charge passengers an extra reservation fee of $49 for the no-kids zone, rising to $109 for one of the extra-legroom seats.
To answer your next question, a flight from Amsterdam to Curacao usually takes about 10 hours.
Brett Snyder, who runs a travel agency and writes the Cranky Flier blog, said Tuesday that there could be demand for adult seats.
“For a heavy leisure airline like Corendon, which is probably full of families with little kids, I can see the appeal for someone traveling without kids to pay extra to be away from them to have more peace and quiet,” Snyder said.
Then again, he added, people in the back of the adult zone might still hear crying, “so it’s like the old days when you were in the last row of the non-smoking section but could still taste that smoke.”
Scott Keyes, founder of the flight-search site Going, said the Corendon extra fee is low enough to attract plenty of buyers, and the airline benefits in another way.
“New leisure airlines need strong marketing to break through,” he said. “Trying something new and generating free press is valuable for an otherwise little-known airline.”
Corendon is not the first airline to try a section with no small children.
Scoot, a low-cost airline based in Singapore, sells a section where passengers must be at least 12.
Back in 2012, Malaysia Airlines announced it would not allow anyone under 12 in a 70-seat economy section on the upper deck of its Airbus A380 jets. The airline later retreated, saying that if there were too many families with children and infants to fit in the lower deck, it would find room for them in the adult economy section upstairs.
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Want a climate-friendly flight? It’s going to take a while and cost you more
Awasada Kalayanamit // Shutterstock
Long-haul flights are no modern invention.
Trans-Atlantic flights, which usually clock in between 3,000 and 4,000 miles, have been around for a while—the first nonstop flight connecting Europe and North America took flight in 1938.
Ultra long-haul flights—think 7,000-plus miles—have a long lineage, too. Such flights date back over 40 years when Pan American Airways launched its first trans-Pacific flight from Los Angeles to Sydney in 1982.
Pan Am's flight was a 7,623-mile trip operated via a Boeing 747SP. Ever since, airlines have been pushing the limits by offering even longer routes.
Nowadays, numerous nonstop routes between faraway cities reach upwards of 9,500 miles—almost 2,000 more than the Pan Am route four decades ago. These flights can take 17-plus hours to complete and are the true sky marathons of today.
To take a deep dive into the routes that operate at such substantial distances, Bounce compiled a list of 10 of the longest commercial flights with nonstop service using data from Air Miles Calculator, airline websites, and news reports. Read on to learn more about the data behind these flights—and what to do if you ever find yourself on one.
Awasada Kalayanamit // Shutterstock
Long-haul flights are no modern invention.
Trans-Atlantic flights, which usually clock in between 3,000 and 4,000 miles, have been around for a while—the first nonstop flight connecting Europe and North America took flight in 1938.
Ultra long-haul flights—think 7,000-plus miles—have a long lineage, too. Such flights date back over 40 years when Pan American Airways launched its first trans-Pacific flight from Los Angeles to Sydney in 1982.
Pan Am's flight was a 7,623-mile trip operated via a Boeing 747SP. Ever since, airlines have been pushing the limits by offering even longer routes.
Nowadays, numerous nonstop routes between faraway cities reach upwards of 9,500 miles—almost 2,000 more than the Pan Am route four decades ago. These flights can take 17-plus hours to complete and are the true sky marathons of today.
To take a deep dive into the routes that operate at such substantial distances, Bounce compiled a list of 10 of the longest commercial flights with nonstop service using data from Air Miles Calculator, airline websites, and news reports. Read on to learn more about the data behind these flights—and what to do if you ever find yourself on one.
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Want a climate-friendly flight? It’s going to take a while and cost you more
Bounce
The two longest active commercial flights are routes between New York City's international airports—Newark and John F. Kennedy—and Singapore's Changi Airport. Flights to and from these airports are effectively similar in length, although the JFK-based route is technically longer by two miles.
Singapore Airlines first charted New York to Singapore in 2004 with regular service between Newark and Changi. That route—a business class-only flight on an Airbus A340-500 decked out with 100 passenger pods—was active until Singapore Airlines shut down service in 2013 due to rising fuel prices and a shrinking aircraft fleet. The airline brought back nonstop service between the two cities by reigniting Newark to Changi in 2018 and JFK to Changi in 2020.
The next longest route—the Qantas' London to Perth line—notably connected Europe with Australasia via a nonstop flight for the first time in history when it launched in 2018. Other trendsetting trips include Emirates' Auckland-Dubai service, the world's longest passenger flight for a spell when it took to the skies in 2016.
It's also noteworthy that all routes on this list involve Southeast Asia or Australasia and span a distance of 8,500 or more miles. Long flights to other regions include those between Atlanta and Johannesburg, South Africa (8,439 miles; run by Delta Airlines) and Los Angeles and Dubai, United Arab Emirates (8,339 miles; run by Emirates).
While all the flights surveyed fall short of 19 hours, Qantas has been angling to break the 19-hour mark with regular service for several years. In 2019, the Australian airline completed a 19-hour, 16-minute test flight between New York and Sydney. In May 2022, Qantas promised regular nonstop service between London and Sydney—a direct route that would last longer than 19 hours—by 2025.
Qantas has a long history of pushing the distance passenger planes can handle. In 2003, the airline flew an Airbus A330-200 nonstop from Toulouse, France, to Melbourne, Australia. That flight covered roughly 10,000 miles and took over 20 hours to complete. However, that test flight only had its four pilots and 12 people onboard, a far cry from the 200-plus passengers the Airbus jumbo jet usually carries.
Bounce
The two longest active commercial flights are routes between New York City's international airports—Newark and John F. Kennedy—and Singapore's Changi Airport. Flights to and from these airports are effectively similar in length, although the JFK-based route is technically longer by two miles.
Singapore Airlines first charted New York to Singapore in 2004 with regular service between Newark and Changi. That route—a business class-only flight on an Airbus A340-500 decked out with 100 passenger pods—was active until Singapore Airlines shut down service in 2013 due to rising fuel prices and a shrinking aircraft fleet. The airline brought back nonstop service between the two cities by reigniting Newark to Changi in 2018 and JFK to Changi in 2020.
The next longest route—the Qantas' London to Perth line—notably connected Europe with Australasia via a nonstop flight for the first time in history when it launched in 2018. Other trendsetting trips include Emirates' Auckland-Dubai service, the world's longest passenger flight for a spell when it took to the skies in 2016.
It's also noteworthy that all routes on this list involve Southeast Asia or Australasia and span a distance of 8,500 or more miles. Long flights to other regions include those between Atlanta and Johannesburg, South Africa (8,439 miles; run by Delta Airlines) and Los Angeles and Dubai, United Arab Emirates (8,339 miles; run by Emirates).
While all the flights surveyed fall short of 19 hours, Qantas has been angling to break the 19-hour mark with regular service for several years. In 2019, the Australian airline completed a 19-hour, 16-minute test flight between New York and Sydney. In May 2022, Qantas promised regular nonstop service between London and Sydney—a direct route that would last longer than 19 hours—by 2025.
Qantas has a long history of pushing the distance passenger planes can handle. In 2003, the airline flew an Airbus A330-200 nonstop from Toulouse, France, to Melbourne, Australia. That flight covered roughly 10,000 miles and took over 20 hours to complete. However, that test flight only had its four pilots and 12 people onboard, a far cry from the 200-plus passengers the Airbus jumbo jet usually carries.
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Want a climate-friendly flight? It’s going to take a while and cost you more
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
If you find yourself one of the fortunate 200-plus passengers that must undergo one of these epic flights, there are three major considerations to keep in mind. Long-haul flights aren't just feats of technology, but also the human body. Be kind to yourself and ensure you take advantage of the conveniences offered by airlines to make the boarding process as simple and smooth as possible.
Apply for TSA PreCheck at least a month ahead of your scheduled flight. A five-year membership costs $78 and allows you to breeze through security without removing your shoes, belts, light jackets, or laptops.
Check in online. You may be surprised how many people miss this step and end up waiting in long lines to have their luggage weighed, and boarding passes printed.
Dress for comfort. There is no need for restrictive clothing for the sake of fashion. Instead, opt for loose-fitting clothes and slip-on shoes you can easily don before walking up and down the aisle or stretching to avoid blood clots.
Stay hydrated. Airplanes are enclosed environments with filtered air systems that can be very dry. Some people can start to feel dryness in their skin and even their eyes a few hours into the flight, so adding moisture to your system is essential. Bring a reusable water bottle and ask flight attendants to fill it with water rather than leaving an open (and tiny) cup on your tray that could easily spill. Don't forget to pack small toiletries like lip balm and lotion to ward off the dry air, which can lead to uncomfortable chapped lips or general itchiness.
Seek sustenance. One could easily pick between the two basic meal options offered on flights, but savvier passengers know to check for other meal options. Singapore Airlines has a "Book the Cook" program open to first class, business class, and some premium economy seats that allows you to select meals created by an International Culinary Panel. Or try a specialized meal that considers your dietary restrictions and allergies.
Not all airlines offer the same food quality, so bear in mind which carrier you're on and decide accordingly. Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Air New Zealand have all earned mentions for their tasty meals.
This story originally appeared on Bounce and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
If you find yourself one of the fortunate 200-plus passengers that must undergo one of these epic flights, there are three major considerations to keep in mind. Long-haul flights aren't just feats of technology, but also the human body. Be kind to yourself and ensure you take advantage of the conveniences offered by airlines to make the boarding process as simple and smooth as possible.
Apply for TSA PreCheck at least a month ahead of your scheduled flight. A five-year membership costs $78 and allows you to breeze through security without removing your shoes, belts, light jackets, or laptops.
Check in online. You may be surprised how many people miss this step and end up waiting in long lines to have their luggage weighed, and boarding passes printed.
Dress for comfort. There is no need for restrictive clothing for the sake of fashion. Instead, opt for loose-fitting clothes and slip-on shoes you can easily don before walking up and down the aisle or stretching to avoid blood clots.
Stay hydrated. Airplanes are enclosed environments with filtered air systems that can be very dry. Some people can start to feel dryness in their skin and even their eyes a few hours into the flight, so adding moisture to your system is essential. Bring a reusable water bottle and ask flight attendants to fill it with water rather than leaving an open (and tiny) cup on your tray that could easily spill. Don't forget to pack small toiletries like lip balm and lotion to ward off the dry air, which can lead to uncomfortable chapped lips or general itchiness.
Seek sustenance. One could easily pick between the two basic meal options offered on flights, but savvier passengers know to check for other meal options. Singapore Airlines has a "Book the Cook" program open to first class, business class, and some premium economy seats that allows you to select meals created by an International Culinary Panel. Or try a specialized meal that considers your dietary restrictions and allergies.
Not all airlines offer the same food quality, so bear in mind which carrier you're on and decide accordingly. Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Air New Zealand have all earned mentions for their tasty meals.
This story originally appeared on Bounce and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
