Travel question: Can I make the world’s longest flight part of my round-the-globe trip?

Have a question? Ask our expert Simon Calder

Singapore Airlines flight SQ22 from Singapore to New York is an 18-hour trip (Singapore Airlines)

Q I was interested in the coverage of Singapore Airlines flight SQ22 from Singapore to New York (aka the world’s longest non-stop flight). Two questions, which are slightly related. Why did it touch down at New Jersey’s Newark airport rather than the more celebrated gateway to Manhattan, JFK? And how easy is it to build the flight into a round-the-world trip at a reasonable price?

James P

A My answers are slightly related, too. The reason the flight from Singapore to New York lands at Newark rather than JFK is not because the distance is three miles shorter, thereby saving about 20 seconds and a few dollars’ worth of fuel; on a 9,534-mile, 18-hour trip such differences are trivial. The motive for choosing the New Jersey is that Newark is a key hub for Singapore Airlines’ Star Alliance partner, United.

For some passengers flying in from Singapore, New York is merely a transit point to their final destination, whether that is in New England, Florida or eastern Canada. United offers a wide range of good onward connections from Newark, and the Singapore-United tie-up means the money stays in the Star Alliance family.

You could make an entire Star Alliance round-the-world trip: flying nonstop to Singapore from Heathrow or Manchester on Singapore Airlines, onwards to Newark, and then on United back to the UK – mainly to Heathrow, but Manchester (and indeed Edinburgh) are also available.

You could attempt to buy such a trip on the dedicated Star Alliance round-the-world site, but it is unspeakably awful: non-intuitive, unhelpful and confusing. On a test booking, I spent about half-an-hour trying to persuade it to offer me the Singapore-Newark nonstop, without success.

I recommend instead you talk to a long-haul specialist agent; they will be able to find the flights you need, offer a good-value fare, particularly in conjunction with accommodation, and may also suggest possible additions. For example, you could add a Bangkok stop with Thai Airways when heading out to Singapore; and coming home, instead of flying back from Newark you could travel by train to Washington DC, explore the US capital and head back from there to Heathrow on United.

Every day our travel correspondent Simon Calder tackles a reader’s question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder