How many miles is a long-haul?

How Far is a Long-Haul Flight?

Defining the distance of a long-haul flight can be tricky, as different airlines use varying criteria. Some airlines classify flights based on travel time, while others use distance as the primary factor.

Mileage-Based Definitions:

• American Airlines: American Airlines defines long-haul flights as those exceeding 3,000 miles. This includes routes such as New York to Los Angeles, which is approximately 2,500 miles.

• United Airlines: United Airlines uses a slightly different definition, categorizing flights over 2,500 miles as long-haul. This includes routes such as San Francisco to Paris, which is approximately 5,700 miles.

Time-Based Definitions:

• Delta Air Lines: Delta Air Lines defines long-haul flights as those with a flight time of five hours or more. This includes routes such as Atlanta to Frankfurt, which takes approximately seven hours.

• Southwest Airlines: Southwest Airlines does not have a specific definition for long-haul flights. Instead, they use a “tiered” system based on flight duration, with longer flights receiving higher priority for boarding and other benefits.

Factors Influencing Long-Haul Definitions:

The following factors can influence how airlines define long-haul flights:

• Aircraft type: Long-haul flights typically use larger aircraft with more amenities, such as lie-flat seats and entertainment systems.
• Passenger demand: Airlines may adjust their long-haul definitions based on passenger demand for specific routes.
• Competition: Airlines may compete with each other by offering more generous long-haul definitions to attract customers.

Ultimately, the definition of a long-haul flight can vary depending on the airline. However, the general consensus is that flights exceeding 2,500 miles or with a flight time of five hours or more qualify as long-haul.