Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.To some, 15+ hours on a plane is the very definition of cruel and unusual punishment. To others, it represents the chance to book premium-cabin award tickets and enjoy a few of the best products in the sky for as long as possible. Today, I’ll look at the five longest flights currently operating and explore award-booking opportunities for seats in first and business class.The “Longest Flight” DebateFlight length can be defined by one of three metrics: the distance flown, the time flown or the distance from airport to airport. Because distance and time flown change based on weather, traffic and daily routing, I used the great-circle (orthodromic) distance via GCMap.com to identify the below routes as the five longest currently operating. There are planned/rumored flights longer than some below (New York-Singapore on Singapore Airlines and Dubai-Panama City on Emirates come to mind), but these are the current top five.Use Points to Book Revenue Fare SalesWith any of the below flights, you can use transferable points to cover the revenue cost of the flight. For most of these points, you must book through that program’s travel portal. Here’s a quick rundown of the points and associated values you can use to book the flights during great fare sales:American Express Membership RewardsMost MR-earning cards, such as the Platinum Card from American Express: 1 cent per pointBusiness Platinum Card® from American Express: 1.54-2 cents per point on business and first-class fares and on economy fares with your selected airline. Grandfathered cardmembers have one year from time of approval to still receive the 50% points rebate.Chase Ultimate RewardsChase Freedom (No longer open to new applicants) and Chase Sapphire cardholders: 1 cent per pointChase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Chase Ink family of cards: 1.25 cents per pointChase Sapphire Reserve: 1.5 cents per pointCiti ThankYou PointsBasic ThankYou points-earning cards: 1 cent per pointCiti Premier® Card and Citi Prestige: 1.25 cents per pointThere are multiple other credit card loyalty programs that allow points to be redeemed toward the revenue price of airfare. The vast majority offer a straight redemption value of 1 cent per point. These include the Navy Federal Credit Union GO Rewards, Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard miles, Wells Fargo Go Far Rewards (1.5 cents per point for Visa Signature cardholders), Bank of America® Travel Rewards Visa® and Discover it miles.If there happens to be a particularly great fare sale or a mistake fare for one of these longest flights, it could make sense for you to use the revenue-based programs or transferable points toward the cost of the program rather than transferring points or using airline miles for an award ticket.Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.For each of the five longest routes, I’ve listed the city pair, operating carrier, equipment flying as of publish time and the great-circle routing distance in miles from airport to airport.1. Auckland-DohaOperating carrier: Qatar AirwaysAircraft: 777-200LRFlight distance: 9,032 milesAll costs are in business class (there’s no first class on Qatar’s 777-200LR) and are bookable one-way.American AAdvantage: 80,000 miles + ~$75British Airways Executive Club: 150,000 Avios + $249Qantas Club: 121,000 points + $252.62Qatar Privilege Club: 70,000 miles +$792. Auckland-DubaiOperating carrier: EmiratesAircraft: A380Flight distance: 8,824 milesEmirates Skywards: 154,500 miles + $245.55 for business; 210,500 + $245.55 for firstJapan Airlines Mileage Bank: Business 65,000 miles + ~$350, First 105,000 miles + ~$350While you can use Alaska Mileage Plan to book Emirates flights, it’s not possible to use Alaska Mileage Plan to book Emirates flights from the South Pacific region.3. Los Angeles-SingaporeOperating carrier: UnitedAircraft: 787-9Flight distance: 8,770 milesAll costs are in business class (there’s no first class on United’s 787-9) and unless otherwise noted are bookable one-way.Air Canada Aeroplan: 77,500 miles + $5.60ANA Mileage Club: 136,000 miles + $82.99 (must book round-trip)Asiana Club: 67,500 miles + $23.60Singapore KrisFlyer: 97,500 miles + $320United MileagePlus: 75,000 + $5.60 (availability extremely limited)4. Dallas/Ft. Worth-SydneyOperating carrier: QantasAircraft: A380Flight distance: 8,578 milesAmerican AAdvantage: 80,000 miles + $29 for business, 110,000 miles + $29 for firstAlaska Mileage Plan: 55,000 miles + $42.30 for business, 70,000 miles + $42.30 for firstBritish Airways Executive Club: 150,000 Avios + $147.50 for business, 200,000 Avios + 169.50 for firstQantas Frequent Flyer: 112,000 points + $436.99 for business, 168,000 points+ $436.99 for first5. San Francisco — SingaporeOperating carriers: United and Singapore AirlinesAircraft: United uses a 787-9, and Singapore flies an A350-900.Flight distance: 8,447 milesAll costs are in business class (there’s no first class on the United 787-9) and unless otherwise noted are bookable one-way.Air Canada Aeroplan: 77,500 miles + $5.60Asiana Club: 67,500 miles + $23.60ANA Mileage Club (must book round trip): 136,000 miles + $82.99Singapore KrisFlyer: 97,500 miles + $125 for the United-operated flight and 88,000 miles + $23.60 for the Singapore-operated flightUnited MileagePlus: 75,000 + $5.60 for the United-operated flight and 90,000 miles + $23.60 for the Singapore-operated flightBottom LineIf you’re going to fly any of the longest routes in the world, you might as well sit up front on an award ticket and be as comfortable as possible. With the A350-900 Ultra Long Range set to be delivered in 2018, it may not be long before many of the above routes are replaced. Remember with ultra-long flights like these, keep a bit of focus on your health and try to stay as hydrated and as active as possible.What other ways can you book award seats up front on the longest flights in the world?
