when i go to asia the plane is routed north over alaska and russia to Shanghai instead of a straight shot. at first I thought well maybe its actually a shorter distance. but then it occurred to me it maybe to is to keep the plane above land just incase an emergency. lot easier to find the wreckage on land than the open sea!
but this one has me wondering again!
Isn't that a great route? When you look down there is nothing but darkness for what looks like thousands of miles. Maybe interrupted by a tiny speck of light here and there (pipeline pumping stations?).
Seems incredible.
No planes go to NZ and Aussie every day right across the Pacific Oceans 12-13 hours San Fran or LA to Auckland non-stop
No land in sight ...
It is due to the Gulf Stream. I’ve been flying back and forth for years to Japan and it makes little difference if the destination/point of origin is LAX, SFO, SEA, ORD, MSP . . . they all follow the Aleutians over the Pacific.