United Flies World’s Longest Flight
At 8,700 miles, United Airlines’ new non-stop flight between Los Angeles International Airport and Singapore’s Changi Airport claims, for now, a distance record for flights to or from the United States.

Launched at the end of October and serviced by a Boeing Dreamliner 787-9 aircraft with 48 Polaris business-class and 204 economy seats (including 88 Economy Plus), the Los Angeles to Singapore journey is scheduled to take 17 hours, 55 minutes (due to headwinds going west) and “just” 15 hours and 15 minutes on the return.

With the launch of this new non-stop service, United terminated flights between Hong Kong (HKG) and Singapore.

United Bids Farewell to 747; Delta to Follow in December
With a special charter flight between San Francisco International Airport and Honolulu International Airport Nov. 7, United Airlines bid a final farewell to its Boeing 747 jumbo jet, known as Queen of the Skies.

The final flight — UA747 — was billed as a recreation of the airline’s first 747 Friend Ship flight in 1970. Flight attendants dressed in retro uniforms, many passengers dressed in 1970s-era outfits and the in-flight menu featured a variety of throwback drinks and dishes, such a mai tais made with Trader Vic’s Mai Tai mix and luau ambrosia parfaits, made with mandarin oranges, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, whipped cream and toasted coconut.

Delta Air Lines, the last U.S. airline to fly the 747 on commercial flights, and, after its 747-400 makes its final regularly scheduled flights between Detroit (DTW) and Seoul Incheon International Airport in mid-December, it will make a ‘farewell’ tour from Detroit to Seattle (SEA) Dec. 18, from Seattle to Atlanta (ATL) Dec. 18 and from Atlanta to Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) on Dec. 20. Customers can bid SkyMiles for a spot on these flights through Dec. 1.

Singapore Airlines, Emirates Up the Ante
Singapore Airlines unveiled new suites and seats for all cabins on its Airbus A380s. While there are upgrades in business class, premium economy class and economy, the “wow” factor comes, (of course) in the six First Class Suites (down from 12) on the upper deck.

The new-and-improved suites have leather seats that swivel, 32-inch HD monitors, a full-sized personal wardrobe, plenty of storage space, mood lighting and full-flat beds. For couples traveling together, the beds in the first two suites on each aisle can be converted into a twin bed. While lavatories aren’t en-suite, there are two lavatories (one with a sit-down vanity counter) for exclusive use by the travelers in the six suites.

Passengers will see the new products in December, when Singapore puts the first of five new A380s into service and then on the carrier’s 14 existing aircraft as they are retrofit.

Not to be outdone, Emirates unveiled new cabin products for its Boeing 777 fleet. And, again, it’s the First Class private suites that have the bling.

Offering up to 40 square feet of space, with Mercedes Benz S-Class influences, the new suites have floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and leather seats that recline to fully-flat beds. Private suites each have its own fully stocked minibars and a service window through which flight crew can serve meals and drinks. For private suites seats located in the middle of the 1-1-1 configuration, there are “virtual windows” onto which real-time views from outside the aircraft are projected.