13 Flights for Double New Year Celebrations
Some flights allow travellers to celebrate the New Year twice by crossing the International Date Line. Passengers can enjoy the unique experience of two celebrations in a single journey, showcasing a remarkable intersection of aviation and geography.
Flights That Cross the International Date Line
The following flights allow passengers to enjoy two New Year celebrations by departing on January 1, 2025, and arriving on December 31, 2024. Here’s a detailed table of these unique flights shared by Pang Yee Huat:
| Rank | Route | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Airline | Mins Before New Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hong Kong – Los Angeles | 00:25 AM | 6:50 PM | Cathay Pacific | 750 |
| 2 | Hong Kong – San Francisco | 00:55 AM | 8:35 PM | Cathay Pacific | 725 |
| 3 | Hong Kong – Vancouver | 01:00 AM | 20:35 PM | Cathay Pacific | 695 |
| 4 | Kiritimati – Honolulu | 07:30 AM | 10:40 PM | Fiji Airways | 190 |
| 5 | Taipei – San Francisco | 00:05 AM | 5:50 PM | Starlux Airlines | 645 |
| 6 | Tokyo (Haneda) – Los Angeles | 00:50 AM | 1:40 PM | ANA | 600 |
| 7 | Auckland – Rarotonga Island | 08:50 AM | 1:10 PM | Air New Zealand | 230 |
| 8 | Apia – Pago Pago | 07:30 AM | 08:05 PM | Samoa Airways | 35 |
| 9 | Apia – Pago Pago | 08:00 AM | 08:35 PM | Samoa Airways | 35 |
| 10 | Apia – Pago Pago | 10:30 AM | 11:05 PM | Samoa Airways | 35 |
| 11 | Apia – Pago Pago | 12:35 AM | 1:35 PM | Samoa Airways | 35 |
| 12 | Apia – Pago Pago | 13:00 AM | 6:40 PM | Samoa Airways | 35 |
| 13 | Guam – Honolulu | 07:25 AM | 18:40 PM | United Airlines | 435 |
Cathay Pacific Flights
Cathay Pacific flights from Hong Kong to Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Vancouver allow passengers to arrive hours earlier than their departure time.
Travellers on these routes can celebrate the New Year in Hong Kong before flying back to North America to ring in 2024 a second time. These long-haul flights not only allow for a unique experience of “time travel” but also add an interesting narrative to the travellers’ holiday adventures.
Samoa Airways Flights
Samoa Airways offers short flights from Apia to Pago Pago that highlight some intriguing time zone quirks. Although the flight only takes 35 minutes, passengers effectively travel back a full 24 hours. This unusual situation is the result of Samoa’s recent decision to align its time zone with Australia and New Zealand, leaving American Samoa a day behind.
As a result, you can board a flight from Samoa in the morning and arrive in American Samoa the day before in the morning. This phenomenon is particularly fascinating for travellers who wish to celebrate New Year’s in both territories within a brief period.
Other Flights
Fiji Airways offers a unique flight from Kiritimati to Honolulu that allows passengers to experience the New Year twice—first in Kiritimati, which is in the Pacific’s earliest time zone, and then again after arriving in Honolulu, one of the last places in the world to welcome the New Year. Kiritimati, part of the Line Islands, is among the first locations globally to celebrate the New Year.
Similarly, Air New Zealand provides a route from Auckland to Rarotonga Island, enabling travellers to enjoy dual celebrations due to the significant time zone difference.
The Science Behind Time Zone Travel
The International Date Line is a boundary that separates one calendar day from the next. When travellers cross this line, they effectively “jump” backwards or forwards in time, depending on their direction of travel.
Eastward flights result in losing a day, while westward flights lead to gaining one. Airlines strategically schedule flights to take advantage of this phenomenon, giving travellers a chance to experience events twice, such as the New Year’s celebration.
For aviation enthusiasts and travellers, these flights showcase the combination of advanced scheduling, aviation technology, and the unique aspects of geography.
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