Blog: Two Thursdays

By CNN's Richard Quest

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(CNN) -- Posted: October 20, 2006

I have had two Thursdays. No, I have not been greedy. I have crossed the dateline coming from Asia to the United States.

I left Singapore on Thursday morning and landed in Newark/New York at around 1700 the same day -- despite the fact the flight lasted more than 18 hours.

In all, my Thursday has lasted nearly forty hours! This flight, the SQ22 is the longest flight in the world. Using an Airbus A340-500 it is a most remarkable flight.

Quite like nothing else experienced. The flight just goes on and on and on.

As I took off from Singapore all I could think was that I am sitting on a flying fuel tank -- the big wing bobbing up and down with the weight of the fuel.

Once airborne watching the airshow display gave a brilliant idea of what was being experienced...up past the Philippines, Japan, through the China Sea, across the Pacific and the international dateline, making landfall at Vancouver, down to Seattle and across the United States into Newark.

According to Flying Fish I have flown a total of 9534 miles (miles going into UA Mileage Plus). Magnificent.

Time to watch two movies (neither brilliant), eat two meals, sleep twice, oh, and write this blog. I would have filed it from the aircraft but the Airbus planes don't have Connexion by Boeing so you've had to wait until I am once again on the ground.

But here is a question -- am I entitled to claim two Per Diems (daily expenses for food etc) from CNN for the elongated day -- after all my Thursday has lasted nearly two days; surely I should be able to get a bit of extra daily cash for this.

This is important, because on Monday next, I fly to Auckland from LA when I lose a day -- does that mean I lose my per diem for that day when I cross back over the dateline?

I think I need your help on this one.

Well, I thought it was worth asking...

The colleague I am travelling with only flew out from the US on Sunday (arriving Tuesday) I think she has done a Herculean job, going all that way, having meetings and then heading back, all within 72 hours.

It really does show how much we put ourselves through when on the road.

Finally, here is a picture of Sleepy who as many of you know is my travelling bear.

I am delighted to say that Singapore Airlines has agreed to enrol him as (hopefully) a gold Krisflyer!

Now, of course, since I don't actually pay for a separate ticket for Sleepy he won't earn any miles -- but at least he won't feel left out!

I will be furious if in the future he gets an upgrade and I don't! Any other airlines care to enrol this flying bear in their FFP? C'mon!

I am now en route to The Mother Ship, otherwise known as the CNN centre in Atlanta where I am filming on Friday and Saturday.

I will write more from the U.S.

Richard Quest, CNN on board SQ22 across the U.S.

quest@cnn.com

I cross the dateline upwards of a dozen times per year... While Singapore - Newark is certainly a marathon, I am pretty sure that the longest flight would be the same route, westbound, that doesn't have the advantage of the tailwind. I believe its nearly 20 hours from Newark to Singapore.
Robert Constant, Los Angeles (Oct.23)

Enjoying your blog, especially your current trip in progress. I have a big trip of my own, nearing the end of over 100,000 miles in one month!
Rob, New Zealand (Oct. 21)

Greetings from NYC! I am one of the lucky few who can receive CNN Int'l 24/7 in the USA. I enjoy and look forward to all of your shows. I would also like to commend you on your original, informative, energetic and upbeat reporting style. Keep up the good work! About having two Thursdays... I have a career in manufacturing in which it is required sometimes to travel to HK, Mainland China, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh. The route back to NYC is the long haul from HK. I am familiar of what it feels like to be in the same day twice. Quite frankly, it is not a good feeling! I get bitten by the jet lag bug quite badly. In response to your question about your per diem expenses (and I thought my company had tight purse strings!), there are a couple of ways you can look at this. If you think about the average work week for most mere mortals (not including you of course), it is about 40 hours a week. I assume you were definitely conscious for most of the 40 hours on your extended Thursday. Right? Therefore you are actually entitled (not being greedy, but mathematically so) to two per diem expenses x 5 work days or 10 per diem expenses for food and etc! How's that! I am thinking there is definitely some type of compensation in order here.
NYCfan, New York (Oct. 21)

I have only recently discoverd that you have a weekly blog on the website and I enjoy your Biz Traveller program tremendously even though I am neither a biz traveller or regular air traveller (hope to be though), I stll find your antics on TV very funny and informative. You always explain things so simply that makes a very ordinary person understand. Just caught your prog on airports in the gulf last night. Sand surfing! Looked so much fun - hope you did not hurt yourself too badly.
Rachel Dosan, Singapore (Oct.20)

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