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American Morning

The Long Haul

Aired February 03, 2004 - 11:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: You're going to want to get comfy in your seats for this one. It's Singapore Airlines. They're going to inaugurate the longest nonstop commercial flight in the world. It takes off tomorrow. The Los Angeles to Singapore trip will take 18 and a half hours, almost 8,000 nautical miles over the Pacific.
Dana Dickey is senior editor for "Conde Nast Traveler." She joins us in New York this morning.

Dana, good morning.

DANA DICKEY, "CONDE NAST TRAVELER": Good morning.

KAGAN: My legs are cramping up just thinking about sitting for that long. What's the demand for this flight?

DICKEY: Well, the demand for this flight is really great among business travelers. They have to make this trip, and if you don't have to refuel, you can just get there quicker. And, of course, Singapore Airlines is an award-winning airline that offers some of the best service and other amenities going.

KAGAN: Well, that's what I was thinking. I was thinking Singapore, like, well, you're going. It's going to be long, but you're probably going in style. What are some of the amenities they're going to offer on this flight?

DICKEY: Well, you're definitely going in style, because, let's remember, every little thing counts when you're sitting in a seat for 18 and a half hours. And the entertainment is better. You have 250 entertainment options on a larger screen. It's a nine-inch screen to enjoy movies and what-not. The food is excellent. And it's very high-scoring among our business traveler. The seat is even wider than ever before, so it's 20 inches wide. And it goes back farther, and you can get more comfortable than ever before.

KAGAN: And this is for everybody, every class?

DICKEY: This is the new executive economy class, which is introduced on this new long-haul flight. Basically, it brings up economy class closer to business luxury.

KAGAN: And how much, bottom line?

DICKEY: Well, right now, Singapore, I believe, is running a special for $1,165.

KAGAN: Wow!

DICKEY: And this flight can range anywhere competitively between $900 and $1,800.

KAGAN: Well, that's pretty good to go that far. I think it replaces the longest previous flight would be from Atlanta to South Africa that Delta runs.

DICKEY: That was a very long nonstop, and it just makes all the difference in the world, according to our readers.

KAGAN: And one thing I really wonder, especially during these times with terrorism that it seems unusual that airlines are trying to come up with a new product like this rather than just trying to survive.

DICKEY: That's right. This actually does signify confidence in the market. This is confidence in the business-traveling market that it's going to continue coming back strong. And it's confidence in the leisure traveler as well.

One other thing I want to mention that's really important about this new executive economy class, it's the first economy in-flight lounge. So, you're not just having to sit in your seat, other than just sort of going to the restroom. You can actually get up and sort of go stretch your legs and lean against a bar and have, you know, a drink or a snack there.

KAGAN: Well, let's hope so for 18 and a half hours that there's somewhere to go. Thanks for a peek inside. It's support to take off tomorrow, correct?

DICKEY: That's right.

KAGAN: All right. Well, many of your viewers -- many of your readers will be looking for that. Dana Dickey, senior editor for "Conde Nast." Thanks for a peek inside the new ride from LAX to Singapore.

DICKEY: Bon voyage.

KAGAN: Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.







Aired February 3, 2004 - 11:48   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: You're going to want to get comfy in your seats for this one. It's Singapore Airlines. They're going to inaugurate the longest nonstop commercial flight in the world. It takes off tomorrow. The Los Angeles to Singapore trip will take 18 and a half hours, almost 8,000 nautical miles over the Pacific.
Dana Dickey is senior editor for "Conde Nast Traveler." She joins us in New York this morning.

Dana, good morning.

DANA DICKEY, "CONDE NAST TRAVELER": Good morning.

KAGAN: My legs are cramping up just thinking about sitting for that long. What's the demand for this flight?

DICKEY: Well, the demand for this flight is really great among business travelers. They have to make this trip, and if you don't have to refuel, you can just get there quicker. And, of course, Singapore Airlines is an award-winning airline that offers some of the best service and other amenities going.

KAGAN: Well, that's what I was thinking. I was thinking Singapore, like, well, you're going. It's going to be long, but you're probably going in style. What are some of the amenities they're going to offer on this flight?

DICKEY: Well, you're definitely going in style, because, let's remember, every little thing counts when you're sitting in a seat for 18 and a half hours. And the entertainment is better. You have 250 entertainment options on a larger screen. It's a nine-inch screen to enjoy movies and what-not. The food is excellent. And it's very high-scoring among our business traveler. The seat is even wider than ever before, so it's 20 inches wide. And it goes back farther, and you can get more comfortable than ever before.

KAGAN: And this is for everybody, every class?

DICKEY: This is the new executive economy class, which is introduced on this new long-haul flight. Basically, it brings up economy class closer to business luxury.

KAGAN: And how much, bottom line?

DICKEY: Well, right now, Singapore, I believe, is running a special for $1,165.

KAGAN: Wow!

DICKEY: And this flight can range anywhere competitively between $900 and $1,800.

KAGAN: Well, that's pretty good to go that far. I think it replaces the longest previous flight would be from Atlanta to South Africa that Delta runs.

DICKEY: That was a very long nonstop, and it just makes all the difference in the world, according to our readers.

KAGAN: And one thing I really wonder, especially during these times with terrorism that it seems unusual that airlines are trying to come up with a new product like this rather than just trying to survive.

DICKEY: That's right. This actually does signify confidence in the market. This is confidence in the business-traveling market that it's going to continue coming back strong. And it's confidence in the leisure traveler as well.

One other thing I want to mention that's really important about this new executive economy class, it's the first economy in-flight lounge. So, you're not just having to sit in your seat, other than just sort of going to the restroom. You can actually get up and sort of go stretch your legs and lean against a bar and have, you know, a drink or a snack there.

KAGAN: Well, let's hope so for 18 and a half hours that there's somewhere to go. Thanks for a peek inside. It's support to take off tomorrow, correct?

DICKEY: That's right.

KAGAN: All right. Well, many of your viewers -- many of your readers will be looking for that. Dana Dickey, senior editor for "Conde Nast." Thanks for a peek inside the new ride from LAX to Singapore.

DICKEY: Bon voyage.

KAGAN: Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.