Flying Time Calculator – How Long Does a Flight Take?
Estimate flying time between cities. Get flight duration and distance instantly.
Quick Flight Time
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Popular Flight Times
Understanding Flying Time
Flying time is the duration an aircraft spends in the air between departure and arrival. This calculator estimates how long a flight takes based on flight distance and typical cruising speeds.
Flight distance measures the air miles between two airports. Longer flight distance means more time in the air. Our tool calculates both duration and distance to help you plan better.
What This Calculator Shows
Flying time – Actual time in the air
Flight distance – Air miles between cities
Cruising speed – Based on typical commercial aircraft (500-600 mph)
Flying Time vs Total Travel Time
Flying time only counts airborne duration. Total travel time includes more steps:
- Airport arrival: 1-2 hours before departure
- Check-in and security: 30-60 minutes
- Boarding: 20-30 minutes
- Flying time: Actual flight duration
- Landing and deplaning: 15-20 minutes
- Baggage claim: 15-30 minutes
Plan for 3-4 hours beyond flying time for domestic trips. Add more time for international flights.
How Flight Distance Affects Duration
Flight distance directly impacts how long a flight takes. Greater distance means longer flying time. Commercial aircraft cruise at steady speeds, so distance is the main factor.
Why Flying Time May Vary
Actual flying time can differ from estimates. Several factors affect duration:
When to Use This Calculator
Quick Duration Checks
- • Fast flying time estimates
- • Simple flight distance lookup
- • How long does a flight take?
- • Basic trip planning
Complete Flight Planning
Additional Air Travel Resources
Popular Flying Times
Domestic US Routes
- New York → Los Angeles5h 30m
- Chicago → Miami3h 15m
- San Francisco → Seattle2h 20m
- Boston → Denver4h 30m
International Routes
- New York → London7h 30m
- Los Angeles → Tokyo11h 45m
- Miami → Paris9h 20m
- Chicago → Frankfurt8h 50m
How We Calculate Flying Time
Our calculator uses the great circle distance formula. This finds the shortest path between two points on Earth. We divide this flight distance by average cruising speed (500-600 mph) to estimate duration.
The calculation includes typical taxi, takeoff, cruise, and landing phases. Actual times may vary due to weather, air traffic, aircraft type, and routing decisions.
Need More Planning Tools?
For complete trip planning, check our travel calculator tools. Calculate distances, compare flight options, and find nearby airports.
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Flight Booking Tips
- Book flights 2-8 weeks in advance for best prices
- Compare prices across multiple airlines
- Consider nearby airports for better deals
- Check baggage policies before booking
- Tuesday and Wednesday often have lower fares
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