Less than a minute.
It takes nothing more than a world record. The record for the world's shortest scheduled flight is still up for grabs.
There is a flight between the islands of Papa Westray and Westray. My journey on the 3 Cards, 3 Continents challenge included taking the flight.
The shortest flight is in both directions. I will be going back to Kirkwall airport from Westray tomorrow via Papa Westray and so I will get to experience it in both directions.
The Papa Westray to Westray flight is atypical. The two islands are so small that the flight is operated by a plane. Eight of the seats are reserved for passengers.
The check-in for the flight starts about 25 minutes before departure. The building of the airport is small and only has a few daily flights to three destinations.
The building doesn't stay open outside when there are few flights in and out. After visiting Papa Westray for a couple of hours, I returned to the airport at about 1:45pm and was waiting for the employee to check me in for the 4:30pm flight.
It was easy to check in for the shortest flight in the world. I didn't have to show anything. I didn't need to give my name. I think it's because the airport employee knew who the other passengers were who would be boarding the flight with me
The laptops were not removed because there was no screening. Liquids are not being removed. Belts, shoes, and anything else are not being removed. No waiting in line behind someone who takes ages to put their items in a tray, only for them to get beeped when walking through the scanner because they didn't realize their cellphone couldn't come through with them
It wasn't hard to check a bag. Anything bigger than a small bag has to go in the hold. The luggage tag was added after I weighed my bag. On a two minute flight, where else is my bag going to go, I didn't get a corresponding tag.
The four of us boarded the plane at the airport after it taxied to just outside the building. The only way to get up and in the plane is with a small step.
I got the photo from the third row back after I flew from Kirkwall to Papa Westray. The view from the third row is blocked, so I was happy to avoid that row. It is not every day that you can see your plane's engine, landing gear and propeller from a window seat.
I was in the first row of passenger seats on the Papa Westray to Westray flight. I got great views out of the window.
Also in the front of the plane.
The room on board wasn't great. It was a little snug for me and I am only 5'9" so anyone 6'+ will feel a little cramped. It doesn't matter that you aren't flying in Qsuites because the flight is less than 2 minutes.
The experience lasted less than 2.5 minutes and the flight only lasted 90 seconds in the air. It took 53 seconds for the shortest flight on this route to be recorded.
If you've been wondering what it's like to fly on the world's shortest flight, this video is for you.
Most of our bags left the plane before we could disembark. Delta has a 20 minute bag-to- claim guarantee.
The experience of flying on the world's shortest scheduled flight was enjoyable, but not over. I will fly from Westray to Papa Westray tomorrow and then return to Kirkwall. I will be at the airport to collect my certificates.
You can get a certificate for flying on the shortest scheduled flight. I assumed I would get a certificate at Westray airport, but when I asked about it at Papa Westray airport, it turned out I could get them at the Kirkwall airport. I hope they will give me two certificates, one for each flight I will have taken by then, to help me remember what happened.
It is not very expensive if you are wondering how much it will cost. The Papa Westray-Westray and Westray-Papa Westray flights I booked cost £17 one-way, which is less than the average one-way fare. Getting up to the Orkney Islands will add to your budget.
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