By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-01 20:21:45 | Updated at 2025-01-04 12:23:09
2 days ago
A group of lucky travelers have pulled off what many would think impossible - traveling back in time.
Passengers aboard Cathay Pacific Flight 880 were able to successfully time travel - and celebrate New Year's twice - by literally flying from 2025 back into 2024.
The trans-Pacific flight took off from Hong Kong just after midnight on January 1, 2025, minutes after the city welcomed the New Year.
After crossing nine time zones and the international dateline during its 14-hour journey, it was scheduled to touch down at Los Angeles International Airport at around 10pm on December 31, 2024 - just in time for another New Year's countdown.
'This flight took off from Hong Kong in 2025 and will land in Los Angeles back in 2024,' flight tracking service Flightradar posted on X.
'After 11 and a half hours in the air, it's time to celebrate the new year again!'
Passengers of Flight 880 aren't the only ones able to experience this unique feat.
'I'm about to take the shortest flight to the past: Talofa Airways from Apia (Samoa) to Pago Pago (American Samoa). In just 25 minutes, I'll go from 2025 straight back to 2024!' one traveler revealed on social media.
Passengers aboard Cathay Pacific Flight 880 were able to successfully time travel - and celebrate New Year's twice - by literally flying from 2025 back into 2024
The post quickly went viral, gaining millions of views and hundreds of comments.
'Can any airlines take me back to 2019?' one joked.
'Time travel truly exists. Imagine getting to celebrate New Year's twice,' another commented.
A third user cleverly commented: 'Passengers should tell us what to expect in 2025!'
Some travel enthusiasts deliberately plan for this experience, however, it doesn't always go as planned.
The flight took off from Hong Kong just after midnight on Jan. 1, 2025. After crossing nine time zones and the international dateline during its 14-hour journey, it was scheduled to touch down in LA at around 10pm on Dec. 31, 2024 - just in time for another New Year's countdown
Air New Zealand Flight 27 from San Francisco caused some travelers to miss New Year's entirely - departing on December 31 evening only to land in Auckland on January 2.
A luxurious private jet company has even advertised this experience years ago - allowing its customers to celebrate first in Sydney, and then in Los Angeles.
This is possible because the time in Los Angeles is 19 hours behind which allows customers to make the second party just in time.
'The flight time from Sydney to LA in a Gulfstream G550 is 13.5 hours, so with the 19-hour time difference, you get to replay over 5.5 hours of party time, by flying eastwards,' Carol Cork, marketing director of PrivateFly, said in a statement to Business Insider back in 2018.
Cork explained at the time that because the flight timing is so close together doing this is only possible by private jet - but that does not seem to be the case anymore.
The party was advertised to begin at 8pm on December 31 in Sydney, at 'one of the city's glamorous night spot or VIP parties'.
'For the Wellness experience, the private flight attendant will adjust the lighting and temperature of the jet's cabin for the 'optimum restful flight experience.'
'Passengers can lounge in designer pajamas and slippers, pamper their skin with luxury skincare products and masks, and sip detox juices.'
