Michael Bartlett (64), sometimes called the Mad Monk, and a member of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd, last week flew around the globe on a single scheduled airline in 59 hours 58 minutes, a new Guinness World Record. And on one airline too. Air New Zealand.
The feat is likely to remain on the books until such time as ANZ change their departure times out of Auckland. Mr Bartlett”s Boeing 747, inbound on the new service from London via Hong Kong, arrived at 1040 local, his return flight, through Los Angeles, on a 777, not due to depart until 2300. The good Michael, with time on his hands, thought he might take a look at the South Island. It was then 737 bound for Christchurch, an ATR 72 to Dunedin, and then back to New Zealand”s capital well in time to catch the night flight to London.
”It was an amazing trip but I feel completely refreshed,” said Mr Bartlett. ”What it did was prove that you can go from London on a Tuesday, put in a full day”s work on the Thursday, and be back in London to go into the office for a lunchtime meeting on the Friday. Air New Zealand is now the only airline to offer a true around the world flight. But they do even better with the new routing via Hong Kong offering a choice of directions. I chose to go east. The elapsed time is 10 hours shorter than going west as you leave Heathrow, get in earlier, but depart later and arrive later.”
Asked what was the highlight of the trip the answer came easily. ”The ice cream on the Heathrow ” Hong Kong leg. Wonderful!”
”And how did you feel when you got home?”
”Fine. But I was unable to work out which day of the week it was in Los Angeles. I think I became a time traveller.”
Michael Bartlett left Heathrow Tuesday 21 November at 2130 local time flying west on Air New Zealand non-stop to Hong Kong, a flight of 12 hours 35 minutes, followed by just 120 minutes in the airport lounge. Next 10 hours 49 minutes arriving Auckland 1118 local time on the Thursday. For the return the aircraft departed Auckland at 2300 local and touched down at Los Angeles after 11 hours 53 minutes getting on the ground 1420 the same day. In and out of the United States to conform with their security arrangements followed by a one hour wait and then non-stop to Heathrow arriving 0956 on Friday, 10 hours in the air.
Brother Michael Bartlett, a resident of Sandy, Bedfordshire, has set over 20 world scheduled airline records including the longest air ticket, 25 metres, something that will never been broken due to e-ticketing. He has now taken some 1,200 flights and visited 117 countries. His new record easily beats his own previous around the world trip by five hours. However this time it was on a single airline.