The Americans who time traveled using a very simple trick
A group of lucky travelers have managed to do what many thought impossible: travel 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 to 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 Date Line during its 14-hour journey, the plane was scheduled to land at Los Angeles International Airport around 10pm on December 31, 2024 – just in time for another countdown to the New Year.
“This flight departed from Hong Kong in 2025 and will land in Los Angeles in 2024,” flight tracking service Flightradar reported on X.
‘After 11.5 hours in the air it’s time to celebrate the new year again!’
Passengers on Flight 880 aren’t the only ones who can experience this unique feat.
‘I’m about to take the shortest flight into the past: Talofa Airways from Apia (Samoa) to Pago Pago (American Samoa). In 25 minutes I’m going straight back to 2024 from 2025!’ one traveler revealed on social media.
Passengers aboard Cathay Pacific Flight 880 successfully time-traveled – and celebrated New Year’s twice – by literally flying from 2025 back to 2024
The post quickly went viral, receiving millions of views and hundreds of comments.
“Can an airline take me back to 2019?” one joked.
‘Time travel is real. “Imagine celebrating New Year’s Eve twice,” another commented.
A third user cleverly commented: ‘Passengers should tell us what to expect in 2025!’
Some travel enthusiasts consciously plan this experience, but it doesn’t always go as planned.
The flight took off from Hong Kong just after midnight on January 1, 2025. After crossing nine time zones and the international date line during the 14-hour journey, the flight was scheduled to land in LA on December 31, 2024 around 10 p.m. – just in time for another countdown to the new year
Air New Zealand Flight 27 from San Francisco caused some travelers to miss New Year’s Eve altogether; they left on the evening of December 31 to land in Auckland on January 2.
A luxury private jet company even advertised this experience years ago, allowing its customers to celebrate first in Sydney and then in Los Angeles.
This is possible because time in Los Angeles is 19 hours behind, allowing 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 can relive over 5.5 hours of party fun flying east,” says PrivateFly marketing director Carol Cork. in a statement to Business Insider in 2018.
Cork explained at the time that because flight times are so close together this was only possible with a private jet, but that no longer appears to be the case.
It was announced that the party would start in Sydney on December 31 at 8pm, at ‘one of the city’s glamorous nightspots or VIP parties’.
‘For the Wellness experience, the private flight attendant will adjust the lighting and temperature of the jet’s cabin for the ‘optimal soothing flying experience.’
‘Passengers can lounge in designer pajamas and slippers, pamper their skin with luxurious skincare products and masks and enjoy detox juices.’