One intercontinental flight has really gone back to the future as the 'time travelling' journey saw passengers depart in 2025 but arrive in 2024 just hours before the turn of the year.
Time zones are really quite odd when you think about it, and there's always the event where somewhere across the world enters the next calendar while you're only halfway through New Year's Eve.
While oftentimes changing time zones will only result in some jet lag, passengers on a flight from Hong Kong to LA experienced a rather unique phenomenon that saw them literally go back in time to the previous year.
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Taking just over 12 hours in total, flight CX880 departed Hong Kong International Airport at around 12:38 AM local time on January 1, 2025, having already celebrated the new year.
However, Pacific Daylight Time - LA's current time zone - is 16 hours behind Hong Kong Time, meaning that the 12 hour flight would actually result in the plane 'technically' landing four hours earlier than it set off.
This wouldn't be too much of a story considering flights like this happen every single day, yet in this particular instance it allowed passengers on the flight to experience the countdown twice in an event that many are considering to be time travel.
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One user on X points that that "there will be a moment when economy is in 2025 and first class is in 2024," showing not only the bizarre nature of this situation but also perhaps the privileges that money can buy!
Another points out that the "passengers should tell us what to expect in 2025," although this unfortunately isn't a Back to the Future-esque situation where you'd know events that hadn't happened yet - unless you count the fact that clocks will indeed roll over into the new year as an event.
As far as jet lag goes that won't be too bad despite going back almost an entire day, as you'd be able to sleep shortly after take-off, count down the new year again in LA, and then sleep afterwards and you should be fine.
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It also wouldn't be too hard to imagine this being a bucket list journey for many keen travelers, as to be able to say that you've experienced the new year twice would definitely be something to brag about.
However, we can't imagine Hong Kong International Airport to be near the top of anyone's new year party spots, and if you're unlucky you might ring in the bells a second time while waiting for your suitcase in LA!