Budapest or Bucharest? 5 similar-sounding flight destinations
As a pilot and someone who runs a travel company I am very rarely lost. It’s part of my job to have a keen sense of direction (not to mention technology to help).
So I was fascinated to read the recent news story about a couple suing their airline, after they were flown to the Caribbean island of Grenada, instead of the ancient city of Granada, Spain. The spelling difference may just be the small matter of an A instead of an E (and I have full sympathy with anyone who makes a spelling mistake from time to time). But the difference in geography is enormous.
A flight that should have taken them a little over two hours ended up being a 10 hour flight as they crossed the Atlantic from London to the Caribbean island.
It’s an extreme example, but not the first time this has happened. Travel agents, airlines and even pilots themselves sometimes make a mix-up when planning flights to similar sounding locations. One pilot confided in me that he once prepared a flight plan for a trip to Budapest, only to discover the passengers were actually trying to get to Bucharest. This wasn’t a PrivateFly flight I am keen to emphasise! And the error was spotted prior to the flight, so everything was fixed and the flight went smoothly.
So what what other destinations throughout the world could lead to a flight mix-up due to their similar sounding names? If you’re thinking of planning a trip to any of these, pay close attention and make sure you’re heading to the right part of the world:
Granada, Spain vs. the nation of Grenada
Private jet flight time from London to Granada, Spain: 2 hours 20 mins
Private jet flight time from London to Grenada, Caribbean: 7 hours 40 mins
The nation of Lebanon vs. Lebanon, New Hampshire
Private jet flight time from London to Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA: 6 hours
Private jet flight time from London to Lebanon: 4 hours 45 minutes
Auckland, New Zealand vs. Oakland, California
Private jet flight time from London to Oakland, California: 9 hours, 25 minutes
Private jet flight time from London to Auckland, New Zealand: 20 hours
Paris, France vs. Paris, Texas
Private jet flight time from London to Paris, Texas: 8 hours 10 minutes
Private jet flight time from London to Paris, France: 40 minutes
Sydney, Australia vs. Sydney, Canada
Private jet flight time from London to Sydney, Canada: 6 hours
Private jet flight time from London to Sydney, Australia: 19 hours
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