However, a long-haul flight is generally any direct or non-stop flight that has a journey time of between 6–12 hours. Due to their long flight times, long-haul flights typically fly only 1 or 2 times a day and are usually operated by aircraft such as the Airbus A380, Boeing 787 or other widebody aircraft.

While there is no single global definition, the aviation industry generally considers any flight lasting more than 7 hours to be a "long-haul" flight. These journeys typically involve traveling between different continents and across multiple time zones. To break it down further, flights are often categorized into four types: Short-haul (up to 3 hours), Medium-haul (3 to 7 hours), Long-haul (7 to 12 hours), and Ultra-long-haul (more than 12 hours). For example, a flight from London to New York (approx. 7.5 to 8 hours) is a classic long-haul route, whereas a flight from Singapore to New York (approx. 18.5 hours) is firmly ultra-long-haul. Some airlines also define these based on distance rather than time, with routes over 4,000 kilometers often classified as long-haul. For passengers, the distinction is important because long-haul flights usually provide full meal services, more robust inflight entertainment, and larger aircraft with multiple aisles (wide-body jets) to ensure comfort during the extended time in the cabin.