Author Topic: AR21 Transportation  (Read 82614 times)

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Offline apskip

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AR21 Transportation
« on: May 17, 2012, 04:45:44 PM »
This thread will be like prior season transportation threads, to cover all the issues related to flights, train trips, ships, etc. and particularly the potential or actual schedules related to them.

Offline apskip

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2012, 08:40:58 AM »
I want to start off with the statement that the analysis below is really not specific to AR21. It applies to all Amazing Races.

A multi-part hypothesis that interests me:
1. That since LAX has been the departure to overseas airport for 89% of AR12 to AR20, LAX will be the departure airport for AR21.
2. That the destination will be either in eastern Australasia or in Europe.
3. That nonstop flights to the destination are how it will be done because connecting flights risks sightings at the connecting airport (note - World Race Productions has violated this many times, but I think that they design a first leg with one non-stop flight whenever possible).
4. That at least 2 flights from LAX to the destination within a 3 hour period are needed to get acceptable Amazing Race first flights (this is traditionally how World Race Productions designs Amazing Races).
5. That the first flight should be between 2pm and midnight (again, this is how World Race Productions designs Amazing Races).
6. The fact that some international flights are not daily should be ignored to cut down on complexity of the analysis.
7. The first flight will not be to the Caribbean, Central America, South America or Africa (this one is not difficult because there are no LAX to Africa nonstops that I am aware of). Since we know of several Amazing Races starting to Latin America, I know that this is frequently not a valid assumption, but you have to cut the complexity of the analysis somehow.

I went to Thursday's LAX list of departures to find out the following:

TO EUROPE FITTING MY HYPOTHESIS
CDG 2 flights around 4pm
LHR 5 flights around 4 pm or 6pm
LHR 2 flights around 8pm and 9pm

TO EUROPE NOT FITTING MY HYPOTHESIS
AMS 2pm
FRA 3pm
DXB 6pm (note - Dubai is not in Europe but since it is a major hub for connecting flights it is a logical place to go)
IST 6pm
DME 6pm (surprise; it is to Moscow's second airport)
ZRH 8pm
MUC 9pm

TO ASIA FITTING MY HYPOTHESIS
PVG flights at 2pm and 3pm
TPE flights at 3pm and 5pm
PVG two flights at 7pm
SYD - 2 flights at 10pm and 1 at 12am
MEL - 3 flights at 11pm and 1 at 12am

TO ASIA NOT FITTING MY HYPOTHESIS
NRT - 4pm
SIN - 9pm
AKL - 10pm
CAN - 11pm
ICN - 11pm
BNE - 12am
HKG 12am

So, what does this mean? If the flight is headed to Europe, then London or Paris are the most logical destinations. London is my favorite as Amazing Races have only visited England in AR3 and AR17.

If the flight is headed to eastern Asia there are more possibilities. I would love to think that the undervisited destination of the Philippines would be the destination of choice, but the assumptions of my analysis make that unlikely. The logical destinations that fit the hypothesis are Shanghai, Taipei, Sydney or Melbourne. Melbourne has been least visited by a U.S. Amazing Race (so far, never).

Now, I believe that this approach is valid to statistically predict over a wide range of Amazing Races where the first destination point is. However, it would get really boring with all Amazing Races having first departures only to London, Paris, Shanghai, Taipei, Sydney or Melbourne. The criterion of nonstop flights is frequently ignored by World Race Productions as they do use some connecting flights, which opens up hundreds of cities in the target areas as potential first destinations. So you have to take this analysis for what it is, built on a chain of assumptions. If you change that assumption in particular of any other assumptions you get a situation typically too complex for reasonable conclusions.
« Last Edit: May 19, 2012, 08:50:45 AM by apskip »


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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2012, 09:09:26 AM »
Interesting analysis apskip, though TAR also went to England in S7!

Offline apskip

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2012, 09:30:41 AM »
Dom El,

Yes you are right. That makes 3 visits to the entire United Kingdom in 20 Amazing Races. France has had 6 total visits, but only 5 of them were mainly focused in the greater Paris area. AR6 was to Corsica and the greater Nice area.

Offline Charlie90

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2012, 10:04:10 PM »
Is there any chance that they fly to Canada or Mexico to make a quick leg there and then fly from there to somewhere else?


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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #5 on: May 20, 2012, 12:44:04 AM »
What about:
Leg 1: LAX-CDG
Leg 2: Paris- Toulouse ( Train or self driving like in TAR4) (Plane-themed challenges in Toulouse because of the airbus factory)
Leg 3: More Europe

Offline apskip

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2012, 07:18:36 AM »
The possibility of going to Toulouse is real, but it is just one of hundreds of cities in Europe that can be reached by connecting flights. My analysis assumed that it would be a city with 2 nonstop flights from LAX in a time frame. There are a myriad of different assumptions that can be used, but most of them will result in a very wide range of possible first destination cities, each will a small probability of being chosen for the honor.

So what you seek (Toulouse as first destination) is possible but unlikely. The same goes for each of those hundreds of cities I refer to. My rough guess is that there is at best a 50% probability that one of the 6 prime first destinations I highlight is selected by World Race Productions.

Offline Topita

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #7 on: May 20, 2012, 11:02:22 AM »
Interesting analysis!  :)  :tup:
I wonder to which extent they may also factor in the 'reputation' certain airports have.
Meaning, based on experiences, some airports are more notorious than others wrt flight delays, losing luggage and generally being more disorganized.

I've flown over Istanbul a few times and it's not fun tbh, there have always been issues and the airport is pretty chaotic too.

As much as CDG is a big hub I don't always find the layout so logical (I once nearly missed a connecting flight because the check in desk was at the back hidden by others and though I speak French nobody could tell me where to go).
Also they have a lot of 'correspondances courtes' at least the times I have been taking connecting flights there. :shrug

So perhaps I am biased by my own experiences, quite possibly.  :lol:
And surely they can assist the teams somewhat to make it from gate to gate but I wonder to which extent the production would factor this in?? Personally I would much prefer to fly over LHR or Munich eg than Istanbul or Moscow for example, when it comes to connecting flights, because I think it's a lot better organized and chances of a delay are smaller.  :)
(Hope I didn't offend anyone by saying this btw, merely speaking of my own personal experiences, not saying they are generally 'true'.  :lol: )
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Offline Alenaveda

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #8 on: May 22, 2012, 08:55:02 PM »
Just as a fact:  about the Caribbean and Central America, TAR never had a first leg on that area (only TARLA 2 had the starting line at Guatemala's Tikal National Park).  The closest one was Mexico in TAR3.

(BTW, you keep surprising me with your analysis, and I think you're right about it)


Alaneveda,

I was shocked to learn in an unpublished separate analysis of Central America destinations only that Mexico only qualified under my sets of assumptions with Monterey with 3 flights to there from LAX at 5pm and one each at 9pm  and 10pm. Mexico City had only one nonstop flight and thus did not qualify. The other destinations that do not qualify based on my criteria are Guadalajara, Guajanato and Leon.

I am not clear what you were saying about AR3, but the first destination there was definitely Mexico City although it originated in Miami and not LAX.

Geographically speaking (Should be the differences on educationals programs.  For us, Canada, USA and Mexico always were part of North America: everything between Mexico and Colombia's border with Panama were Central America; and from Colombia to the Strait of Magellan were South America).
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Offline georgiapeach

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #9 on: May 22, 2012, 10:13:47 PM »
Back to the future TAR 21 transport please.... Thanks!
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Offline apskip

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #10 on: May 27, 2012, 12:25:15 PM »
Here is the first actual set of flights for AR21 getting from LAX to Shanghai connecting in Taipei:

China Airlines  CI7    0115  0610  LAX TPE
China Airlines  CI501 0905 1050  TPE PVG

Eva Air  BR15    0135 0620  LAX TPE
Eva Air  BR712  1010 1205  TPE PVG

It is interesting to note that CI7 and BR15 were the flights taken by teams in AR19 from LAX with the nonstop destination of Taipei.

It is also interesting that my study above predicted Shanghai, Taipei, Melbourne or Sydney would be the first destination of AR21. Two of those four were involved in the flights, although my assumption of nonstops was not utilized by World Race Productions.

Offline theschnauzers

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #11 on: May 27, 2012, 01:02:54 PM »
My guess is that there must be an earlier arriving flight that production used to get Phil and Bertram ahead of the teams into Shanghai. The departure times of these flights out of LAX into Taipei strongly suggest that. And this:
Quote
It is interesting to note that CI7 and BR15 were the flights taken by teams in AR19 from LAX with the nonstop destination of Taipei.

would, I think, make my reasoning even more likely, as the schedulers for the race would know how that worked to get production ahead in TAR 19 and make any necessary adjustments.
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Offline apskip

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #12 on: May 27, 2012, 06:33:02 PM »
the schnauzers,

There are no nonstops Phil could catch to get ahead of the teams.

However, he could connect through either Seoul or Beijing:
 
LAX ICN CA1060 1800 2345+1 connecting to OZ987 0135+2 0220+2

LAX PEK OZ966 1830 2120+1 connecting to CA1081 0300+2 0500+2

This would put Phil hours ahead of the teams, primarily because World Race Productions put teams on flights so that could happen.

This assumes that Phil can get to LAX before 5pm, which may not have been possible.

Offline georgiapeach

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #13 on: May 27, 2012, 07:32:46 PM »
Too soon...
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Offline apskip

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #14 on: May 28, 2012, 04:49:54 PM »
I hate it when RFF eats my homework, but this happens more than I like.

There are only a limited number of flights teams could take out of Shanghai's Pudong airport between 3am and 6am China time:
BR6371 TPE 0315
CI5818 TPE 0330
OZ998  ICN 0420
UX51    HKG 0440
HX9232 HKG 0500
KE236   ICN  0505

If you then consider where you can connect to from TPE, ICN or HKG, there are many "been there, done that" destinations and a few genuinely novel ones. I highlight those novel ones here that depart from the connecting point between 6am and 9am Monday May 29 (which it is already over there in east Asia):

from TPE - RGN 0715 HAN 0730 SGN 0730 MFM 0850 CTU 0825
from HKG - MNL 0745 CAN 0805 Cebu 0750 Kota Kinabalu multiple Qingdao multiple
from ICN - PUS multiple, MNL multiple MFM multiple FUK multiple 

Offline Prophet

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #15 on: May 28, 2012, 07:13:37 PM »
I hate it when RFF eats my homework, but this happens more than I like.

Me too. :lol3:
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Offline ZouLy

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #16 on: May 28, 2012, 07:51:59 PM »
I don't know how to do the flight research so well like apskip,

but apskip, from the estimated arrival time in Jakarta, do we have any domestic connecting flights which consider the 30mins-2hrs gap? or maybe they'll take a train again...

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Offline dpe

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #17 on: May 28, 2012, 08:12:09 PM »
 Driving to Bangkalan 521.3 mi, 13 hr 2 min. not likley.

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #18 on: May 28, 2012, 08:55:03 PM »
Driving to Bangkalan 521.3 mi, 13 hr 2 min. not likley.

Fly to Surabaya first then drive that is what I said.

yeapp!!  :tup:

right now, we're waiting a confirm schedule from Prama, either with plane or train (overnight trip),

Teams could go to bangkalan in Madura island by crossing Suramadu bridge, the one I showed in speculation thread..

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Offline dpe

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #19 on: May 28, 2012, 09:41:16 PM »
http://www.travelindo.com/list_train_schedules.php?katakunci=&kategoriNya=36&cHidden=1&cSubmit=Cari

Argo Bromo Anggrek Eksekutif     21:30 Jakarta - Gambir 07:57 Surabaya - Pasarturi
Sembrani Eksekutif                    18:45 Jakarta - Gambir 07:02 Surabaya - Pasarturi
Gumarang Bisnis,Eksekutif          18:00 Jakarta - Gambir 06:45 Surabaya - Pasarturi
Bima Eksekutif                          17:00 Jakarta - Gambir 05:49 Surabaya - Gubeng
Argo Bromo Anggrek Eksekutif     09:30 Jakarta - Gambir 19:58 Surabaya - Pasarturi


Offline apskip

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #20 on: May 28, 2012, 09:46:50 PM »
I don't know how to do the flight research so well like apskip,

but apskip, from the estimated arrival time in Jakarta, do we have any domestic connecting flights which consider the 30mins-2hrs gap? or maybe they'll take a train again...


Yes, there are 15 flights of 90 minutes each between Jakarta and Surabaya from 1640 on. My next step will be to research Indonesia's national train schedule. It was useful when last needed for AR19.

Offline Chateau d If

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #21 on: May 28, 2012, 09:53:47 PM »
I don't know how to do the flight research so well like apskip,

but apskip, from the estimated arrival time in Jakarta, do we have any domestic connecting flights which consider the 30mins-2hrs gap? or maybe they'll take a train again...


Yes, there are 15 flights of 90 minutes each between Jakarta and Surabaya from 1640 on. My next step will be to research Indonesia's national train schedule. It was useful when last needed for AR19.

Been there, done that! You can check to be sure

And here too! for the trains.



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Offline apskip

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #22 on: May 28, 2012, 10:02:38 PM »
The official Indonesian rail system schedule website appears out of service since 26May, so the information that Chateau has provided may be the best specifics we can get. The 11 hour trip is consistent with the 450 miles between Jakarta and Surabaya. Keep in mind that there are no sleeper berths. Also keep in mind that there are several different routes usable to get from Jakarta to Surabaya by rail.

I know what I would do. I would fly!

 

Offline theschnauzers

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #23 on: May 29, 2012, 12:00:56 AM »
The show's route planning might have had the teams take trains, so they could fly Phil and production ahead of the teams. This seems like a good place to do that (as it was a good reason in TAR 19 on the first Indonesia leg).
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Offline Chateau d If

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Re: AR21 Transportation
« Reply #24 on: May 29, 2012, 12:23:49 AM »

Good point!
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