The length of a journey by air between Birmingham, United Kingdom, and Chicago, United States, is influenced by a number of components. These embrace the precise airports used (Birmingham Airport (BHX) and usually both Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD) or Chicago Halfway Worldwide Airport (MDW)), the chosen airline, potential layovers, and prevailing wind circumstances. Continuous flights usually vary from 8 to 9 hours, whereas journeys involving connecting flights can considerably prolong the general journey time. Understanding this length is essential for planning and managing connecting flights, floor transportation, and general itinerary logistics.
Correct estimations of journey length are very important for vacationers. This info permits for environment friendly scheduling of connecting flights, pre-booking of airport transfers, and lifelike expectations concerning arrival occasions. Traditionally, transatlantic flights have been significantly longer and fewer frequent. Developments in aviation know-how and optimized flight routes have considerably diminished journey time between continents, facilitating simpler worldwide journey for enterprise and leisure.
This text will discover numerous facets associated to transatlantic journey, together with components influencing air journey length, ideas for managing lengthy flights, and sources for locating probably the most environment friendly routes between Birmingham and Chicago. Additional sections will delve into the respective airport services, visa necessities, and cultural concerns for vacationers.
1. Direct Flights
Direct flights signify a essential consider minimizing general journey time between Birmingham and Chicago. Eliminating intermediate stops reduces the journey length considerably, usually leading to an eight- to nine-hour flight. This contrasts sharply with connecting flights, which might add a number of hours, relying on the layover location and length. The supply of direct flights streamlines journey preparations, avoiding potential problems related to transfers, baggage retrieval, and navigating unfamiliar airports. For time-sensitive vacationers, significantly enterprise professionals, direct routes supply vital benefits.
For instance, a direct flight on American Airways from Birmingham (BHX) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) may be scheduled for eight hours and half-hour. Nevertheless, a connecting flight with a layover in one other European metropolis might simply prolong the journey to 12 hours or extra. This distinction turns into essential when contemplating onward journey preparations, enterprise conferences, or just maximizing time on the vacation spot. Moreover, direct flights typically reduce the chance of missed connections and baggage delays, contributing to a smoother, extra predictable journey expertise.
In abstract, prioritizing direct flights when touring between Birmingham and Chicago affords substantial time financial savings and reduces travel-related complexities. Whereas value concerns and scheduling constraints would possibly affect route choice, the advantages of a direct flight, particularly for time-conscious vacationers, are plain. Understanding the excellence between direct and connecting flights empowers vacationers to make knowledgeable selections based mostly on their particular person wants and priorities.
2. Connecting Flights
Connecting flights play a big position within the general journey time between Birmingham and Chicago. Whereas they may supply value benefits or elevated route availability in comparison with direct flights, they introduce extra complexities and potential time expenditures that require cautious consideration. Understanding the varied aspects of connecting flights is essential for managing expectations and planning an environment friendly itinerary.
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Layover Period and Location
Layover length, starting from a short hour to an prolonged in a single day keep, straight impacts the full journey time. A brief layover in a busy hub like Amsterdam Schiphol Airport would possibly enable for a fast switch, whereas an extended layover in Reykjavik might supply a possibility to discover town. The geographical location of the layover additionally influences the general journey time, with extra distant connections including to the full length. As an example, a connection by a European hub is often shorter than routing by the Center East or Asia.
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Airline Partnerships and Interline Agreements
Selecting connecting flights typically includes a number of airways. Clean transfers depend on established partnerships or interline agreements that facilitate baggage switch and coordinated schedules. With out these, vacationers would possibly must reclaim and recheck baggage, including time and potential problems. For instance, a codeshare flight between Aer Lingus and United Airways would possibly supply a seamless connection expertise in comparison with separate bookings with airways missing such agreements.
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Potential for Delays and Missed Connections
Connecting flights introduce a better danger of delays and missed connections. A delayed preliminary flight can disrupt your complete itinerary, probably resulting in missed connections and prolonged layovers. Vacationers ought to take into account buffer time when reserving connecting flights to account for potential disruptions. Actual-time flight monitoring and airline communication are important for managing such conditions.
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Airport Switch and Navigation
Navigating unfamiliar airports throughout layovers provides to the general journey time. Components like airport dimension, terminal format, and distance between gates affect switch time. Vacationers ought to analysis airport maps and take into account components like safety checkpoints and potential language boundaries. For instance, transferring between terminals at London Heathrow Airport can take considerably longer than a within-terminal switch at a smaller airport.
Finally, the choice to e book a connecting flight versus a direct flight includes weighing value financial savings and route availability in opposition to the potential for elevated journey time and added complexities. Rigorously contemplating these components permits vacationers to make knowledgeable decisions that align with their particular person journey priorities and reduce potential disruptions when touring from Birmingham to Chicago.
3. Common Period
Common flight length supplies a vital benchmark for vacationers planning journeys between Birmingham and Chicago. Whereas precise flight occasions are topic to variability, understanding the common supplies a basis for lifelike expectations and environment friendly itinerary planning. This info permits knowledgeable decision-making concerning connecting flights, floor transportation, and general journey preparations. Analyzing the elements contributing to this common reveals a extra nuanced understanding of transatlantic journey dynamics.
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Scheduled Flight Time
Airways publish scheduled flight occasions, representing the anticipated length of a direct, continuous flight between Birmingham and Chicago. This determine usually ranges between eight and 9 hours, accounting for components equivalent to plane kind, cruising pace, and normal routeing. Nevertheless, scheduled occasions are topic to vary attributable to operational components and ought to be thought-about estimates reasonably than ensures. For instance, a scheduled flight time of eight hours and 45 minutes may be adjusted to 9 hours and quarter-hour attributable to anticipated air visitors congestion.
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Affect of Layovers
Connecting flights introduce layovers, which considerably affect general journey time. Layover durations can range drastically, starting from transient connections of beneath an hour to prolonged stays exceeding 24 hours. Every layover provides to the full journey time, particularly when contemplating the time required for deplaning, navigating connecting airports, and re-boarding. A flight with a two-hour layover in Dublin extends the full journey significantly in comparison with a direct flight.
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Seasonal Variations
Seasonal components, together with prevailing wind patterns and climate programs, can influence flight occasions. Headwinds and opposed climate circumstances can improve flight length, whereas tailwinds can supply marginal time financial savings. Transatlantic routes are significantly vulnerable to those variations as a result of prevailing westerly jet stream. Winter flights would possibly expertise longer durations attributable to stronger headwinds.
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Air Site visitors Management
Air visitors management performs a dynamic position in managing plane circulate and optimizing flight paths. Congestion at main airports, particularly hub airports like London Heathrow or Chicago O’Hare, can result in delays and prolonged flight occasions. Holding patterns and rerouting attributable to climate or different unexpected circumstances additionally contribute to variations in precise flight length.
Contemplating these components, the common flight length supplies a useful place to begin for planning. Whereas deviations from the common are frequent, understanding the underlying elements permits vacationers to anticipate potential variations and construct flexibility into their itineraries. Efficient journey planning requires acknowledging the dynamic nature of air journey and adapting to unexpected circumstances. Due to this fact, whereas the common length serves as a information, vacationers ought to prioritize real-time flight info and airline communication for probably the most correct and up-to-date journey particulars when planning their journeys between Birmingham and Chicago.
4. Airport Selections (BHX, ORD, MDW)
Airport choice performs a vital position in figuring out the general journey expertise and, importantly, the flight time between Birmingham and Chicago. Birmingham Airport (BHX) serves as the first departure level, whereas Chicago affords two main worldwide airports: O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD) and Halfway Worldwide Airport (MDW). Understanding the traits of every airport and their respective impacts on flight length is important for knowledgeable journey planning.
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Birmingham Airport (BHX)
Birmingham Airport (BHX), situated outdoors town middle, affords a variety of direct and connecting flights to worldwide locations, together with Chicago. Its accessibility and flight frequency contribute considerably to the comfort and effectivity of transatlantic journeys. Whereas BHX affords a consolidated departure level, the last word flight length is additional influenced by the chosen arrival airport in Chicago. Vacationers originating from different UK airports would possibly take into account connecting flights by BHX, including to the general journey time.
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Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD)
O’Hare (ORD), a serious worldwide hub, serves as a major gateway to Chicago and the broader Midwest area. Its in depth community of home and worldwide connections contributes to a better frequency of flights and probably shorter layovers. Nevertheless, ORD’s dimension and complexity can result in elevated switch occasions between terminals and potential delays attributable to air visitors congestion. Direct flights to ORD from BHX are frequent, typically offering a extra time-efficient choice in comparison with connecting flights or arrivals at different airports.
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Chicago Halfway Worldwide Airport (MDW)
Halfway (MDW), whereas smaller than O’Hare, affords a handy different for vacationers particularly destined for Chicago. Its proximity to town middle typically interprets to shorter floor transportation occasions. Nevertheless, MDW’s deal with home flights would possibly restrict direct flight choices from Birmingham, typically necessitating connecting flights by different US hubs. This may add considerably to general journey time in comparison with direct flights into ORD. Selecting MDW requires cautious consideration of flight availability and potential layover durations.
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Connecting Airports and Layovers
Connecting flights introduce one other layer of complexity to airport decisions. Layovers at intermediate airports, whether or not in Europe or the US, affect each the general journey time and the potential for delays. A connection by a busy hub like New York’s JFK Worldwide Airport would possibly supply extra frequent flight choices but additionally introduce larger susceptibility to delays in comparison with a smaller airport. Evaluating the layover airport’s effectivity, dimension, and connection choices is essential when choosing connecting flights.
In conclusion, the selection between ORD and MDW, when flying from BHX, hinges on components past simply flight time. Floor transportation, flight frequency, and potential connecting flight choices all contribute to the general journey expertise. Cautious analysis of those components alongside the common flight occasions related to every airport empowers vacationers to make knowledgeable selections that align with their particular person wants and priorities when touring between Birmingham and Chicago.
5. Airline Variations
Airline variations represent a big issue influencing flight durations between Birmingham and Chicago. Totally different airways make use of numerous operational methods, impacting route choice, plane kind, and scheduling practices. These variations straight have an effect on the general journey time skilled by passengers. Understanding these airline-specific nuances permits for knowledgeable selections and extra correct journey planning.
Route choice considerably impacts flight length. Some airways prioritize direct routes, minimizing journey time, whereas others make the most of connecting flights by hub airports. For instance, American Airways would possibly supply a direct flight from Birmingham (BHX) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD), whereas a service like KLM would possibly route passengers by Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS). This middleman cease provides to the full journey time, even when the transatlantic leg itself is comparable in length. Plane kind additionally performs a job. Airways working newer, extra fuel-efficient plane would possibly obtain barely quicker cruising speeds in comparison with these utilizing older fashions. Whereas these variations would possibly seem marginal, they will accumulate over a transatlantic journey, contributing to variations in general flight time. Moreover, an airline’s scheduling philosophy impacts flight length. Some airways prioritize minimizing floor time, resulting in tighter connections and a better danger of delays, whereas others construct in buffer time, probably growing the scheduled flight length however lowering the probability of missed connections. These variations in scheduling practices contribute to the vary of flight occasions noticed throughout totally different airways.
Contemplating these airline-specific variations is essential for efficient journey planning. Consulting on-line journey companies or straight evaluating airline schedules permits vacationers to evaluate the trade-offs between direct and connecting flights, airline preferences, and general journey time. Recognizing that revealed flight occasions signify averages and that precise durations can range attributable to components equivalent to climate and air visitors management additional emphasizes the significance of real-time flight monitoring and communication with the chosen airline. Understanding these dynamics empowers vacationers to make knowledgeable decisions that align with particular person priorities and reduce potential journey disruptions.
6. Seasonal Influences
Seasonal influences exert a notable influence on flight occasions between Birmingham and Chicago. Variations in climate patterns, predominantly wind circumstances and jet stream habits, contribute to fluctuations in journey length all year long. Understanding these seasonal dynamics permits vacationers to anticipate potential variations and handle expectations accordingly.
The North Atlantic jet stream, a robust band of high-altitude winds, considerably impacts transatlantic flight occasions. Throughout winter months, this jet stream strengthens and shifts southward, leading to stronger headwinds for westbound flights. Consequently, flights from Birmingham to Chicago typically expertise longer durations throughout winter in comparison with eastbound flights, which profit from tailwinds. Conversely, throughout summer season months, the jet stream weakens and shifts northward, resulting in diminished headwinds for westbound flights and probably shorter journey occasions. Moreover, seasonal climate programs, together with storms and durations of heavy precipitation, could cause flight delays and necessitate route changes, impacting general journey time. As an example, winter storms over the North Atlantic can pressure plane to take longer, much less direct routes, including to the general flight length. Equally, summer season thunderstorms within the Chicago space can result in arrival delays and disruptions to connecting flight schedules.
Recognizing the affect of seasonal components on flight occasions facilitates simpler journey planning. Consulting historic flight information for particular routes throughout totally different occasions of the yr supplies insights into typical variations. Whereas airways account for seasonal components of their scheduling, precise flight occasions stay topic to real-time climate circumstances and air visitors management selections. Due to this fact, vacationers ought to anticipate potential deviations from revealed schedules and prioritize real-time flight monitoring and communication with their chosen airline for probably the most correct and up-to-date journey info. Incorporating flexibility into journey plans, significantly during times identified for unstable climate patterns, mitigates the influence of seasonal influences on general journey expertise.
7. Wind Patterns
Wind patterns represent a big issue influencing transatlantic flight occasions, significantly on routes like Birmingham to Chicago. The Earth’s atmospheric circulation, characterised by prevailing winds and jet streams, straight impacts plane trajectory and pace, resulting in variations in journey length. Understanding these patterns supplies useful context for deciphering flight schedules and anticipating potential deviations.
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The Jet Stream
The North Atlantic jet stream, a high-altitude hall of fast-moving air, performs a vital position in transatlantic flight occasions. Westbound flights, equivalent to these from Birmingham to Chicago, typically encounter headwinds from the jet stream, growing journey time. Conversely, eastbound flights profit from tailwinds, probably lowering flight length. The jet stream’s power and place range seasonally, impacting the diploma of affect on flight occasions. For instance, a stronger jet stream throughout winter months can add a number of hours to a westbound transatlantic flight.
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Prevailing Winds
Prevailing winds, constant patterns of airflow at decrease altitudes, additionally contribute to variations in flight occasions. Whereas much less impactful than the jet stream, these winds can nonetheless affect plane pace and trajectory. As an example, sustained westerly winds throughout the Atlantic can barely impede westbound flights and marginally help eastbound flights. Understanding prevailing wind patterns enhances jet stream evaluation in predicting potential flight time variations.
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Affect on Gas Consumption and Route Planning
Airways take into account wind patterns throughout flight planning to optimize gas effectivity and reduce journey time. Changes to flight paths and altitudes are frequent methods for mitigating headwind impacts or maximizing tailwind advantages. For instance, an plane would possibly fly at a better altitude to keep away from stronger headwinds, even when it requires a barely longer route. This strategic planning goals to stability flight length with gas consumption and operational effectivity.
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Actual-Time Wind Knowledge and Flight Changes
Fashionable plane make the most of real-time wind information throughout flight to make dynamic changes to flight paths and optimize efficiency. This info, built-in with air visitors management directives and climate forecasts, permits pilots to fine-tune flight plans en route and reduce the influence of unfavorable wind circumstances or capitalize on useful tailwinds. This dynamic adjustment course of contributes to the noticed variations in precise flight occasions in comparison with preliminary schedules.
In abstract, wind patterns signify a dynamic aspect impacting flight occasions between Birmingham and Chicago. Understanding the interaction of jet streams, prevailing winds, and airline route planning methods permits vacationers to interpret scheduled flight occasions inside a broader meteorological context. Recognizing that wind circumstances are topic to steady change emphasizes the significance of accessing real-time flight monitoring info and airline updates for probably the most correct and present journey particulars.
8. Time Zone Distinction
The time zone distinction between Birmingham and Chicago is a vital issue to contemplate when planning journey. Birmingham observes Greenwich Imply Time (GMT) in the course of the winter and British Summer time Time (BST, GMT+1) in the course of the summer season. Chicago, alternatively, observes Central Commonplace Time (CST, GMT-6) in the course of the winter and Central Daylight Time (CDT, GMT-5) in the course of the summer season. This distinction, starting from 5 to 6 hours, considerably impacts arrival occasions and requires cautious adjustment of schedules.
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Arrival Time Calculation
Calculating arrival time precisely requires accounting for each the flight length and the time zone distinction. As an example, a nine-hour direct flight departing Birmingham at 10:00 AM BST arrives in Chicago at 1:00 PM CDT on the identical day, regardless of the obvious eleven-hour distinction. Incorrectly accounting for the time zone distinction can result in scheduling errors and missed connections.
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Jet Lag Administration
The numerous time distinction contributes to jet lag, a physiological situation affecting vacationers crossing a number of time zones. The five- to six-hour time shift can disrupt sleep patterns and bodily features. Understanding the time zone distinction permits vacationers to organize for jet lag by adjusting sleep schedules earlier than departure and using methods to reduce its results upon arrival.
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Scheduling Concerns
Scheduling conferences, actions, or onward journey requires cautious consideration of the time zone distinction. Confirming occasions in each native occasions avoids confusion and ensures correct scheduling. For instance, a enterprise assembly scheduled for 9:00 AM in Chicago corresponds to three:00 PM in Birmingham. Clear communication concerning time zones is important to keep away from scheduling conflicts.
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Affect on Connecting Flights
When reserving connecting flights, significantly inside america, the time zone distinction between Birmingham and the connecting metropolis should even be thought-about. Calculating layover durations and making certain ample time for transfers requires cautious consideration to native occasions in every location. A seemingly satisfactory layover length may be inadequate when factoring within the time zone change.
In conclusion, understanding the time zone distinction between Birmingham and Chicago is important for correct planning and a easy journey expertise. Precisely calculating arrival occasions, managing jet lag, scheduling actions, and navigating connecting flights all depend on a transparent understanding of this temporal shift. Cautious consideration to time zones minimizes potential disruptions and maximizes environment friendly use of time throughout journey.
Continuously Requested Questions
This part addresses frequent inquiries concerning journey length between Birmingham and Chicago, offering concise and informative responses.
Query 1: What’s the typical length of a continuous flight between Birmingham and Chicago?
Continuous flights usually vary from eight to 9 hours.
Query 2: How do connecting flights have an effect on general journey time?
Connecting flights introduce layovers, extending the full journey time. The length is determined by the connection location and layover size, probably including a number of hours to the general journey.
Query 3: Which airports serve Birmingham and Chicago for this route?
Birmingham Airport (BHX) is the first departure level. Arrival choices in Chicago embrace O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD) and Halfway Worldwide Airport (MDW).
Query 4: Do seasonal components affect flight occasions?
Sure, differences due to the season, significantly wind patterns and the jet stream, affect flight durations. Westbound flights typically expertise longer durations throughout winter attributable to stronger headwinds.
Query 5: How does the selection of airline influence journey time?
Airways make the most of totally different plane, routes, and scheduling practices, resulting in variations in flight occasions. Some prioritize direct routes, whereas others make the most of connecting flights by hubs, impacting general length.
Query 6: What’s the time distinction between Birmingham and Chicago, and the way does it have an effect on journey planning?
The time distinction ranges from 5 to 6 hours relying on daylight saving time. Correct arrival time calculations and jet lag administration require cautious consideration of this distinction.
Understanding these components aids in efficient journey planning and knowledgeable decision-making for journeys between Birmingham and Chicago.
The next part delves into methods for locating probably the most environment friendly routes and reserving choices.
Suggestions for Environment friendly Journey Planning
Environment friendly journey planning requires a strategic method to reduce journey time and maximize comfort. The following tips present sensible steering for optimizing journeys between Birmingham and Chicago.
Tip 1: Prioritize Direct Flights:
Direct flights supply vital time financial savings by eliminating layovers and potential switch delays. Whereas probably costlier, the comfort and diminished journey time typically outweigh the price distinction, particularly for time-sensitive journey.
Tip 2: Make the most of Flight Comparability Web sites:
On-line flight comparability platforms supply complete search capabilities, enabling vacationers to check flight choices throughout a number of airways, establish connecting routes, and consider value variations. These sources facilitate knowledgeable decision-making based mostly on particular person preferences and finances constraints.
Tip 3: Contemplate Various Airports:
Whereas Birmingham Airport (BHX) serves as the first departure level, exploring different UK airports with connecting flights to Chicago would possibly supply value financial savings or expanded scheduling choices. Nevertheless, factoring in switch occasions and potential layover durations is important when evaluating these alternate options.
Tip 4: Think about Seasonal Variations:
Flight durations are influenced by seasonal components, significantly wind patterns. Westbound transatlantic flights usually expertise longer durations throughout winter attributable to stronger headwinds. Consulting historic flight information or airline schedules for particular journey dates supplies insights into anticipated variations.
Tip 5: Account for Time Zone Variations:
The numerous time distinction between Birmingham and Chicago necessitates cautious calculation of arrival occasions and scheduling changes. Confirming occasions in each native occasions avoids confusion and facilitates correct planning of actions and connecting journey preparations.
Tip 6: E-book Flights and Lodging in Advance:
Advance reserving typically secures higher flight costs and wider lodging choices. Final-minute bookings may be significantly costlier and restrict selection, significantly throughout peak journey seasons.
Tip 7: Analysis Visa and Journey Doc Necessities:
Making certain compliance with visa and journey doc laws is essential for seamless journey. Confirming vital documentation effectively prematurely avoids potential journey disruptions.
Tip 8: Pack Good and Mild:
Minimizing baggage reduces airport processing time and facilitates smoother transfers, significantly when navigating connecting flights. Adhering to airline baggage restrictions additionally avoids extra charges.
Using these methods enhances journey effectivity, minimizes potential disruptions, and optimizes the general journey expertise between Birmingham and Chicago.
The concluding part affords a concise abstract of key takeaways and emphasizes the significance of knowledgeable journey planning for profitable journeys between these two cities.
Conclusion
This exploration of flight length between Birmingham and Chicago has highlighted the multifaceted nature of transatlantic journey planning. Key components influencing general journey time embrace direct versus connecting flight choices, the selection between Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Halfway (MDW) airports, airline-specific variations in routing and plane, seasonal wind patterns and their influence on flight paths, and the numerous time zone distinction. Understanding these components supplies a framework for knowledgeable decision-making and environment friendly itinerary building.
Environment friendly journey necessitates a proactive method. Cautious consideration of those components, mixed with strategic utilization of on-line sources, empowers vacationers to optimize journeys between Birmingham and Chicago. Efficient planning minimizes potential disruptions, maximizes time effectivity, and contributes to a smoother, extra predictable journey expertise. Finally, a complete understanding of the dynamics influencing flight time equips vacationers with the information vital for profitable transatlantic journeys.
