New math equation calculates the "perfect" flight

What makes a perfect flight? Arriving safe and sound naturally tops the list, but beyond that, what makes or breaks a flight? Sitting next to Chris Hemsworth? Having a whole row to yourself? Leaving on time? Getting to choose something other than chicken or pasta for the meal?

Flight booking company Skyscanner conducted its own survey and used the results to create a mathematical equation that calculates the "perfect" flight, so we can all know just excatly how much we should complain next time we land. That equation, in case you were wondering is T + L – 30= P/100, and no, that's not as confusing as it looks.

(T)ime of Flight: Nothing breaks up a day worse than a flight. No doubt that explains why 52% of survey respondents preferred traveling in the morning. As such, a flight before lunch earns 10 points in the formula, while a night flight gets 5 (at least you’ve done a full day’s work). Anything after noon gets just 3 points.

(L)eg Room: There’s a reason many experienced road warriors prefer the exit row — for those few extra inches of ever-elusive leg room. In the formula, add the “seat pitch” (the distance between a point on your seat and the same on the seat in front), usually between 28 and 40 inches (in most economy classes, it’s 30 inches, the number that's subtracted in the formula).

(P)unctuality: Few moments are as unpleasant as arriving at the airport, after rushing through traffic with bags in tow, to find your flight has been delayed. Survey respondents agreed, naming punctuality the third most important factor when choosing a flight. Take the percentage of flights that arrive on time at your airline (best to compare with same time last year) and add it. Then divide the sum with 100, arriving at your score.

Result: Scores are out of 20, with anything below 10 ranking less than good, and anything 14 or more, as great. Applying the formula to at a recent flight from London to New York on British Airways, it comes out this way:

5 + 31 – 30 x 80 ÷100 = 4.8.

Yeah, I thought that flight sucked. Thankfully math confirmed it.