No they don't. They use a great circle course, which is the shortest distance between two points on a globe.
“No they don’t. They use a great circle course, which is the shortest distance between two points on a globe”
If I understand you correctly, seems on the LAX to Japan route, that is what they use. Something about taking advantage of the rotation of the earth or something such.
Actually twin engine jetliners fly under etops rules (extended twin engine operations) and fly routes that keep them within 120, 180 or 240 minutes of an airport that can support their type. Unrestricted great circle routing is only used by 3 or more engined airliners.
Yes, you are more right than I. But Tokyo to San Francisco is still hundreds of miles off the Aleutians (unlike Washington to Tokyo).