This week in Salon's ASK THE PILOT:

The Most Unbearable Trip Ever:
3 Weeks, 6 Continents, 15 Countries …… Entirely Indoors!

Join Patrick Smith as he travels around the world, laying over in 15 countries without once leaving the confines of an airplane, terminal, or in-terminal hotel.

JFK-MIA-GIG-CDG-AMS-LHR-DXB-HKG-KUL-SIN-MEL-ICN-KIX-YVR-MEX-JFK

“... What we’ve taken to an extreme is something that, on a smaller level, millions of travelers endure and even enjoy on a regular basis. Every day people travel great distances, entirely within the standardized, homogeneous shelter of codependent entities -- the vast global community of airlines, airports, hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Three weeks is a very long time to go without a breath of fresh air. Over the course of 15 countries it is almost unthinkable. That it can easily be done is equal testament to the weirdness of modern life and the astounding capabilities of air travel -- if not to the eagerness of the human imagination to concoct schemes of unbearable tedium …”

To read the full article, click here:
http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/...skthepilot263/

(You can read for free. Look for the “enter Salon” or “skip this ad” prompts on the gateway page.)

I'll bet some of the hardcore MRers here could do better and cheaper than he did. But still, that's a crazy itinerary although his cpm aren't great.

And the way he hopscotches among airlines and alliances! Why, I'd bet that with a little effort he could have been Zircon elite on at least one carrier!!

Not too impressive... they should've just had someone from FT write an article!