How often do you fly?
Aug 5, 2010 | 2:26 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: WAS
Posts: 3,048
Bored? How could you possibly get BORED? You're hurtling along in a metal tube miles above the ground kept up by an invisible force while avoiding the hundreds of other metal tubes doing the same thing being pushed by rotating machines containing hundreds of thousands of parts where everything is perfectly in tune as your crew talks with people hundreds of miles away as they prepare to set your aircraft down on the ground on a strip of concrete they might not even be able to see!
How could you get BORED?!?!*
*Please note that my first flight was while I was still in my mother's tummy, and one of the first photos of me is me next to the airplane I had my first (post-birth) ride in, piloted by my father. I've wanted my pilot's license pretty much since then. I do understand that there are a quite a number of people for whom the flying (and by extension the time away from home and family, the foreign culture, and all the other potential discomforts) really is not that exciting, and I do not mean to demean or belittle their points about the downfalls of flying.
How could you get BORED?!?!*
*Please note that my first flight was while I was still in my mother's tummy, and one of the first photos of me is me next to the airplane I had my first (post-birth) ride in, piloted by my father. I've wanted my pilot's license pretty much since then. I do understand that there are a quite a number of people for whom the flying (and by extension the time away from home and family, the foreign culture, and all the other potential discomforts) really is not that exciting, and I do not mean to demean or belittle their points about the downfalls of flying.
Aug 5, 2010 | 2:38 pm
#17
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: MSP
Programs: UA 1K, QR Gold, DL Plat, AC 25
Posts: 4,481
I have not flown in a year and a half but that will end this weekend! I used to fly a lot I averaged about 7,500 miles a year for about 9 years in a row. That may not be high for most but I am only a teenager.
Delta747
Delta747
Aug 5, 2010 | 5:01 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA 2.996MM & Plat Pro, DL 1MM, GM & Flying Colonel
Posts: 25,037
I've flow about 35,000 miles in the past month: Boston to India over the Pacific and back, then Boston to France and back. Don't get tired of it. Upgrades help.
Granted, this is way above average for me these days, but I had several back-to-back years of 100K miles and more. Didn't get bored then, either.
Granted, this is way above average for me these days, but I had several back-to-back years of 100K miles and more. Didn't get bored then, either.
Aug 5, 2010 | 5:21 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,784
It all depends on my client load and what my brilliant engineering team has managed to screw up (OK, they're actually smart guys put into a bad position by an evil sales overlord who dictates overselling, but that notwithstanding...). I've gone weeks without a flight this year, but I've also had 12 segments in a four day stretch. It all evens out over the course of a year into 100-125k miles and 75ish segments.
Basically, not nearly as much as 90% of FTers and about 1/3 as much as I'd like. I don't actually care much for flying, but I really dislike being in the same place for more than a day or two, home included. As previous posters stated, not being in serf class helps (Only 4 times this year).
Basically, not nearly as much as 90% of FTers and about 1/3 as much as I'd like. I don't actually care much for flying, but I really dislike being in the same place for more than a day or two, home included. As previous posters stated, not being in serf class helps (Only 4 times this year).
Aug 5, 2010 | 11:20 pm
#20
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
We do 2 or 3 round trips a year, typically for getaways and vacations.. all on miles for the past 5 years, using miles for 15, unless its a all inclusive vacation to Cuba or Cancun/Mayan Riviera.
Aug 6, 2010 | 7:54 am
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,096
I just finished a 2 year stint as a twice-per-week flier. Yes, you DO get bored of it. It becomes quite routine..yet all the little annoyances you get as an infrequent flier become multiplied when you have to face them a couple of times per week. The crying baby, the retiree who cannot sit still and constantly gets up to get something out of the overhead or to talk to a companion in another seat no matter what the seatbelt sign says, the cell phone chatter on final approach, the seat poacher, the fellow FC pax who abuses the cabin crew ("Next time you make a vodka and soda, STIR it!! And get me another pillow, this is lumpy...unbeliveable!" Overheard on USAirways last month)...the magic goes fast.
Aug 6, 2010 | 9:05 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ZRH
Programs: M&M FTL, FB Gold
Posts: 179
My travel schedule varies between 4 and 8 segments per month. Mix is about 6 to 8 long-haul segments per year and the rest is short-haul. At 4 segments per month (one round trip every 2 weeks) I barely notice. At 8 segments I don't really get bored, however the occasional annoyance does make it somewhat more stressful.
I fly leisure, maybe once a month. It's a phase I'm going through
.
Aug 6, 2010 | 1:40 pm
#26
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 6,095
I don't fly enough that I ever get bored of it or miss home, and fly barely enough to maintain mid-tier status. In fact, I wouldn't mind it if I flew a bit more, although I could go for a few more mid- to long-haul flights, as the vast majority of my travel the last 2 years has been between ORD and the east coast/southeast (ATL, CLT, IAD, BWI, LGA, EWR, BDL, BOS, CVG, CMH, YYZ). The last 2 years, I've only gone west of the mississipi for work once (ORD-NRT-ICN). The other times (HNL, SAN, LAX, IAH-HNL, MSP-DEN) were all personal trips.
Aug 6, 2010 | 2:05 pm
#27
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NJ
Posts: 3,343
once a month or so for business, some months twice a month. Somewhere between 3-5 trips a year for leisure.
I don't necessarily get bored. I'm just asleep for much of the flying part. I can't stay awake on planes.
I don't necessarily get bored. I'm just asleep for much of the flying part. I can't stay awake on planes.
Aug 6, 2010 | 3:09 pm
#28
Used to be 'Scooter'
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: SAN
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 398
We usually do about 50k a year, all of it personal travel. With my family spread all over the US and my wife's family in Japan, we always have something booked. I kind of sort of wish I had a job that required some occasional travel though - sitting behind a desk all day every day is not fun.
Honestly though, I think 50k/yr is just about right for me. Any more and I think I'd get too worn out, and any less would leave me feeling itchy to go places.
Honestly though, I think 50k/yr is just about right for me. Any more and I think I'd get too worn out, and any less would leave me feeling itchy to go places.
Aug 6, 2010 | 8:37 pm
#29
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: NZ*G
Posts: 25
Nowhere near enough
Currently averaging around six flights per month. The majority being domestic (0.5-2 hr), with a trans-Tasman (3-4 hr) return every couple of months and a couple of 13hr returns a year. Just got back from a RTW a month back.
Personally I'd prefer much more of the long-hauls.
Personally I'd prefer much more of the long-hauls.
Aug 6, 2010 | 9:48 pm
#30
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Home Airports: CAE/CLT
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, National Executive
Posts: 5,460
Last year I flew 130K miles.
5 RT TATLs.
4 RT Transcons
2 RT Longhaul intercontinentals. (LHR-JNB)
Before that the most I flew in 1 year was 3 TATLS (once) Before that I flew maybe TATL a year.
This year I have flown 1.5 rt TATLs, 2 midcons, and am looking at flying maybe 3 more midcons and a couple east coast hops.
5 RT TATLs.
4 RT Transcons
2 RT Longhaul intercontinentals. (LHR-JNB)
Before that the most I flew in 1 year was 3 TATLS (once) Before that I flew maybe TATL a year.
This year I have flown 1.5 rt TATLs, 2 midcons, and am looking at flying maybe 3 more midcons and a couple east coast hops.