2017: Your travel year in review
Dec 27, 2017, 10:35 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan Airmiles AMEX-MR Alaska Airlines
Posts: 692
New Countries (5): Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan
New Airports (10): ORD, AKL, ZQN, MEL, HTI, SYD, SIN, DPS, HND, NRT
New Airlines (4): Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, ANA
Shortest Flight: YYZ-ORD 437 mi
Longest Flight: ORD-HKG 7794mi
Total Miles: 35016 mi
New Airports (10): ORD, AKL, ZQN, MEL, HTI, SYD, SIN, DPS, HND, NRT
New Airlines (4): Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, ANA
Shortest Flight: YYZ-ORD 437 mi
Longest Flight: ORD-HKG 7794mi
Total Miles: 35016 mi
Dec 27, 2017, 8:58 pm
#17
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: MidSouth
Programs: AA; Delta GM
Posts: 728
New Countries: Australia, Malta, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Israel, Jordan
Revisited Countries: Germany, France, Italy, Canada
New Airports: MEL, SYD, MLA, ARN, OSL, SXF, TLV, AMM, HNL, MXP
New Airlines: Norwegian, Air Malta, Qantas, Royal Jordanian
Shortest Flight: AMM to TLV (69 miles / 30 minutes)
Longest Flight: LAX to SYD (7488 miles)
Best flight experience: RJ ORD to AMM (and return) in business. Great cabin on the 787, stellar service and great tasting food
Best Memories:
1. Day trip out of Melbourne to Great Ocean Road
2. Visiting Petra
3. St George’s Festival in Ragusa Sicily
4. Hiking in the hills above Cinque Terre
Revisited Countries: Germany, France, Italy, Canada
New Airports: MEL, SYD, MLA, ARN, OSL, SXF, TLV, AMM, HNL, MXP
New Airlines: Norwegian, Air Malta, Qantas, Royal Jordanian
Shortest Flight: AMM to TLV (69 miles / 30 minutes)
Longest Flight: LAX to SYD (7488 miles)
Best flight experience: RJ ORD to AMM (and return) in business. Great cabin on the 787, stellar service and great tasting food
Best Memories:
1. Day trip out of Melbourne to Great Ocean Road
2. Visiting Petra
3. St George’s Festival in Ragusa Sicily
4. Hiking in the hills above Cinque Terre
Dec 27, 2017, 9:44 pm
#18
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: BNE
Programs: VA Gold
Posts: 56
# Flights: 32
# Diversions: 1. SQ SYD-SIN, diverted to BTH.
Distance flown: 100,935km
Longest flight: EY BNE-AUH (12,010km)
Shortest flight: SQ BTH-SIN (31km)
Shortest scheduled flight: FC: BNE-ARM (378km)
Countries visited: 5. New: Russia
Airlines flown: 7. New: FC (Fly Corporate), S7 (S7 Airlines), 9U (Air Moldova)
Airports visited: 14. New: ARM, DME, LED, KIV, STN, AUH, DUS, BTH.
Statuses maintained/gained: VA Gold.
# Diversions: 1. SQ SYD-SIN, diverted to BTH.
Distance flown: 100,935km
Longest flight: EY BNE-AUH (12,010km)
Shortest flight: SQ BTH-SIN (31km)
Shortest scheduled flight: FC: BNE-ARM (378km)
Countries visited: 5. New: Russia
Airlines flown: 7. New: FC (Fly Corporate), S7 (S7 Airlines), 9U (Air Moldova)
Airports visited: 14. New: ARM, DME, LED, KIV, STN, AUH, DUS, BTH.
Statuses maintained/gained: VA Gold.
Dec 27, 2017, 10:38 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Stockholm
Programs: Various
Posts: 3,369
Total Airports: 33
Total Flights: 89
Total Miles: 80,366
New Countries (1): Taiwan
New Airports (6): BUR, FAR, OAK, ORD, SLC, TPE
New Airlines (2): China Airlines, Norra
Shortest Flight: BMA-VBY, 118mi
Longest Flight: LHR-SIN, 6769mi
Total Flights: 89
Total Miles: 80,366
New Countries (1): Taiwan
New Airports (6): BUR, FAR, OAK, ORD, SLC, TPE
New Airlines (2): China Airlines, Norra
Shortest Flight: BMA-VBY, 118mi
Longest Flight: LHR-SIN, 6769mi
Dec 27, 2017, 11:41 pm
#21
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 361
this have been lean year for me in terms of flying and travel. next year might be a lot worse 
Total airports: 12
Total flights: 23
Total distance flown: 27,630 mi / 44,466 km
New countries (3): Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Japan
New airports (5): JED, HND, RGN, LBJ, HLP
New airlines (6): AirAsia (AK), Batik Air, Nam Air, Wings Air, Royal Dutch KLM, Malindo Air
Shortest flight: Wings Air BDO-HLP: 64 mi
Longest flight: Malaysia Airlines KUL-JED: 4,395 mi
Best flight experience: Garuda Indonesia business, CGK-HND. Granted, I rarely fly in premium cabin.
Worst flight experience: Lion Air TKG-SUB. Funny thing, it's not really the particular flight, but the whole journey. My original ticket was booked on wrong date, only realized prior the check in. I got no ticket out of Jakarta, at all, to anywhere. Flights, trains, buses are all fully booked also for the following day (end of Ramadan). I had a choice to depart ex-BDO or TKG. Trying to do damage limitation on my wallet. I decided to go ex-TKG. That means bus and ferry rides to Bandar Lampung in the island of Sumatra. Flight TKG-SUB was in quite reasonable price and I got a day to explore Bandar Lampung. But it really wore me down and I dreaded my own decision. Turns out in TKG, the flight was delayed 2+ hours. 90 minutes flight to SUB became 27 hours of wandering around. Worst thing is, once landed in SUB, I still have 4 more hours of bus. Definitely stupid.
Favorite Destination: Kawaguchiko, Japan
Total airports: 12
Total flights: 23
Total distance flown: 27,630 mi / 44,466 km
New countries (3): Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Japan
New airports (5): JED, HND, RGN, LBJ, HLP
New airlines (6): AirAsia (AK), Batik Air, Nam Air, Wings Air, Royal Dutch KLM, Malindo Air
Shortest flight: Wings Air BDO-HLP: 64 mi
Longest flight: Malaysia Airlines KUL-JED: 4,395 mi
Best flight experience: Garuda Indonesia business, CGK-HND. Granted, I rarely fly in premium cabin.
Worst flight experience: Lion Air TKG-SUB. Funny thing, it's not really the particular flight, but the whole journey. My original ticket was booked on wrong date, only realized prior the check in. I got no ticket out of Jakarta, at all, to anywhere. Flights, trains, buses are all fully booked also for the following day (end of Ramadan). I had a choice to depart ex-BDO or TKG. Trying to do damage limitation on my wallet. I decided to go ex-TKG. That means bus and ferry rides to Bandar Lampung in the island of Sumatra. Flight TKG-SUB was in quite reasonable price and I got a day to explore Bandar Lampung. But it really wore me down and I dreaded my own decision. Turns out in TKG, the flight was delayed 2+ hours. 90 minutes flight to SUB became 27 hours of wandering around. Worst thing is, once landed in SUB, I still have 4 more hours of bus. Definitely stupid.
Favorite Destination: Kawaguchiko, Japan
Dec 28, 2017, 4:40 am
#22
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 732
Total Airports: 14
Total Flights: 42
Total Miles: 115,407
New Countries: Nepal, Bhutan
New Airports: KTM, PBH
New Airline: Druk Air
Shortest Flight: LHR-CDG
Longest Flight: LAX-HKG
Best Flight Experience: JAL first class HND-CDG (excellent food, great crew)
Worst Flight Experience: had a bulk seat in Main Class Extra on AA 120 JFK-CDG with no TV screen and no room to stretch my legs.
Unusual Experience: when the cargo loading deck caught fire on AA 192 (HKG-LAX) on October 9th, and was promptly rebooked on CX in J.
Total Flights: 42
Total Miles: 115,407
New Countries: Nepal, Bhutan
New Airports: KTM, PBH
New Airline: Druk Air
Shortest Flight: LHR-CDG
Longest Flight: LAX-HKG
Best Flight Experience: JAL first class HND-CDG (excellent food, great crew)
Worst Flight Experience: had a bulk seat in Main Class Extra on AA 120 JFK-CDG with no TV screen and no room to stretch my legs.
Unusual Experience: when the cargo loading deck caught fire on AA 192 (HKG-LAX) on October 9th, and was promptly rebooked on CX in J.
Dec 28, 2017, 5:57 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Dubai
Programs: SPG Plat, IHG Spire, HHonors Diamond, EK Gold
Posts: 213
Ran ruts in the sky from Dubai to Riyadh. Stayed sane on side projects in Asia. Fell out of love with Bali. Learned to appreciate Bangkok. Took the most convenient flight. Lost status. Gained perspective. Spent time gained in bar. Lost perspective again.
Total Airports: 17
Total Flights: 104
Total Miles: 146,885
New Countries (1): Croatia
New Airports (1): DBV
New Airlines (4): Indonesia Air Asia, Nesma Airlines, SaudiGulf Airlines, Iberia
Shortest Flight: DMM-RUH, 219mi
Longest Flight: LHR-BKK, 5958mi
Travel Peak: Bumping into an old school friend in the Emirates A380 bar and catching up at 40,000ft over horrifically spicy Bloody Marys and subsequently a bottle of Dom Perignon smuggled from 1st by the Purser – who also turned out to have been at school with my younger sister.
Travel Trough: Interminable ride to the airport in Bangkok in torrential rain with a driver who decided to pass the time by clipping his nails and then having himself a snack of candied crabs dipped in shrimp paste before merrily relieving himself of deep mucus deposits for the remainder of the journey.
Honorable Mention: Being kicked out of hotel in Riyadh to accommodate some “special guests” during corruption crackdown.
Total Airports: 17
Total Flights: 104
Total Miles: 146,885
New Countries (1): Croatia
New Airports (1): DBV
New Airlines (4): Indonesia Air Asia, Nesma Airlines, SaudiGulf Airlines, Iberia
Shortest Flight: DMM-RUH, 219mi
Longest Flight: LHR-BKK, 5958mi
Travel Peak: Bumping into an old school friend in the Emirates A380 bar and catching up at 40,000ft over horrifically spicy Bloody Marys and subsequently a bottle of Dom Perignon smuggled from 1st by the Purser – who also turned out to have been at school with my younger sister.
Travel Trough: Interminable ride to the airport in Bangkok in torrential rain with a driver who decided to pass the time by clipping his nails and then having himself a snack of candied crabs dipped in shrimp paste before merrily relieving himself of deep mucus deposits for the remainder of the journey.
Honorable Mention: Being kicked out of hotel in Riyadh to accommodate some “special guests” during corruption crackdown.
Dec 28, 2017, 9:15 am
#24
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Austin, TX -- AA Life Platinum; QF Life Silver; UA Silver
Posts: 5,462
Very slow year for me overall. Least travel since 1998!
Total Miles: 68207
Total Airports: 31
New Airports: CAP, PAP, BHD, WDH, PLS, MJI
Total flights: 42
New Airlines:Sunrise, Citywing, South African, Frontier, Libyan Wings
++ = miles earning, -- = miles burning
Shortest flight: IOM-BHD, 62mi
Longest flight: LHR-JNB, 5635mi
New Countries/Territories: Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Turks&Caicos
Revisited countries/territories: Haiti, UK, Ireland, Namibia, Kenya, Uganda, Antigua, Libya
Hotel nights:40
Total Miles: 68207
Total Airports: 31
New Airports: CAP, PAP, BHD, WDH, PLS, MJI
Total flights: 42
New Airlines:Sunrise, Citywing, South African, Frontier, Libyan Wings
++ = miles earning, -- = miles burning
Code:
2017-01-26 AUS-MIA J AA++ (On-plane upgrade!) 2017-01-26 MIA-CAP Y AA-- 2017-01-27 CAP-PAP Y S6 2017-01-29 PAP-MIA Y AA++ 2017-01-29 MIA-CLT Y AA++ 2017-01-30 CLT-AUS Y AA++ 2017-03-04 IAH-CDG Y AF++ 2017-03-05 CDG-MAN Y AF++ 2017-03-06 MAN-IOM Y BE++ 2017-03-07 IOM-BHD Y V9 2017-03-14 DUB-LHR Y BA++ 2017-03-14 LHR-DFW Y AA++ 2017-05-17 AUS-DFW Y AA++ 2017-05-17 DFW-LHR Y AA++ 2017-05-18 LHR-JNB Y BA++ 2017-05-19 JNB-WDH J SA++ (online paid upgrade) 2017-05-23 WDH-JNB J SA++ (at-airport paid upgrade) 2017-05-23 JNB-NBO Y SA++ 2017-05-28 EBB-ADD Y ET-- 2017-05-28 ADD-FRA Y ET-- 2017-05-29 FRA-ORD Y UA-- 2017-05-29 ORD-AUS Y UA-- 2017-08-05 AUS-MIA Y AA-- 2017-08-05 MIA-ANU Y AA-- 2017-08-06 ANU-PLS Y BA-- 2017-08-07 PLS-MIA Y AA-- 2017-08-07 MIA-SAT Y AA-- 2017-09-29 AUS-ATL Y F9 2017-10-01 ATL-AUS Y DL 2017-10-17 AUS-ATL Y DL-- 2017-10-17 ATL-CDG Y AF-- 2017-10-18 CDG-TUN Y AF-- 2017-10-18 TUN-MJI Y YL 2017-10-21 MJI-TUN Y YL 2017-10-21 TUN-MUC Y LH++ 2017-10-22 MUC-IAH Y UA++ 2017-12-02 HRL-HOU Y WN-- 2017-12-02 HOU-AUS Y WN-- 2017-12-08 AUS-IAH Y UA++ 2017-12-08 IAH-AMS Y UA++ 2017-12-10 AMS-IAD Y UA++ 2017-12-10 IAD-AUS Y UA++
Shortest flight: IOM-BHD, 62mi
Longest flight: LHR-JNB, 5635mi
New Countries/Territories: Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Turks&Caicos
Revisited countries/territories: Haiti, UK, Ireland, Namibia, Kenya, Uganda, Antigua, Libya
Hotel nights:40
Code:
2017-01-26 Milot, Haiti AirBnB 2017-01-27 Port-au-Prince, Haiti Hotel Oloffson 2017-01-28 Port-au-Prince, Haiti Hotel Oloffson 2017-03-03 Houston, TX Hyatt Place Bush Airport 2017-03-05 ++ Manchester, United Kingdom HIEX Manchester Airport 2017-03-06 Douglas, Isle of Man Best Western Palace 2017-03-07 Belfast, Northern Ireland ETAP Belfast 2017-03-08 Ballyvaughan, Ireland B&B 2017-03-09 Ballyvaughan, Ireland B&B 2017-03-10 Ballyvaughan, Ireland B&B 2017-03-11 Oranmore, Ireland Maldron Hotel 2017-03-12 ++ Dublin, Ireland HIEX Dublin Airport 2017-03-13 ++ Dublin, Ireland HIEX Dublin Airport 2017-04-30 ++ Odessa, TX Staybridge Suites 2017-05-19 Swakopmund, Namibia Swakopmund Plaza Hotel 2017-05-20 Sesirem, Namibia Desert Camp 2017-05-21 Sesirem, Namibia Desert Camp 2017-05-22 Windhoek, Namibia Hilltop Guesthouse 2017-05-23 Nairobi, Kenya Decasa Hotel 2017-05-24 Masai Mara, Kenya Mara Sopa Lodge 2017-05-25 Masai Mara, Kenya Mara Sopa Lodge 2017-05-26 Kisumu, Kenya Sooper Guest House 2017-05-27 Kampala, Uganda Ravens Hotel 2017-06-01 -- Houston, TX Springhill Suites IH45 North 2017-07-29 -- Athens, TX HIEX Athens 2017-09-29 -- Atlanta, GA Hyatt Place Atlanta Airport South 2017-09-30 Helen, GA Unicoi Lodge 2017-10-14 Graham, TX Best Western 2017-10-18 Tripoli, Libya Hotel 2017-10-19 Tripoli, Libya Hotel 2017-10-20 Tripoli, Libya Hotel 2017-10-21 -- Munich, Germany Moxy Airport Hotel 2017-11-23 -- Houston, TX Fairfield Inn IH45 North 2017-11-24 ++ Houston, TX Fairfield Inn IH45 North 2017-11-25 ++ Houston, TX Fairfield Inn IH45 North 2017-12-01 -- Zapata, TX HIEX Zapata 2017-12-09 Amsterdam, Netherlands Train Lodge 2017-12-17 -- Dallas, TX Hilton Anatole 2017-12-18 -- Dallas, TX Hilton Anatole
Last edited by hauteboy; Dec 28, 2017 at 9:26 am
Dec 28, 2017, 9:31 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,180
I've slowed down a ton but I do have more coming in a few days eventually ending up in BKK. There wasn't anything too odd about my travels this year which is nice.
Total Airports: 26
Total Flights: 49
Total Miles: 61,661
New Countries: Malaysia, Singapore
New Airports: MDW, YUL, SIN, KUL, BOS, MKE
New Airline: Air Asia, ANA
Shortest Flight: KUL-SIN
Longest Flight: MSP-HND
Total Airports: 26
Total Flights: 49
Total Miles: 61,661
New Countries: Malaysia, Singapore
New Airports: MDW, YUL, SIN, KUL, BOS, MKE
New Airline: Air Asia, ANA
Shortest Flight: KUL-SIN
Longest Flight: MSP-HND
Dec 28, 2017, 3:16 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Total Airports: 32
Total Distance: ~100k
Countries visited: USA, Mexico, England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Belgium, Singapore, Australia, Japan
New countries: Belgium, Switzerland (had connected through but first time outside airport)
New airports: JTR, FCO, MXP, BRU, ZRH, PVR, SMF
New airlines: QF, AF, AZ
Shortest flight: IAD - RDU (224mi), UA E+; Non-flight: Eurostar Paris Gare du Nord to St. Pancras (~212mi)
Longest flight: ORD - NRT (6275mi), JL W
Best flight experience: LH F (FRA - IAD 748). Second time on LH F but first time on the 748 and going through FRA/FCT. Great flight crew with a light load made this a fun and memorable LH F experience.
Worst flight experience: Vueling canceling our JTR - FCO ticket at the airport right before boarding with no service recovery. Left us looking at potential misconnect on our separately booked FCO - RDU DL award ticket the next morning. Had to scramble and buy JTR - ATH and ATH - FCO flights from the airport plus a hotel room for about 3 hours of sleep at ATH. Thankfully made our FCO award ticket but we are still fighting Vueling for EC261 compensation more than 6 months after flight was canceled.
Best Lounge: FCT (LH), CX J lounge at HND (only person there before AA flight right before they closed and the lounge leader came over to personally welcome me and thank me and then proceeded to insist on getting me a drink and coming up with a glass of Yamazaki when I asked if they had any Japanese whisky)
Favorite destination: Santorini - exceeded the hype and right up there with New Zealand as most beautiful landscape I've ever seen in person
Total Distance: ~100k
Countries visited: USA, Mexico, England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Belgium, Singapore, Australia, Japan
New countries: Belgium, Switzerland (had connected through but first time outside airport)
New airports: JTR, FCO, MXP, BRU, ZRH, PVR, SMF
New airlines: QF, AF, AZ
Shortest flight: IAD - RDU (224mi), UA E+; Non-flight: Eurostar Paris Gare du Nord to St. Pancras (~212mi)
Longest flight: ORD - NRT (6275mi), JL W
Best flight experience: LH F (FRA - IAD 748). Second time on LH F but first time on the 748 and going through FRA/FCT. Great flight crew with a light load made this a fun and memorable LH F experience.
Worst flight experience: Vueling canceling our JTR - FCO ticket at the airport right before boarding with no service recovery. Left us looking at potential misconnect on our separately booked FCO - RDU DL award ticket the next morning. Had to scramble and buy JTR - ATH and ATH - FCO flights from the airport plus a hotel room for about 3 hours of sleep at ATH. Thankfully made our FCO award ticket but we are still fighting Vueling for EC261 compensation more than 6 months after flight was canceled.
Best Lounge: FCT (LH), CX J lounge at HND (only person there before AA flight right before they closed and the lounge leader came over to personally welcome me and thank me and then proceeded to insist on getting me a drink and coming up with a glass of Yamazaki when I asked if they had any Japanese whisky)
Favorite destination: Santorini - exceeded the hype and right up there with New Zealand as most beautiful landscape I've ever seen in person
Last edited by Duke787; Dec 28, 2017 at 3:24 pm
Dec 28, 2017, 3:53 pm
#27
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA Exp, One World Emerald
Posts: 108
Dec 28, 2017, 4:55 pm
#28
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: Free agent!
Posts: 1,427
As I predicted last year, I had a substantial drop off in travel this year. My BIS miles were my lowest since 2011, so here's hoping for a better travel year in 2018.
Miles flown 49945
Flights 43
Longest flight NH LAX - HND, 5475 miles
Shortest flight AS YVR - SEA, 127 miles
New Cities/Towns Egmont (CDN-BC), Langdale (CDN-BC), Madeira Park (CDN-BC), Hakodate (JP), Iriomote (JP), Yokohama (JP), Hialeah (USA-FL), Miramar (USA-FL), Reno (USA-NV), Pittsburgh (USA-PA)
New countries 0
Airports visited 22
New airports visited 5 (HKD, IND, ISG, PIT, RNO)
Airlines flown 9
New airlines flown 1 (HD - AirDo)
New flight experience AA CR9 F, DL 717 F, HD 763 Y
Best flight experience HD 763 Y (Most empty flight in ages, boarded about ten minutes before door closed and the airline itself featured very cute branding)
Best lounge visited The new SkyClub at ATL. Wow.
Enjoyed
- Taking the Amtrak Coast Starlight from Portland to Los Angeles in a Superliner Roomette w/the GF. It's something I've wanted to do for years and years and it was fun to watch the scenery while drinking from the little private bar we set up in our room. The only downside was the dining situation in which we had to sit with other couples. Two of the meals feature especially bizarre conversation and of course, the food was pretty poor in general.
- Checked another Major League Baseball park off my list, PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
- Exploring a tiny bit of the Sunshine Coast, where we rented a lovely home in Madeira Park. The highlight of the trip was swimming at Ruby Lake, which the six year old loved to bits. The views during the ferry rides from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale vv were spectacular.
- Checked another Nippon Professional Baseball park off my list, the Sapporo Dome. Sadly, Shohei Ohtani did not play in the game we went to.
- Consuming so many grilled skewers of meat and kaku highballs in Sapporo, Hakodate and Tokyo.
- Iriomote, while slightly difficult to get to, was completely different than the Japan I have visited many times. It was awe inspiring to see so many stars so clearly at night. In addition, I enjoyed my first snorkelling experience, despite the scar on my right calf that I now have.
- Heading into New York City on two separate nights during a work trip to Long Island. It felt like my first actual New York City visit.
Didn't enjoy
- The approach into RNO both times I flew PDX - RNO featured some of the worst turbulence I have encountered in years. I actually could hear screams from someone a few rows back.
- Aforementioned awkward dining arrangements on Amtrak
- Terrible traffic between Vancouver and Horseshoe Bay, which would've caused us to miss out flight except...
- I guess I should mention the fact that our QX YVR - PDX flight was cancelled, morphing into a YVR - SEA - PDX flight the next day. We got to set our alarms for 3:45am... oh joy.
Miles flown 49945
Flights 43
Longest flight NH LAX - HND, 5475 miles
Shortest flight AS YVR - SEA, 127 miles
New Cities/Towns Egmont (CDN-BC), Langdale (CDN-BC), Madeira Park (CDN-BC), Hakodate (JP), Iriomote (JP), Yokohama (JP), Hialeah (USA-FL), Miramar (USA-FL), Reno (USA-NV), Pittsburgh (USA-PA)
New countries 0
Airports visited 22
New airports visited 5 (HKD, IND, ISG, PIT, RNO)
Airlines flown 9
New airlines flown 1 (HD - AirDo)
New flight experience AA CR9 F, DL 717 F, HD 763 Y
Best flight experience HD 763 Y (Most empty flight in ages, boarded about ten minutes before door closed and the airline itself featured very cute branding)
Best lounge visited The new SkyClub at ATL. Wow.
Enjoyed
- Taking the Amtrak Coast Starlight from Portland to Los Angeles in a Superliner Roomette w/the GF. It's something I've wanted to do for years and years and it was fun to watch the scenery while drinking from the little private bar we set up in our room. The only downside was the dining situation in which we had to sit with other couples. Two of the meals feature especially bizarre conversation and of course, the food was pretty poor in general.
- Checked another Major League Baseball park off my list, PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
- Exploring a tiny bit of the Sunshine Coast, where we rented a lovely home in Madeira Park. The highlight of the trip was swimming at Ruby Lake, which the six year old loved to bits. The views during the ferry rides from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale vv were spectacular.
- Checked another Nippon Professional Baseball park off my list, the Sapporo Dome. Sadly, Shohei Ohtani did not play in the game we went to.
- Consuming so many grilled skewers of meat and kaku highballs in Sapporo, Hakodate and Tokyo.
- Iriomote, while slightly difficult to get to, was completely different than the Japan I have visited many times. It was awe inspiring to see so many stars so clearly at night. In addition, I enjoyed my first snorkelling experience, despite the scar on my right calf that I now have.
- Heading into New York City on two separate nights during a work trip to Long Island. It felt like my first actual New York City visit.
Didn't enjoy
- The approach into RNO both times I flew PDX - RNO featured some of the worst turbulence I have encountered in years. I actually could hear screams from someone a few rows back.
- Aforementioned awkward dining arrangements on Amtrak
- Terrible traffic between Vancouver and Horseshoe Bay, which would've caused us to miss out flight except...
- I guess I should mention the fact that our QX YVR - PDX flight was cancelled, morphing into a YVR - SEA - PDX flight the next day. We got to set our alarms for 3:45am... oh joy.
Last edited by kevincrumbs; Dec 28, 2017 at 4:55 pm Reason: Left off a new city/town
Dec 28, 2017, 9:20 pm
#29
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,130
Miles Flown: 135,333
Airlines Flown: 11
Sectors: 74
New Cities/Towns: Barcelona, Barra, Dubai, Las Vegas, Sanday, Perth, Stronsay, Perth, Sydney, Tampa, Sarasota, Chicago, Stornoway
Revisited Cities/Towns: New York, Boston, Washington, Palma, Edinburgh, Kirkwall, Wick
New Airports: ATL, ORD, BRR, SYY, BCN, DXB, LAS, NDY, PER, SOY, SYD, TPA, SRQ
New Airlines: American Airlines, Loganair (in their own name), Emirates, Norwegian transatlantic
New flight experience: Emirates First Class inc. shower; American Airlines, Delta Airlines domestic
Best flight experience: Boston - Manchester with a superb Virgin crew
Best lounge visited: Virgin Clubhouse
Shortest Flight: LM NDY-SOY
Longest Flight: EK DXB - SYD
Enjoyed:
- The Indian Pacific train from Sydney to Perth. Superb experience.
- Emirates. Overall a great experience even if I detested Dubai and the food in EK First was poor
- Rock hopping on Loganair from Kirkwall to Sanday to Stronsay
- Boston. I have been there 7 times this year. In fact 2017 was the year of USA for me, having visited Chicago, Las Vegas, Tampa, Sarasota, St. Petersburg and New York. It was great fun and is a superb place to visit. Despite everything ;-)
- Chicago. The most under-rated city in the USA is how it was sold to me. And I'd have to agree. Super friendly and a plethora of great places to eat and drink.
- Sydney. So hot. So vibrant. Really loved it.
Didn't Enjoy:
- Amtrak. I did a few trips this year and was disappointed with crew on all of them, including a much anticipated Boston to Chicago trip. Amtrak staff (apart from one) were pretty grumpy, obsessed with the wrong things and didn't make me want to spend any more money with them.
- Perth. After Sydney, I had high hopes for Perth, but I didn't really get to love it. Visited Fremantle which was a lovely little town.
Airlines Flown: 11
Sectors: 74
New Cities/Towns: Barcelona, Barra, Dubai, Las Vegas, Sanday, Perth, Stronsay, Perth, Sydney, Tampa, Sarasota, Chicago, Stornoway
Revisited Cities/Towns: New York, Boston, Washington, Palma, Edinburgh, Kirkwall, Wick
New Airports: ATL, ORD, BRR, SYY, BCN, DXB, LAS, NDY, PER, SOY, SYD, TPA, SRQ
New Airlines: American Airlines, Loganair (in their own name), Emirates, Norwegian transatlantic
New flight experience: Emirates First Class inc. shower; American Airlines, Delta Airlines domestic
Best flight experience: Boston - Manchester with a superb Virgin crew
Best lounge visited: Virgin Clubhouse
Shortest Flight: LM NDY-SOY
Longest Flight: EK DXB - SYD
Enjoyed:
- The Indian Pacific train from Sydney to Perth. Superb experience.
- Emirates. Overall a great experience even if I detested Dubai and the food in EK First was poor
- Rock hopping on Loganair from Kirkwall to Sanday to Stronsay
- Boston. I have been there 7 times this year. In fact 2017 was the year of USA for me, having visited Chicago, Las Vegas, Tampa, Sarasota, St. Petersburg and New York. It was great fun and is a superb place to visit. Despite everything ;-)
- Chicago. The most under-rated city in the USA is how it was sold to me. And I'd have to agree. Super friendly and a plethora of great places to eat and drink.
- Sydney. So hot. So vibrant. Really loved it.
Didn't Enjoy:
- Amtrak. I did a few trips this year and was disappointed with crew on all of them, including a much anticipated Boston to Chicago trip. Amtrak staff (apart from one) were pretty grumpy, obsessed with the wrong things and didn't make me want to spend any more money with them.
- Perth. After Sydney, I had high hopes for Perth, but I didn't really get to love it. Visited Fremantle which was a lovely little town.
Last edited by Sealink; Dec 28, 2017 at 9:41 pm
Dec 29, 2017, 3:50 am
#30
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 32
Total Airports: 26
New Countries: USA, Bahamas, South Africa, Japan, Phillipines
New Airports: JFK, MIA, NAS, JNB, CPT, KIX, MNL, CEB, MPH, BLR, AMD, JAI, BRR, LBA, ABZ, ZRH
New Airline: IndoGO, Cebu Pacific, Hong Kong Express, American Eagle, Loganair, Phillipines AirAsia, Jet Airways
Shortest Flight: GLA-BEB (scheduled)/ EDI-GLA (unscheduled weather diversion!)
Longest Flight: MNL-DOH
Best Flight Experience: EDI-DOH in J - best business class experience - have travelled BA and EK J this year too and QR has it for me!
Worst Flight Experience: BLR-BOM IndiGO flight diverted to AMD as SpiceJet flight got had overshot the runway in heavy rain. Held on board on ground in AMD for 5 hours, let off at 1am to fend for ourselves - turned back up at 5am and got to BOM at midday!
New Countries: USA, Bahamas, South Africa, Japan, Phillipines
New Airports: JFK, MIA, NAS, JNB, CPT, KIX, MNL, CEB, MPH, BLR, AMD, JAI, BRR, LBA, ABZ, ZRH
New Airline: IndoGO, Cebu Pacific, Hong Kong Express, American Eagle, Loganair, Phillipines AirAsia, Jet Airways
Shortest Flight: GLA-BEB (scheduled)/ EDI-GLA (unscheduled weather diversion!)
Longest Flight: MNL-DOH
Best Flight Experience: EDI-DOH in J - best business class experience - have travelled BA and EK J this year too and QR has it for me!
Worst Flight Experience: BLR-BOM IndiGO flight diverted to AMD as SpiceJet flight got had overshot the runway in heavy rain. Held on board on ground in AMD for 5 hours, let off at 1am to fend for ourselves - turned back up at 5am and got to BOM at midday!