One hundred and one flights in 2025, bringing me to 1782 lifetime flights. Flew to or from twenty-seven countries. Five continents. From the midnight sun grazing Helsinki’s summer sky to the crisp air of Hobart’s harbour, 2025 took me 213,054 kilometres (132,386 miles) around our planet. Roughly five times over. My lifetime total? 102 full circumnavigations of the earth.
The only continent I missed in 2025? Antarctica. Next time, penguins. Next time!
This year earned a 93% of flights I was happy with. This is my highest score since 2001. Not because I’ve gone soft on my standards, but because I chose the right airlines! Of those 101 flights, 71 were excellent and 23 were good. Only one flight was merely average and just six were genuinely bad.
I flew 31 different airlines this year, bringing my lifetime total to 136 carriers. And I’ve now touched down at 306 airports across my flying life. Bangkok and Melbourne tied as my most-used airports with 19 visits. While Singapore came in third with 12. The extremes were wild: my longest flight was 18 hours and 8 minutes, and my shortest hop was? A breezy 40-minute Canberra to Sydney run in Australia, covering just 238 km.
The numbers are absurd. But they’re also proof that this obsession isn’t slowing down! Let me share the good and the bad of 2025. Buckle up.
World’s Longest Flight: 18 Hours of Existential Contemplation
Eighteen hours spent stuck in an Airbus A350, cruising from New York to Singapore on what is officially the world’s longest commercial flight! The flight can stretch to 19 hours depending on the winds. Ugh! Singapore Airlines did do all they could to make this journey feel almost civilised! I slept, ate well, worked, devoured a novel, watched a movie and played games. But to be honest, by hour seventeen, even Premium Economy started feeling like a very comfortable prison.
There’s no First Class or regular Economy on this flight. Singapore offers only Premium Economy and Business Class. Clearly, because anyone willing to endure this needs some level of cushioning!
Despite the excellent service, when those wheels finally touched down in Singapore, I practically sprinted off that plane. Would Business Class have made it better? Probably. Would I do it again? Ask me in at the end of next year when the memory has faded.
African Delights: South Africa’s Aviation Renaissance
African Delights: FlySafair. Airlink. Lift. SAA.
Four carriers I’d never flown before 2025. Four carriers cover South Africa. Four surprisingly excellent experiences. The real shock? South African Airways. Most people have written them off entirely, and honestly, who could blame them? The airline was plagued by corruption and catastrophic mismanagement, teetering on the edge of total collapse. But something’s changed. They’re clawing their way back up.
When I spoke with the crew, they told me something that genuinely horrified me: during the worst of it, staff were being paid for only one international trip per month. The domestic legs? They were flying for free. As in, literally not getting paid. Can you imagine showing up to work, doing your job professionally, and getting zero compensation? The fact that they kept the airline running at all is remarkable.
The good news? They’re now being paid for all flights. The service reflected it – professional, warm, genuinely trying. SAA isn’t back to its glory days yet, but the trajectory is undeniably upward.
As for FlySafair, Airlink, and Lift? Solid operations across the board. South Africa’s domestic aviation scene is far better than its reputation suggests. Consider me pleasantly surprised.
The A380 First Class Dream: Johannesburg to Sydney
The best flight was my Qantas First Class ride on their A380 from Johannesburg to Sydney. And here’s the kicker. I got upgraded! That was a very happily received email!. Sometimes the aviation gods smile. Fourteen hours in the air and I didn’t want it to end. That’s when you know you’ve experienced something special. Qantas has been in my “excellent” tier for years, but this flight cemented why they deserve to be there.
The suite (because it’s not just a seat), at 22 inches wide and with 79 inches of pitch, was a private pod of luxury at 35,000 feet. There are only 14 of these suites on the entire aircraft, arranged in a 1-1-1 configuration. The seat rotates! The table is huge!
The fully flat 78-inch bed, with two pillows, proper bedding and a very comfortable mattress, gave me the best sleep I have ever had on a plane! (and I love the First Class Pyjamas).
Meanwhile, back in Economy, 341 passengers are crammed into 18-inch-wide seats with 31 inches of pitch. This is less than half the width and a quarter of the space!
But it was the service that really elevated it. The crew made me feel so welcome, looked after my needs and managed to be attentive without hovering. That perfect balance that only comes from years of training and actually caring about the job.
The dinner was fabulous. I had melt-in-your-mouth wontons and delicious fish. The chocolate dessert should have been incredible. It wasn’t. Breakfast pancakes were a welcome pre-landing delight. The other downside was that the “bar” Qantas has on board has no real draw card, and I was the only person there when I visited. After a few minutes contemplating my choices, I snuck back to my seat.
On a Brighter Note: Flying the Future with China’s C919
After all that negativity, let me tell you about something genuinely exciting: I flew on China’s home-produced C919 jet for the first time. I flew China Eastern Airlines from Hong Kong to Shanghai.
For those who don’t obsess over aircraft types like I do, the C919 is China’s homegrown narrow-body jet. It is their answer to the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. This is a big deal in aviation. A whole new aircraft manufacturer is entering the commercial market.
And honestly? I absolutely loved it. The seat was great. It was roomy, comfortable, exactly what you want for a regional flight. The cabin felt modern and fresh. The plane itself was impressively quiet. Smooth. You could tell this was designed with current technology, not iterations on 1960s airframes. China Eastern clearly takes pride in operating these planes. The service reflected it. This wasn’t just another flight; this was showcasing their new flagship aircraft. Would I seek out the C919 again? Absolutely. Sometimes aviation gives you something genuinely new to experience, and this was one of those moments.
African Disappointments
After my great experiences with the airlines in South Africa, I was ready to try the much-vaunted Ethiopian Airlines. I came in with high expectations as this is supposed to be one of Africa’s premium carriers. The reality? Chaos from the moment I checked in.
Boarding was weird. They began early, and then we sat on the plane at the gate for ages. Once onboard in Business Class, which should have been a sanctuary, I wasn’t greeted or welcomed – just vaguely directed down the aisle like cargo. Then the seat mix-up. Someone was in my assigned seat, surprised to see me. The crew had no interest in sorting it out, so I moved rather than fight for my chosen seat.
No welcome drink appeared. Some passengers got one, others didn’t. After a while, one passenger went to the galley to point out the inconsistency. A bottle of water and amenity kit finally materialized. The catering was aggressively mediocre for a class that’s supposed to justify the premium.
Business Class shouldn’t disappoint. That’s the whole point of paying for it. So genuinely, I’m asking: who is a fan of Ethiopian Airlines? What am I missing? Because my first flight left me baffled by their reputation.
Air Botswana
Oh, and I tried to fly Air Botswana. They have a strong reputation for unreliability, but I was game to try a new airline. Predictably? They cancelled. At least they lived up to expectations. I can recommend the people, nature and wildlife of Botswana, however.
My Most chaotic Flight of 2025 was a typical Vueling ride
Our plane was two hours late coming in. No biggie. We got to “enjoy” the delights of Dubrovnik Airport. Would have been nice to have known the plane was going to be so delayed before we got there. We relied on third-party apps like Kayak and TripIt to figure out what was happening. No email and no announcement at the airport,.
As the delayed plane finally arrived, we departing passengers dutifully lined up in two lines: the priority line and normal line. All sorted and civilized at the gate. Then boarding was called for our flight, and we were told “No separate priority boarding.”
Where were priority passengers (who had paid for this option) supposed to go? Some shuffled awkwardly to squeeze into the regular line. Some marched to the top of the regular line and pushed in. Others stood confused, clutching their priority boarding passes like worthless pieces of paper. Some just gave up and went to the back. One agent was assigned to handle a full plane of increasingly angry, delayed passengers. One. Single. Agent.
Vueling is always blatantly inconsistent with luggage inconsistency. They claim a strict baggage policy, so we had paid for our extra cabin bags. But at the gate? Near us, a family of three had 12 bags between them – two were clearly very heavy. They filled the luggage compartment with multiple bags and were being interrogated about what they had and hadn’t paid for.
Of course a bus ride to the plane despite no other plane sitting at a single one of DBV’s gates! No explanation of how it worked so of course passengers who could have boarded at the back took the front stairs and vice versa. Chaos again- in the middle of the plane. The staff onboard were very warm, which was the only redeeming quality of the entire experience. The poor things had to deal with some very grumpy passengers. There is 15 minutes of free Wifi.
The 1 hour and 55 minute flight across 1,346 km from Croatia to Spain should have been simple. Vueling made it feel like an ordeal.
Here’s the thing: I’ve flown Vueling multiple times since 2007. I know what they are. I expect them to be consistently bad, and they never disappoint in their ability to disappoint. They have a consistent low rating from me and firmly remain in my “hate” category. When you consistently deliver subpar service, you earn your reputation.
Why do I fly them? Direct service. I feared connection delays. Next time I’ll go via Frankfurt with Lufthansa. I can recommend Dubrovnik though.
Batik tries to outdo Vueling
Just 667 kilometres. One hour and sixteen minutes in the air. How hard could it be? Executive Traveller nailed it when they described Batik Air as a carrier “with a reputation for nickel-and-diming passengers, inconsistent service, and operational unreliability.” You get what you pay for: cheap tickets, frustrating experiences. So my flight was delayed, of course. Boarding was a chaotic mess with a scrum of passengers trying to figure out what’s happening, while staff seemed equally confused about their own procedures. Would I choose them again? Only if literally every other option was fully booked.
My New Obsession: Chasing Airport Pools- Please help!
After that marathon Singapore flight, I discovered something that changed my layover game forever: the Singapore Airport pool and gym. You’ve been in the air for hours, your body feels like it’s forgotten how to move, and then suddenly you’re doing laps in a rooftop pool overlooking the tarmac. It’s glorious. Life-changing. Now I’m addicted. I am now on a mission to hunt down every airport pool on the planet.
So far, I’ve found that Doha’s Hamad International has a pool in its airside hotel. You can swim without going through customs. Other airports have pools at attached hotels landside, including Bangkok (Summit), Detroit (Westin), DFW (Grand Hyatt), Melbourne (Parkroyal), Munich (Hilton), JFK (TWA Hotel), and Orlando (Hyatt).
So here’s my question to fellow aviation obsessives: Where else can I find airside airport pools? I’m building a list. Please help me out!
My 2025 Airline League Table
After 1782 flights, I have a pretty clear hierarchy is crystal clear. Some airlines have earned my loyalty for life. Others? I’d rather swim.
Top Tier: The Untouchables: Qatar Airways has been my number one for 12 years running, and All Nippon Airways has held the co-crown for five. These aren’t just airlines. They’re truly benchmarks for what flying should be. Consistently excellent, year after year.
Excellent: Go Out of Your Way Territory: Emirates, Cathay Pacific, and Air New Zealand. Reliably smooth operations, strong hard product, and crews who genuinely act like they want you there. I will actively route through their hubs to fly them. That’s the test of excellence.
Very Good: The Solid Performers: EVA Air, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas, SWISS, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways. Professional, capable, rarely disappointing. You know precisely what you’re getting, and what you’re getting is good.
Good: Alaska, Hong Kong Airlines, Scoot, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Australia. The biggest surprises? Philippine Airlines and Sri Lankan both deliver solid service despite operating from absolutely terrible home airports. Proof that an airline can rise above its circumstances.
Who I Hate: The Doghouse Air Panama (basically a bus with wings and barely any service), Ryanair (no explanation needed), and Vueling (see my worst flight story above). Life’s too short for these carriers.
Barely Bearable: Only if Forced American, Air Asia (promoted from the hate list recently – progress?), Avianca, Copa, SAS Scandinavian, and United. I’ll use them if schedule or fare absolutely forces my hand. Otherwise? Hard pass.
Next year: The addiction continues
I’ve already got 16 flights locked in across 13 countries, including two nations I’ve never set foot in. Four of those flights are with ANA one of my top-tier carriers.
I’m also eyeing some fascinating new routes that are launching this year. The aviation world never stops evolving, and neither do I. New aircraft, new airlines, new airport pools to discover (seriously, send me your recommendations). The question is: will 2026 top that 92% average rating? Can I push past 102 times around the Earth? Will I finally make it to Antarctica?
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PAlliance Breakdown
Of my 101 flights in 2025:
- Oneworld: 32 flights with 5 One World member airlines
- Star Alliance: 26 flights with 10 airlines
- Skyteam: 5 flights with 3 airlines\
- No Alliance: 38 flights with 15 airline
Now it’s your turn:
What are your travel plans for 2026? Drop a comment below – I want to hear where you’re headed, what airlines you’re flying, and whether you’ve found any airport pools I’m missing.
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