As a seasoned frequent flyer with 1565 flights under my belt, I’ve flown with almost every major airline across the globe. Of thesem I have flown with every member of the OneWorld alliance, and with 20 of Star Alliance’s 26 members and 10 of the 19 Sky Team members. I have set my sights on completing the Star Alliance roster and added Star Alliance members Austrian, Aegean and Croatian to my collection this year. My recent Star Alliance addition was six journeys with Colombia’s flagship carrier, Avianca. The Verdict: Bankruptcy and Back Established in 1919,…
Bogotá: Bold, Beautiful and Boggling Contrasts
Founded in 1538 by Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, Bogotá has evolved from a small colonial town into the political, cultural, and economic heart of Colombia. Spanning 1,775 square kilometers (686 square miles), it’s similar in size to Houston and slightly larger than Delhi and São Paulo. The city’s population is estimated to be between 8 and 11 million, which is comparable to New York and Bangkok. Bogotá is divided into 20 localities, each with its own character, featuring a blend of modern skyscrapers, low-rise buildings, and historic edifices. I barely scratched the surface…
Flat Earth Challenge on the remotest flight: Qantas Business Class Non Stop from Sydney to Santiago
Several months ago, I secured a Qantas frequent flier seat up front in business class on @qantas Sydney to Santiago Qantas service. The flight uses a Boeing 787 Dreamliner for the 12-14 hour journey. I redeemed 108,000 Qantas points and paid $300 in taxes for a business flight worth between $2500 and $2800! Before I even set foot on Qantas Flight 27, I googled for flight reports and was stunned to come across a whole cross-section of humanity that didn’t believe this flight exists. Some even went so far as to claim that Qantas was…
Santiago: The Heart of Chile
I rank every city I visit based on various factors, including aesthetics, culture, and transport. Santiago, the capital of Chile in South America is the 242nd city of over 100,000 people I have visited. Chile is my 85th country, so I’m pretty confident in my ratings! Location and Orientation Santiago is the capital and largest city of Chile, nestled in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped Andes to the east and the Chilean Coastal Range to the west. The city sits at approximately 600 meters (1,968 feet) above sea level, providing a stunning backdrop of…
Goodbye Rex, the latest Fall of a Notable Australian Airlines- here’s the Aussie failure list!
Regional Express Airlines (REX) is now insolvent and has entered voluntary administration after a disastrous attempt to compete with Qantas and Virgin Australia. If you are a ticket holder on their intercity routes, you are best advised to contact Virgin Australia (13 6789), who are accommodating REX passengers. It is possible that Virgin might end up taking over REX completely, absorbing their regional flights, or entering into a close partnership. It is rare for an airline to succeed anywhere in the world, and especially so in Australia. It is sobering to think that almost every…
BA’s Safety video -dramatic and funny, but does it work?
British Airways new safety film starts with a man on horseback, reminiscent of a Bridgerton character, exclaiming, “I see smoke on the horizon,” only for a member of the BA cabin crew to hastily interrupt because of the airline’s no-smoking policy. Another scene features a Mr Darcy-esque figure emerging from a lake and being gushed over by local women. He dons the life jacket under their admiring gaze. But there is a twist at the end… The evolution of in-flight safety videos has seen a shift from straightforward productions to humorous takes, dramatic videos, highly…
Navigating Travel Risks in a Complex World
Introduction: The Importance of Safety in Travel Travel brings unexpected challenges, from lost baggage to plane delays to car accidents to heart attacks. I have travelled or lived in 80 countries now, including four war zones, and I do all I can to protect myself, my property, and my data.” including travel and life in four war zones, and I do all I can to protect myself, my property, and my data. It always amazes me how naive many travellers are with these things, causing stress, danger and expense. Poor preparation and safety awareness are…
Ten Busiest International Air Routes out of Europe in 2024
In 2024, around 23 million people will fly on the top ten busiest international air routes out of Europe. These passenger numbers reflect the rebound in strong demand for travel to major destinations around the world from key European cities. As an avid traveller, I was very curious to see how many of these routes I’ve experienced on my journeys. 1. London Heathrow (LHR) to New York JFK (JFK) 2. Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to New York JFK (JFK) 3. Frankfurt (FRA) to Dubai (DXB) 4. London Heathrow (LHR) to Dubai (DXB) 5. Amsterdam…
Epic Asia Adventure: Four Countries, 16,000 Miles in June
June was a month with a lower number of flights compared to other months! Just eight flights across Australia and Asia for a total of 26,000km (16,000 miles). I spent time in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia; Tokyo in Japan; and Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Here’s my month… Flights City Highlights Airline Experiences Five airlines took me around this month-fewer than the ten I flew with last month (May 2024) Chasing the neworld Dream: Two of my goals for 2024 are to Where did you find yourself in June, 2024? Related Posts
May Travels: A Whirlwind Adventure-crazy month
May was a crazy month, packed with adventures, new experiences, and 29 flights through 16 airports with visits to 11 cities! Almost every city had its unique charm, and every flight offered a different story. I went from the furthest northern point of Spokane, Washington, USA (approximately 47.6588° N) to the southern city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (approximately 42.8821° S) via Portugal, Philippines, and Japan! I ran in my sixth Bloomsday Race in Spokane, visited friends in vibrant Seattle and bustling Dallas, got to know the charming city of Des Moines, explored the hidden gems…
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