2024 was maybe my largest yr but, particularly from a private perspective.
On the journey entrance, I logged upward of 100,000 miles on 59 flight segments, making it one more busy yr for me on the highway. A few of the highlights embody a ski journey to Europe within the winter, a elegant escape to Greece through the summer season and an early-fall go to to Italy’s Puglia area.
Given my job as a journey blogger and creator, a few of my followers have been stunned to see that I ended touring for almost three months on the finish of the yr. That actually wasn’t as a result of I used to be “over” journey.
In reality, once I shared the information that my daughter was born in late October, everybody rapidly understood. I would been ready to share the excellent news with my group, and so 2024 undoubtedly closed with a bang — even when I did not journey as a lot as I’ve previously 5 years.
Now that we’re a household of three, I am beginning to develop some new views about journey. Under, I am going to share a few of these views — together with my plans for elite standing this yr — and my journey stats from 2024.
2024 journey stats
Whole miles flown: 100,093 (2023: 191,271; 2022: 185,780; 2021: 152,033; 2020: 133,796; 2019: 205,985)
Longest flight: Dubai to New York Metropolis (6,832 miles)
Shortest flight: Philadelphia to New York Metropolis (80 miles)
Distinctive airways: 14
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Distinctive airports: 34
Elite statuses earned: Six (Amtrak Visitor Rewards Choose Plus, American Airways AAdvantage Govt Platinum, United Airways Premier 1K, Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite, World of Hyatt Globalist)
2025 journey plans
Ever since my daughter was born, I have been fascinated with journey in another way; I’ve been breaking down my journeys into two classes — household journeys and work journeys.
Going into 2025, I am actually making an attempt to lean into the previous. Though my daughter remains to be younger, I need to instill in her a love of journey and exploration in order that she will be able to admire the nice world we inhabit.
I am going to give it just a few extra months till she will be able to start to know what’s taking place round her, however I am already planning to take her on journeys to see household in Israel and to main cities with numerous kid-friendly points of interest, like London.
And since I need to be round the home along with her, I am additionally fascinated with work journey in another way. Previously, when an occasion popped up in some far-flung place, I would usually make an enormous journey out of it.
However now that I am prioritizing being residence, I am planning on nonetheless saying sure to occasions, grand openings, inaugural flights and such however minimizing the period of time I have to be on the highway.
As an example, late final yr, I went to San Diego and Boston for the opening of the Chase Sapphire Lounge and Delta One Lounge, respectively. What would possibly’ve been a one- or two-night journey will now be a same-day turnaround. (And do not fret; I like airplanes sufficient to spend numerous time inside these steel tubes.)
All of that is to say that you will nonetheless see me hitting the highway in 2025 and posting about it, however I’d simply be residence earlier than you even understand it.
2025 elite standing plans
This yr, I dropped one elite standing that I had earned for a few years in a row: JetBlue Mosaic.
I solely took three flights with JetBlue final yr and located that the entry-level Mosaic standing did not actually enhance my expertise a lot. Ever since JetBlue stopped letting Mosaics redeem factors for Even Extra Area seats at profitable charges, I have never discovered a lot profit to the bottom Mosaic tier.
That stated, I simply took my first JetBlue flight with out Mosaic standing and located it irritating to attend on maintain for a help agent for over an hour (the Mosaic line at all times picked up inside a couple of minutes). So maybe I am going to find yourself chasing the standing if my JetBlue travels improve this yr.
Two of my different longtime elite statuses are American AAdvantage Govt Platinum and United Premier 1K.
I am at the moment primarily based in Philadelphia, however I can be transferring again to New York Metropolis in the midst of the yr. So, it is smart to proceed splitting my main airline between American and United.
I’ll say, although, that I have never discovered my Govt Platinum standing almost as profitable as it has been previously, largely due to the improve state of affairs.
Ever since American began permitting vacationers to spend their technique to standing, I’ve seen what seems like many extra top-tier elite members on my flights. That results in much more competitors for the dwindling variety of last-minute, first-class seats out there for an improve. Final yr, I paid for a lot of of my home upgrades with money (or miles), and I am going to most likely proceed to do this within the coming yr.
The opposite factor that is been irritating about my loyalty to American is the shortage of confirmable improve house on long-haul flights. One of many perks of Govt Platinum standing that I worth most is the power to choose systemwide upgrades for long-haul flights.
I accrued six of them final yr and have solely managed to efficiently redeem one.
That stated, I plan to resume my Govt Platinum standing this yr after which reassess subsequent yr if it is smart to proceed doing so.
Talking of upgrades, I discovered extra worth from United Premier 1K final yr than I’ve in latest reminiscence. I had wonderful luck getting my PlusPoints upgrades to clear, and if that streak continues, I will be a cheerful camper subsequent yr. (Professional tip: E book long-haul flights throughout shoulder season.)
The very best information about United is that I do not even must requalify for standing this yr. That is as a result of the Chicago-based service unofficially presents new dad and mom the power to increase their standing for one yr; if I do not journey sufficient with United this yr to hit 1K, I am going to undoubtedly be calling the MileagePlus service heart towards the top of the yr to money in on this supply.
Once I transfer again to New York, I’d think about including Delta Air Traces into the combo as soon as once more, however I usually discover the Atlanta-based service’s fares to be larger than the competitors. Plus, the lackluster SkyMiles redemption charges do not make it so rewarding to fly with Delta.
Whereas I most likely will not journey as a lot in 2025, I plan to make use of my cobranded bank cards to assist me shut the hole to renewing standing. All of my prime airways assist you to spend your technique to standing, so I am going to ensure that to pay my tax payments and huge purchases with my bank cards through the yr.
Bank cards are additionally the important thing to unlocking resort standing. As it’s for a lot of of my TPG colleagues, the World of Hyatt loyalty program is by far my favourite. As a top-tier Globalist member, I persistently take pleasure in nice remedy, frequent upgrades and precious perks throughout my stays.
As such, I will do no matter it takes, together with spending on the World of Hyatt Credit score Card, to shut the hole to incomes Globalist standing once more subsequent yr.
Since there aren’t at all times Hyatt properties within the locations I go to, I additionally preserve standing with Hilton and Marriott for these non-Hyatt stays.
Sustaining standing with these two packages is as straightforward as holding the best bank card. I do not plan to cancel my Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card or my Marriott Bonvoy Sensible® American Specific® Card this yr, so I am going to preserve Diamond and Platinum Elite standing, respectively.
The data for the Hilton Amex Aspire card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
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