We closed out another year Last night. As with years past, I like to review my travel stats and share my Travel Year In Review. I spent my New Years Eve in Chicago, with friends who host a black tie New Years in their home. Last year I was in Denver so started off the year with miles already accruing, this year, not so much.
I mentioned this last year that the difference between coach and first class is getting more and more narrow and I continued to see that in 2018. Sometimes, first is even less than economy, depending on the route and how close to departure you are booking. Since booking in First Class gets you double qualifying miles, I was able to keep my Premier Platinum status with United. Here’s how my year ended up – with the previous four years included as a comparison.
By the Numbers: (2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013)
Total Miles Flown: 83,138 | 81,978 | 68,278 | 72,293 | 53,322 | 73,825
Total Segments Flown: 44 | 55 | 45 | 41 | 37 | 44
Cabin Segment Breakdown (F/B/C): 20/8/16 | 21/3/31 | 8/5/32 | 2/5/34 | 0/5/32 | 7/4/33
Airlines Flown (new airlines bolded): 5 (United, Austrian, Brussels, Air Canada, EVA, Singapore) 8 | 5 | 4 | 7
Hotel Nights: 73 | 84 | 69 | 67 | 56 | 71
Hotel Stays: 33 | 35 | 35 | 47 | 32 | 31
Airline Miles Redeemed: 367,500 | 85,000 | 0 | 155,000 | 37,500 | 105,000
Hotel Points Redeemed: 90,000 | 12,000 | 106,000 | 283,500 | 134,000 | 13,400
Countries Visited (new Countries bolded): 3 + 2 (Austria, Belgium, Canada, Singapore, Argentina) 3+3 | 3+2 | 6+1 | 8+1
Longest Single Segment: ORD-TPE @ 7,457 | ORD-TPE @ 7,457 | ORD-CDG @ 4,153 | ORD-HKG @ 7,787 | MUC-ORD @ 4,535 | ORD-PVG @ 7,056
Shortest Single Segment: MDZ-COR @ 288 | GIG-GRU @ 210 | CUZ-AQP @ 195 | CVG-ORD @ 264| YUL-YQB @ 145
Northernmost Airport: BRU (Brussels) | CDG (Paris) | CDG (Paris) | LHR (Heathrow) | ARN (Stockholm) | LHR (Heathrow)
Southernmost Airport: EZE (Buenos Aires) | BKK (Bangkok) | LPB (La Paz) | HKG (Hong Kong) | MCO (Orlando) | SGN (Ho Chi Minh City)
The most frequent non-home airport: PDX (Portland) | DEN (Denver) | Tie between EWR & LAX (Newark and Los Angeles) | BNA (Nashville) | YYZ (Toronto) | BNA (Nashville)
I flew enough miles to:
Circumnavigate the world: 3.3 | 3.2 | 2.3 times | 2.9 times | 2.0 times
Make it a third | a third | a quarter | a third | a fifth of the way to the moon
In Summary
How did your 2018 Year in Travel turn out? Did you keep your status – upgrade your status? Were you able to check off one – or more – of your travel bucket list items this year? What is in store for 2019? Do you plan on taking that one big trip you’ve been talking about, or are going to take many smaller trips to visit friends and family? If you want my advice, it doesn’t matter where you go, just go. Enjoy the journey. Experience the destination. Share a drink, a meal and a laugh.
That’s a healthy year of travel! Nicely done. Here’s to a great 2019!
I enjoy looking back at stats like this. It helps me put things in perspective. Flight after flight start to blur together sometimes. Hope you have an amazing 2019, both in travel and everything else!
Not bad at all! Have safe an fun travels in 2019.
Thank you! Hope your travels in 2019 are full up upgrades and smooth skies.