2020 year of travel (or not!) in review

[Mattg]

Normally around this time each year, there's a thread on AFF for us to reflect on the travel we've done over the past year. (E.g. 2019 - The year in flight)

Obviously most of us have been travelling a lot less (or not at all) this year, but I thought we could still have a thread to reflect on our travels (or not) in 2020.

Perhaps this year we could do things a little differently by adding a couple of new categories. For example, how about in addition to the usual ones...

• Number of flights
• New airlines flown
• New aircraft types
• New airports visited

We could add a few new categories...

• Where had you planned to go this year, but were unable to?
• How many fewer miles did you fly in 2020 compared to 2019?
• What's one thing you've learnt and/or are thankful for this year?

I realise there's not much for many people to celebrate in terms of travel in 2020, but some of us did at least get to go to some interesting places in Q1 and I've been fortunate to visit a few interesting new places in Australia this year that I wasn't expecting to - I expect many others are in the same boat. I guess I could also be happy that (according to my Flightradar24 stats) my travels have produced 17.7 fewer tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2020 compared to 2019 - a 79% reduction.


I'll start:

• Number of flights in 2020: 25
• New airlines flown: OE, SP, S4, TP, QQ, FP
• New aircraft types: Fokker 70, Jetstream 32
• New airports visited: TLS, OSL, HOR, PDL, OOM, EMD, GLT, KGC, DBO
• Cancelled flight destinations: CPH, DSS, CMN, RUH, KWI, DAD, SIN, MEL, TBU, AKL, ICN, PRG, OTP, BEY, AMM
• Miles flown in 2020 compared to 2019: 88,518 fewer miles (79% reduction)
• Something I've learnt in 2020: Travel is a privilege and we should never take it for granted
• Something I appreciate from this year: No jetlag and I'm sleeping much better

 

[AIRwin]

• Number of flights in 2020: 16 so far and another 7 upcoming subject to no new border restrictions (2019: 62)
• Airlines flown: EK/JQ/QF/VA (2019: CI/CX/JL/JQ/MH/NF/QF/SQ/VA)
• New airlines flown: Nil
• New aircraft types: Nil
• New airports visited: TSV so far and BME upcoming subject to no new border restrictions
• New lounges visited: CBR (QF J) so far and MEL (The Club) upcoming subject to no new border restrictions (2019: GMP/HND)
• Australian capital city airports visited: BNE/CBR/MEL/SYD so far and PER upcoming subject to no new border restrictions (2019: BNE/MEL/PER/SYD)
• Australian regional city airports visited: TSV so far and BME/NTL upcoming subject to no new border restrictions (2019: CNS)
• Cancelled flight destinations: HND (inaugural VA flight) and SIN via CGK
• Miles flown in 2020: 16,102 so far and another 6,239 to go subject to no new border restrictions (2019: 31,618)
• Something I've learnt in 2020: Even domestic travel plans are "subject to no new border restrictions"
• Something I appreciate from this year: Exploring new "domestic" destinations TSV and BME/NTL subject to no new border restrictions

 

[harvyk]

• Number of flights in 2020: 1 (goodbye 747 )
• New airlines flown: None
• New aircraft types: None
• New airports visited: None
• Cancelled flight destinations: LHR / LAX / SAN. There would have likely been more, but those were the two trips booked.
• Miles flown in 2020: 0 (technically around 100, but since we landed at the same airport it doesn't count)
• Something I've learnt in 2020: I miss traveling
• Something I appreciate from this year: My next international flight

 

[RooFlyer]

Very easy; one RTW trip.

Miles flown: 41,443 - lowest for about 20 years.
Number of flights in 2020: 21
Airlines flown: QF, AA, QR, TK, LH, IB, BA
New airlines flown: 0
New aircraft types: 0
New airports visited: HSV, MEX, MLA, BRU, IST (new one)
Cancelled flight destinations: Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand
Miles flown in 2020 compared to 2019: About 21,000 miles fewer (33% reduction)
Something I've learnt in 2020: Keep a good relationship with a travel agent (but this wasn't a new learning)
Something I appreciate from this year: Saved money.
Best experience - my travel agent getting me out of strife!, otherwise the TK lounge at the new IST.

 

[oznflfan]

• Number of flights in 2020: None
• New airlines flown: None
• New aircraft types: None
• New airports visited: None
• Cancelled flight destinations: Ho Chi Min City in April. Berlin, Rome, Athens in October.
• Miles flown in 2020: None
• Something I've learnt in 2020: Looking back how clueless we were about the ability to have a wonderous adventure across the other side of the world. Sort of takes you back to the 1980's where going oversea's was like WOW, you went to****.
• Something I appreciate from this year: Finances better.

 

[drron]

Number of flights - 12
Airlines flown - QF,VA1,JQ.
Airports visited - MCY BNE,SYD,MEL,DPO,LST.
Cancelled flights - don't want to think about them.
Something I've learnt - how lucky I am to be able to work and be needed.
Someone who I appreciate more - mrsdrron.

 

[blackcat20]

Number of flights: 5
New airlines flown: 0
New aircraft types: 0
New airports visited: 1 (BNK)
Cancelled flight destinations: HNL, KOA, BNE, ORD

Where had you planned to go this year, but were unable to? Hawaii; we had a week at the Westin Hapuna Beach booked for our anniversary. We were also due to fly to Chicago this coming Saturday on the new QF service (in J!)
How many fewer miles did you fly in 2020 compared to 2019? 7426km versus 61,170km
What's one thing you've learnt and/or are thankful for this year? I've been grateful for the work/life balance provided by working at home and much less time stuck in traffic.

 

[dajop]

Number of flights: 10 + 1 more to go (lowest since 1997)
Number of miles flown: 32008 + 440 more to go (lowest since 2000)
New airlines flown: None
New aircraft types: None
New airports visited: None
New airport lounge visited: DXB EK J lounge (well I had to find something new, right?)
Cancelled flight destinations - none (a good year for those who always book their travel last minute!)
No of weeks in government mandated isolation following travel: 6 (4 in hotel quarantine, 2 at a home)
Other records: highest proportion of economy flights I've taken with the entire row to myself.

 

[Anna]

Number of flights in 2020: 2 (both in Jan, both int)
New airlines flown: 0
New aircraft types: 0
New airports visited: 0
Cancelled flight destinations: 0 (sheer luck I hadn't made any bookings before it became obvious in late Jan that the world was locking down)

Some things I've learnt how to do in 2020: speak Scottish Gaelic, side planks, cryptic crosswords, survive without travel.

 

[drron]

Silly me I forgot 2 flights - to and from Norfolk Island on NZ.
Still no new airlines airports or aircraft.

 

[AIRwin]

Silly me I forgot 2 flights - to and from Norfolk Island on NZ.
Still no new airlines airports or aircraft.

It's never too late... to edit your original post!

 

[Matt_01]

Number of flights in 2020: 27 (2019: 144)
New airlines flown: None unless VA2 counts .
New aircraft types: None.
New airports visited: None.
Cancelled flight destinations: SIN, HND, LHR, BOS, JFK, HND, SIN, KUL, SIN, FRA, JFK, PWM, YHZ, YYG, YYZ, YUL, YVR, SEA, LAX, SIN, HKG. I was going to some places more than once, 2020 was going to be a points reduction year.
Miles flown in 2020 compared to 2019: 13348 (2020), 149485 (2019) so 135837 fewer miles or a 91% reduction.
Something I've learnt in 2020: I do not miss airports.
Something I appreciate from this year: Not having to fly on a weekly basis and living out of a suitcase.

 

[kamchatsky]

For me, my travel timing for this year was perfect. I did ALL my flights in January this year:

• Number of flights: 6 (2019: 8)
• Existing airlines flown: SQ J, VA J and Y, QF J
• New airlines flown: 16189 miles
• New airlines flown: 0
• New aircraft types: 787 (SQ Short Haul Version in J)
• New airports visited: 0
• Existing airports visited: CAN (Guangzhou), HKG, SIN, ADL, SYD
• New airport lounge visited: CAN Terminal 2 Plaza Premium Lounge (new, modern. But the food/beverage range could improve pre-covid).
• Cancelled flight destinations: 0 (I did ALL my planned flights in January this year!)
• Something I've learnt in 2020: It is OK not to travel for a while. Just appreciate Australia's beauty.
• Something I appreciate from this year:
  • I finally travelled VA International J (SYD-HKG) for the first time, and for the last time. It was a fantastic experience, from The Business seats, the warm service, and the food. I will surely miss it for a long time.
  • I also finally travelled QF International J (HKG-SYD) for the first time. Not as good as VA J, and finally understood those AFF comments on Neil Perry inspired mesclun salad.
  • Never take travel for granted.

 

[kpc]

• Number of flights in 2020: 0
• New airlines flown: 0
• New aircraft types: 0
• New airports visited: 0
• Cancelled flight destinations: Sin, Cph, Kef, Jnb, Cpt, Add, Kgl, Jro, Znz, Dar, Bne, Cbr
• Miles flown in 2020 compared to 2019: 83,312 fewer miles (100% reduction)
• Something I've learnt in 2020: "Travel is a privilege and we should never take it for granted" Ditto 100%
• Something I appreciate from this year: Had time (and money) for a major home renovation turning a single storey 2.5 bedroom, 1 bathroom house into a 2 level, 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom house! With the non refundable safari deposit refunded via a travel insurance claim, I bought an 85' Samsung TV which was delivered today (and had plenty of $$ to spare) but honestly, I feel like a bird in a locked cage with clipped wings!!!

 

[sjk]

Best flight: YVR-NRT, AC J (January)
Number of flights: 180+
Most used airports: KIX, HND, ICN, GMP, PUS, CJJ
Number of negative SARS-CoV-2 tests: 60+
Number of positive SARS-CoV-2 tests: 3
Number of SARS-CoV-2 infections: 1
Number of grandfathers who died of COVID-19: 2
Number of days spent in isolation: ~34

 

[Muppet501st]

Ive been pretty fortunate this year. Had our annual RTW in Feb BNE-SYD-HKG-LHR-DUB-BFS-EDI-LHR-LAX-MSP-LGA-CVG-MSP-LAX-BNE
And all my work travel is solely within Qld, so havent really been disrupted at all.
Did love the socially distancing on flights when all middle seats where blocked.

But this year has also seen me stay more than half the year in hotel rooms, currently around 172 nights, which i moved up to ALL Diamond.
Also moved travel over to QF, and now hold SG.
Hold VA WP, and have VA WP to gift by April.

Number of flights: 60, ( usually average around 80 ) and 3 more next week, last one for the year on Christmas eve.
New Airlines flow: BA and Easyjet
No new aircraft type;
New airports visited; DUB, EDI, BFS
New countries, Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland

141kms
6 countries


1 cancelled USA trip in August-

Was onboard the very morning, SYD-HKG VA, when it was announced theyre cancelling that route. Crew were pretty upset. I counted around 30 pax in Y, and i only saw 1 pax exit J in HKG. Very sad, and i;ll miss the VA/VS RTW tie up.

 

[Tiki]

• Number of flights in 2020: BNE-DXB-SAW-DOH-PER-BNE
• New airlines flown: None
• New aircraft types: None
• New airports visited: None
• Cancelled flight destinations: Turkey - Black Sea, Indonesia-Sulawesi, Halmahera, Bali, Singapore. They weren't booked, just meticulously planned and ready to go.
• Something I've learnt in 2020: I learned to speak Turkish from an online Zoom class and cook Turkish food from YouTube videos.
• Something I appreciate from this year: Very glad that I have burnt through the bulk of my miles and points in previous years to amazing places. I now have miles/points on hand to cover trips in 2021 and 2022 if we FINALLY open up. And all this from 90% Woolies and Coles, 10% other sources - BP, credit card spend. So airline tickets are basically free from everyday spending.

 

[Meggsy]

• Number of flights: 12 (2019: 68)
• Existing airlines flown: QF, VA
• New airlines flown: 0
• New aircraft types: 0
• New airports visited: 1, Kalgoorlie
• Existing airports visited: OOL, SYD, CBR, MEL, PER
• New airport lounge visited: PER, QF J lounge
• Cancelled flight destinations: Many (sigh) BNE-SIN-FRA-CPH-AMS-MUC-FRA-SIN-BNE. OOL-ZQN-OOL
• Something I've learnt in 2020: Take nothing for granted, remain flexible
• Something I appreciate from this year: Family and friends

 

[OZDUCK]

• Number of flights in 2020: 0
• New airlines flown: 0
• New aircraft types: 0
• New airports visited: 0
• Cancelled flight destinations: Sin, Hel ,Fra, Per
• Rail Trips cancelled Frankfurt - Berlin, Berlin - Prague, Prague - Wernigerode, Wernigerode - Munster, Munster - Dusseldorf
• The family reunion we were planning to attend in Berlin in August has been postponed to August 202. We have now been told that it is likely to be postponed again until 2022.
• My wife, whose family reunion was cancelled, is far twitchier than I am about not travelling.

 

[jastel]

All Donuts here....

First time since I was 18 I havent crossed a border (state or country) either by car or plane...

I still did 6000kms of road trips in the same state but.