Your 2024 year of travel in review

[Drakecula]

Clearly I need to take more notes of trips... I only flew economy this year. Lots of work trips, so no doubt I ended up in Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide at least once this year.
CBR-SYD-LAX-LAS and back again in June - that was our biggest trip I think!
Then SYD-HND, NRT-NAN, NAN-CBR just recently.

Best flight would have been SYD-HND. We flew Japan Airlines and the seats were comfy, food was good, entertainment was entertaining, no complaints.
Worst flight... I don't think any were terrible, but I do recall feeling a bit nervous for a BNE-CBR flight. A storm was coming, and the pilot essentially told us we're going to beat the storm, so hurry up and buckle in. We took off into the oncoming clouds and I remember looking over at my colleague and asking if they had ever been in a plane when it got struck by lightning before. Pretty sure we came through unzapped, but it was a bumpy ride for a good while there!

 

[AIRwin]

New airports visited: XMN

Same for me!

Thread 'Another taste of Xiamen summer'

Aug 6, 2024

Now that China is visa free, I thought of taking this opportunity for a side trip while I was travelling to Singapore/Thailand/Malaysia. I've already been to the major cities of Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Shenzhen, and narrowed my choice of destination down to Chengdu, Chongqing and Xiamen. I heard that summer in Sichuan is unbearable so decided on Xiamen in the end. I came across a brief trip report by @NSun as part of my planning:

A taste of Xiamen summer & Qantas First and several bites of the Pier - 2018

In light of the travel restrictions right now I've been looking back on some of the trips I've taken in years gone by. For my first AFF trip report here is one of the more intriguing I took - to Hong Kong and Xiamen in July 2018. I fell in love with Hong Kong visiting in July 2016 and this was...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

...

• AIRwin
• Replies: 62
• Forum: Trip Reports

• 

Total flights: 33 so far + another 2 to go before year end (38 in 2023, 36 in 2022, 27 in 2021, 22 in 2020 and 62 in 2019)
Countries: Australia, China (including Hong Kong), Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates + Vietnam after Christmas
Airlines: CX, EK, JQ, QF, SQ, TR, VA + AK on New Year's Eve
First Class lounges: CX, EK, QF, SQ

 

[andye]

A pretty subdued 2024 in the air for me but still achieved OWS (via IB) and Points Club Plus
Flights: 8 (5J 3Y)
Miles: 23522
New airports: HND BSL ZRH
A much more active 2025 planned

 

[jswong]

• Number of flights: 80 (20 Y, 6 PE, 49 J, 5 F)
• Countries visited: 17
• New airports visited: LIS, GUM, MAJ, KWA, TKK, KSA, PNI, MLA, TOS, MLA, HAN, DAD
• New airlines flown: Vietnam Airlines, KM Malta
• Miles 137K, KM 221K. Dont think I will ever beat my peak of 200K miles in 2010
• Not sure what my best flight was but perhaps most scenic was the island hopper

 

[luxury-lizard]

I'm very impressed by many AFF'ers stats - I can't even come close and my friends consider me a very Frequent Flyer. I don't use one the various travel apps to keep track but here's a summary:

• Jan - OZ open so SYD-MEL-SYD on VA in paid Y (use my Amex Plat to get lounge access)
• April/May:
  • SYD-BCN on SQ in J (KF award) then BCN-PMI (Majorca on VY - new airport and airline)
  • PMI-LPA-TFN (paid Y on NT (Binter) - new airport and airline)
  • LPA-AGP (paid Y on VY - another new airport)
• MAD-DOH-SYD (AA award on QR - new airports and airline)
• June - SYD-OOL-SYD - paid Y on VA (ho hum)
• July - SYD-AKL-RAR//RAR-AIT-RAR on NZ in paid J
• Sept/Oct:
  • SYD-SIN-JNB in J award using KF
  • JNB-MRU in paid J on MK (new airline and airport)
  • MRU-PER - AA award in J on MK
  • PER-SYD - AA award J on QF
• Dec - SYD-LST-SYD in paid Y on VA

Don't think I'll too many more trips in 2025 - probably about the same - different and some new destinations.

 

[Himeno]

CBR-SYD-HND-SIN-MEL-CBR in Jan. QF/JL
CBR-MEL-CGK-SIN-SYD-CBR in May. QF/3K
CBR-SYD-HKG-HND/NRT-MEL-CBR in Oct. QF/CX.

Only CGK is new and new on 3K.

Next flight on Jan 1

 

[SydneySwan]

Here are my stats for 2024:

• Number of flights: 26 (14 Y, 12 J)
• Kilometres flown: 108057 (88070 J, 19987 Y)
• Countries visited: 14 (including 5 new ones - Portugal, South Korea, Slovakia, Czechia, Cambodia)
• New airlines flown: Asiana, Vietnam Airlines

Only problematic flight was Cebgo from Cebu to Camiguin where Cebgo managed to leave Mrs SS's luggage behind.

 

[Dmac59]

As a retired chap
April 2024: MEL-ZQN (1J, 1Y)
July 2024: MEL-CNS (1J, 1Y)
November 2024: MEL-NRT (2J)

 

[Princess Fiona]

New Airports NCE, NCL and OTP
Best flight? Probably a toss up between BOS-HKG and DOH-DFW both nice and long, great service.
Worst flight? WLG-BNE, meal service in J started at the back and no choice except pork once it got to me in 1A.
I declined dinner. FA then found a chicken dish in the bottom and offered that to me. I thanked her and said yes please only to be told “That’s my meal but you can have it” .

 

[Dmac59]

Worst flight? WLG-BNE, meal service in J started at the back and no choice except pork once it got to me in 1A.
I declined dinner. FA then found a chicken dish in the bottom and offered that to me. I thanked her and said yes please only to be told “That’s my meal but you can have it” .

How disappointing, and sending you on a guilt trip.

 

[Tiki]

Here are my stats for 2024:

• Number of flights: 26 (14 Y, 12 J)
• Kilometres flown: 108057 (88070 J, 19987 Y)
• Countries visited: 14 (including 5 new ones - Portugal, South Korea, Slovakia, Czechia, Cambodia)
• New airlines flown: Asiana, Vietnam Airlines

Only problematic flight was Cebgo from Cebu to Camiguin where Cebgo managed to leave Mrs SS's luggage behind.

Wow what are the odds? Only page 2 and already 2 AFFers have been to Camiguin! I was there for bird watching.

 

[serfty]

Here are my stats for 2024:

• Number of flights: 73 (43 Y, 5 PE, 23 J & 2 F)
• Top route: SIN/KUL 12 segments
• Countries visited: 7 (none new)
• New airports visited: DCA, TUL
• New airlines flown: None
• New aircraft type flown: AA A21N, three class
• Best flight: SQ from MEL-SIN on a Boeing 777 in First
• Worst flight: None Really

 

[mx838383]

My stats for 2024: (not as many as some of you guys)

• Number of flights: 15 (9Y, 3J & 3F)
• Countries visited: 7
• New airports visited: AMS
• New airlines flown: BA
• Best Lounge: British Airways Concorde Room
• Best flight: first time on F. I really enjoyed Syd to Lax with QF. Also BA first wasn't too bad.
• Worst flight: none really although one of the flights between Syd and Mel due to turbulence and strong winds was a little bit scary.

 

[encryptededdy]

My stats for 2024:

• 40 Flights - 8 Econ, 28 Business, 2 US Domestic First, 2 Real First
• 114,082 kms travelled
• Countries Visited: 13
• New Airports to me: LHR, DOH, DCA, LCY, GMP, KOJ, OSL, HEL, IZO
• New Airlines to me: BA, KL, QR, AY, ZL
• Op-ups: 2 Y-J, once on QF, once on JL
• New aircraft types flown: 787-10, E175, ATR42
• Best flight: JL SYD-HND in F
• Worst flight: If I had to give one, KL1199 AMS-OSL or BA8457 LCY-AMS. Euro Business
• Underwhelming flight vs expectations: QR96 ZRH-DOH: Crew were very clumsy and food not great
• Surprisingly good flight vs expectations: ZL182 MEL-SYD in Business: Great food! Less than 1 month before Rex stopped jet ops.
• Worst equipment change: JL6 HND-JFK (brand new A35K to 77W)
• Worst delay: QF60 HND-SYD +25hrs

 

[JessicaTam]

Flights: 57
Distance: 211,381km
Countries: 18 (new: AM, AZ, GE, GR)
Airports: 28 (new: ANC, ATH, BLQ, GYD, HNL, NGO, SJU, SKG, TBS)
Airlines: 16 (new: A3, AF, J2)
Shortest flight: ATH-SKG 299km
Longest flight: PER-LHR 14524km (in J this time!)

 

[Bundy Bear]

My stats for 2024:

• Number of flights: 21 (12Y, 1PE & 8J)
• Total countries: 3, Australia, Japan, USA
• New airports left the airport: Chicago ORD - have connected but never left the terminal
• Airlines flown 12 QF, 7 VA; 2 AA
• Best flight: Upgrade to J (QF LAX-SYD
• Worst flight: none really, QF11 cancellation wasn't the best and the last flight on VA economy with the new 737s with 31 rows.
• Requalified Virgin Gold and Qantas Gold with sights set on Qantas lifetime Gold
• Best proactive change: I was in Canberra, my Dash 8-400 came in from Sydney with engineering issues, and the lounge staff had suggested a direct flight to Brisbane, original delay was 30 minutes but I think the lounge staff knew the problem was going to be longer after the revised delay of an hour i took the direct flight.

 

[hugamuga]

• Number of flights: 65 (63 Y, 1 J, 1F*)
• Airlines Flown: 14 (20 QF, 20 VA, 9 SQ, 3 JQ, 2 NC, 2 AA, 2 AK, 1 AS, 1 MU, 1 KN, 1 OD, 1 ZL. 1QZ)
• New airlines flown: Batik Air Malaysia*, Indonesia AirAsia, Rex Airlines, American Airlines, China United Airlines, China Eastern Airlines
• Countries visited: 9 (none new)
• Airports visited: 27
• New airports visited: KBV, CGK, KTA, MAN, IAH, DFW, ABQ, BZN, SFO, PEK, SJW, KMG, PKX, ZQN
• Aircraft Types: 10 (21 738, 20 A320, 8 F100, 6 A359, 2 B787, 2 E170, 2 E190, 2 A319, 1 A321, 1 A388)
• New aircraft types flown: Embraer E170, Boeing 787-10
• Best flight: Alaska Airlines BZN-SFO in First (great service, awesome views, decent food, and well priced, was one of 2 pax in first)
• Worst flight: QF A320 ZNE-PER in seat 30A, no window, where the plane narrows, full flight in the most uncomfortable possible seat.
• Distance Flown: 144317 km
• Time in the Air: 197.75 hours
• Most Flown Route: PER-ZNE and ZNE-PER (7 times each)
• Most Flown Flight: QF1815
• Most Flown Plane: VH-FSQ (Bills Bay) - 5 flights
• Seats: 58 Windows, 4 Middles, 3 Aisles

 

[tassie6]

Low key year for AFF, fairly standard for me

Total Flights: 21 (15 Y, 2 PE, 4 J)
Countries: 5 (0 new )
New Airports: LDH, CDG, VCE
Airlines: QF, JQ, VA, SQ, KL, Sharp, ZL (ZL,KL were new)
New Aircraft: A220, E295, DH8B
Aircraft Type Flown Most: B738
Best Flights: SQ207 SIN-MEL in J (kid was well sleeping/behaved and great crew) and QF2265 (scenic loop around Lord Howe on takeoff)
Worst Flights: KL1630 VCE-AMS (kid was a maniac) and ZL962 (flight itself was great, was the circumstances of rushing to get to an unprotected connection and switching from J* to ZL was causing stress)

 

[OATEK]

A very quiet year, but here are my stats for 2024:

• Number of flights: 11 (2 Y, 2 PE, 7 J) for 33,994 miles and all self-funded.
• Countries visited: 3 (unless we see England and Scotland as separate when it would be 4)
• New airports visited: INV (where we bumped into Kate Winslet and Richard Branson)
• New airlines flown: None - all on EK/QF/BA
• New aircraft type flown: None
• Most aircraft type flown: A380 (8)
• Best flight: J on EK SIN-DXB-LGW
• Worst flight: None. Even the Y flights were fine, as both relatively short.

All flying was leisure (family reunion) and well worth the spend for that reason.

Edit: For the first time in a long time, not one single domestic AU flight flown.

 

[chitown_boy]

Longtime lurker…thought year in review would be a great way to introduce myself to the AFF community. So, here are my 2024 stats, relatively fewer segments than most, but substantial distance travelled thanks to plenty of long and ultra long hauls:

• 29 flights (2 J)
• 145,168 kms travelled
• 8 countries visited
• New airports: DXB, OPO, MXP, LIN, BOS
• New airlines: EK, UX, EI, TO, DL
• Best new lounge: AF JFK T1, got in 2 x using PP and was pleasantly surprised, great ambiance and decor, great food and most importantly champagne to boot! Must be one of the very few PP lounges with self-pour real champagne (didn’t realise until after my visits that Clarins also has complementary facials in the lounge)
• Worst new lounge: OPO ‘airport lounge’ (PP) - no air conditioning, no bathrooms, bad food and drinks
• Most surprising good flight: UA EWR-ORD, United has really improved a lot since the days pre-covid
• Most underwhelming flight: NZ1, more than half empty but disallowed use of empty rows for sleep as weight restrictions between cabins were in place, 787 on NZ also very hard and uncomfortable for a 17 hour flight, food was the worst i’ve had on long haul