2021 in Flight

GOALS FOR 2021

My only goal that I set for myself in 2021 with respect to air travel was to achieve status on an airline for 2022. And I was successful, thanks to Alaska's change in its accrual rules in September, effectively lowering of the qualification bar (hat-tip to the Delta variant).

YEAR-OVER-YEAR TRENDS

27,631 miles flown in 2021, measured as great-circle distances in statute miles. 362% increase over 2020; 39% decrease from 2019.

22 segments flown in 2021. 175% increase over 2020; 42% decrease from 2019.

$2,244.74 in airfare paid in 2021, which considers the actual amounts charged to the card, inclusive of airline credits, miles used, taxes, and fees. 92% increase over 2020; 60% decrease from 2019.

MORE ON MILES

7/12.

Alaska reclaimed the title from American, who was the victor in 2020. Icelandair eked out over American by only 35 miles.

"Others" consists of Avelo, JetBlue, and Sun Country.

Glad to get some wide-body action back in.

 

 God, my fleet is so boring. I only flew on four aircraft models. Also I'm so sick of the B737.

I flew every day of the week! Weird flex, but ok.

MORE ON MONEY

I'm not convinced of the utility of this statistic, as letters other than Y, J, and F are sometimes classified differently with different airlines. And, for many airlines, it is very difficult to get the letter representing the fare classification. So the "Other or N/A" category consists of Southwest's "Wanna Get Away" fare category, as well as tickets on Avelo and JetBlue.

Let's gooooooo three significant figures!

It's crazy what miles and credits do to this statistic. It's also ironic that my flight on Sun Country Airlines--a budget airline--had the highest per-mile cost.

I only had one work trip in 2021, so the entire distribution is represented by a single point.

"Lead time" is defined as how far in advance of departure the ticket was purchased. Among leisure trips, my 20-day lead time was when I decided to take Avelo's second commercial service flight from STS-BUR; and my 142-day lead time was my EWR-MCO flight on JetBlue (holiday-time travel plans, so booked far in advance).

Again, there was only one work trip in 2021, so the entire distribution is represented by a single point.

Nailed every day of the week here too!

MORE ON WHERE

What's this about international travel not returning?

Thanks, Iceland, for reopening to vaccinated travelers.

A "visit" is defined as a segment either originating or terminating at a given airport. So connections grant two visits to the connecting airport.

The size of the font is directly proportional to the number of visits.

Between HNL and KEF, I spanned 42 degrees of latitude and 35 degrees of longitude.

This is a new chart this year! Over the last five years, the usual suspects have been graced with my presence most often: EWR (partner's family), ORD (work, connecting hub, family in Rockford, IL), and ONT (work).

WHILE IN FLIGHT

What can I say--tickets are cheaper on weekdays!

A "pushback pause" is defined as the time when the aircraft is stationary after being pushed back from the gate. Specifically, it begins when the aircraft stops moving backward and the tug begins detaching, and it ends when the aircraft begins moving forward on its own power.

Now, I normally hate checking bags, so I try to avoid it wherever possible. However, when you take a 3 1/2 week trip that takes you to places with as diverse of weather as Iceland and Palm Springs, you need a lot of clothes with you. I had to be prepared for windy, rainy, and cold in Iceland, and 118-degree heat in Palm Springs in the same trip. However, I am proud of the fact that I did not pay any checked bag fees in 2021. I took advantage of purchased fare class, elite benefits, and credit card benefits to manage that.

On an AS flight from SEA to SFO, I was not even put on the upgrade list. I was very sour about that, but it was my own damn fault because I didn't feel like Karening to the gate agent.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2021

First time flying with these airlines: Avelo, Icelandair, Sun Country

First time flying to/from these airports: BUR, HNL, KEF, PSP, STS

First time flying to/from these U.S. states: Hawaii

First time flying to/from these countries: Iceland

First time entering an airport lounge on my own credentials.The Centurion Lounge at JFK in Terminal 4 is awesome, even if you're not flying out of that terminal and have to unnecessarily go through security.

I flew on Avelo Airlines' first day of service: April 22, 2021. I did not fly on the inaugural flight from BUR to STS, but I flew on the return flight from STS to BUR on the same day. There was a whole ceremony with goodie bags at STS!

I learned that if you fly with a canister of powdered Metamucil, you will get stopped by TSA for a separate examination every time you go through security. I had to deal with that on my 3 1/2 week trip.

Qantas extended my $100 credit from a BNE-SYD segment that I canceled in 2019 which was previously set to expire in October 2020. At this point, though, that $100 is probably lost.

GOALS FOR 2022

You know, it was much easier to set goals for myself when I was traveling more for work. I also now don't feel like I have the time in my schedule to take specific flights to achieve select milestones, such as flying on particular aircraft types or out of specific airports.

That being said, I'd like to retain status on an airline in 2022. I'm very open to switching away from Alaska, because they have really slashed their schedule out of SFO. Wanna go anywhere they fly? Forget nonstops anymore--have fun flying through SEA or PDX (which is good from an elite-qualifying miles earnings standpoint, but inconvenient and increases the probability of overall trip delay).

I will not sell my loyalty to United, though. So, perhaps that's also a goal: do not fly United in 2022.

I also would like to fly at least once every month. We'll see how that goes, because as I write this, I have no upcoming flights booked, which gives me some anxiety.