By the Numbers: Flying Around the World Twice in Three Weeks
I've had the chance to experience some pretty wild itineraries in my lifetime, but nothing quite like this. Over the past three weeks, I've flown a whopping 42,753 miles, circling the globe twice before finally returning home to New York City in time for Thanksgiving. And it was all for work!
I tallied up some of my stats along the way, including everything from flight distance to the number of miles I walked over the course of these three weeks on the road (nearly 191!). It's been one hell of a ride, and I'm about to fly around the world two more times before 2017 is through, so stay tuned for some very exciting coverage to come.
So, let's see where I landed after my final flight this Saturday...
Longest flight: 8,770 miles (Los Angeles-Singapore)
Shortest flight: 201 miles (Boston-Newark)
Total miles flown: 42,753
Total redeemable miles earned: 71,558
Number of in-flight meals: 18
Hours of in-flight sleep: 34
Airlines flown: Emirates, Finnair, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Turkish and United
You can view the full flight breakdown here.
Hotel stays: 7
Total hotel nights: 17
Number of aircraft tours: 10
Total photos and videos captured: 10,246
Instagram posts: 191
Cups of coffee: 52
Runs at Ski Dubai: 21
Most steps in one day: 43,164
Most miles in one day: 18.7
Total miles walked: 190.7
With all of the food I eat during flights and on the ground, getting significant exercise is key. Time permitting, I always walk instead of taking a cab, and I use almost all of my free time to explore the cities I'm visiting — I almost never turn on a hotel room TV, except in the gym, which I try to visit daily in addition to my walking adventures. As a result, not only did I not gain any weight despite eating a lot of amazing food on this trip, I actually lost about five pounds!
I love seeing and flying on new planes, but for me it's the experiences on the ground, and the connections I make with people — both professional and personal — that matter most.
Aside from a fun Google Translate-d conversation with my Turkish seatmate from Istanbul to New York (see above), here are some of the posts covering the highlights of my 2x round-the-world adventure:
- Check Out Emirates' Fancy New Airbus A380 In-Flight Bar
- Flight Review: Finnair (A350) Business Class From Singapore to Helsinki
- The Best Meal I've Ever Had on a US Airline
- What It Was Like to Sit in the Nose on United's Final 747 Flight
- Emirates Hit a Home Run With This Incredible New First-Class Suite
- This Incredible Private Dreamliner Is the Ultimate $300 Million Flying Home
- Step Aboard Emirates' Suites-Equipped Airbus A319 Private Jet
- My Experience Successfully Entering Turkey En-Route to the US
Beginning next week, I'll be flying around the world two more times, including a trip in Emirates' fantastic new first-class suite on the December 1 inaugural flight. You can follow along in real time on Twitter and Instagram — I'll be posting on both platforms throughout each day.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Unlimited up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Housing payments may include transaction fees, depending on the payment method
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.