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By the Numbers: Flying Around the World Twice in Three Weeks

Zach Honig
Zach Honig
Contributor
Nov. 20, 2017
•
4 min read
Screen Shot 2017-11-20 at 9.47.07 AM
By the Numbers: Flying Around the World Twice in Three Weeks
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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.

<a href="https://runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/us/originals/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-20-at-9.47.07-AM-1.png"></a> My November 2017 adventures. Image courtesy of Great Circle Mapper.

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!

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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:

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.

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Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
3XEarn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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    You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

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  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit
    Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.