Zach’s Travel Stats: 5 Longest and 5 Shortest Flights of 2018
2017 was a busy year. I flew some 333,000 miles, visited 32 countries and spent a whopping 162 nights on the road.
So where did I land for 2018? 400,000 miles? 500,000? Turns out, my total was far short of last year's, and I'm perfectly fine with that. Let's see how things netted out for what was still a very busy year of travel.
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I use a handy tool called Jet Lovers to track my flight stats (you can see my travel map here). I check in using the Swarm app each time I depart from or arrive at an airport, and the app tallies up each and every one of my flights throughout the year.
According to Jet Lovers, in 2018 I flew 223,864 miles, took a grand total of 104 flights and visited 58 airports in 27 countries. Status-wise, I barely made the cut for United Premier 1K, and qualified for Gold on American, in addition to meeting the final threshold for Lifetime Premier Platinum (Bonvoy Titanium?) with Marriott Rewards. It's been a busy year for sure, but not nearly as packed as 2017.
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This year's travels began with a flight from Tel Aviv (TLV) to Zurich (ZRH), for an incredible four-day ski trip in Zermatt, and ended with a short 212-mile hop from Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Newark (EWR) after checking out United's first 787-10 Dreamliner in mid-November — that's right, I didn't have a single flight in December, my only month spent entirely near home.
2018 was a year of longest and shortest flights — for me, that meant a trip on Singapore Airlines' inaugural A350-900ULR flight from Newark to Singapore (SIN) on October 12, and a super-short hop from Papeete (PPT) to Bora Bora (BOB) less than three weeks later, on the 31st.
Rather than ranking my top destinations as I did last year, I'm going to focus on the flights themselves, rounding up the five longest and five shortest legs of 2018. Starting with...
1. Newark (EWR)-Singapore (SIN) — 9,530 miles (October 2018)
Singapore Airlines' world's longest flight was retired in 2013, when the airline stopped flying its gas-guzzling Airbus A340-500s. We always hoped it'd come back, though, and return it has — the flight resumed with the new Airbus A350-900ULR (Ultra Long Range) on October 12, 2018. Naturally, that was my longest flight of the year — and it'll likely remain the longest flight I've flown for many years to come.
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2. Chicago (ORD)-Shanghai (PVG) — 7,050 miles (May 2018)
As part of its Polaris seat retrofit, United had long planned to retire "Polaris first class" — a hodgepodge product of sorts, with an aging 1-2-1 seat and service that never felt especially "first class." I decided to fly Polaris first one last time, on the cheapest route I could find — a 7,050-mile nonstop from Chicago to Shanghai at the end of May. The airline pushed out the end date several times, but it's now gone for good. Not a huge loss in my book.
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3. Abu Dhabi (AUH)-New York (JFK) — 6,855 miles (April 2018)
Most of my long-haul travel is for TPG, but I booked this Etihad leg to make my way home from a wedding in Sri Lanka. I was able to snag two business-class seats for 140,000 American AAdvantage miles — a decent redemption, given how hard they can be to use on American's own flights. The airline's A380 was a bit of a letdown, though — I much prefer its 787-9 Dreamliner, instead.
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4. Beijing (PEK)-New York (JFK) — 6,822 miles (October 2018)
As much as I love Boeing's 747-8, I didn't have especially high hopes for Air China's business-class service to New York. I was very pleasantly surprised, though. Thanks to a fantastic crew, and the fact that I didn't have anyone sitting next to me on the upper deck, this was one of my best flights of the year, as you can see in the full review.
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5. Newark (EWR)-Tokyo (NRT) — 6,717 miles (January 2018)
Number 5 on the list was fairly routine — a flight I've taken almost annually — but this was my first time flying this route on United's new(ish) 777-300ER. That meant a much more private Polaris seat, and a huge upgrade from the older 2-2-2 planes that used to operate between Newark and NRT.
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And now, on to the shortest...
5. Washington, D.C. (IAD)-Newark (EWR) — 212 miles (November 2018)
My final TPG trip of the year brought me from NYC to D.C. for a quick look at United's first 787-10 Dreamliner. Crappy weather left me without an outbound flight — I took Amtrak's Acela train, instead — but my 737 return went out without a hitch. The Dreamliner was definitely the highlight, though.
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4. Bergen (BGO)-Oslo (OSL) — 202 miles (June 2018)
While my (very) short flight between these two Norwegian cities wasn't especially memorable — I don't even remember which aircraft I flew — it was a key component of my fantastic Scandinavian adventure, which included a midnight-sun trip way up north to Tromso.
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3. Boston (BOS)-New York (LGA) — 184 miles (July 2018)
Unremarkable is what you're hoping for on this delay-prone East Coast route, and while Amtrak's a bit more reliable, it's hard to beat a cheap early morning flight.
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2. New York (JFK)-Martha's Vineyard (MVY) — 173 miles (August 2018)
I'd always wanted to visit Martha's Vineyard, but awful I-95 traffic and an annoying ferry ride make it a pain to get there from NYC. Fortunately, several airlines offer nonstop flights from JFK or LaGuardia (LGA) in the summer, including JetBlue, which has a couple a day. Fares tend to soar on popular dates, but if you're able to book far in advance — as we did this time — you can make the journey for a couple hundred bucks.
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1. Papeete (PPT)-Bora Bora (BOB) — 161 miles (October 2018)
A much longer intra-island flight wouldn't have kept me away — I was going to Bora Bora, after all — but fortunately my Air Tahiti ATR 72 journey was under 45 minutes long, marking an especially quick hop over to paradise.
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What's in Store for 2019
Next year's already shaping up to be a bit busy when it comes to TPG adventuring. I'm launching a brand-new podcast (Miles Away) that'll require quite a bit more time in the office, but there's definitely some very exciting travel in store, starting with United's very first 787-10 Dreamliner flight, now just a few days away.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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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. (Partner offer)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.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
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.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended 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. (Partner offer)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.