Overall, my travel increased slightly this year. Unlike in 2015, my travel was relatively evenly spread throughout the year.
Table of Contents
Flights
Flights (2016)
Map generated by Paul Bogard using the Great Circle Mapper - copyright © Karl L. Swartz
I took 94 flights in 2016, which beat my 2015 record by five flights.
Number of Flights by Year. Includes both business and personal flights.
Quite a few of these flights came from a multi-city Europe vacation I took. We drove from Munich to Nuremberg, and took the train through the Chunnel from London to Paris (as well as a day trip by train from Munich to Salzburg), but all other intercity travel was by plane.
Hotel Nights
I spent 116 nights in hotels in 2016, up six from the prior year.
Nights Away from Home by Year. Includes both business and personal nights.
My business travel nights were slightly down this year, but I made up for it with more personal nights.
New Airports
I visited 12 new airports in 2016:
| # | Code | Airport | First Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | AMA |
Texas,
United States
|
24 Jan 2016 |
| 68 | SAT |
Texas,
United States
|
7 Mar 2016 |
| 69 | MUC |
Germany
|
20 Mar 2016 |
| 70 | NUE |
Germany
|
26 Mar 2016 |
| 71 | LHR |
United Kingdom
|
26 Mar 2016 |
| 72 | CDG |
France
|
2 Apr 2016 |
| 73 | KEF |
Iceland
|
2 Apr 2016 |
| 74 | ONT |
California,
United States
|
2 May 2016 |
| 75 | PWM |
Maine,
United States
|
11 Jul 2016 |
| 76 | DSM |
Iowa,
United States
|
7 Aug 2016 |
| 77 | BUR |
California,
United States
|
11 Sep 2016 |
| 78 | RDU |
North Carolina,
United States
|
31 Oct 2016 |
New Airlines
I flew three new airlines this year:
Frequent Traveler Status
This year, my travel was weighted more heavily toward American Airlines (61 out of 94 flights), so I was able to get AAdvantage Platinum for the first time.
United renewed my MileagePlus Gold status at the end of 2015 even though I didn’t earn it, which meant that I still had Gold benefits through the end of 2016. I didn’t even earn United Silver this year. However, due to United’s partnership with Marriott, because I was still considered United Gold at the end of this year, Marriott renewed my Marriott Rewards Gold elite status.
I easily earned Hilton HHonors Diamond again this year—I got the required 60 nights by July, and ended the year with 95 nights spent in Hilton properties.