In 2018, I visited Australia and New Zealand, each for the first time. Other than that, my travel was largely similar in nature and quantity to 2017—frequent routine business trips, with a few weekend vacations thrown in.
Table of Contents
Hotels
I stayed away from home a record 131 nights this year. Business travel was down slightly, but my three-week Australia and New Zealand vacation added a lot of personal hotel nights.
Flights
I ended up flying 109 flights this year, totaling 87 306 miles (140 505 km).
My 2018 flights worldwide. Map generated by Paul Bogard using the <a href="http://www.gcmap.com/">Great Circle Mapper</a> - copyright © <a href="http://www.kls2.com/~karl/">Karl L. Swartz</a> My 2018 flights within the United States. Map generated by Paul Bogard using the <a href="http://www.gcmap.com/">Great Circle Mapper</a> - copyright © <a href="http://www.kls2.com/~karl/">Karl L. Swartz</a>
New Airports
I visited eight airports for the first time this year:
| # | Code | Airport | First Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | SYD |
New South Wales,
Australia
|
12 Feb 2018 |
| 80 | PER |
Western Australia,
Australia
|
12 Feb 2018 |
| 81 | MEL |
Victoria,
Australia
|
21 Feb 2018 |
| 82 | CHC |
New Zealand
|
23 Feb 2018 |
| 83 | DUD |
New Zealand
|
23 Feb 2018 |
| 84 | AKL |
New Zealand
|
28 Feb 2018 |
| 85 | LBB |
Texas,
United States
|
8 Aug 2018 |
| 86 | PVD |
Rhode Island,
United States
|
17 Dec 2018 |
With 86 airports visited to date, I have only 14 to go to reach my goal of visiting 100 airports.
New Airlines
I flew on two airlines for the first time this year:
New Aircraft
I flew on three aircraft families for the first time this year; all three were from my Australia and New Zealand vacation.
Airbus A380 (Qantas) Aircraft illustration by <a href="https://www.norebbo.com/">Norebbo</a> Boeing 787 (American Airlines) Aircraft illustration by <a href="https://www.norebbo.com/">Norebbo</a> ATR 72 (Air New Zealand) Aircraft illustration by <a href="https://www.norebbo.com/">Norebbo</a>
Superlatives
My longest flight was 8580 miles (13 808 km) from Dallas to Sydney. This 17–hour flight was the longest I’ve ever been on. I also flew my second-longest flight ever this year: 6516 miles (10 486 km) from Auckland to Los Angeles.
My shortest flights were 139 miles (223 km) from Dallas to Lawton, and the same route returning from Lawton to Dallas.
Map generated by Paul Bogard using the <a href="http://www.gcmap.com/">Great Circle Mapper</a> - copyright © <a href="http://www.kls2.com/~karl/">Karl L. Swartz</a>
Driving
I drove approximately 22 587 miles (36 350 km) this year—11 616 miles (18 694 km) in my own car, and 10 971 miles (17 656 km) in rental cars.
2018 driving (rental cars in red, my car in blue).
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors, © CARTO
Frequent Traveler Status
This year, I maintained Platinum status with American Airlines and Diamond status with Hilton. My United MileagePlus Silver and Marriott Rewards Silver were active from last year.
