Zach Griff’s 2023 journey highlights, elite standing earned and journey stats
Towards the top of every 12 months, I like opening my digital camera roll and reflecting on all the photographs and movies I took through the 12 months.
It may not shock you that the majority of my photos and movies are taken throughout my travels, so it is an effective way for me to recap my prime experiences and relive the monumental moments from every year.
I simply did this train and might assuredly say that 2023 was a blockbuster 12 months for me and my adventures. From a journey perspective, it was the primary 12 months since 2020 that felt decidedly again to regular for the reason that onset of the pandemic. Due to the elimination of practically all COVID-related journey restrictions and the resumption of key airline routes, I used to be in a position to attain some far-flung locations, corresponding to Kenya, Taiwan and Brazil.
From a private perspective, I additionally began an MBA program at Wharton in Philadelphia. I not solely moved from New York, however I’ve additionally traded many airplane journeys for practice rides backwards and forwards from New York Metropolis. In actual fact, that is my first 12 months ever incomes Amtrak standing.
There have been many different travel-focused highlights this 12 months, so I am going to recap a few of them beneath and share what’s on the horizon for 2024.
2023 journey stats
Complete miles flown: 191,271 (2022: 185,780; 2021: 152,033; 2020: 133,796 miles; 2019: 205,985 miles)
Longest flight: Newark to Dubai (6,844 miles)
Shortest flight: Nairobi Wilson to Masai Mara (109 miles)
Distinctive airways: 26
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Distinctive airports: 51
Elite standing earned: 7 (Amtrak Choose Plus, American AAdvantage Government Platinum, United Premier 1K, JetBlue Mosaic, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, World of Hyatt Globalist)
2023 highlights
A historic Center East tie-up
Flying a significant U.S. provider to the United Arab Emirates would not have essentially been on my 2023 bingo card.
That is as a result of United Airways, together with “Huge Three” U.S. rivals Delta Air Strains and American Airways, spent a lot of the mid-to-late 2010s unified in protests towards the Center East (ME3) carriers: Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways. They alleged that these fast-growing Center Japanese airways took subsidies from their respective governments, which enabled the airways to supply superior service at a aggressive worth on long-haul routes to the U.S.
Nonetheless, this 12 months, United reentered the Dubai market with a brand new each day nonstop from Newark as a part of a once-unthinkable partnership with Emirates. I used to be on the inaugural flight, and like a lot of United’s first flights, it made for 12 hours that I will not neglect anytime quickly.
Marriott’s first luxurious safari lodge
Till this 12 months, the world’s largest lodge chain did not function a luxurious safari property. That modified with the opening of the brand-new JW Marriott Masai Mara in Kenya, a luxe 20-tent lodge in one of many world’s most well-known recreation reserves.
I used to be one of many first vacationers to make a redemption on the property when bookings opened, and I scored a once-in-a-lifetime deal that I wrote about in my full evaluate. However even when I had paid a rack price, I’d’ve been impressed with my keep.
The property wasn’t simply bodily gorgeous — the service, facilities and culinary choices resembled one thing you’d discover at an Aman or 4 Seasons resort (after which some).
Setting the brand new home commonplace
Whereas the U.S. airways spent a lot of the previous few years perfecting their long-haul business-class choices, this 12 months was the primary time a few of them, notably United, leaned into a brand new home expertise.
Dubbed United Subsequent, the Chicago-based provider rolled out a brand new flagship onboard expertise for short-haul flights onboard the Airbus A321neo.
That is United’s first new Airbus jet in practically a decade, and it is certain to impress essentially the most discerning flyers. From 4K TVs to speedy Wi-Fi, this jet is a harbinger of fine issues to come back to the United inflight expertise.
United’s additionally been busy retrofitting present jets, such because the Airbus A319, A320 and Boeing 737, with these new cabins, however the A321neo is the primary airplane that appears purpose-designed for this next-generation onboard product.
LAX will get even higher
Up to now few years, many U.S. airports have obtained massive facelifts.
Maybe none are as noteworthy as what’s occurring at Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX), the place the airport has gotten (or is getting) some new and renovated terminals, a folks mover, a consolidated rental automobile facility and extra.
Delta’s new LAX terminal is likely one of the shining stars of your entire redevelopment mission, and I liked testing the brand new personal Delta One check-in facility through the opening festivities in Could.
This personal lounge is maybe essentially the most unique solution to fly commercially from the airport, wanting paying just a few grand to make use of the close by PS facility.
Gear upgrades
I started the 12 months with a giant journey hiccup — my Away backpack broke throughout a visit. I spent the following few weeks testing out some prime replacements and rounded up my findings in a narrative on one of the best enterprise journey backpacks.
Later within the 12 months, I reviewed a number of the finest noise-canceling headphones, and my favourite pair may not essentially shock you. The excellent news is that increasingly airways are including help for Bluetooth connectivity, so irrespective of which pair you find yourself with, the chances of connecting them to the inflight leisure system are getting higher.
However my favourite gear upgrades this 12 months had been within the journey tech division. Apple’s iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Professional households are a significant improve for vacationers — simply learn my evaluate — and I’ve liked enjoying round with the brand new Double Faucet characteristic on the Apple Watch that is already streamlined my journey routine.
And at last, the MacBook Air, one of many world’s finest journey laptops, now is available in a bigger, 15-inch design that is certain to be successful with vacationers who desire a bigger display screen.
Right here at TPG, we’re all the time offering well timed protection of all one of the best journey gear, so keep tuned for extra in 2024.
Chase’s first airport lounge
The competitors between bank card issuers has formally entered the airport.
Not solely do Amex and Capital One function airport lounges, however now Chase does too. Dubbed the Sapphire Lounge by the Membership, these outposts are fairly swanky.
I liked testing Chase’s first home lounge in Boston on opening day, and I am extremely impressed by all of the facilities — particularly the therapeutic massage chair room — and the tasty foods and drinks choices.
I can not wait to see what 2024 brings for Chase (and its opponents).
A premier solution to cross the pond
I did not suppose 2023 can be the 12 months I would get to fly Air France’s La Premiere first-class cabin.
Nonetheless, when irregular operations struck on a visit from Paris to New York, I used to be in a position to rearrange my schedule and rebook onto a flight to Washington, D.C., that featured this legendary first-class cabin. I managed to buy a last-minute improve from enterprise class for 1,639 euros, and boy, what an expertise it was.
From the free-flowing Champagne to the luxurious predeparture expertise to the personal onboard suite, La Premiere lived as much as the hype (after which some).
What’s on faucet for 2024
Now that I am in enterprise faculty, my travels look barely completely different. I have been taking extra group journeys and do not essentially have the time to jet off for just a few days in the midst of the week.
The excellent news is that I have already got just a few bucket-list journeys lined up, corresponding to Patagonia and snowboarding in Europe, and I am excited to presumably be part of one in every of American’s or United’s massive European inaugurals this summer season.
Within the gear world, we’re inching nearer to the discharge of Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional headset, and I can not wait to see how this system would possibly revolutionize the inflight leisure expertise.
I am certain many extra plans will pop up all year long, so keep tuned to TPG for heaps extra thrilling protection in 2024 and past.
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