Towards the end of each year, I like to open my camera roll and reflect on all the photographs and videos I took during the year.
It may come as no surprise to you that most of my photographs and videos are taken from my travels. So, it’s a great way for me to recap my most productive reports and relive the monumental moments of each year.
I just did this workout and I can say with certainty that 2023 has been a successful year for me and my adventures. From one perspective, it was the first year since 2020 that seemed decidedly back to normal since the start of the pandemic. Following the removal of almost all COVID-related restrictions and the resumption of primary air links, I was able to succeed in far-flung destinations, such as Kenya, Taiwan, and Brazil.
On a personal level, I also completed an MBA program at Wharton in Philadelphia. Not only did I leave New York, but I also traded a lot of plane travel for exercise trips back and forth from New York. In fact, this is the first year I earned Amtrak status.
There have been plenty of other travel-focused highlights this year, so I’ll recap some of them below and share a percentage of what’s on the horizon for 2024.
Total 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)
Unique airlines: 26
Unique airports: 51
Elite earned: 7 (Amtrak Select Plus, American AAdvantage Executive Platinum, United Premier 1K, JetBlue Mosaic, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, World of Hyatt Globalist)
Flying with a major U. S. airline The U. S. to the UAE was necessarily on my 2023 bingo card.
In fact, United Airlines, along with the “big three” American rivals, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, spent much of the mid to late 2010s in united protests against Middle Eastern (ME3) airlines: Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways. They allege that these fast-growing Middle Eastern airlines obtained subsidies from their respective governments, which enabled them to offer excellent service at a competitive price on long-haul routes to the United States.
This year, however, United re-entered the Dubai market with a new daily nonstop service from Newark as part of a once-unthinkable partnership with Emirates. I was on the maiden flight and, like many of United’s early flights, it lasted 12 hours that I probably wouldn’t soon forget.
Until this year, the world’s largest hotel chain did not have a luxury safari property. That replaced with the opening of the new JW Marriott Masai Mara in Kenya, a luxury lodge with 20 tents in one of the world’s most famous game reserves.
I was one of the first visitors to make a swap on the assets when bookings opened and made an exclusive offer that I talked about in my full review. But even if I had paid a general fee, it would have inspired me to stay.
The assets weren’t just physically impressive — the service, amenities, and culinary offerings were all you’d find at an Aman or Four Seasons hotel (and more).
While the U.S. airlines spent much of the last few years perfecting their long-haul business-class offerings, this year was the first time some of them, particularly United, leaned into a new domestic experience.
Called United Next, the Chicago-based airline has launched a new flagship inflight experience for short-haul flights aboard the Airbus A321neo.
This is United’s first new Airbus in at least a decade and is sure to impress even the most discerning travelers. From 4K TVs to fast Wi-Fi, this aircraft is a harbinger of what’s smart to come in the United onboard experience.
United’s also been busy retrofitting existing jets, such as the Airbus A319, A320 and Boeing 737, with these new cabins, but the A321neo is the first plane that seems purpose-designed for this next-generation onboard product.
In years, many U. S. airports have undergone primary renovations.
Perhaps none are as remarkable as what’s at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where the airport has secured (or is in the process of acquiring) new and renovated terminals, a shuttle service, an established car rental service, and much more. more.
Delta’s new LAX terminal is one of the shining stars of the entire redevelopment project, and I enjoyed watching Delta One’s new personal check-in in the midst of opening festivities in May.
This personal lounge is the most exclusive way to fly commercially from the airport, without paying a few thousand dollars to use the nearby PS facilities.
I began the year with a big travel hiccup — my Away backpack broke during a trip. I spent the next few weeks testing out some top replacements and rounded up my findings in a story on the best business travel backpacks.
Later in the year, I reviewed some of the most productive noise-cancelling headphones, and my favorite pair may not necessarily surprise you. The good news is that more and more airlines are adding Bluetooth connectivity. So, it doesn’t matter which pair you end up with. In addition, they increase the chances of connecting them to the in-flight entertainment formula.
But my favorite gear upgrades this year were in the spawn department. Apple’s iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro families are a major upgrade for you (just read my review) and I enjoyed playing with the new Double Tap feature on the Apple Watch which has already simplified my routine.
And finally, the MacBook Air, one of the world’s most productive laptops, is now available in a larger 15-inch design that’s sure to appeal to those in need of a bigger screen.
At TPG, we offer all the most productive travel gear on time, so stay tuned for more in 2024.
Competition between card issuers has officially entered the airport.
Not only do Amex and Capital One have airport lounges, but Chase now does too. Dubbed the Sapphire Lounge at the Club, those outposts are chic.
I enjoyed visiting Chase’s first national salon in Boston on opening day and am incredibly inspired with all the amenities (especially the massage room) and the delicious food and drink options.
I can’t wait to see what 2024 will bring for Chase (and its competitors).
I didn’t think 2023 would be the year I’d get to fly Air France’s La Premiere first-class cabin.
However, when abnormal operations happened on a Paris-New York trip, I was able to rearrange my schedule and book a flight to Washington, D. C. , with that mythical cabin of first elegance. I managed to acquire a last-minute upgrade to business elegance for €1,639, and it was a pleasure.
From all-you-can-eat champagne to the luxurious pre-departure experience to the personal suite on board, La Première has lived up to the hype (and more).
Now that I’m in business school, my travels look slightly different. I’ve been taking more group trips and don’t necessarily have the time to jet off for a few days in the middle of the week.
The good news is that I already have a few bucket-list trips lined up, such as Patagonia and skiing in Europe, and I’m excited to possibly join one of American’s or United’s big European inaugurals this summer.
In the gear world, we’re inching closer to the release of Apple’s Vision Pro headset, and I can’t wait to see how this device might revolutionize the inflight entertainment experience.
I’m sure there will be many more projects popping up throughout the year, so stay tuned to TPG for much more compelling policies in 2024 and beyond.
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