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Happy New Year! It’s 2025 and the counters on every loyalty program (except for those not on a calendar year) have reset. I always take January 1st as a moment to think about where my travels will take me in the year ahead. Last year my travel was up from 2023 (but still lagged 2019). I’m hoping that 2025 will see even more. While next to nothing is set for the year, here are my initial thoughts, wishes, and travel resolutions.
Get Back to Asia
I have not been to Asia since 2019 and I’m dying to go back. One of my best friends is taking her family to Japan in June and I might just catch up with them. If not, Hong Kong is a perennial favorite and I miss the city. I’d also like to explore some new countries like The Philippines, Laos, or Mongolia.
Fly Some New Routes From Tampa
There were a several route announcements over the past few months with service starting from Tampa International Airport (TPA). I’d love to check out some of the following:
- Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport (BOG) on Avianca (more here)
- Mexico City’s Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juarez (MEX) on Aeromexico. This launched in July 2024 (more here)
- Delta’s nonstop flight to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) This launched this past October (more here)
- I’ve also never flown Virgin Atlantic and love the idea of flying nonstop to London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Check Out 15+ Airlines
Last year, I flew 12 airlines, including American Airlines (3), Avelo Airlines (1), Breeze Airways (1), Delta Air Lines (43), easyJet (1), ITA Airways (2), Ryanair(1), Silver Airways (3), Singapore Airlines (2), Spirit Airlines (18), SWISS (2), United Airlines (56). I’m going to shoot for 15 in 2025. I know I’ll be on American, Delta, Lufthansa, Spirit, SWISS, United, and WestJet based on what I currently have booked, but I’d really like to fly some others.
Stop Chasing Airline Status
I fly a lot for my day job and I know that I’ll maintain my current airline status levels pretty easily as long as travel stays the same. That said, I want to be able to book based on schedule and price without worrying as much about how many more MQDs or PQFs I need to make a certain level. I book paid F/J, so upgrades are not a concern. The incremental benefits I see are minimal, but I stay loyal for some reason. I’ll look to mix it up a bit more this year. Hotel status is another game and I plan to do what I need to in order to maintain Marriott Bonvoy® Titanium Elite and World of Hyatt Globalist®. I also currently have Hilton Honors Diamond and I might keep that as well.
Anthony’s Take: Thanks again for all of the support in 2024 and I look to make this site even better in 2025. Stay tuned for more travel news, reviews, and everything related that I find interesting. Have a happy and healthy new year and keep traveling!
(Image Credits: yusnizam via iStock, Simon Zhu via Unsplash, and United Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
