Hi. While it appears a large majority of the members on here are frequent flyers, a lot who fly for work/business. Some who take flights just because it's an inaugural or about to be retired aircraft. I usually only average a few flights per year. And there have been years I havent taken to the sky at all. Funny thing is, while on here I readily admit to not having the knowledge or experience that most on here do, yet IRL I fly as much or more than a majority of the people I know, and know way more than most about aircraft, and aviation in general. So anyway I am wondering if there are any or many on here who dont take to the sky many numerous times a year.

I probably don't fit the description of a frequent flyer either (4 - 5 roundtrips per year on about 12 flights (depending on connections), and no status on any airline), but, as you do, fly more frequently than other people I know.

Most (all lately) of my flights are personal (non-work) related, but I do take the occasional a.net trip to get on a new airline or aircraft type (last year I did STL-CLT-YYZ-VCE-AMS-CPH-ORD-STL over 5 days to get on a TS A310 and SK A340-300.

There's really only 2 planes I really want to fly on that I haven't the 340, and the 380. The 380 though unless somehow I could catch one of it's short flights I have zero desire to fly 12+ hrs on the lower deck. And I don't have the $$ to experience their apartments and whatever. The 340 reminds me of the 707. I'd like to fly on it, dont know that I ed very will. I've done several flights on the 747, like most it's my all time favorite. Not that I've ever felt unsafe on any plane. Although I've never liked the DC-9. But the 747 always gave me some added feeling of safety and comfort. That's another that I may not get another chance. Would love to take one more ride on one, but I don't see myself going to Europe soon enough before the last of the pax version is retired. Even if I do go to Europe in the next few years, I'll have likely go out of my way to find one. Theres so many planes capable of trans continental flights now. Heck now we are starting to see the 737 max doing ny-ca. Never thought I'd ever see that when they were usually 1 or 2 hr flights, and any of the early versions I thought were were short ugly little planes. Funny thing, in a week my wife and I are flying out of ORF TO SFO.the longer flight to denver is on a 320 Athens shorter flight is on a 757-,300 ,almost already fully booked. Btw I've flown on a 320 from JFK-LAX. Coming back this time my layover is ORD on a 739. That would have been a mighty hall on the earlier versions if it could have even done it.

There's really only 2 planes I really want to fly on that I haven't the 340, and the 380. The 380 though unless somehow I could catch one of it's short flights I have zero desire to fly 12+ hrs on the lower deck. And I don't have the $$ to experience their apartments and whatever. The 340 reminds me of the 707. I'd like to fly on it, dont know that I ed very will. I've done several flights on the 747, like most it's my all time favorite. Not that I've ever felt unsafe on any plane. Although I've never liked the DC-9. But the 747 always gave me some added feeling of safety and comfort. That's another that I may not get another chance. Would love to take one more ride on one, but I don't see myself going to Europe soon enough before the last of the pax version is retired. Even if I do go to Europe in the next few years, I'll have likely go out of my way to find one. Theres so many planes capable of trans continental flights now. Heck now we are starting to see the 737 max doing ny-ca. Never thought I'd ever see that when they were usually 1 or 2 hr flights, and any of the early versions I thought were were short ugly little planes. Funny thing, in a week my wife and I are flying out of ORF TO SFO.the longer flight to denver is on a 320 Athens shorter flight is on a 757-,300 ,almost already fully booked. Btw I've flown on a 320 from JFK-LAX. Coming back this time my layover is ORD on a 739. That would have been a mighty hall on the earlier versions if it could have even done it.

timh4000 wrote:

There's really only 2 planes I really want to fly on that I haven't the 340, and the 380. The 380 though unless somehow I could catch one of it's short flights I have zero desire to fly 12+ hrs on the lower deck. And I don't have the $$ to experience their apartments and whatever. The 340 reminds me of the 707. I'd like to fly on it, dont know that I ed very will. I've done several flights on the 747, like most it's my all time favorite. Not that I've ever felt unsafe on any plane. Although I've never liked the DC-9. But the 747 always gave me some added feeling of safety and comfort. That's another that I may not get another chance. Would love to take one more ride on one, but I don't see myself going to Europe soon enough before the last of the pax version is retired. Even if I do go to Europe in the next few years, I'll have likely go out of my way to find one. Theres so many planes capable of trans continental flights now. Heck now we are starting to see the 737 max doing ny-ca. Never thought I'd ever see that when they were usually 1 or 2 hr flights, and any of the early versions I thought were were short ugly little planes. Funny thing, in a week my wife and I are flying out of ORF TO SFO.the longer flight to denver is on a 320 Athens shorter flight is on a 757-,300 ,almost already fully booked. Btw I've flown on a 320 from JFK-LAX. Coming back this time my layover is ORD on a 739. That would have been a mighty hall on the earlier versions if it could have even done it.

You have plenty of time to get on a 747 before the pax version is retired, LH plans to keep their 748 at least until 2030. If you are based in the US there are plenty of opportunities out of JFK, EWR, ORD, IAD, etc.

To get on a 340 I'd suggest to look for IB's JFK-MAD A346 run, these days you can find fares below 500 USD RT.

Last suggestion for a 380 would be AF's JFK-CDG, a 7,5 hr flight and you might be able to get a Y seat in the upper deck (paid).

Thanks for the suggestions. I didnt know LH was planning on keeping their 747's in service for that long. I figured early 20's would be the last of them. Thanks again.

masi1157 wrote:

I wouldn't call myself a frequent flyer. The last couple of years I did 30-50 flights per year, 10-15 of them for business, the rest was private.

Gruß, masi1157

You are definitely a frequent flyer, catching several flights a month on average puts you in that category in my opinion.

Not being into any FF program doesn't mean you're not a FF.

timh4000 wrote:

Thanks for the suggestions. I didnt know LH was planning on keeping their 747's in service for that long. I figured early 20's would be the last of them. Thanks again.

LH has 19 748 frames, latest generation Jumbo delivered within the last 6 years.

KE and CA are the only other carriers that fly it as well but I'm less familiar with their schedules.

If I am lucky I het two flights a year average... Still love the site and aviation.

I am definitely not a frequent a flier. I am lucky if I get to take more than one or two round trips of flying in a year. Nearly all of my flights are for personal/leisure reasons. I only travel for business maybe once every other year or so. When it comes time for a vacation I find myself driving more often than flying. I absolutely love aviation and flying, however not all of us have jobs that require frequent traveling and not all of us are financially fortunate enough to be able to afford to frequently fly at our own expense. Most people I know who are frequent fliers aren't actually paying for the overwhelming majority their flights. Their employer is.

Ok, so I'm not completely alone lol. It's not me that flies monthly, recently ivr been flying a lot for treatment all the same regional flight from ALB-PHL. I'm leaving tonight for philly and then going to VA, then CA. Then whenever surgery is another trip to philly and back. Or maybe 2 depending. A typical year sees me doing maybe 3 round trips a year on average. I'm gonna miss the frequent flying I have been doing, even the little regionals.

Cool topic. I too fly only 4 to 5 times a year and solely for personal reasons not business and all on A.A. However at the end of January I am taking an out and back flight to/from FLL and AVL via Allegiant as I wanted to try the airline and the fare was only $66 R/T.

I too only fly 1 or 2 round trips per year. My current job hasn't yet required any travel, so my only flying has been vacation, typically one trip in the summer and one to visit family at Christmas.

My previous employer had its own corporate air shuttle between its big campuses on the West Coast, and there were times when I was flying it on a weekly basis, which I guess made me a "frequent" flyer, although since I wasn't flying commercial I didn't get to earn any sort of miles. Quite frankly once the novelty of flying on a corporate shuttle wore of it was kind of boring, flying the same route on the same planes over and over.

I only do one or two leisure trips per year...not business flying at all...the amounts of flights depends of how many connections should I do...in example, in March I´ve booked MVD-GRU-LIS-MAD-FRA-MXP-LIS-POA-MVD because a very low fare I´ve found...those are 8 flights for only one trip...
I do love aviation, however, I suspect that if I have to fly every week/month for business, fliying should be more a pain than an pleasure...

frequent flyer is certainly not me !! living in a beautiful part of southern France(an hour from skiing an hour 1/2 from the Mediterranean) i've never needed to catch a plane anywhere even though i love it when i do , three times I've flown in the last 10 years !!yes 10 years 10 years ago i did Marseilles /Eindhoven with Ryanair cost me 10 euros RT i took the flight to see a football match (soccer to you Americans)over the border in Germany,then 2years later took a GVA-MAN via ZRH with swiss air,for my gran's funeral flew a320 to ZRH then E190 ?(only had 2and 2 seating ) coming back had to sit in the plane nearly 2hours due to the snow falling so had to get " de -iced "the last was November where i returned for my dad's funeral so flew LYS to SEN on a flybe erj 195 thought it would of been cheaper than LYS-LHR but turned out no ,having to go to west london anyway ,my next trip i won't wait 10 years but only 9 months when i take two lady friends to manchester where i grew up iether MRS-MAN direct or GVA -MAN don't know which airport we'll use for the flight back as i don't want to stay in manchester a week

bluefrog wrote:

frequent flyer is certainly not me !! living in a beautiful part of southern France(an hour from skiing an hour 1/2 from the Mediterranean) i've never needed to catch a plane anywhere even though i love it when i do , three times I've flown in the last 10 years !!yes 10 years 10 years ago i did Marseilles /Eindhoven with Ryanair cost me 10 euros RT i took the flight to see a football match (soccer to you Americans)over the border in Germany,then 2years later took a GVA-MAN via ZRH with swiss air,for my gran's funeral flew a320 to ZRH then E190 ?(only had 2and 2 seating ) coming back had to sit in the plane nearly 2hours due to the snow falling so had to get " de -iced "the last was November where i returned for my dad's funeral so flew LYS to SEN on a flybe erj 195 thought it would of been cheaper than LYS-LHR but turned out no ,having to go to west london anyway ,my next trip i won't wait 10 years but only 9 months when i take two lady friends to manchester where i grew up iether MRS-MAN direct or GVA -MAN don't know which airport we'll use for the flight back as i don't want to stay in manchester a week

you sure live in a nice place to get to ski and have the ocean. Only other place like that is LA

I don't think I'd consider myself a frequent flier either, although certain routes and airlines I've flown enough times over the years to feel like kind of an expert on. But in total I probably do 5-6 flights per year as well. My experience is very narrow and generally involves the same routes over and over (JFK-NRT is my big one, but JFK-PDX is another regular route). I usually do like one vacation a year where I take a flight on a route I've never been on before. Definitely not doing the 40-50 flights per year I see some people talk about here.

I can't afford to fly for any reason other than necessity. I've been able to stretch the idea of "necessity" a little bit recently to fly more, however. I've began trying to accumulate miles on different airlines to make that easier.

KentB27 wrote:

I absolutely love aviation and flying, however not all of us have jobs that require frequent traveling and not all of us are financially fortunate enough to be able to afford to frequently fly at our own expense.

These are my favorite passengers to talk to. The type that love aviation, but aren't too involved, for whatever reason. But the magic is still there.

FF's can be like that, but they wear out quickly, and flying as often as some do, I can see why.

I fall into that slightly odd category of people who are in an airplane almost every day, but only fly 10 or so times a year

I am not a FF. I fly maybe 2-3 times a year, and for work maybe once every couple of years. However as I am from NZ and live in the UK, the occasional trip back home means that my long haul travel is *very* long haul. It also means that when I do travel, it tends to be on the bigger wide bodies - the 744 and the A380 are two of my top three most flown aircraft.

My interest in aviation is strictly amateur, but has lasted nearly 40 years.

vuelti24 wrote:

I do love aviation, however, I suspect that if I have to fly every week/month for business, fliying should be more a pain than an pleasure...

I can confirm your suspicions, travelling very often for business is more a pain than a pleasure. If you love aviation then it becomes less than a pain but not less enough to be a pleasure, a real pleasure is to travel for leisure together with your beloved ones.

I would never get bored of the actual flying, but the constant packing, unpacking, time spent in an airport, especially today with the TSA screening and the long waiting in line it sometimes creates. The jet lag with long easterly flights especially. Last of all would be time spent away from loved ones, spouse etc. Etc.

I am very interested in aviation, but I don't fly much at all due to family and finances. My last 3 airborne round-trips were in 2016 (YHZ-BRU), 2013 (YHZ-DKR), and 2005 (YHZ-YOW). I have tentative plans to go to YYZ this spring or summer to catch a baseball game and do the YYZ airside tour.

I hope to fly more when the kids are grown and living independently. Airfare for two can be reasonable. Airfare for five can be prohibitive.

I'm planning on quitting my job and opening something very local so my only flights will be whatever leisure time I'll be able to wrangle and probably won't have any for a year or so.

After my current job, not flying seems glorious.

upperdeckfan wrote:

vuelti24 wrote:

I do love aviation, however, I suspect that if I have to fly every week/month for business, fliying should be more a pain than an pleasure...

I can confirm your suspicions, travelling very often for business is more a pain than a pleasure. If you love aviation then it becomes less than a pain but not less enough to be a pleasure, a real pleasure is to travel for leisure together with your beloved ones.

100 % agree!

When I joined this site I dide 2 or 3 round trips per year. I enjoyed aviation by going to schiphol and just looking at the airplanes. Nowadays I get to fly more.

I'm not a frequent flyer, although from 2012 - 2017 I flew at least once a year.

Last year was an anomaly in that I didn't fly at all.

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timh4000 wrote:

Hi. While it appears a large majority of the members on here are frequent flyers, a lot who fly for work/business. Some who take flights just because it's an inaugural or about to be retired aircraft. I usually only average a few flights per year. And there have been years I havent taken to the sky at all. Funny thing is, while on here I readily admit to not having the knowledge or experience that most on here do, yet IRL I fly as much or more than a majority of the people I know, and know way more than most about aircraft, and aviation in general. So anyway I am wondering if there are any or many on here who dont take to the sky many numerous times a year.

I think you very much represent the majority here.
We fly "occasionally" , but that has little to do with the interest or passion. It's easy to read some of these threads and forget that many are flight crew, many live in areas of extremely low cost options (Ryan Air, anyone?) , and many TBH, are probably just braggarts ("I only fly F/J:").... mixed in with a small number legitimate high frequency business travelers - these are the people who probably disproportionally post.

You know what I never, ever do, no matter how much I love to fly, and even just be in airports? Fly needlessly. No sir - I better be going to do a job, visit family, or find a warm beach. In the end, air travel is a means to an end.
Welcome to the 95%, my friend.

I am also member of this "non-flying" group, but because being afraid of flying:) in the last 10 years I flew only when it was job related (so I had to), which means 10 flights overall.

Nevo did I read that right that you are afraid to fly? I'm not picking, the average person has reservations about flying. Some to the point they'd rather drive a cross country rather than get on a plane. You're in plenty of company, just a bit surprised you would be a member of an aviation thread.

smallmj wrote:

I have tentative plans to go to YYZ this spring or summer to catch a baseball game and do the YYZ airside tour.

smallmj, what is this YYZ airside tour? Do you have any details you can share? Is it for passengers only or can visitors (non-passengers) also do it?

Nevoljniletac wrote:

I am also member of this "non-flying" group, but because being afraid of flying:)

Now I am really interested in why are interested in aviation are you willing to explain?

From 2006 to 2016 I did not fly once! But now I am back in the game. In the last 3 weeks I took 7 flights...

Gr8Circle wrote:

smallmj wrote:

I have tentative plans to go to YYZ this spring or summer to catch a baseball game and do the YYZ airside tour.

smallmj, what is this YYZ airside tour? Do you have any details you can share? Is it for passengers only or can visitors (non-passengers) also do it?

Have a look here:

https://www.torontopearson.com/en/airsidetours/#

There are also videos on youtube that folks have taken during the tour. Here is an example:

https://youtu.be/gLCm8M4iBQY

Looks really interesting for aviation enthusiasts. Don't have to be a passenger, just book ahead for the free ticket since seats are limited.

Don't know why I hadn't considered those who pretend. I've been a forum moderator for a major political forum and many were caught being anything but what they were claiming to be...

Only fly once or twice a year at most. Normally one family vacation and then a Christmas shopping trip with my brother-in-law. Normally short haul within Europe although hoping to save to go back to San Francisco in a few years.

devron wrote:

Nevoljniletac wrote:

I am also member of this "non-flying" group, but because being afraid of flying:)

Now I am really interested in why are interested in aviation are you willing to explain?

I don't it's odd that I am here. Yes, I have aerophobia, but I also think that being here, among experts and maybe pilots, could help me to overcome that fear. If I see so many you talking and discussing about every aspect of aviation, maybe that can alleviate my fear. It's like being member of medical forum, but not being doctor:) does it make a sense now?

Nevoljniletac wrote:

I don't it's odd that I am here. Yes, I have aerophobia, but I also think that being here, among experts and maybe pilots, could help me to overcome that fear. If I see so many you talking and discussing about every aspect of aviation, maybe that can alleviate my fear. It's like being member of medical forum, but not being doctor:) does it make a sense now?

It does, it is one of the reasons I joined here. I currently don’t have my fears or anxieties that I have experienced, and long may that freedom last. Now I feel sometimes I am just stuck in a loop. I prefer the latter. My flights (sectors) average between 10 and 20 a year, 95% of which are leisure travel. I wouldn’t consider myself a frequent flyer, but more than occasional - with that number. Not more than six months would go by where I’ve got nothing booked. I am looking into more of those ‘seeking’ flights, where I will do routes, types and log things nowadays. I try to integrate that into the flights I would normally do if possible, time and money being the biggest constraints to what I could do.

Interesting topic.

Nevoljniletac wrote:

devron wrote:

Nevoljniletac wrote:

I am also member of this "non-flying" group, but because being afraid of flying:)

Now I am really interested in why are interested in aviation are you willing to explain?

I don't it's odd that I am here. Yes, I have aerophobia, but I also think that being here, among experts and maybe pilots, could help me to overcome that fear. If I see so many you talking and discussing about every aspect of aviation, maybe that can alleviate my fear. It's like being member of medical forum, but not being doctor:) does it make a sense now?

It's a smart idea. I've never had s fear of flying, I've always enjoyed it. However, during times where I've been especially infrequent, my mind would occasionally wander a bit and some apprehension would set in. Not to the point of fear. I would think back to the days I lived in san Jose California. The dozens of just landings I saw every day, not nearly all of them, just the ones I saw. Look up statistics. The insane amount of flying that goes on worldwide successfully, even in 3rd world countries and even on prop planes like what you will be flying on.
Because it is so rare, it is such a media sensation when a crash occurs. Yet thousands of deadly auto accidents occur daily. I doubt you have the same apprehension in a car. And lastly, don't make the mistake of watching plane incidents on YouTube, or movies that involve them.

masi1157 wrote:

FlyHappy wrote:

and many TBH, are probably just braggarts ("I only fly F/J:")

Actually, that is what I usually associate with people calling themselves "frequent flyers". The ones that are proud of their gold or platinum status, that even do extra flights to achieve or keep that status, that discuss the "C product" of airlines or lounges, that complain about a few centimeters less legroom or seat width in C or F, that "never" would fly any other than their favourite airlines and "never" would set foot on board a Ryanair plane. Braggarts.

Spot on.

masi1157 wrote:

FlyHappy wrote:

You know what I never, ever do, no matter how much I love to fly, and even just be in airports? Fly needlessly. No sir

What makes a flight "needless"? Mileage runs or flying just to log aircraft types, airlines, airports, flight legs? Absolutely! Flying 1000km that others would easily travel by car, and probably more often? I won't buy a car for that.

"Needless" is personal and subjective - I speak only for myself. I won't fly just to log types or an inaugural route, I won't fly just for an amazing fare. If I lived in Europe and had the choice of "direct" rail and air, I'd choose rail.
Doesn't mean I don't love flying - I very much do.

If I had the time and resources, I would probably be someone who would catch certain flights of significance. Although I'm not as big of a fan boy of different types of planes. Let's face it. Inside of a 738 or 739, in economy its pretty much the same. So other than maybe catching a ride on a soon to be retired "favorite " like the 747, that would not be one of my reasons. Certain interesting routes would be more of mine. Flying into st maarten for example for both the exhilarating landing and takeoff. Plus spending a few days on the island to boot.

smallmj wrote:

Have a look here:

https://www.torontopearson.com/en/airsidetours/#

There are also videos on youtube that folks have taken during the tour. Here is an example:

https://youtu.be/gLCm8M4iBQY

Looks really interesting for aviation enthusiasts. Don't have to be a passenger, just book ahead for the free ticket since seats are limited.

Thanks!!!!

timh4000 wrote:

Hi. While it appears a large majority of the members on here are frequent flyers, a lot who fly for work/business. Some who take flights just because it's an inaugural or about to be retired aircraft. I usually only average a few flights per year. And there have been years I havent taken to the sky at all. Funny thing is, while on here I readily admit to not having the knowledge or experience that most on here do, yet IRL I fly as much or more than a majority of the people I know, and know way more than most about aircraft, and aviation in general. So anyway I am wondering if there are any or many on here who dont take to the sky many numerous times a year.

I think it’s more the other way around and most people on here not frequent flyers.

Nevoljniletac wrote:

devron wrote:

Nevoljniletac wrote:

I am also member of this "non-flying" group, but because being afraid of flying:)

Now I am really interested in why are interested in aviation are you willing to explain?

I don't it's odd that I am here. Yes, I have aerophobia, but I also think that being here, among experts and maybe pilots, could help me to overcome that fear. If I see so many you talking and discussing about every aspect of aviation, maybe that can alleviate my fear. It's like being member of medical forum, but not being doctor:) does it make a sense now?

Cool story thanks for sharing

masi1157 wrote:

FlyHappy wrote:

and many TBH, are probably just braggarts ("I only fly F/J:")

Actually, that is what I usually associate with people calling themselves "frequent flyers". The ones that are proud of their gold or platinum status, that even do extra flights to achieve or keep that status, that discuss the "C product" of airlines or lounges, that complain about a few centimeters less legroom or seat width in C or F, that "never" would fly any other than their favourite airlines and "never" would set foot on board a Ryanair plane. Braggarts.

I hope I am not one of those and will never become one. Yes, I fly rather often. Partly because I don't own a car. I use my bicycle on short distance, public transport across the city and to work, trains on medium distance, flights to anywhere further than 500-1000km away. And I enjoy going to places for a weekend, that I can reach by direct flights, possibly outbound on Friday afternoon, inbound Sunday evening. But that will stop in a year, I will have time to travel slowly and use trains across Europe much more often.

FlyHappy wrote:

You know what I never, ever do, no matter how much I love to fly, and even just be in airports? Fly needlessly. No sir

What makes a flight "needless"? Mileage runs or flying just to log aircraft types, airlines, airports, flight legs? Absolutely! Flying 1000km that others would easily travel by car, and probably more often? I won't buy a car for that.


Gruß, masi1157

I'm also one of those who don't fly much. Usually, I fly at least one roundtrip a year, but not more, due to mainly financial reasons. But every few years, I take a trip to China to visit family, and occasionally, a holiday somewhere else. But the thing is, I rarely fly domestic within Australia, so when I do travel, I'm usually more excited to fly a 'boring' type, like a regular old A320, rather than, say, an A330 or 777.