Previous topic here:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1434717

If 2020 might have been a disaster for most of us, let's hope that 2021 will bring us back to the skies, despite what environmentalists would suggest.

Ok for the moment 2 trips planned but not booked yet (as waiting for an AF/KL voucher).

March:

* MPL to KGL return: if possible will try my best to catch Uganda Airlines A338 from UK.

August:

* MPL to KGL return: Most likely AF/KL or Uganda Airlines A338 from UK

Needless to say, I am expecting a TR! The only alternative accepted would be CAA, even if it will be a detour
for you!

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/comp ... -brussels/

Was hoping my first flight since July - a flight to nowhere "flycation" - would take place on Christmas day, but sadly it was rescheduled due to the rise of the fourth wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong. The rescheduling has given me my first and only flight booking for 2021:

February 12 --- HKG-HKG --- HK Express --- Airbus A320neo

We'll see if the epidemic situation in Hong Kong calms down enough for this one to go ahead. Other than that, so far 2021 doesn't look much more promising than 2020 flight-wise. Arrival quarantine in HK was just upped to 21 days in designated hotels, so going out and expecting to return is not an option for me at this point. The only saving grace for 2021 would be opening for travel to Mainland China where plenty of flights could be had, but I'm sure that will be a slow process not likely to start until well after the current wave subsides.

debonair wrote:

Needless to say, I am expecting a TR! The only alternative accepted would be CAA, even if it will be a detour
for you!

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/comp ... -brussels/

Brillant idea indeed and you could become a very good travel agent .
However, this option might be more suitable for 2022 onwards as, sadly, Congolese airlines including CAA are still on the EU blacklist:
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/ai ... /search_en

But in the past, true despite the general ban one airline was allowed to fly one type of its plane to Europe (767 Hewa Bora maybe ?).

Like you, OP, I have a voucher I'm looking to use. It's on LH, and I'm willing to go a little out of my way for a 747. Also will be making a trip to Tampa again for my sister's graduation, as well as anywhere else the wind takes me.

Can’t wait to fly again, but won’t until I have the vaccination. Who knows when that will be.

I should have had conferences in Burlington, VT and Charleston, SC this year, but both are cancelled.

Only 1 trip planned so far, planning more last minute nowadays.

1/21 - ATL-CUN - DL598 - A330-300
1/24 - CUN-ATL - DL595 - A330-300

Took the bait on the $89 each way DL One upgrade - this short route so no food service outside of "snacks" but figured it was worth it to try out the seat on the 2.5 hour flight.

eastafspot wrote:

Brillant idea indeed and you could become a very good travel agent .
However, this option might be more suitable for 2022 onwards as, sadly, Congolese airlines including CAA are still on the EU blacklist:
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/ai ... /search_en

Thank you! Well, in the end, in worst case, you can still fly Air Senegal - at least this airline is up and flying! And a classic A321ceo with lie-flat seats in Biz is somewhat "exotic" as well!

Jan
DL MSP-LGA 221
AA LGA-DFW 738
AA DFW-GRU 789
G3 GRU-SDU 738
G3 GIG-IGU 738
G3 IGU-CGH 738
AD CGH-SDU E95
LA SDU-CGH 319
AD CGH-SDU E95
AA GIG-MIA 772
AA MIA-JFK 772
DL JFK-MSP 319

FEB
AA MSP-PHX 32Q
AA PHX-LAS 321
AA LAS-DFW 738
AA DFW-GRU 789
G3 GRU-SLZ 738
G3 SLZ-FOR 738
G3 FOR-SLZ 738
G3 SLZ-GRU 738
AA GRU-DFW 789
AA DFW-LAS 321
DL LAS-MSP 739

Bring on the travel shaming.

Booked flights:

April IAH-BNA E175 and BNA-IAH CRJ7
April IAH-SJD A320 and SJD-IAH A320

Tentative:

End of February/first part of March IAH-STL E175 and STL-IAH E175

Though all of these trips are in serious danger of not happening due to friggin COVID.

IAHFLYR wrote:

Booked flights:

April IAH-BNA E175 and BNA-IAH CRJ7
April IAH-SJD A320 and SJD-IAH A320

Tentative:

End of February/first part of March IAH-STL E175 and STL-IAH E175

Though all of these trips are in serious danger of not happening due to friggin COVID.

Why? We went to Cabo in September with no issue whatsoever. Go have fun.

FriscoHeavy wrote:

Why? We went to Cabo in September with no issue whatsoever. Go have fun.

Simply because we have no idea of the state of the different spots in April. Yes we know of a number of couples who've been to Cabo within the last few months and all say what you say, just with things escalating who knows in another few months what travel restrictions might be in place.

IAHFLYR wrote:

Booked flights:

April IAH-BNA E175 and BNA-IAH CRJ7
April IAH-SJD A320 and SJD-IAH A320

Tentative:

End of February/first part of March IAH-STL E175 and STL-IAH E175

Though all of these trips are in serious danger of not happening due to friggin COVID.

Come to STL. We're happy to have you.

maps4ltd wrote:

Come to STL. We're happy to have you.

That's what my Son n Daughter-in-Law said, but I think they're not telling the truth!

usflyer msp wrote:

Jan
DL MSP-LGA 221
AA LGA-DFW 738
AA DFW-GRU 789
G3 GRU-SDU 738
G3 GIG-IGU 738
G3 IGU-CGH 738
AD CGH-SDU E95
LA SDU-CGH 319
AD CGH-SDU E95
AA GIG-MIA 772
AA MIA-JFK 772
DL JFK-MSP 319

FEB
AA MSP-PHX 32Q
AA PHX-LAS 321
AA LAS-DFW 738
AA DFW-GRU 789
G3 GRU-SLZ 738
G3 SLZ-FOR 738
G3 FOR-SLZ 738
G3 SLZ-GRU 738
AA GRU-DFW 789
AA DFW-LAS 321
DL LAS-MSP 739

Bring on the travel shaming.

Hell yes, I love to see it. I’m also looking to load up on MQS for DL Skymiles

First flights of the year, down for some LUV.

BOOKED:
March:
March 14: Southwest Airlines WN410, STL-SLC, Boeing 737-800
March 19: Southwest Airlines WN1993, SLC-STL, Boeing 737-700

Have just completed a series of domestic flights:

ROK-BNE (Qantas 717, business)
BNE-CNS (Qantas 737, business)
CNS-BNE (Virgin 737-800, business)
BNE-ROK (Virgin 737- 700, business).

Fly ROK-BNE again on Saturday, but no return planned and everything else this year is take it as it comes.

usflyer msp wrote:

Bring on the travel shaming.

I just wish my travel schedule looked like yours. Last year I made twenty flights in the first two months. This year the total for January and February will be zero. Right now I am watching another press conference of our prime minister. He just called upon everybody to stay at home as much as possible. And not to travel international until the month of April. Because there are no domestic flights in the Netherlands, that effectively means no airline travel for me in the foreseeable future. Terrible times for aviation enthusiasts. And for a lot of other people too.

MartijnNL wrote:

usflyer msp wrote:

Bring on the travel shaming.

I just wish my travel schedule looked like yours. Last year I made twenty flights in the first two months. This year the total for January and February will be zero. Right now I am watching another press conference of our prime minister. He just called upon everybody to stay at home as much as possible. And not to travel international until the month of April. Because there are no domestic flights in the Netherlands, that effectively means no airline travel for me in the foreseeable future. Terrible times for aviation enthusiasts. And for a lot of other people too.

I couldn't agree more. As much as I'd like to fly, it's just not possible right now.

Last time I took a flight was nearly a year ago, early February 2020. That was just before COVID-19 reached Europe and I haven't flown since then. I'm eager to jump on a plane to wherever, but I'm not going to do that. The risk is too big. I just don't know when my next flight will be.

I’m flying Feb11-14 to Chicago from SRQ as my first trip of the year. Instead of nonstop from SRQ-ORD I paid few buck more to stop in Dallas and get on the 772 as finally it will be my first one!! On the way back I’m flying on Southwest with their first day of operations into SRQ!! So I’m very excited for the trip to happen!!

Booked:

Sept.: PSC-SEA-KOA-SEA-PSC

Possible: PSC-SLC-DCA-SLC-PSC (Professional conference through work)

Hoping for the vaccine by June, and potentially more travel in the late part of the year.

MHT-BWI-PHX-MDW-MHT in April staying at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

As an aviation enthusiast 2020 was probably my worst years in decades... took only a couple of flights in 2020 and will not take any until I had the vaccine ( July? September? Or 2022 ? ) Who knows......Still, since I'm an optimistic (naive?), I have a trip booked for November 2021, flying ANF-SCL-PTY-SXM and back...time will tell...
On a side note, I feel really sorry for the people being hit by this pandemic in much more serious ways... my biggest problems so far are related to not being able to travel and delay the purchase of a new car because I don't want to expose myself, while millions worldwide are loosing jobs, health and even lives, so nothing to complain if I can not travel this year... In fact, I'll be grateful if I can remain healthy and never met the famous CoV.

Stay healthy and Regards !!

Gonzalo

All I've got so far...

January 7 DL 1634 LAS-SLC B739
January 7 DL 1097 SLC-DFW A319
January 9 AA 1241 DFW-SEA B738
January 10 AS 396 SEA-GEG B739
January 17 AS 2589 GEG-SFO E175
January 18 AS 3380 SFO-LAS E175

debonair wrote:

eastafspot wrote:

Brillant idea indeed and you could become a very good travel agent .
However, this option might be more suitable for 2022 onwards as, sadly, Congolese airlines including CAA are still on the EU blacklist:
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/ai ... /search_en

Thank you! Well, in the end, in worst case, you can still fly Air Senegal - at least this airline is up and flying! And a classic A321ceo with lie-flat seats in Biz is somewhat "exotic" as well!

They are definitely high on the to do list, certainly on a CDG/MRS-DSS-ABJ. A321 vs A330 very difficult choice

March:

TLS-AMS E75 KL
AMS-KGL A330 KL
KGL-NBO E90 KQ
NBO-CDG B789 AF
CDG-MPL A318 AF

May

BCN-CDG A321 AF
CDG-AMS A319 AF
AMS-BLL E90 KL
BLL-AMS E75 KL
AMS-CDG A319 AF
CDG-BCN A319 AF

After 2 strikes for spring break plans last year, I decided not to go for strike 3.
Had booked a three week trip: LAX to Singapore on Singapore Airlines, with side flights to Bali and Bangkok. On the way home was going to visit Kyoto again before heading back to LAX from Osaka on JAL.
Then the virus hit.
Was able to get a voucher on Singapore Air and cancel my booking through points on the JAL flight.
Deciding I needed to go somewhere, I thought Europe might be safe. Having never been to Sicily, I decided to do Positano again for a few days and then fly over to Sicily.
Got a great deal on Austrian Airlines LAX to VIE to Naples.
Then poor Italy got hit so bad.
Already sitting on Singapore and Austrian Airlines vouchers, I decided not to go for #3.
I was tempted this year to take advantage of a package to Tahiti on Air Tahiti Nui from LAX to Papeete/Bora Bora, but like you Gonzalo resisted the urge. Even though they were allowing it as long as you tested negative prior to leaving, masked while in Tahiti, and then had yourself checked before returning.
Trying to do my part in not prolonging this thing, even if I am seriously itching to get out of town.

Surprisingly I actually flew more in 2020 than in 2019, albeit all solo trips and nothing in February through July. But 2019 was a relatively light travel year for me.

In January 2021, I did MSP-DFW-MFE on AA in First, and MFE-IAH-MSP on UA in First. This was a quick warm-weather getaway because this time last year I had booked some Spring 2020 trips that I had to cancel due to the first quarantine period and my credits were going to expire. Wound up in First because my credits were worth much more than the coach fare and it wound up being a pretty cheap upgrade. Worked out well, got to mostly hang out in an outdoor hotel hot tub by myself in 80F weather while it was snowing at MSP.

Only other thing I have booked so far for 2021 is MSP-PDX on Alaska in April, also in First (this time as a birthday treat). This route is currently suspended and the restart date keeps getting pushed back so most likely it will turn into MSP-SEA-PDX, which is fine. I was actually ambivalent about PDX versus SEA and only picked PDX because the fare was so low and time is not of the essence. I'm going to take the train home from the Pacific Northwest in a sleeping car and could start from either Seattle or Portland.

I've begun biking flights for a trip to Central Asia. I'm due (knock on wood) for the vaccine in the next month based on my profession as an essential worker (group 1b), based on that, as long as the borders stay open, I will go. I'll PCR my butt off, wear 6 masks.. I need to fly again!

I've booked the international portion. It was about $800 cheaper to buy it separately from the MSP to JFK segments. I'll travel through Uzbekistan by train to the west and then fly back to Tashkent. I'm currently thinking of overland to Almaty and then fly back to TAS, or I'll go to one of the other stans. I won't decide until later. I'm aiming for ALA as I'd like to do some good central asian spotting.

Sept 07 MSP to JFK (not booked yet)
Sept 08 JFK to SVO - Aeroflot - A359
Sept 08 SVO to TAS - Aeroflot - A333
xx NCU to TAS - Uzbekistan Airways (not booked)
xx ALA to TAS - Air Astana or SCAT (not booked)
Oct 09 TAS to SVO - Aeroflot - A333
Oct 09 SVO to JFK - Aeroflot - B77W
Oct 10 JFK to MSP (not yet booked)

usflyer msp wrote:

Jan
DL MSP-LGA 221
AA LGA-DFW 738
AA DFW-GRU 789
G3 GRU-SDU 738
G3 GIG-IGU 738
G3 IGU-CGH 738
AD CGH-SDU E95
LA SDU-CGH 319
AD CGH-SDU E95
AA GIG-MIA 772
AA MIA-JFK 772
DL JFK-MSP 319

FEB
AA MSP-PHX 32Q
AA PHX-LAS 321
AA LAS-DFW 738
AA DFW-GRU 789
G3 GRU-SLZ 738
G3 SLZ-FOR 738
G3 FOR-SLZ 738
G3 SLZ-GRU 738
AA GRU-DFW 789
AA DFW-LAS 321
DL LAS-MSP 739

Bring on the travel shaming.

Just a few updates:

G3 subbed a 73G on my GIG-IGU flight.

AA popped a slide on my GIG-MIA flight causing a 12 hour delay. Instead ended up flying:
LA SDU-GRU 319
AA GRU-MIA 77W

G3 cancelled my GRU-SLZ flight. Replaced with:
G3 GRU-FOR 7M8 (my first max flight)
G3 FOR-SLZ 738

G3 changed my FOR-SLZ flight to a 73G.

Just booked an Easter trip with my girlfriend to see her family. Originally had a nice N/S on B6 from JFK but they pulled the plug on RNO for April..

April 2
WN156 BDL-MDW 738
WN777 MDW-RNO 737

April 9
WN1269 RNO-MDW 737
WN1575 MDW-BDL 738

Fingers crossed we can keep the plans. 2020 was by far my least traveled year in nearly 16 years. I'm itching to get back into the air.

Minneapolis is being struck by a long cold spell (colder than usual, that is) so the travel bug came and bit me again.

Booked another low-key weekend solo trip to Phoenix. On the way down, I'm actually pressing my luck with NK for the first time, flying MSP-PHX on 5 MAR on an A321. Even after paying for my seat and a checked bag, it was still the cheapest option, and the flight time is good so I figured it's as good a time as any to snag a new airline. I know legroom sucks but I'll deal with it. My "fare bundle" even allowed me to choose an exit row at no extra charge, but apparently those are somewhat narrower, and shoulder room is more important to me than leg room.

The way back is WN PHX-MSP on 8 MAR with a B738. It's their only non-stop of the day on that route. I still had some residual credits from cancelled spring 2020 trips to use up. Oddly enough, despite it being high season for PHX and also a decent overall year for PHX as a destination (at least, compared to a lot of other cities during this crisis), WN doesn't return to daily on that route until mid-March. They don't fly it non-stop even on March 5th, which is a Friday. That seems odd to me.

In any event this worked out to $185 round trip in new charges including EarlyBird on WN. $55 of the WN fare came from prior credits.

maps4ltd wrote:

First flights of the year, down for some LUV.

BOOKED:
March:
March 14: Southwest Airlines WN410, STL-SLC, Boeing 737-800
March 19: Southwest Airlines WN1993, SLC-STL, Boeing 737-700

Revised a bit

BOOKED:
March:
March 14: Delta Air Lines DL1375, STL-SLC, Airbus A220-300
March 20: Southwest Airlines WN5412, SLC-STL, Boeing 737-700

Flown:

1/21 - ATL-CUN - DL598 - A330-300 (N825NW)
1/24 - CUN-ATL - DL595 - A330-300 (N831NW)

Booked:

4/16 - ATL-DTW - DL2135 - 737-900 (yawn)
4/19 - DTW-ATL - DL2112 - 737-900

Added some more flights, including a routine summer jog to San Diego on Southwest and a multi-leg Europe trip on Delta for New Years. This being COVID, I fully expect the itinerary for the DL flights to change 647 times, if I fly them at all. But here goes:

BOOKED:
March:
March 14: Delta Air Lines DL1375, STL-SLC, Airbus A220-300, Economy
March 20: Southwest Airlines WN5412, SLC-STL, Boeing 737-700, Economy

August:
August 1: Southwest Airlines WN3634, STL-SAN, Boeing 737-700, Economy
August 8: Southwest Airlines WN1173, SAN-STL, Boeing 737-700, Economy

December:
December 21: Delta Air Lines DL2323, STL-ATL, Airbus A320, First Class
December 21: Delta Air Lines DL84, ATL-CDG, Airbus A330-300, Business Class (Delta One)

January 2022:
January 4: Air France AF1395, BUD-CDG, Airbus A319, Europe Business
January 4: Delta Air Lines DL85, CDG-ATL, Airbus A330-300, Business Class (Delta One)
January 4: Delta Air Lines DL2451, ATL-STL, Airbus A320, First Class

Got my first booking for 2021:

AUG
NUE-FRA LH143 LH Cityline CRJ900
FRA-DUS LH73 Lufthansa A320

DUS-NUE EW9066 Eurowings A319


Still open but no date: NUE-FRA-HND and back.

conaly wrote:

Got my first booking for 2021:

AUG
NUE-FRA LH143 LH Cityline CRJ900
FRA-DUS LH73 Lufthansa A320

DUS-NUE EW9066 Eurowings A319


Still open but no date: NUE-FRA-HND and back.

Domestic trips are highly encouraged these days !
Well done for being cautious

eastafspot wrote:

Domestic trips are highly encouraged these days !
Well done for being cautious

Actually the trip is to attend a fair in Düsseldorf. However it is not even sure, that the fair will be held at all. So possibly I'll have to cancel that trip on short notice anyway. We'll see in summer then. Stay healthy and hope for the best

IAHFLYR wrote:

That's what my Son n Daughter-in-Law said, but I think they're not telling the truth!

After one full year since I/we've been on a flight the kids get their wish:

UA Express IAH-STL E-175 FC
UA Express STL-IAH E175 FC

Still on the books and looking better with vaccine roll-out:

UA IAH-SJD A320 FC
UA SJD-IAH A320 FC

Hopeful of mid April or early May:

UA IAH-RSW A320 FC
UA RSW-IAH B739 FC

First flights of the year yesterday:

# BCN-AMS KL1670 E75 PH-EXK (first time in this subtype).

# AMS-KGL KL537 A332 PH-AOA

bennett123 wrote:

Kigali is a bit exotic.

It all depends on the perspective .

New update:

March
# BCN-AMS KL1670 E75 PH-EXK (first time in this subtype).
# AMS-KGL KL537 A332 PH-AOA.

# KGL-KME WB601 DH8 9XR-WM
# KME-KGL WB602 DH8 9XR-WM

TR available here:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1458621

SRQKEF wrote:

NY 153 ..... AEY - RKV ..... DHC-8 Q400 cancelled due to weather in AEY, ended up driving instead

Too bad!
Wasn't it expected at that time of the year?
Who paid for petrol?

Like you, hopefully by October it all be part of the past!

January 7 DL 1634 LAS-SLC B739
January 7 DL 1097 SLC-DFW A319
January 9 AA 1241 DFW-SEA B738
January 10 AS 396 SEA-GEG B739
January 17 AS 2589 GEG-SFO E175
January 18 AS 3380 SFO-LAS E175

February 6 AS 2133 LAS-SFO E175
February 6 AS 3418 SFO-DAL E175
February 9 AS 3329 DAL-SFO E175
February 9 AS 2090 SFO-LAS E175