How Much is Too Much Flying?

Most of us wish that we could travel more. But for some very frequent flyers, flying has become nothing more than a chore – and planes nothing more than buses with wings.

This week, one of AFF’s most frequent flyers has decided they’ve had enough of flying and cannot stand the thought of another long-haul flight. On average, juddles has spent more than two hours per day in the air for the past several years.

Due to work and other reasons I have enjoyed / suffered a lot of flight in the last few years. For most of them averaged, over the entire years, two hours of EVERY SINGLE DAY being airborne. Add airport time and you start to feel my pain. More than a month a year physically airborne….

I know there are many who travel even more, but I am just sick of it. I love airlines, aircraft, travel, flight. But I think I have overdone it. Am now in an endless cycle of travel with the main flight being SCL-SYD or vice versa. I now hate it. It would be different if Emirates flew it, and I could afford First. An Emirates A380 in First is now about the only flight I actually look forward too.

Several other AFF members are in exactly the same position. Although the high-flying lifestyle is often viewed as a glamorous one, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Even for those that enjoy flying, the constant time spent on planes and at airports can take its toll after a while. It’s not so much the flying, per-se, that is the problem… but the time spent away from home. Inevitable flight delays, long airport queues and the sleepless nights that result from constant jetlag only add to the struggle.

There are a few signs that it may be time to take a break from flying. If you dread flights in Business or First Class, or find that you choose to spend your entire holidays at home, you may be flying too much. This AFF thread contains plenty of other interesting (and at times amusing) examples: You know you are a frequent flyer when…

There are some ways to make the travel more bearable. As an example, airline status is a big help as it comes with the option to bypass most queues and relax in airport lounges. A good pair of noise-cancelling headphones can also make a difference.

Have you ever felt like you’re doing too much flying? Or perhaps you wish you could travel enough to be in this situation? Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: Sick of flying

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 70 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.