In this episode, we have our 2024 year-in-review. Hear from our guests about why they love air travel and their role in the aviation industry. Plus, pull back the curtain to share behind-the-scenes statistics and insights.

Flying Smarter will be back in a few months with a series of all-new episodes!

Our 2024 guests:


Christie Hudson, Expedia US (E52)

• Unpack ’25, Expedia's 2025 travel trends report

Doug Morris, Airline Captain & Certified Meteorologist (E54)

• Books and Blog | LinkedIn | Instagram

Brian Bermudez, Aircraft Maintenance Engineer & Professor (E56 & 57)

• Website & Podcast | Instagram | LinkedIn | X

Edmond Huot, Forward Media & Forward Studio (E59)

• Forward Media | Forward Studio | LinkedIn (Forward Media) | LinkedIn (Forward Studio) | Instagram | X | Vimeo

Ally Murphy, Podcaster & Former Flight Attendant (61)

• The Red Eye Podcast: Website | Instagram | X
• Ally: Website | Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn

Joelle Cuvelier, Amadeus (E63 & 65)

• Amadeus: Website | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

Michael Taylor, J.D. Power (E67)

• 2024 North American Airline Satisfaction Study

Ben Komenkul, Points and Miles Expert (E71)

• Website | Facebook, Instagram | TikTok | Podcast

Connect with Flying Smarter:
Facebook: Flying Smarter Podcast
Instagram: @flyingsmarter
LinkedIn: Flying Smarter
Website: www.flyingsmarter.com

In this episode, points and miles expert Ben Komenkul joins Andrew to share expert tips and insights to help you maximize your points and miles. But first, Andrew talks about USO lounges and airline charter divisions.

• You may have seen or heard about USO Lounges when travelling across the United States. What are these spaces? Learn more in this episode.
• This episode’s guest is Ben Komenkul, the points and miles expert behind Ben’s Big Deal, a leading platform that helps travelers unlock the secrets of airline points and miles to fly in luxury and stay at top-tier hotels without breaking the bank.
• How do you decide whether to use points or cash when booking a flight? What additional perks should you be looking for when picking a credit card? How can you maximize your points alongside your card benefits? Ben covers all that and much more in this episode.

For more on how to calculate points values and see if you are getting a good redemption, check out this article on the Flying Smarter website.

Ben Komenkul is the expert behind Ben’s Big Deal, a leading platform that has been helping travelers maximize their points and miles. With over a decade and a half in this space, Ben brings unparalleled expertise to the world of points and miles. He runs live, interactive masterclasses where travelers can learn how to turn everyday spending into first-class flights and 5-star hotel stays and also shares his insights and experiences on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Ben also hosts the Ben’s Big Deal Podcast on Business Travel 360.

Enjoying the podcast? Follow us on social media for additional content, updates, sneak peeks, and more!

Connect with Flying Smarter:
Facebook: Flying Smarter Podcast
Instagram: @flyingsmarter
X (Twitter): @flying_smarter
LinkedIn: Flying Smarter
Website: www.flyingsmarter.com

This episode contains the third and final part of our series on airport lounges. Plus, Andrew takes a look at why airlines skip seat letters.

• We’ve previously covered why airlines sometimes skip row numbers, but why do they also do the same with seat letters? Find out in this episode.
• Did you know that Uber once offered a helicopter service called Uber Copter? Learn more about how this special service worked.
• From private rooms to swimming pools to golf simulators, there are tons of interesting features at airport lounges around the world. This episode looks at some of the nicest and most unique lounges and lounge features out there.

Be sure to follow or subscribe to Flying Smarter on your podcast platform so that you get new episodes right when they’re released!

Connect with Flying Smarter:
Facebook: Flying Smarter Podcast
Instagram: @flyingsmarter
X (Twitter): @flying_smarter
LinkedIn: Flying Smarter
Website: www.flyingsmarter.com