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:
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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.

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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.

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In this episode, Andrew starts by looking at airline status and the US government’s airline for transporting prisoners. Then he continues our airport lounge series by looking at how to access lounges.

• What is alliance status? Flying Smarter has covered airline status before but this episode will look at how that translates to alliance-wide benefits.
• The United States government has its own airline for transporting prisoners around the country. Learn more about the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System in this episode.
• As we covered in Episode 68, airport lounges are supposed to allow travelers to escape crowded and bustling airport terminals. With free food, showers, and more, airport lounges can be great places to wait for your next flight. This episode explores how you can access these spaces.

Our next episode will be looking at some of the nicest and most unique lounges around the world. Be sure to follow or subscribe to Flying Smarter on your podcast platform so that you get new episodes right when they’re released!

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In this episode, Andrew starts off by talking about why some airplanes skip row numbers and what airlines do to recognize “million milers.” Then for the main segment, he starts the first of a two-part series on airport lounges.

• Why do some airlines choose to skip row numbers? The rows on an airplane could be numbered from one to six and then jump to nine. Learn more in this episode.
• Airport lounges are increasingly popular and accessible. We’re delving into the world of lounges, looking at what they are, how there are many different types, and why they exist.
• What amenities and features can you expect in an airport lounge? Which perks at lounges are the most common and which ones are the most valuable? These are just some of the questions that Andrew explores in this episode.

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

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We have to take a week off unfortunately, but we’re revisiting Episode 8 instead of skipping this week altogether! Flying Smarter will be back with an all-new Episode on September 9th.

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This episode is special because it doesn’t follow the normal episode format. Andrew spends the entire episode chatting with airline pilot Owen Zupp about turbulence and what you need to know about it. Topics discussed in this episode include:

• Turbulence makes some passengers a bit nervous and there can be some discomfort in the cabin when a plane hits some rough air. But what happens in the flight deck when a flight encounters turbulence? Learn all about it in this episode.
• Should passengers be worried about turbulence breaking the wings off a plane or sending the aircraft into a dive? Andrew asks Owen about some worst-case scenarios that passengers might consider.
• There are lots of ways that pilots can anticipate, avoid, and remove planes from turbulence, but we sometimes hear of incidents of severe turbulence causing injuries. Owen explains how these types of scenarios usually happen and how you can keep yourself safe onboard.

Owen Zupp is an airline pilot an awarding-winning author. You can check out his work on his website at www.owenzupp.com. There you can find various articles that he’s written, as well as details on his books and how you can get them. You can also find him on his YouTube channel and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

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Andrew starts this episode by talking about aircraft painting and secret crew rest areas. The main segment for this episode features Michael Taylor from data analytics and consumer insights firm J.D. Power.

• How often do aircraft get repainted? And why is the process so important? Find out more in this episode. Plus, did you know that some airliners have hidden crew rest areas?
• Michael Taylor is the Senior Managing Director, Travel, Hospitality, Retail and Customer Service at data analytics and consumer insights firm J.D. Power. He joins Andrew to talk about the drivers of passenger satisfaction in the air travel experience. From personal and friendly service to clean bathrooms, Mike provides insight on what travelers care about the most.
• J. D. Power produces the annual North American Airline Satisfaction Survey and Mike shares the results in this episode. Find out which airlines did the best and what the key findings were.

Michael Taylor is the Senior Managing Director, Travel, Hospitality, Retail and Customer Service at data analytics and consumer insights firm J.D. Power. Mike is responsible for providing industry thought leadership and advice to the company’s clients in the airline and airport segment, and has worked with a whole host of airlines and airports across North America and around the world to measure and manage customer satisfaction and loyalty. J.D. Power conducts the annual North American Airline Satisfaction study: Learn More Here

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In this episode, Andrew starts by looking at why airlines and aircraft sometimes struggle in hot temperatures. Then he explores five unique air travel experiences.

• Why do planes have trouble taking off in hot temperatures? The answer has to do with science. Learn more about why this happens and what airlines and travelers can do about it.
• From a “milk run” through the rugged Alaska wilderness to sipping champagne in your own private suite with a bathroom and bedroom, there are lots of special experiences in the world of air travel. As a follow-up to Episode 31, Andrew looks at five of these unique journeys.
• When you fly with certain airlines, you don’t have to go through the typical airport processes. Andrew talks about how there are no security lines or crowded terminals with helicopter airlines and public charters.

Materials mentioned in this episode:

• I flew on a major airline’s Pokémon-themed plane. The unforgettable experience didn’t cost extra — and it came with souvenirs. (Business Insider)

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