Flying with a Seasoned Traveler
I interviewed my former colleague Ahmad Faruqui, an energy economist who has traveled extensively for business and leisure, to understand his experience flying more than 4 million miles around the world.
What is the extent to which you have traveled?
I started intense traveling about 45 years ago. It was largely part of my job — my clients were all over the US and Canada. I traveled to visit family back home in Pakistan, and we started to do some serious vacations as well. Gradually, my radius of travel became bigger and bigger, covering 37 countries across 6 continents. By the time I retired at the end of 2021, I had accumulated 3 million miles on United Airlines, and probably another million miles on other carriers.
What happened when you hit the 3 million mile mark on United Airlines?
Once you hit 3 million miles, United gives you permanent 1K status for life. Getting the distinction was a surprise to me. My wife and I were taking a short flight to LA, and as we were about to board, they called my name out, and suddenly four people appeared — one with a camera, one with a big frame. They took a photograph and said, “Congratulations! You’re going to cross three million miles on United on this flight to Los Angeles!”
What’s the most important factor for you when choosing an airline?
I am most concerned about leaving on time, arriving on time, and having nothing disruptive on the flight. For my international flights, the seat matters quite a bit, and I make sure I get a business class seat. If I keep flying with one carrier, they give me better opportunities to get upgraded. Early on, I was not picking any airline — I would just pick the time and the fare. My boss at the time suggested becoming a member of the frequent flyer programs, which were quite new at the time. I joined the programs for every airline I was flying, but it didn’t do much for me. Then I realized that I have to stay focused on one carrier. It took me five to ten years to chisel it down to United, because it: 1) had lots of flights [from San Francisco], and 2) was a fairly reliable carrier. Through trial and error, I discovered the best seats in coach were in the exit row — they were the safest seats, and the person in front would not recline their seat on you.
What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had on a flight?
In September 2011, I boarded a Boeing 757 on a perfectly fine afternoon in Washington Dulles, bound for San Francisco, where I was attending a formal evening reception. The aircraft began to taxi, and I noticed the engine to my right didn’t sound normal. Suddenly the TV screen went blank, and the purser shouted a one-word command: “Evacuate.”
I was seated by the exit row window in 20F, and it was my job to open the door. I’m not a particularly strong guy, and I knew it weighed at least 40 pounds. But in that adrenaline rush, I took the door out and tossed it like it was made of paper. Then I stepped on the wing of the aircraft and looked down to see if I should jump, but the wing was 18 feet off the ground. The chute suddenly opened, so I jumped on the slide, and I thought I was going to hit the concrete at such a high speed that I’d probably die. So I braced myself by extending my hands, but that was a bad idea. On the ground, I looked at my knuckles, and they were red with torn white skin. But I was alive.
At some point, shuttles transported us to a lounge, and I later found out that one of the associate justices of the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as well as the acting Secretary of Commerce were also on the flight. I wondered what had caused the evacuation, but all I could find out was that the control tower had seen flames coming out of the engines, but it was never proven. After that incident, I always read the safety brochure, because each plane is a little different, and I usually try to seat myself in the exit row and often in the window seat.
What lessons have you learned from speaking with flight attendants and pilots?
Flight crews have a virtually impossible job. Getting a plane off the ground on time is not as easy as it sounds. There’s the food, the fuel, the crew, the mechanical condition of the aircraft, the temperature and weather outside, the other aircraft, air traffic control — it’s like a zoo! So what I’ve learned is to have empathy with the flight crew, as nearly everything is outside of their control.
What is the best part about flying?
The best part is getting to a destination, meeting new people, and getting to know a new culture. I got an education without being enrolled in a class — I have United Airlines to thank for that! I wouldn’t be where I am in my career or in my life without air travel.
Check out Ahmad’s blog Vagabond, in which he reflects on his journeys around the world:
My travels across the globe: a life on the road
The Fear of Flying — Part I
The Fear of Flying — Part II
