My 6 Million Mile Odyssey

From Frequent Flyer to Sky-High Mileage Millionaire: My 6 Million Mile Odyssey

When I recently tallied up my lifetime air miles across all airlines, the staggering total of over 6 million mile treks left me speechless. This astronomical figure includes more than 3 million miles on American Airlines alone. As friends inquired about my cumulative mileage, I realized this wasn’t just a number—it was a portal into a world of surreal experiences and unexpected revelations.

The Million-Mile Club: A Dubious Honor

Reaching such an extreme mileage milestone isn’t necessarily a badge of honor. Instead, it’s a journey into a realm of crazy realities that most travelers never encounter. Here are some of the mind-bending aspects of being a sky-high mileage millionaire:

Time Warp: At an average speed of 500 mph, 6 million miles equates to roughly 12,000 hours or 500 days spent in the air. That’s nearly a year and a half of my life spent cruising at above 30,000 feet.  As a side note, when I was in the thick of maximum travel. I used to tally up the length of a trip, in hours, and the flight time in hours at 500 MPH to find out my average speed while sleeping.  Think about it.  A trip from LAX to JFK is about 5 hours or 10 hours round trip.  Staying overnight and traveling back to LAX in a 24-hour period is 5,000 miles dived by 24 hours or a little over 200 MPH for those 24 hours.  It was crazy, but I did it all the time.  My record was 230MPH while sleeping on the ground.

Earth Circumnavigation: I’ve essentially circled the globe about 240 times, given that the Earth’s circumference is approximately 24,901 miles.

Moon Missions: My total air miles could have taken me to the moon and back about 12 times, considering the average distance between Earth and the moon is roughly 238,855 miles.

The Hidden Costs of Ultra-Frequent Flying

While accumulating millions of miles might seem glamorous, the reality is far less rosy:

Health Impacts: Frequent flying can lead to increased exposure to cosmic radiation, disrupted sleep patterns, and potential long-term health issues.  All of this explains my craziness.

Environmental Footprint: The carbon footprint of such extensive air travel is substantial, raising important questions about personal responsibility and environmental impact.  Why I am picketed everywhere I go.

Personal Sacrifices: Countless missed birthdays, anniversaries, and everyday moments with loved ones are the unseen price of spending so much time in the air. A prescription to too few friends.

Lessons from the Stratosphere

This journey of 6 million miles has taught me valuable lessons:

1. Quality Over Quantity: While the experiences gained through travel are invaluable, there’s a point where more miles don’t equate to more fulfillment.

2. The Importance of Balance: Finding equilibrium between wanderlust and rootedness is crucial for long-term happiness and well-being.

3. Mindful Travel: Each trip now comes with a heightened awareness of its purpose and impact, both personally and globally.

As I reflect on this incredible milestone, I’m filled with awe, gratitude, and a touch of disbelief. These 6 million miles represent not just distances traveled but a lifetime of experiences, challenges, and growth. While I may not be racing to add another million to my total, I’m profoundly grateful for this journey’s perspective—a view of the world and myself that only comes from spending an inordinate amount of time among the clouds.