The Pilot Who ExploresFrom the flight deck…
My name is Pierre and I’d like to welcome you to a website that’s meant to make travel easy. As an airline pilot, my goal is to streamline and tailor your travel experience so that you can explore the world as well or better than I can.
Learn from my travel mistakes so that you don’t have to repeat them, and glean insights into the lifestyle of an airline pilot who has traveled to over 115 countries. Make layovers fun, and discover new destinations along the way. Welcome to a whole new world - of exploring the world.
Not many people admit to having a second home at the airport. But having been JFK-based for most of the last 8 years, I hold those unfortunate, unofficial bragging rights. JFK Terminal 4 (T4) is a beast. It’s the only terminal in the U.S. that’s privately operated, and as of 2026, the recent expansion has […]
There I was, standing at 5,895 meters, gasping for air that wasn’t there, and sobbing into a salt-crusted buff. They don’t tell you that Kilimanjaro is less of a hike and more of a sensory overhaul. It’s the smell of damp moss in the rainforest, the metallic taste of high-altitude oxygen, and the way popcorn […]
There’s something subtly elegant about Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s national carrier. It doesn’t chase the over-the-top glamour of the Gulf airlines. Instead, as I wrote about in my Air Astana A321LR Economy Class Review, it delivers a more understated, yet polished and surprisingly refined kind of comfort. My journey from Almaty to Osh was short, barely an hour and […]
When I booked my ticket on Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, I had no idea what to expect. In a world dominated by mega-carriers and flashy Gulf airlines, Air Astana quietly flies under the radar. But Kazakhstan’s flag carrier has been heavily investing in its onboard product and steadily expanding its international network, increasingly connecting Central Asia […]
I recently had the awesome opportunity to test out Azerbaijan Airlines’s Business Class product on their A320. Well, to be honest, I didn’t have a choice. Land borders between Georgia and Azerbaijan are closed (no idea why! /s), and economy was sold out. But I’m always happy to try out something new – and I […]
There are places that defy easy storytelling. Syria is one of them. A country rich with history, one where in the midst of so much destruction, people still open their doors and share tea with strangers. I spent seven days exploring Syria, from Damascus to Homs, Hama, Idlib, Aleppo, Palmyra, Raqqa, and Deir Ezzor. What […]
I didn’t know exactly what I was chasing when I set out from Abidjan with a backpack, a loosely penciled route, and a healthy dose of curiosity. The plan—if you could call it that—was to make my way overland from Côte d’Ivoire across Liberia, and eventually to Sierra Leone. I had already previously traveled overland […]
There’s nothing better than getting some real rest while in transit on a long trip abroad. That’s where the Ibis Styles Ambassador Incheon Airport T2 comes to the rescue. Between time zones, tight connections, and unfamiliar beds, quality sleep and comfort on the road are non-negotiable. And if you’re anything like me, you’re always on the […]
There’s a moment just before takeoff when even the most seasoned travelers feel a twinge of anticipation. The engines spool up, the aircraft shudders slightly, and in mere seconds, you’re hurtling down the runway at hundreds of miles an hour, defying gravity itself. It’s exhilarating, and for some, just a little nerve-wracking. I get it. […]