The Pilot Who ExploresMaximize every connection. Turn long waits into smooth travel with airport strategies, fast-track tips, lounge access guides, connection hacks, and the best activity ideas from someone who’s actually been there.
As a New York City based pilot living in the Washington DC metro, I’m one of tens of thousands facing the same predicament: how can I commute from Washington DC to New York City (NYC) as efficiently as possible? The answer might surprise you. Commuting to NYC: it’s a tough one Whether it’s for business […]
Ah, the classic multi-month backpacking trip across Central America. A bucket list for many, we decided to try it out during a worldwide pandemic. And as you can expect, it was very challenging at times – but all the more rewarding. But the fact that it was possible – even during the heart of the […]
As a New York City based airline pilot, I’m frequently asked which NYC-area airport is the best. The answer is complicated, I’m afraid. If you’re looking to escape stress, cost, and confusion, you should know that some airports are easier than others – depending on where you’re coming from and headed to. But all of […]
Seattle: a picturesque town harbored by the serene Puget sound, surrounded by dozens of deep blue lakes, dotted with quaint villages and lake homes, and protected by tall glacier mountains all around. In other words, the ultimate layover city. As an airline pilot, I’ve found myself there on many layovers but haven’t found an excuse […]
As an airline pilot, I spend a lot of time laying over in cities around the world. Too much time, in fact. But I always look forward to a layover in San Francisco. I’d even dare call it my favorite city in the United States. After a couple layovers in San Francisco, I’ve developed the […]
Just because you only have a 5 to 9 hour layover at Athens International Airport (ATH) doesn’t mean you can’t get an amazing taste of Greece. Last July, I found myself with a nine-hour layover here. Nine hours! But in the end, it was the best layover I could have asked for. In fact, I […]
Ah, the joys of international travel – endless airport security lines, cramped flights, and then, after all that, the final boss: a painfully long customs and immigration line before you’re officially allowed to enter the country. As an airline pilot, I’ve gone through customs more times than I can count — and every minute wasted there is time away […]
I’ve noticed something strange about travel to the Balkans – people seem to flock to Croatia, Montenegro, or even head to Greece, but they often skip Albania. Naturally, this made me curious – is there a reason for this? Should I be visiting Albania at all? After being absolute enthralled by Croatia’s beauty on a […]
Salt Lake City International Airport has quickly become one of my favorite layovers in the last few years, especially as an airline pilot frequently transiting SLC. As an efficient airport, you can get a lot done on an SLC layover in 3-5 hours. Surrounded by massive snow-capped mountains with some of the best skiing in […]