Richard Robinson measures time in a unique way, using boarding passes, seat numbers, and time zones instead of weeks or months. Last year, he was away from home more than he was there.
Since 2010, Robinson has taken 945 flights, covering 1,585,148 miles, which is about 64 times around the Earth. He has visited 130 airports and flown with 35 different airlines. Of these flights, he has been in business class 521 times, 11 times in international first class, and a few times in private jets.
At 41, he has United Airlines Premier 1K status, the airline’s highest level, which offers special benefits. United Airlines is part of the Star Alliance, which is a group of major airlines. Despite his many flights in business class, he is no longer impressed by luxuries like fine wines and amenity kits. Now, he focuses on comfort basics, like a good bed and enough space to move.
Business class fares are often three to four times the cost of economy class. If you are not using company funds, deciding on an upgrade can be tough. Robinson advises travellers to consider their needs before spending cash or air miles.
