| | Where's Johnny Jet?  Happy New Year's Eve from sunny and mild L.A. (it's 67º F). My family tradition is to spend Christmas in Toronto, where my wife is from, followed by New Year’s in Hawaii. Not too shabby, eh? But we decided to keep our newborn off airplanes until the end of flu season and until she has all of her vaccines. We did the same with our son, Jack, three years ago. So instead, my in-laws came into town for Christmas! It’s been a house full of relatives, which is always fun and a mini-adventure. Some of us camped out on the couch! BTW: I took the photo above at the Moscow Ballet's "Great Russian Nutcracker" that we all went to see at the Wiltern Theatre in L.A. *The best stories of the decade*
Can you believe that it’s not only the last day of 2019 but the last day of the decade?! Where has the time gone? I feel so fortunate that the 10s (what’s this decade called?) was my best decade yet. I married the most amazing woman and had two adorable kids. Last week, we rounded up 12 of the best, most-popular and most-commented-on stories posted to JohnnyJet.com in 2019. This week, we're sending off the '10s by taking a look back at some of the website's top stories, including one I wrote that went viral and ended up on most of the national and local news stations. Scroll down to see all 12, including a few stories on my wedding crazy wedding day and the roller coaster rides when both of my children were born. All are listed below!
Reminder: Spend your American Express Platinum credit
If you have an American Express Platinum Card like I do to get you into the Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Club (see more details on the card here), this is a reminder that you only have a few hours to make sure you spent your $200 annual credit. I foolishly chose American Airlines (AA) as my designated airline since I fly it so often but the problem is (it’s a good problem to have) that AA gives me pretty much everything I need for free (seat assignments, checked bags, food, upgrades…) since I have Executive Platinum status.
I had to scramble a couple days ago when my reminder came in over email (I use FollowUpThen). I checked online, where it said that I had spent all of my credit. However, I had a feeling it wasn’t accurate so I called the 800-number, and sure enough I still had $84 to spend. I ended up buying two 500-mile upgrade certificates since gift cards don’t work anymore (they stopped in April, so I’m kind of kicking myself for not buying them in January). The agent said that the reason why my account showed I had spent all $200 is that I was already on my last billing cycle, which doesn’t make sense to me. So my point is that if you have the card, double-check on your credit with an agent. FYI: Tomorrow (next year!) I will designate another airline in place of American Airlines so I don’t have to scramble to figure out a way to spend the credit.
I hope you and your family have a happy, healthy, safe, and prosperous New Year!  Scottevest sale: 15% off site-wide ends today! Scottevest, which as my readers know I love, is in the middle of a big sale. Everything on the site except gift cards and items in the outlet section will be 15% off through EOD today, December 31. Just use code DEC19 to save. I use Scottevest products every time I travel because their multiple hidden pockets not only keep my valuables safe but can act as an extra carry-on, as well. Check out the collection here! |
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| | |  My most popular story ever: Delta flight 2255 from Atlanta to Los Angeles seemed to be an ordinary flight, but it turned out to be everything but ordinary. Read it >> |  In September of 2014, Natalie and I got married in Toronto. It was a made-for-Hollywood day that included one of the worst scares of my life: my dad, on the way to the church, wouldn't wake up. Read it >> |  In the thick heat of Kathmandu, Ian Livingston plunged into the rollicking, spilled-over soul of Nepal's capital in search of its favorite snack: momos. Read it >> |  Just five miles from LAX is one of the best beach communities in all of America: my hometown of Manhattan Beach. Here's a guide to a layover there. Read it >> |
|  Jack "Jet," my first child, was born on Thursday, September 15, 2016, exactly four years after Natalie and said "I do." Here's the story of how it unfolded. Read it >> |  It's the best day of Ian Livingston's travel life, from a visit to a village new to the west to crocodile-hunting at night. Read it >> |  Everyone always wants to know how they can find a good travel deal. Here are 17 ways to find cheap flights that I've turned back to again and again over the years. Read it >> |  At the close of 2017, Ian Livingston arrived in Cairo for the second time in his life. Here are some things to know before traveling to Egypt yourself. Read it >> |
|  I went to Las Vegas for Virtuoso Travel Week while Natalie was eight months pregnant with baby #2. When I got an urgent text, I raced home. Here's what happened. Read it >> |  You probably know a thing or two about Italy. But do you know what riposo is? Jennifer Dombrowski does—plus 11 more things you never knew. Read it >> |  After winning roundtrip flights to Iceland in a JohnnyJet.com contest, Howard Blount shared 13 things to know before planning a trip to Iceland. Read it >> |  Here are 10 terrible, horrible, no good, very bad airplane habits that I commonly see on planes. Read it >> |
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