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I’m cautiously optimistic most of us will be back in the air early-ish next year. And 2021 is already shaping up to be one of my most travel-packed years in a long time.
Trips of all kinds — work and personal — scheduled for 2020 are tentatively postponed to next year.
Family Farewells and Celebrations
It’s been an up-and-down May in our house.
Three family members died this month (one from COVID-19). We even attended a Zoom funeral a few weeks ago. There will be celebrations of life for both decedents next year. One of those events will be in New York, so we’ll head east for that.
On the happier side, we took part in a Zoom wedding this past Saturday. A family friend got married in her Las Vegas backyard. She and her new husband are planning a reception in Sin City next year.
Postponed Events
Back in my younger days, Guns N’ Roses played the FARGODOME in my hometown of Fargo. My parents put the kibosh on my attending.
Cut to 2020: GN’R scheduled a North American tour for this summer — with a stop at the FARGODOME! I got tickets, called a longtime friend who also likes ‘80s and ‘90s rock, and planned a trip to Fargo to finally see Guns N’ Roses. Then the tour was postponed this week.
My best friend, Rick, and I decided last year to visit Minneapolis this fall for a Minnesota Vikings football game at the beautiful US Bank Stadium.
We’re pushing the trip to 2021. Who knows if the dreaded second wave of COVID-19 will arrive this fall? We’re perfectly fine watching the game at one of our homes.
Birthday and Anniversary Trips
My wife’s birthday was last week. All she wanted was a family getaway with my daughter and me. That’s been postponed to next year.
Our ten-year wedding anniversary is in October. We were thinking of a trip to celebrate that milestone. But, again, we may do something next year.
We also planned to visit Hawaii with my parents this fall. I guess 2021 will be our year of aloha.
Mileage Runs
I’m trying to stock up on MQM with my Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Cardfrom American Express this year — especially because all of this year’s MQM roll over to next year.
Starting 2021 with a healthy supply of MQM and throwing in some MQD runs during the year should have me again seeing Diamonds. 🙂 .
Trips for the Blog
I originally planned to visit Tokyo this year to review the new Delta Sky Club opening soon. (And because I love Tokyo!)
During my London mileage run in February, I visited several lounges and planned to review them. But we’re not sure which ones will reopen — and when. Plus, there’s always the chance the clubs will have undergone some remodels. So perhaps I’ll need to revisit them for current pictures and information.
Client Travel
This one is a big question mark.
My photo editing work sends me to concerts, festivals, and award shows around the country (mostly the western half of the United States).
When (and if) these events return, I hope they need a full complement of photo staff — especially onsite.
Until Then…
Traveling — especially for fun — is a luxury not everyone enjoys. Those of us reading (and writing) blogs about travel and points are lucky. Make no mistake about it.
Thinking of travel next year is one of the things that keeps us going.
What Have You Delayed to 2021?
What trips of yours have been pushed to next year? Let’s commiserate in the Comments section.
— Chris
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Not going to happen.
Have you considered changing your handle to “Negative Thought” or Depressing Thought?”
Will end up around 130,000 miles in 2020, and expecting that to drop down a lot in 2021 as we are renting apartments overseas now – and just going more slowly than normal 4-5 days in a country.
2020 should end with about 25 new countries visited over 6 months of travel.
2021 should be closer to ~40 new countries visited over 11 months of travel.
—
I’ve spent the last couple months doing domestic stuff, finishing up all the US states (just SD/ND to go).
And looking forward to first international trip in July in a few months.
Stoked.
I see H2 2020 as a the best travel time in history – and I think 2021 will be totally bonkers.
I realize Delta MQM will rollover to 2021 but have i missed a decision on rollover of our 2020 MQD? Or is everything we spend in 2020 lost?
Delta hasn’t announced anything. I doubt MQD will roll over to next year — but hope I’m wrong on this one!
My travel came to a screeching halt with no expected work flights for the remainder of 2020, so I am spending 2020 and part of 2021 regrouping. My next trip will be to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain, likely Sept 2021. Until then, I plan to get my financial house in order and decide if I truly need a travel credit card or if a cash back would give the same results with less annual fee and more flexibility if only using it for personal spend. For a lot of us, the level of unemployment has been an eye opener in just how quickly a secure industry can turn. I now realize I am not prepared if it happens to my industry, so better to take a pause and think long term.