A Couple of Shockers in There: Our Top 10 Most-Read Blog Posts of 2021

I’m one of those nostalgic people who love looking back and reflecting on past times. (I’m listening to the Top HIts of 1986 on Apple Music while writing this 🙂 ). That practice lends itself naturally to this time of year: when one year is about to wrap up and another starts in just a few days.

I enjoy seeing which of this blog’s posts were the most popular during a given year — and sharing those with our Eye of the Flyer community. So counting ’em down from number 10, here are our blog’s most-read posts of 2021!

10. Tips for Delta Travelers Going Through LAX

Delta is undertaking a massive rebuild at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The airline demolished an entire terminal — and is rebuilding it from the ground up. But it’s still running a full complement of flights and doing the best it can during the construction process.

Flying Delta Through LAX? Read This First was the blog’s tenth most-read post this year.

9. CLEAR’s COVID “Passport”

In early June, CLEAR introduced a COVID “passport” that allowed some members to upload proof of vacination to their CLEAR accounts. The problem? It was valid only for vaccinations administered by certain health providers. Those of us who received our jabs at government sites were SOL.

But a week or so later, that changed. As we detailed in our ninth most-read post, CLEAR Expands Digital Vaccine “Passport” Availability to Anyone with CDC Card? the feature was opened up to significantly more users.

8. Is This in Your Wallet?

Capital One launched the new Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Visa card in November. Our eighth most-read post of 2021, Five Reasons Delta Flyers Must Consider Applying for the New Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, details why how we SkyMiles members could benefit from this great “and” card.

I recently received my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card card and can’t wait to visit the Cap One lounge in DFW!

7. A Very Expensive Beer at LaGuardia

Food and beverages generally aren’t cheap at airport bars and restaurants. That’s common knowledge.

But things got a little of hand at a LaGuardia bar. You can read about it in the year’s seventh most-read post, Tweet About $28.50 Beer at LaGuardia Sparks Audit of New York Airport Concession Prices! 

6. Southwest Snark

Back in March, a three-year-old video popped up on my Instagram timeline. A Southwest employee on board (we presume a flight attendant) made a snarky remark about the United plane flying parallel to it during approach to an airport.

You can see the video in the year’s sixth most-read post, WATCH: Southwest Employee Apparently Snarks United. Passenger Declares He Has COVID – As Plane Departs.

5. What Happens If You Lose Your CDC Vaccination Card?

Right around the time both René and I received our COVID vaccinations, he wrote what became this year’s fifth most-read blog post: If I Lose My CDC Vaccination Card – Can I Get a Replacement? Who Do I Ask? What Does It Cost?

I hope you haven’t had to use the answers he provided!

4. No Free Drink for You!

This is a very recent post that quickly found an audience. And its Comments section was rather interesting, too.

One of my family members tried using a screenshot of a Have One on Us drink ticket I sent her. But a Delta flight attendant originally denied her the free beverage.

Read about the saga — and see reader’s opinions — in 2021’s fourth most-read post, Why a Delta Flight Attendant (Initially) Wouldn’t Accept a Medallion Drink Coupon. Honestly, I expected this post would get eyeballs. But so many and so quickly was definitely a (very pleasant) surprise.

3. Fool Me Once — But I’ll Be Fooled Twice!

In early January 2021, a Motley Fool Amex Offer showed up for many American Express card members. It basically offered a free year of Motley Fool stock advising service.

I know people who’ve made good money from Motley Fool’s stock recommendations. So I decided to give it a whirl.  And I’ll definitely keep my subscription going for at least another year. I made four figures worth of money from Motley Food advice alone during 2021. (For what it’s worth, I use SoFi Invest as part of my stock trading.)

Our third most-read most, Motley Fool Amex Offer: Free Subscription AND Cash Back?! talks about the great promotion — and original excitement around a potential cashback possibility that didn’t pan out (oh, well).

2. Avelo’s First Flight

April 28, 2021, is a day I’ll always fondly remember: I rode on Avelo Airlines’ first two revenue passenger flights.

Being with several Avelo employees on the flights made for such a fun and special experience. You can read all about it in 2021’s second most-read post: Avelo Airlines First Flight: Lots of Fun — But Will I Ever Fly Them Again? [REVIEW]

1. Remember to Do This When You Renew Your Passport

Our most-read post of 2021, Renewed Your Passport? Remember to Update Your Global Entry Profile! (I Speak from Experience) detailed a somewhat embarrassing experience of mine after I renewed my passport.

Data points keep coming in. I heard from someone that it’s now tough to update your passport details on the Global Entry website — and that you must do it in person at a CBP office.

I was surprised this ended up being the year’s most-read post by a landslide. Like, it’s one of the blog’s top posts ever. But like all of our posts, I hope it helped a few people with their travels.

What Do You Think?

Are there any posts you remember from 2021 that didn’t make the list? I’d love to hear about it in the below Comments section.

And thank you for reading the blog! Here’s to 2022!