Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with frequent fliers to find out how often they fly, their favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.
Name: Chris Sloan
Occupation: Founder of Airchive.com, Co-Founder/President of 2C Media, Creator/Executive Producer of “Airport 24/7: Miami” (Travel Channel)
Hometown: Norman, Oklahoma
Residence: Miami, FL
Twitter: @airchive / @2CMediaTV
Pinterest: Airchive
Flickr: Airchive
Instagram: AirchiveSloan
YouTube: cmsloan2002
Bio: Since co-founding the award-winning production company and creative hot shop 2C Media in 2005, Sloan and his team have incorporated this passion into the creation and production of several successful cable TV series, including “Airport 24/7: Miami” (Travel Channel), “Swamp Wars” (Animal Planet), “Danger Coast” (CMT), “A Stand Up Mother” (WE tv), “Future Food” (Discovery: Planet Green) and “10 Things You Didn’t Know” (Travel Channel), among others.
How often do you fly: 4-10 times per month. I was on the inaugural flights of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, and Airbus A380.
How many countries have you been to: 26
How many continents have you been to: 4
Favorite American city: Miami
Favorite international city: Berlin
Least favorite country: I don’t have a least favorite country. But call me crazy, I really hated my experience in Rome… though I love the rest of Italy.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Kyoto, Japan
Favorite airline: Delta (domestic), ANA (international)
Favorite aircraft type: Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental
Aisle or window: Window of course
Favorite airport lounge: Cathay Pacific “The Wing” at Hong Kong CLK
Favorite U.S. airport: Miami International
Favorite international airport: Beijing Capital Terminal 3
Favorite hotel: Park Hyatt Tokyo
Favorite cruise line: Holland-America is only one I’ve been on.
Favorite island: St. Maarten – Planespotting on the beach! Does life get any better?
Favorite fancy restaurant: Oxo on the Thames in London
Favorite hole in the wall: Goldie’s Patio Hamburger Grill in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Favorite fruit: Strawberries
Favorite food: Indian
Least favorite food: Sushi, I know… I know…
Drink of choice (In the air and on the ground): Vanilla Vodka on the rocks
Favorite travel movie(s): “The High and The Mighty”
Favorite travel show(s): “Househunters International”
Favorite travel book(s): Anything by Bill Bryson
Right now I am reading: A book that has nothing to do with travel.
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines: “The New York Times Quarterly Travel Magazine” / “Conde Naste Traveler” / “National Geographic Magazine” (it inspires me).
Favorite travel website(s) – besides JohnnyJet.com, of course!: NYCAviation, Airlinereporter, FlightBlogger, Apex.aero, CrankyFlier, Seatguru, and TripAdvisor.
Five things you bring on a plane: iPAD, Laptop, Bose headphones, a book (for below 10,000 feet), and power converters for every aircraft
What do you always seem to forget: Single A batteries for the Bose
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport duty free store? Refrigerator magnets from a given city
Favorite travel iPhone app(s): Kayak, Flight Aware, Turbulence.com, Weather.Com, RadarScope, PlaneFinder, and all U.S. airline travel apps
Most embarrassing/worst travel moment: Getting attacked by gypsys outside the Roman Coliseum. I nearly lost my camera, backpack, and wallet but ended up feeling like Bruce Lee and fending them off – hence my poor experience in Rome.
What’s your dream destination: South Africa or North Korea (go figure)
Favorite travel charity: Make A Wish Foundation
Best travel tip: Know your weather, the time of the year you are flying, know your airport, know your destination and schedule/plan accordingly. For example, flying into thunderstorm and traffic delay prone airports such as New York LaGuardia in the summer is a recipe for delay or cancellation. Mornings are typically best in the summer, and for that matter, the entire year to avoid the snowball affect of flights being delayed or cancelled as the day goes on. And while we’re on the subject, fly non-stop at every possible opportunity to avoid, hub related issues.
