You may not have heard of Fred Finn, but if you think about George Clooney in the 2009 film “Up in the Air”, you will be close to understanding what he is famous for. Like Clooney’s character, Fred managed to accrue a million air miles on United Airlines but that was only a tiny part of his flying.
In 2003 Fred was awarded the Guinness World Record for the Most Passenger Air Miles Flown:
In 2003 Fred was awarded the Guinness World Record for the Most Passenger Air Miles Flown. At the time, Finn had flown a total distance of 13,900,000 miles. He also holds the record for the most number of flights as a supersonic passenger, having made 714 trips on Concorde, including its first and last flights. He is still traveling around the world to this day. Although sadly, he can no longer fly supersonic.
The “World’s Most Travelled Man” has now shared his top tips for travelers and some may raise an eyebrow or two.
Seriously sturdy luggage
As one might expect when you have flown so many miles, luggage is a crucial component of your journey. Fred believes in durability above everything; after all, who wants to waste time filling in forms to claim luggage damage? He recommends a lightweight case so you don’t waste your luggage allowance on the suitcase itself. This is often important when traveling with hand baggage only as some airlines have very restrictive weight limits, even in business or first class with limits as low as 10kg. He favors the type of case made with woven polypropylene such as from Samsonite, as they are extremely hard-wearing as well as flexible to accommodate extra items. The frequent flyer also suggests steering away from cases with sharp corners as they are easily damaged.
Fred Finn on the flight deck of Concorde:
Get seated
All seats are not created equal. Research is key to a comfortable journey, especially when it comes to business and first-class seats. Fred flew nearly all of his Concorde trips in the same seat, 9A. He chose this one because because “that’s where they started the refreshment service from”. It was also a window seat, although the view wasn’t that great with Concorde’s small windows and triple glazing.
Fred flew nearly all of his Concorde trips in the same seat, 9A. He chose this one because because “that’s where they started the refreshment service from”.
Fred advocates using a website such as seatmaps.com to check your seat assignment and check for things such as bassinet and galley positions if you want peace and quiet to work or sleep. If you are a fussy eater and can’t pre-order your meal, sitting near the front of your cabin can help ensure you get the choice of all the meal options before they run out.
Always hydrate
Regarding jet lag, Mr Finn says he rarely suffered from it, partly down to the astonishing three-hour transatlantic flights on Concord. Stress, dehydration and tiredness from travel itself often make up a large part of jetlag in his opinion. Therefore, he tries to make sure he arrives at the airport with plenty of time to spare so he can relax before his flight. He does, however, believe in setting your watch to local time when you board and going to bed at local time. He also endorses a glass of red wine to help you drift off to sleep. However, he recommends drinking plenty of water too to stay hydrated.
[Fred] also endorses a glass of red wine to help you drift off to sleep. However, he recommends drinking plenty of water too to stay hydrated.
Fred spent several years commuting between New York and London on a weekly basis, so he developed strategies for minimizing the effects on his body. While modern aircraft like the Airbus 350 and Boeing Dreamliner 787 have better humidity and cabin pressure, older aircraft such as the Sierbus 380 and older Boeing 777s do not. He, therefore, recommends getting a water or facial mist to moisten your skin regularly to help with the dryness, as well as trying to rest your eyes with them closed for a few minutes every hour to stop them drying out.
Get moving
The traveler also believes in keeping your blood flow going when sitting for long periods when flying, which is particularly important to avoid DVT along with staying hydrated. Fred invented his own exercises for when he traveled but says any simple movements such as rotating your ankles or moving your legs regularly can help.
If you buy something to bring home with you that is delicate and can’t be checked in, Fred has a unique tip—toilet roll. If you don’t have any packing material to hand, a toilet roll can be handy for padding the item, such as slipping the roll over the neck of a glass bottle to protect the most delicate part.
A toilet roll can be handy for padding the [delicate item that can’t be checked in].
Fred Finn
Fred, now 84, has lived a fascinating life as a frequent traveler all over the world and has shared his experiences in a new book called “Sonic Boom”. In it, he describes both his experiences of Concorde, including the celebrities and royalty he met, as well as the history of the aircraft and why he believed it failed. You can also find out how to visit the remaining Concordes in the world. The book covers some of the close calls he has had, from being held hostage in Iran during the start of the revolution to an attempted hijacking in 1977. He recalls the funny side of the potential hijack after tanks surrounded his aircraft before armed police burst on board and dragged two men off. Arriving very late to meet his then-wife, she refused to believe his excuse until it was on the news the next day.
