My life changed dramatically in September 2018 when I jumped ship from the engineering/consulting world to pursue a career in the airline industry, all while relocating from the east coast to the west coast; but I never imagined how gaining my wings would transform my personality into a spontaneous, adventure-seeking individual.

I always enjoyed flying; but prior to 2018, I averaged less than two trips per year, each planned months in advance.  As anyone who has experienced standby travel will attest, no trip is certain until you're physically off the ground.  More often than not, you end up traveling on your second or third choice (sometimes changing destinations entirely), but that's where the fun of the experience lives:  never knowing if you'll actually make it on board the flight.

Initially, flying standby scared me; I worried about becoming stranded in a distant city, so I only boarded an airplane if I saw a clear, easy exit path back to my origin.  This severely limited my options and meant I was only flying once every few weeks, waiting for that "golden opportunity" flight.  Over time, I've developed my risk tolerance to the point where I now fly every week regardless of how few seats are available, often with no true destination in mind; I simply let the winds (and plane type - I love my Airbuses) be my guide.

For me, flying has become an addiction.  It's the key that unlocks new adventures, the adrenaline rush that unleashes a sense of euphoria, and the sanctuary that provides an environment of relaxation.  In my nearly six years at Alaska Airlines, I've flown over 828,000 miles on 720 standby flights via 101 airports [as of 05/05/24].  Many of these flights have involved day trips where I walk 10-15 miles exploring a new city (both the touristy sections and those off the beaten path), taking hundreds of photos along the way; others are simply days full of flying purely for the joy of being in the sky (especially aboard those plush Virgin America interiors).  Regardless of the motive, I am incredibly grateful for the unique gift standby flying has offered me and even more thankful for the travel experiences I've shared with family and friends along the way.