What is “popular” should help you understand why, year after year, I focus on the stories that I do. As we close out the year of 2024, I’m looking back at the 10 most popular posts of 2024 in terms of traffic on Live and Let’s Fly.
The trend is clear and has repeated itself for several years: people like reading bad news. I guess it is not a surprise in our clickbait culture, but the results are clear well beyond the top-10 list below. As you will see, not a single “positive” story made the cut for the FIFTH year in a row, though at least a couple of the stories this year were more than poor passenger behavior (like the dismal fate of CLEAR or perhaps “Rawdogging” if you consider that positive…)
Although my incredibly time-consuming trip reports never make the top-10 list, I have to remind myself that I actually write to myself first and foremost and that it must always be that way. I’ve also continued to be more overtly political and religious this year, which is not so much for clicks (frankly, this turns off many readers and is not great for short-term or long-term business) but rather feeling comfortable enough to risk offending some readers. But I don’t aggressively sell you credit cards that you do not need and even if you disagree with me, I hope you can at least appreciate how I come to my worldview on a number of topics we have discussed this year. I make mistakes and always try to own up to them when I do. Sometimes I say things that I wish I could take back and will ask for forgiveness. That, I hope, is what sets this blog apart from the pack.
But without further ado, here are the ten most popular posts from 2024:
8. TSA Touchless ID Will Put CLEAR Out Of Business
6. United First Class Passenger Forced To Give Up Seat For Unaccompanied Minor
5. Yikes: Passenger Strips Naked, Runs Up Aisle, Knocks Over Flight Attendant…
3. New Trend: “Rawdogging” On Flights
2. Sickening: Passengers Brazenly Defy American Airlines Flight Attendants During Emergency Evacuation
I will say the homepage had 10X the amount of traffic of even the top post above, which really went viral…
In terms of my trip reports, my JAL A350-1000 First Class journey from New York to Tokoyo was my top flight review and my reivew of the The Brando, the private island resort in French Polynesia, was far and away the runway winner of hotel reviews, at least in terms of traffic.
Many thanks to Kyle Stewart, 121pilot, and for Elena their contributions and insight over the last year. All are a pleasure to work with and I am deeply grateful for their helpful contributions (stay tuned for more hotel reviews from Elena in 2025).
Here at Live and Let’s Fly, we do not avoid clickbait, but still try to make it worth your while to click through any story we write. Plus, this year has featured almost daily trip report installments, particularly hotel and flight reviews, (though I have traveled so much I always feel like I am way behind). We look forward to bringing you more content worth reading in 2025. We also welcome your suggestions for how we might offer you even more relevant content that is worth reading and sharing.
Last year, I warned you in this annual post that I would be introducing more credit card stories in 2024. That did not happen, even though I’ve been told that I was leaving massive amounts of money (affiliate links) on the table by not focusing on credit cards more here. I’ve always avoided that sort of business model, but I’ve again been told I’m leaving my kid’s college tuition on the table (and here I thought I’d send them to German universities…). Who knows, I could not bring myself this year to focus on credit cards, but tomorrow is a new day…and year.
I appreciate your support of this website and the independent voice it offers.
Matthew., there is a line between overtly selling credit cards I don’t need and writing posts about cards we should all probably have and how to maximize return and rewards on those. The former is annoying and a turn off (like your religious and political posts ), the latter can be quite helpful and will still help your kids tuition.
Just a thought. Happy new year
@Cy … I don’t find Matthew’s “religious and political posts” “annoying” .
I find them interesting opinions , which are not found on other blogs .
Israel is not always the bad guy, but very aggressive and pushy. Support for the Biblical Hebrews should not automatically turn to blind support of the Government of the State of Israel. That is a slight weakness of this blog but still an interesting perspective to read. Happy New Year to all who are here.
I would not call my support for Israel blind.
@Matthew … my support for both Israel and USA are tribal , religious , and philosophical .
@derek … Please do not mislabel ‘tribal complaining’ as “aggressive and pushy” .
When the Israelites crossed after the parting of the Red Sea , the tribe complained the path was muddy , but that complaint was not “aggressive and pushy” .
It is not “aggressive and pushy” to complain about the Germans’ deeds , nor is it “aggressive and pushy” to complain about relatives being kidnapped as hostages by madmen .
Hope you can spare a thought then for all the thousands of Palestinian hostages kidnapped by the Israelis as well.
STFU Aaron. They throw butt sluts like you off buildings in Gaza.
Make me, you walking piece of hippo excrement.
Also, that’s just a dumb way of dismissing and dehumanizing people to condone the genocide of a people you are racist towards (as if you’re vile and disgusting homophobia wasn’t enough). And lets not forget, Israel’s bombs, snipers, and torturing are killing gay Palestinians.
I think you should go there and be a human shield and do something useful for a change. It would definitely be more meaningful than being an American keyboard warrior and slut for hire letting men of all persuasions use your holes for fun and profit.
My votes for the Best Comments were : “U.S. C.B.P. didn’t allow us to enter our own country” , by Kyle , on 11-3-24 ; and “What Trump’s victory means for airlines” , by Matthew , on 11-6-24 .
The comments add spice to the blog stories .
Omg there was a question about rawdogging on the big fat quiz of the year. I knew the answer and my mom (who is 71) said they can’t say that on tv! LOLOLOL
Many thanks to Kyle for not having to waste a click on Sunday 🙂
@Matthew in past years, Kyle has had some of the most popular posts. Has he been told to tone down his posts?
No, Kyle writes about what he wants to on Sundays and I’m very grateful for him.
I appreciate and enjoy liveandletsfly. Thank u Matthew. Happy New Year to you and your family.
I prefer your posts over Kyle’s but appreciate that this blog is a business and having a partner is smart business. Wish you nothing but the best in 2025.