What is “popular” should help you understand why, year after year, I focus on the stories that I do, though I’m sensing a change is afoot. As we close out the year of 2025, I’m looking back at the 10 most popular posts of 2025 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, only two positive stories (Thai introducing a new lie-flat seat in premium economy and Mexico’s clever new alternative to the Panama Canal, both written by Kyle) made the top-10 list, though sevearl of the stories this year were more policy driven than simply a recounting of poor passenger behavior.
That’s the difference I’m seeing: people still like to read bad news, but the most popular posts in 2025 included stories on TSA lapses, police stings, new exit controls when leaving the USA, and the detentino of a U.S. citizen at the border at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport…it wasn’t just drunken debauchery onboard.
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 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 2025:
10. New U.S. Visa Bond Program Requires Travelers To Enter And Exit Through Specific Airports Only
8. Exit Controls Quietly Expand At U.S. Airports
7. United Employee Caught in Predator Sting At O’Hare Airport
6. “I’m An American Citizen!” Woman Denied Boarding On Delta Air Lines Unloads On Gate Agent
5. Mexico’s Panama Canal Bypass Creative, Cost-Effective
4. Thai Airways Introduces Lie Flat Premium Economy Plus
1. CBP Detained U.S. Citizen For Hours At Houston Airport, Claimed Fourth Amendment Does Not Apply
(the homepage had about 5X the amount of traffic of even the top post above).
In terms of my trip reports, my recent United 787-10 Polaris Business Class review was my top flight review in terms of traffic. Hilariously, the “hotel” winner was my “sleeping pod” in Copenhagen review…
Many thanks to Kyle Stewart, 121pilot, and Elena for their contributions and insight over the last year. All are a pleasure to work with and I am deeply grateful for their helpful contributions (hopefully we will see more hotel reviews from Elena in 2026).
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, (and I’ll be wrapping up Ethiopia this week and moving on to East Asia). We look forward to bringing you more content worth reading in 2026. We also welcome your suggestions for how we might offer you even more relevant content that is worth reading and sharing.
For the last couple of years, I warned you in this annual post that I would be introducing more credit card stories on the blog. That did not happen again in 2025, 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.
FEIW, I do enjoy your reviews (flights, lounges, and hotels) the most with regards to your content.
Thank you Matthew and happy new year. I find the trip reports a balm to all that is crazy in this world. Although not this past year, the SAS challenge with Augustine was great fun and maybe one day, you will be able have an adventure with your daughter. All the best in the new year.
I certainly owe it to Claire Marie to take her on an adventure too! Happy New Year, Maryland!
What are the 3 lowest traffic stories?
I consider the Benin Togo posts of 2020 as one of the best.
The Bilt posts. No one seems to care…
We care; we just don’t know for sure what’s happening, until later this month and next. Could be the beginning of the end… *cough* Mesa *cough* Celtics *cough* (Meanwhile, over at DoC, Bilt posts get ample engagement as folks debate whether it’s going under.)
Personally, I find your reluctance to shill credit cards refreshing, and it makes for a much better reading experience and keeps me coming back to the blog year after year.
But if you do need a credit card, please use one of my links! 😉
I’m a huge @Matthew fan. Look forward to more trip reports in the new year. How about some less traveled airlines: Caribbean Airways, Cayman Airways, Air Côte d’Ivoire, Air Tanzania, Iraqi Airways….
Happy New Year! I’m glad we got to meet in person this year.
Even though it’s late, I feel great to have had the opportunity to discover your meticulous, free, and independent travel blog. HEALTHY & HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!
Happy New Year Matthew ! I personally love the cheeseburger updates! I gave up burgers in the sky this year but I enjoy living through your updates !
FWIW, I seek out your flight, hotel & lounge reviews exclusively for our trips. It’s also the best part of your site when I’m armchair traveling day to day at home. Additionally , this site has been a much better experience since Dave E was banned. I know you dont like to do that but I do personally appreciate it. Thanks for the hard work & happy New Year to yourself & family.
It’s clear from your writing that you’re a fundamentally good person, Matthew. I may not always agree with you, but I respect your positions and your values. I love reading your blog for the unique perspective it offers. I’m also a bit biased (in your blog’s favor) having lived in Europe during my childhood and being a fellow Star Alliance flyer.
I’ll admit that I skip some of the clickbait stories about people having meltdowns while traveling, but I’m perfectly happy to do so; I understand those posts help pay the bills and don’t fault you for writing them. If you advertise credit cards, I’m sure you’ll do so in a tasteful way. And honestly, that’s how most people earn their points nowadays!
Wishing you and your family the very best in 2026.
There are endless “blogger” salesmen hawking merch, credit cards, and sponsored products with generic websites that all read the same. That yours isn’t one is why I read it. It reads like you offer your actual opinions, instead of just trying to make money. It reminds me of the good old days of the internet before the easy money of advertising turned the whole thing into a click-through racket. Thank you for holding out; it’s clear you are a true man of values. Best wishes and happy New Year!
PS: Good luck with your kid’s tuition, but don’t turn to me for help 🙂
I’m sure you need a Capital One Venture X Business Card! 😉
Happy New Year. Keep up the great work. And congrats to Kyle for nabbing 2 of the top 5.
For real. Kyle stepped it up!
Matt, they say, ‘if it bleeds, it leads,’ yet, ignore that, and please keep doing what you love. Travel. Write and post the reviews. It’s a resource for others, maybe even years from now, when people search for a specific, sometimes eclectic airline or class of service, and LALF is one of the top results. Respect for what you do. Thank you. Happy new year!