RTW TP Run in Jan 2026: A Summary of Phase 1

By Nige on February 10, 2026 at 3:17 pm
Type: Post
Story: Round the World Tier Point Run in Jan 2026 Category: Travel
Tags: AA | American Airlines | Announcements | BA | British Airways | Cathay Pacific | CX | Fiji Airways | FJ | Japan Airlines | JL | Qantas Airways | Qatar Airways | QF | QR

I’ve just spent the last three weeks flying around the world.

Well — to be completely accurate — I’ve flown around half of the world and then back again the same way. So, technically, at this point I can’t really claim to have flown around the world as such.

But it’s been an absolute blast.

This has been exactly the kind of trip I love. What made it perfect for me is that it focused almost entirely on the things I enjoy most:

• Flying in premium classes
• Walking around airports
• Living it up in lounges
• Drinking Starbucks
• Staying at Hilton hotels
• And lots of walking!

I’m far more interested in the journey than the destination, so I’ve done very little sightseeing along the way. To be fair, it’s been a genuine whirlwind, and I simply haven’t had the time to do much beyond eating, sleeping, and travelling.

The most challenging aspect has been the lack of sleep. I don’t sleep particularly well at the best of times, and this itinerary was always going to be demanding. That said, I’ve managed to get just enough rest to keep myself functioning.

So, Phase 1 in numbers:

• 25 flights
• 7 airlines
• Just over 73,000 air miles
• Almost 313,000 steps
• 27 Starbucks Venti Caramel Macchiatos
• 14 airports

A Brief Review of Airports (with a little help from ChatGPT)

• Oslo (OSL) – a calm, light-filled, wood-and-glass reflecting Scandinavian simplicity, functionality, and respect for space.
• Doha (DOH) – a purpose-built global connector—impressive, immaculate, slightly intimidating.
• London (LHR) – my home hub: an over-stretched megahub—functional rather than overly pleasing.
• Los Angeles (LAX) – a famous airport that feels more like infrastructure than architecture.
• New York (JFK) – a global gateway still negotiating its own reinvention.
• Dallas (DFW) – a masterclass in operational design—unflashy but highly effective.
• San Francisco (SFO) – a humane, well-considered airport with genuine regional identity.
• Nadi, Fiji (NAN) – an arrival lounge for the South Pacific—relaxed and human.
• Auckland (AKL) – practical and polite, but ready for expansion.
• Hong Kong (HKG) – one of the world’s best examples of airport-as-system.
• Denpasar/Bali (DPS) – an airport that performs “arrival in Bali” as a ritual.
• Jakarta (CGK) – a rapidly modernising Southeast Asian megahub.
• Tokyo Narita (NRT) – a model of Japanese efficiency with understated character.
• Sydney (SYD) – a laid-back airport struggling with big-city demand.

A Brief Review of Airlines

• British Airways (BA) – my airline: a legacy flag carrier that still trades on heritage—capable of excellence, but unevenly delivered.
• Qatar Airways (QR) – precision luxury—one of the world’s best long-haul products when everything runs to plan.
• American Airlines (AA) – an airline optimised for volume and coverage rather than delight.
• Fiji Airways (FJ) – an airline that makes you feel welcome rather than impressed.
• Qantas Airways (QF) – a serious long-haul airline rebuilding its reputation after a difficult period.
• Cathay Pacific (CX) – quietly one of the world’s most civilised airlines—elegance over theatrics.
• Japan Airlines (JL) – service excellence through consistency rather than luxury.

A Brief Review of Hotels

• Best Western – a badge of affiliation rather than a uniform product—reliable enough, but unpredictable.
• Hilton – my hotel chain: you rarely love a Hilton, but you almost never regret choosing one.
• iBis – a perfectly engineered night’s sleep—nothing more, nothing less.
• Skycity – a destination hotel designed for convenience and spectacle rather than retreat.

Phase 1 now complete, I’m already looking forward to Phase 2, which begins in May 2026.

Round the World Tier Point Run in Jan 2026