UlasanAnime.com – This article reflects on the author’s 2016 eventing experiences, detailing travel, convention attendance, and personal insights into their approach to attending events and managing their jet-setting lifestyle.
The author begins by referencing a previously published event log and states their intention to summarize the year’s activities, acknowledging that the discussion might touch upon broader aspects like air travel.
(The author humorously notes attending the 2015 Super Bowl live via satellite on an ANA 737 as a notable travel experience.)
Overview & Metrics
A section is dedicated to presenting key metrics from the year, offering a quantitative overview of the author’s activities.
YTD Premier qualifying miles with UA: 80989. This figure represents the total mileage flown for the year, including some work-related travel but excluding one specific trip. It serves as a broad indicator of the author’s travel volume.
Cons attended: 2 TW, 1 JP, 1 CAN, 2 USA, totaling 10. The author clarifies that the Taiwan and Japan conventions were minor, effectively meaning 7 significant conventions. This is presented as a personal benchmark against years with more frequent attendance, noting that the goal of attending fewer conventions was achieved. The trip to Otakuthon is mentioned as being manageable due to a ride home.
US-side live shows (excluding convention-related): 3. The author expresses gratitude for attending an Aoi Eir performance in New York, highlighting the benefits of living near a major city.
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Redeye return flights: 5.
On Jetsetting
The author discusses the increased availability of Haneda (HND) flights from JFK by JAL and ANA, which resulted in landing at Narita (NRT) only twice from the USA. Haneda is preferred due to its more convenient location, and the author advises factoring in transit costs between NRT and Tokyo when comparing flight prices.
A significant aspect of the author’s travel strategy in 2016 involved credit card signup churning. The author anticipates that reward points from credit card bonuses, particularly from Chase Sapphire Reserve, will cover most of their flights for the following year, especially with recent sales to Japan and Taiwan. This is framed as a way to achieve frequent travel, akin to some individuals in Asia who can easily weekender to Japan.
While not a universally recommended lifestyle, the author acknowledges that extensive travel is common in younger years and may become less viable after settling down with a family. The focus of their travel has increasingly been on Japan, which they consider a reasonable choice.
[The author laments the impact of Daylight Saving Time on return flights, specifically a Monday morning departure from HND that lands in JFK at 9 AM standard time but 10 AM during DST, which disrupts their Monday morning schedule. They question the necessity of DST.]
Regarding United Airlines (UA) and the Star Alliance, the author admits to being somewhat insulated from other alliance options but notes that their loyalty has resulted in complimentary regional upgrades from UA, seemingly as a competitive measure. The author maintains a pragmatic approach to flying with UA, focusing on maximizing value due to their proximity to EWR, UA’s East Coast hub. The ability to fly out of JFK also provides flexibility and allows Star Alliance partners to compensate for any UA shortcomings. The author reports generally smooth travel experiences throughout the year, with only one significant interruption leading to a late landing in HND.
Domestic flights with UA were largely positive, which the author found crucial, especially for time-sensitive trips like the one to Montreal for Otakuthon. The author also encountered upgrade offers, including a substantial certificate that required arriving a day late for an event and another that involved a downgrade for a refund, both of which were declined due to work commitments and tight travel schedules.
On Eventing
The author reflects on how increased frequency in attending events leads to a sense of familiarity, which can be both advantageous and disadvantageous. They approach event attendance with a clear understanding of what it entails.
As someone who doesn’t prioritize the “tanoshi” (fun-loving) approach to attending every possible event related to their favorite idols, the author views events as “vacation packages.” This perspective allows them to decline events if the price or timing is not suitable, framing it as a practical decision rather than solely consumerist.
The quality of an event is a significant factor for the author. They express a nuanced view of Anime Festival Asia (AFA), acknowledging its fun aspects but comparing it to Anime Expo (AX) for North American attendees. For those who travel to both, the author notes that enjoyment varies. While not always enjoying AX, the author questions the value proposition of spending a significant amount on AFA when comparable experiences might be available elsewhere. For an American, flying to Japan is often perceived as easier and cheaper than flying to Singapore. Although Singapore’s lower cost of living can be a factor, the primary expenses for a weekend trip are flights and tickets, making Japan often more preferable than a prolonged engagement like AFA. The author acknowledges that others might prefer AFA’s friendly atmosphere and English-speaking environment, and they still intend to attend AFA at some point.
The author reiterates that AFA is not an event they feel compelled to financially support extensively, preferring to allocate resources to AX due to its greater relevance to their interests as a US resident. The core message is the importance of supporting good events.
The author finds back-to-back Asian trips challenging. While they managed one such instance the previous year with a restful return flight, this year’s experience of returning from Hawaii to a cold Northeast climate was jarring. The author anticipates becoming more cautious about such demanding travel schedules as they age.
Further considerations for event attendance include social aspects, the need to help organize off-kai events, promoting “Good Eventing Culture,” and the appeal of destinations like Hawaii. The author believes that if a favorite concert location can be chosen, it should ideally be near home or in a desirable location.
The author emphasizes the importance of being purposeful in event attendance. While flying for specific artists is a clear objective, being a dedicated fan or considering factors like personal priorities can also lead to focused event planning. The key is to dedicate time to thoughtful, long-term consideration.
A notable aspect of the author’s 2016 travels was the integration of food tourism. They highlight experiencing food in Taiwan for Lisani, at Anime North, and in Montreal, expressing a willingness to repeat these culinary explorations. The author anticipates having free time at Taiyoucon and plans to explore food options there.
Outlook
The author believes they have established a consistent pattern for event attendance, primarily focusing on IM@S, WUG, and Trysail events, with additional scheduling based on the specific event. Anisama is described as a past bucket list item. For the upcoming year, planned events include P-Meeting (an IM@S bucket list item), ML4th (a near-future commitment), and 765MLTW. The author notes a potential shift towards balancing WUG events, having prioritized Trysail or IM@S events in 2016.
The author expresses interest in returning to Hong Kong and Singapore for events, contingent on the right event occurring at the opportune time. This is unlikely before late 2017 due to a full Q1 schedule and the US convention season in Q2. The author also aims to save for trips to Japan, which will include events, pilgrimages, and sightseeing, alongside social and familial obligations.
Year-in-review 2016:
- Introduction
- Eventing
- Seiyuu music
- N-listing
