FAQ

Who is Flying Thamok?

Hi, I’m Nathaniel, also  known as Thamok, Flying Spider Monkey, Jingle-O-Smith II-0 (pronounced two-oh) and Gingerbread. These are all aliases attributed to me by my brother Eric (aka “Elvis”, “Irish” or “Scarecrow”). Flying Thamok is a combination of these names in recognition to him.

Why and how do you travel so much?

To all those wondering how I am able to travel : I happen to be related to an American Airlines pilot, and that comes with certain flight benefits ! I will explain more about this in the future, but it basically means I am able to fly in open seats (flying standby) on American Airlines flights at little to no cost. It does not make travel 100% free (I still pay the airport taxes on flights, plus the multitude of other travel expenses like food, accommodation, ground transportation, etc.) but it allows me to get around in a way I would otherwise never be able to and for that I feel very fortunate. Standby travel is not always easy, flights can fill up (often times unexpectedly) so I have spent my fair share of time waiting in airports  and coming up with roundabout ways to reach my destination. Yet it is also what allows me to decide to go somewhere one day and to be there the next, and having grown up with it my whole life I have grown fond of the system.
However, I only have these benefits until my birthday this year, December 19th !! It therefore makes sense (to me at least) to take advantage of this opportunity while I can, and to use these few months for travel. 

Where are you planning to go ? What are your next destinations ?

As many places as I can.* I do have a list, an ever growing list. Here are some of the motivations behind the places that I choose :

  • places I esteem to be most different from what I know
  • places that will be the most difficult/expensive  to access once I no longer benefit from AA flights destinations
  • where my friends are and whom I’m able to visit
  • anywhere that has a flight with open seats

Do I have a detailed itinerary ? Not exactly. Due to the nature of flying standby it is difficult to plan flights in advance and so one must be flexible. That being said, if I am trying to get to a particular place it is usually possible. So if you do invite me to your country, there’s a good chance I’ll make it there at some point. ;p

Here are some destinations I either have planned or have in mind for the next few months
August
Lisbon (11-?)
Prague (14-17)
Udine + Venezia (17-?)
Dubrovnik
Banja Luka
Hannover ?

September
Turkey
Morocco
Namibia
Mozambique

 

*NB : going as many places as I can does not mean rushing through them. It has been pointed out to me that visiting a place too quickly may prevent enjoying it thoroughly, just as visiting too many places in quick succession may diminish their respective value. I wholeheartedly agree, this is certainly a risk. Fortunately I have learned to visit places “efficiently” and get the most from my time there, even if brief. Of course there is always more to see, but that’s all the more reason to come back. 😉

Can I come along ? How about I stow away in your suitcase ?

That would be great right ? Well perhaps I’m not sure how much fun it would be to ride in the luggage…
Anyway yes! Though unfortunately I can’t really help with flight deals, I am more than happy to have travel partners ! Since my plans and flights are somewhat flexible, a trip can usually be worked out. As an example, I was able to meet up with four friends from my high school in Vietnam in June, how crazy is that! I do not typically mind doing things somewhat spontaneously, so just let me know !

Isn’t flying bad for the environment ?

Unfortunately, yes. As exciting as it may be, flying is not a sustainable way to travel. However, my place in the airplane is always in otherwise unoccupied seats and with or without me, the flight would operate. This logic could be followed by many, but it is the act of booking a flight that sustains air travel and therein lies the key: passengers like myself are not part of the equation when airlines calculate which flights to run and how often. 

Does this mean I have zero impact ? No, there is still the impact of the meal services (especially when fortunate enough to travel in the elusive premium cabins), the cleaning, a small amount of fuel…but whether I am able to board or not, these resources have already been allocated. Nevertheless, as this remains a concern of mine I have been looking into carbon offsets etc., if you have recommendations I am all ears.