After a 35-year travel industry career, the time has come to kick back and relax. Well, not exactly, but it is time to travel without a business schedule dictating where and when. Over the years I’ve traveled extensively by air for work and pleasure, domestically and internationally. I’ve been to some incredibly exciting and beautiful destinations, and some others, not so much. So now it’s my turn (and hopefully yours), to explore the world at a more leisurely pace. Whether you want to discover the U.S. or another continent, the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport is a great starting point. And that’s what this blog is all about.
Growing up in the New York City borough of Queens, I was fascinated at a young age by the endless stream of aircraft coming and going from both LaGuardia Airport, about 10 minutes to our northwest, and Idlewild Airport, now John F. Kennedy International, which was about 15 minutes to the south. JFK really caught my attention as there was a daily, virtually non-stop landing pattern of scores of aircraft coming primarily from international destinations during the afternoon and early evening hours. With our house being located on a hill, I was able to stand on our stoop with binoculars and check out the aircraft close-up. Back then there were VC-10s of BOAC, Pan Am and TWA 707’s, and other aircraft from literally dozens of countries in Europe, Africa and Asia coming to my home town, New York, each and every day. Needless to say, it was a thrilling experience.
When my parents took my brother and me on our first family vacation by air to Miami on an Eastern Airlines 727 Whisperjet, I was completely hooked. One way or another I was going to have a career in aviation. My college studies included degrees in Aerospace Technology and Aviation Administration, and at age 16 I earned my private pilot’s license. Flying and travel have been in my blood every since, and I still can’t get enough of exploring the world by air.
I’m not here to show the business flyer how to quickly earn and maximize their millions of airline miles and hotel points, or to advise which credit cards will get you a free ticket or upgrade the fastest. Instead, my focus will be on keeping you up-to-date about what’s happening at MSP, whether it be facility or airline related. And along the way I’ll have other interesting news about other airports, airlines, and exciting routes from the Twin Cities to incredible destinations. So if you’re contemplating a getaway from MSP or the Upper Midwest via the Twin Cities, you’ve come to the right place. Or, if you’re an airport or airline enthusiast who calls MSP your home base, you’ll find plenty here of interest, both locally and beyond.
Up, up and away!
Marc Friedman
iflyMSP 