5 Bucket List Adventures for Aviation Lovers in 2025

If you love flying, the destination can easily become secondary to the journey. Finding the value in that journey is an experience aviation lovers understand and enjoy.

In today’s article, we’ll explore a few of the adventures you might find on an aviation lover’s bucket list. Fortunately, you don’t have to be an insider to take advantage of these experiences, as the flights are open to anyone who would enjoy flying them.

Whether you seek to experience a new plane, a unique route, or an aspirational goal, these aviation adventures will ignite your inspiration.

Here are 5 possibilities to add to your aviation bucket list.

1. Alaska Airlines Milk Run

Having experienced the Alaska Airlines Milk Run twice, I would still return and do it again. For an enhanced experience, I recommend booking an overnight stay before, during, and at the end of the route.

Why the Alaska Airlines Milk Run Is Unique

Years ago, bush planes delivered essential supplies (including milk) and mail to the cities and towns along the Alaskan coastline. These were areas where access by land was impossible.

Today these towns are serviced by Boeing 737 planes, and the route has become a bucket list journey for aviation enthusiasts. The lure of the route includes its historical significance, the short distance between airports, multiple takeoffs and landings, low-altitude flying, and the 50-minute layovers between flights. Plus, the scenery is amazing.

How To Book the Alaska Airlines Milk Run

While booking the Alaska Airlines Milk Run is not expensive, you may need to position flights to reach the departure airport.

You can begin the Alaska Airlines Milk Run from Anchorage (ANC) or Seattle (SEA). It’s also possible to start in other major airports along the route, including Juneau (JNU) or Ketchikan (KTN).

There are 3 separate Milk Run routes, as explained in this article by my colleague, written following our second Milk Run adventure. The article also contains more information and further booking instructions.

Below is a typical Milk Run route starting in Anchorage with stops in Juneau, Petersburg (PSG), Wrangell (WRG), and, finally, Ketchikan.

When flying north for the Milk Run, select a seat on the plane’s starboard side (right when facing forward) for the best views. Going south, sit on the port (left) side. The featured image at the beginning of this article was taken on departure from Juneau airport during a Milk Run.

You can book the Milk Run using flexible card currencies via the cards’ proprietary travel portals or transfer points to associated Oneworld Alliance partners and book the Alaska Airlines flights.

Points earned on the Bilt World Elite Mastercard^® transfer 1:1 to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. Once they’re transferred, you can book the Milk Run using miles.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Bilt World Elite Mastercard^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Apply Now(at Bilt's secure site)

Bilt World Elite Mastercard^® Credit Card

Welcome Offer

No offer available

No offer available

Annual Fee

$0

APR

See Rate & Fees

Why We Like This Card

Never before has there been a credit card built specifically with renters in mind. Enter the Bilt World Elite Mastercard^® Credit Card, designed specifically to help renters earn rewards on their rent payments with no transaction fees.

Of course, aside from rewards on rent, there are many other solid features that the card offers that add extra value to cardholders. In this guide, we provide a complete breakdown of everything the Bilt Card has to offer to help you decide whether the card makes sense for you.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x points per $1 at restaurants
• 2x points per $1 on travel booked directly with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies
• 1x point per $1 on rent payments, without a transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year

Cons

• Does not offer a welcome bonus
• Must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• $0 Annual Fee
• Earn 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year
• Earns 3x points on dining
• Earn 2x points on travel
• Earn 1x points on other purchases
• Earn double points on the first of each month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus points)
• Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
• Earn up to 5x Bilt points on Lyft rides when you link your Bilt account and pay with your Bilt card
• Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent payments, statement credits, toward a down payment on a home, etc.
• Select “Learn More” to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Rate & Fees
• Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

You can book the flights using Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles earned on the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature^® credit card or Alaska Airlines Visa^® Business credit card. You could also use the Alaska Airlines companion ticket offered with either card.

Bottom Line:

The Alaska Airlines Milk Run is an air route that stops at cities along the southeast Alaskan coastline that otherwise can’t be reached by land. It is popular among aviation lovers because of its low-altitude flying, short stops, historical significance, and stunning scenery. Tickets can be purchased using Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles.

2. Inaugural Flights

An inaugural flight happens when an airline begins servicing a new route. It can be a domestic flight or international, but it is always special in some way.

Why an Inaugural Flight Is Unique

When an airline announces a new route, there’s cause for celebration. It’s common for an airline to go all out with a themed party at the departure gate and potentially at the arrival city. For example, Delta Air Lines recently began nonstop service from Boston (BOS) to Honolulu (HNL).

The gate was decorated with a Hawaiian theme, and the airline put out a mai tai bar and Hawaiian food and gave out plastic leis, luggage tags, music, and more. Complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the event made a great sendoff for the over-10-hour, nonstop flight.

On arrival in HNL, each passenger received real flower leis (not plastic, as in Boston) and was welcomed by hula dancers and a Hawaiian band.

The excitement of an inaugural flight is certainly a draw for any aviation lover.

How To Book an Inaugural Flight

While each inaugural flight is handled differently, participating in such a flight can be worthwhile.

To find an inaugural flight, you can Google your preferred airline, adding the phrase “announces new route(s).” For example, Googling “United announces new routes” turns up flights to Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greenland, and Mongolia in the summer of 2025.

If the inaugural flight’s beginning date isn’t specified, you can use Google Flights to find the first available nonstop flight using the information provided. For example, United will start nonstop service to Greenland in the summer of 2025. Looking at June, the first date the flight shows up is June 14, 2025.

Airlines often advertise inaugural flights on their website, as well.

Regardless of the airline, you may want to use points or miles to book an inaugural flight. For example, the Newark (EWR) to Nuuk (GOH), Greenland, flight above can be booked for 80,000 United MileagePlus miles. Bilt Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points also transfer directly to United 1:1.

Depending on the airline, you may see several booking options using points or miles for each flight. It’s worth noting that inaugural flights can be priced higher than normally scheduled flights, but not always.

We like the flexibility of Ulitmate Rewards points and the fact that each point is worth about 2 cents when redeemed for travel by transferring to airline and hotel partners. Points are also worth up to 1.5 cents each when redeemed via Chase Travel.

Bottom Line:

An inaugural flight can be a fun experience. You can find inaugural flights by watching for airline announcements for new routes and checking the airline’s website. Using Google to search for new airline routes can also be fruitful.

3. Air France Island Hopper

Aviation experiences are not always luxurious events played out in lie-flat comfort. Such is the case with the Air France Island Hopper route.

Why the Air France Island Hopper Is Unique

Air France operates flights that hop from Miami (MIA), Fort-de-France (FDF) in Martinique, and Pointe-à-Pitre (PTP) in Guadeloupe, similar to the Alaska Airlines Milk Run. A typical ending destination is Cayenne (CAY) in French Guiana.

Since these are all departments of France, these Caribbean destinations are in the European Union and use the euro as their currency. Once you’ve left Miami, you technically never leave the European Union throughout the trip.

The Island Hopper flies on an Air France A320, so the trip is not for those seeking luxury. You’re also required to disembark in Guadeloupe, go through security and customs, and proceed to your next flight on the same aircraft. Fortunately, there is an Air France lounge at the PTP airport.

How To Book the Air France Island Hopper

The Air France Island Hopper route could begin at any of these destinations, but departing from MIA is the easiest.

Air France is easy to book, as many card currencies transfer 1:1 to the Flying Blue frequent flyer program. You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points, Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Bilt Rewards points, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards points, and Wells Fargo Rewards points.

If you book the trip in first class, you could receive a 35% points rebate by booking with Membership Rewards points, or a combination of points and charging a portion to The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express.

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$3,300

Annual Fee

$695

APR

18.49% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million per calendar year)

Cons

• High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card^®.
• Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
• NEW! Make the Business Platinum Card^® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
• 5X Membership Rewards^® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card^®.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Booking with The Platinum Card^® from American Express could provide additional travel insurance protections.

Bottom Line:

The Air France Island Hopper is a unique way to enjoy the scenic views from an A320 plane during takeoffs and landings from French territories in the Caribbean. The territories are all part of the European Union and utilize the euro.

4. Shower in the Sky: The Emirates A380 First Class Suite

The Emirates first class suite on the A380 is one of the most sought-after air experiences. Here’s why the flight is so special and tips for booking it.

Why the Emirates First Class Suite Experience Is Unique

The Emirates first class suite experience begins long before the plane departs, starting with private check-in and access to the first class airport lounge. The lounge offers a spa, fine dining, premium beverages, comfortable seating, and extraordinary service.

On board, you climb the waterfall-adorned staircase to your private suite. It contains a motorized minibar, high-end toiletries, and fresh flowers. If you are as fortunate as my friends and I were, the flight will be staffed with an amazing crew.

There’s more Champagne than you can drink (unless you bring my friend Geoff along), more fine dining than you can consume, and an environment you’ll want to explore as soon as the seat belt light is off.

Plus, you’ll want to book your shower as soon as you board the plane.

There is not enough space in this article to describe the experience. It’s something you have to live through to appreciate.

How To Book an Emirates First Class Suite Flight

Booking an Emirates first-class suite on the A380 for a long-haul flight can cost upwards of $15,000. Alternatively, you can spend hundreds of dollars on surcharges plus hundreds of thousands of miles. Flying from New York (JFK) to Milan (MXP) and using Air Canada Aeroplan points can help reduce the overall cost, but it’s still usually expensive.

Then there’s the challenging issue of finding award space availability.

There is, however, a relatively inexpensive way to experience the Emirates first class suite.

If you want to check the Emirates first class suite off your aviation bucket list, you can experience the product on the route from Bangkok (BKK) to Hong Kong (HKG). A dear friend turned me on to this route years ago, and I’m anxious to do it again.

Hot Tip:

Booking the Emirates first class suite departing from BKK is less expensive than booking it with a departure from HKG.

Since it’s a first class flight, booking BKK to HKG with Membership Rewards points using the Amex Business Platinum card can be a great option to receive a 35% rebate on the points.

That’s a net cost of approximately 88,000 Membership Rewards points round-trip (135,110 points minus the 35% points rebate). A one-way flight would still give you a nice taste of the experience for less than 61,000 Membership Rewards points or $935 cash. (Note that flight costs vary based on dates.)

A one-way flight would still give you the first class lounge experience and special preflight treatment. Since you would book online through AmexTravel.com, you’d also earn 5x points for the purchase, whether you paid in points, charged to your card, or did a combination of both.

Bottom Line:

Booking the Emirates first class suite experience can be prohibitively expensive, requiring considerable frequent flyer miles, high surcharges, or a lot of cash. However, you can book the route between BKK and HKG for much less using Membership Rewards points, other flexible card rewards currencies, or by purchasing outright.

5. United Island Hopper

Island hopping in the South Pacific is enough of a draw to make you want to jump on a plane. Doing it all on the same airline during a single flight can be even more of a draw, especially for aviation enthusiasts.

Why the United Island Hopper Is Unique

The remote islands of Micronesia can be difficult to access. The United Island Hopper provides an essential service to these islands in a single flight, making it a unique way to experience this part of the world. The Island Hopper always starts its flights in Honolulu and ends in Guam (GUM), but the specific island stops along the way vary depending on the day of the week.

Only United Airlines provides service on this route, but once again, the airline uses Boeing 737 planes, so you won’t have a lie-flat experience.

Aviation lovers enjoy the spectacular island views and watching pilots overcome the challenge of taking off and landing on short runways.

How To Book the United Island Hopper

With its limited service, cash prices for the United Island Hopper can be high, even in economy class.

You can find flights and prices quickly using Google Flights. You can then select the flights that have the most island stops. Once you’ve found your preferred flights, book with United. You can also search for flights on the United website.

One of the real advantages of booking the United Island Hopper is that you can make the purchase with United miles. Several card currencies, including Bilt Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points, can be transferred to United.

Fellow writer and world traveler Ryan Smith describes his Island Hopper experience, providing booking tips and what you may expect during the flights. His particular route cost just 35,000 United MileagePlus miles.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is an excellent choice for earning and redeeming Ultimate Rewards points, including transfers to United MileagePlus to book the Island Hopper. It also provides access to travel insurance benefits.

BEST BEGINNER CARD

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.49% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.49% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Bottom Line:

The United Island Hopper is a unique journey typically from Honolulu to Guam that stops at various remote islands in Micronesia. The route is popular with aviation enthusiasts for the short runways, multiple stops, and great island views.

Final Thoughts

There you have it: 5 adventures any aviation lover would enjoy. However, I’ve only provided a fraction of the possible bookings and descriptions for each adventure — just enough to get you started. Do your own research based on your airline preferences and available travel currencies.

While these adventures aren’t for everyone, the flights can be grand experiences if you love flying.

Grab yourself a like-minded aviation lover, pick an experience, and go for it. You won’t regret it.