I've taken more than 30 flights in 20 countries since March 2018.

Traveling for so long has led to lots of mistakes and realizations about how to make every flight better.

Some of my most important tips include carrying petroleum jelly to mitigate dry plane air, choosing flag carrier airlines whenever possible, and using Skyscanner's "Everywhere" feature to get cheap flights.

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Over the past year, I have flown a lot: I've taken more than 30 flights in 20 countries since March 2018.

That's a lot of time in security lines, in airport lounges, and cramped plane seats, and then breathing stale, recycled air and watching movies I never would in "real" life.

Still, with every flight I take, I feel that flutter of excitement and anticipation as we get ready to take off. And, yes, it may be weird, but I get excited about finding out how above or below the mediocre baseline an airline's food is.

I've made more than a few rookie mistakes, even after visiting dozens of countries. Last August, I got fleeced for over $100 in fees on a flight with a budget airline. You never stop learning.