150 flights, 69 cancellations and 67 PCR tests: How one man continued to fly around the world during the pandemic

While 2020 was a year like no other, for the travel industry, specifically, it was a tragedy.

Practically right away, demand for travel evaporated as authorities round the world shut down borders, grounded planes and issued travel restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

But for James Asquith, who previously collection a Guinness World Record for being the youngest man to go to every country on the globe, a worldwide pandemic wasn’t enough to keep him grounded.

As founder and chief executive of home-sharing program Trip Swap, Asquith needs to be in the air much of the entire year for work purposes.

Through the pandemic, the 30-year-old has taken more than 150 flights, acquired more than his fair show of PCR studies and navigated plenty of cancelled flights.

“I've was required to keep travelling for work, for the money side in our business," explains Asquith. "I'm proud that over the last year we've actually produced the team, we've hired more people and had the opportunity to aid livelihoods by doing that."

At the same time when most travel and tourism businesses are struggling, it’s an extraordinary feat. However, the practicalities of travelling at a time when many specialists are advising visitors to stay home are challenging.

“There’s been plenty of flight cancellations. I got 45 last year, and I’m probably up at about 24 this season, up to now," says the British entrepreneur.

Having caught the travel bug after subscribing to some friends on the volunteer visit to Vietnam in 2008, Asquith returned home and booked his first solo trip, bound for Egypt. That's where his passion for travel was really cemented, and the then 18-year-old spent another six years visiting all 196 countries across the world.

Perhaps incredibly, travelling during the pandemic has taken again memories of a few of his before travel experiences.

"Going today reminds me a little of how it used to be. Like back the day, engaging in anywhere like Sudan was impossible. Just getting the visa and finding flights was a victory, and today that's kind of the circumstance for other places across the world."

On the hunt for PCR tests

“I've taken 67 PCR checks now,” says Asquith. “I still haven't caught Covid-19, and I think it demonstrates that there is a way to travel safely.”

For the most part, Asquith says he has felt completely safe, although he has also been taking extra precautions. "I’ve used more lab tests than I should have done, right before I'm finding people, etc., just to be safe."

That alone has proven to be challenging. For the travel aficionado, getting a PCR test in New York City was one of the primary hurdles on his itinerary within the last year.

"You can't really get a test there, and it's really incredible the particular one of the world's first-world countries is one of the hardest places to obtain a PCR test," he says.

"It's pretty interesting to see how the problem varies between places. Inside the UAE it's a breeze to get [a test]. The UK is very difficult. And with regards to the flight, a PCR test is necessary within 24, 48 or 72 time, but test outcomes may not even prepare yourself within those turnaround times, so it is a logistical test."

Summer in Europe: empty streets and crowd-free landmarks

Continuing to visit through the pandemic in addition has supplied some unique rewards. While Asquith cases he isn't going for tourism purposes, the impact of constraints on popular destinations and landmarks have not approved him by.

"Last summer, when Europe was having a bit of an renaissance and exposed just a little again, I was in Milan, where normally it would be packed. I love European summers, but they can be kind of unpleasant with all the crowds, and it was nice to see the place a bit empty. Anyone might well have just walked in to the Duomo if indeed they sought, whereas usually you need to get tickets weeks in advance."

He's also handled some less thrilling moments.

"Transiting in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia was a problem; it was one of the worst places I've seen, with zero social distancing options. It was a mess there, but other areas and other airports, especially in the centre East, and in the US as well, seem really safe."

'Vaccine passports will be instrumental in a rebound'

As the world of travel slowly begins to reopen and travellers cautiously try the skies again, Asquith expects that vaccinations will play a critical role in the industry's resurgence.

"Vaccine passports will be instrumental in a rebound. I feel that by July or August, countries will already start implementing the necessity for vaccine passports for folks to have the ability to travel."

While he's not yet been inoculated in the UK, because of age constraints, Asquith is keen to get his Covid-19 vaccination when it's open to him.

"Unfortunately, a lot of the developing world are certain to get left behind. I consider many places, especially in Africa, won't see vaccinations over a mass range until later next year or even 2023, and then with that you're heading to get countries not allowing travellers to go to from those destinations."

Budget travellers will need to act fast

So when travel will keep coming back, are cheap discounts and bargain holidays place to be typical? "I think people can find travel offers everywhere, but also for an extremely short period of their time," says Asquith.

"From cruises and vacations to Greece or Italy, or long-haul business class flights, there are going to be deals to be found, because that's how economics works. Companies will put out cheap prices to suck people in, and then when the demand is again, prices will skyrocket."

The entrepreneur also believes that the global pandemic has drawn to a close the second golden age of travel.

"The first golden age was the times of Pan Am and TWA, jumbo jets and wide open lounges at the top decks of planes, as the second golden age emerged via mass transportation.

"In the early 2000s, when low-cost airlines sprung up everywhere, it allowed more of the public to travel. You could see long-haul plane tickets for $100 and short-haul charges for about $20. This exposed travel and, in a few ways, it acquired too much.

"So, on the positive area, there may very well be a reset, but, to any extent further, the travel industry won't see anything like this again. Things have changed and the times of low-cost travel have died."