Interesting. When I was flying regularly it was about the carrier where I got my miles and more chance of an upgrade. I would also like a stopover say in Dubai for 1 or 2 nights, meet old friends and then move onwards. Or on the way to Oz I'd always stopover somewhere for a fun night or 2 and explore, say BKK or Sing, even KL.

I'd built up friends all around the globe and often stayed with them.

That hub flying helped to break up the monotony and I could meet and do business along the way.

That was because I was freelance, & I could choose, my colleagues that had to obey company HR dictators would get their trips arranged for them, based on spending as short a possible time places, to move on to the next appointment. The company had other priorities, whereas I would fly coach, get upgrades occasionally, spend more time befriending clients. I'd still do a trip cheaper than my counterparts and enjoy the trip also.