#award-travel

#award-travel

Anna's husband, Sut, had grown up in Thailand, later moved to Okinawa, Japan as a teen, and then immigrated to the U.S. as an adult. However, he had yet to return to his native country. But last year, the couple finally made plans to make it happen. Not only was it a special occasion for Sut, but it was also an opportunity for the couple to introduce their seven-month-old child, Enzo, to his family.

The Brooklyn-based couple first met in July 2015 in Columbus, Ohio, where Simokov was living at the time. McDougle, who was touring internationally with a band, was in town for work. They hit it off at a concert, began dating long-distance, and for two years, their love story was written in airline miles and airport terminals. That initial passion for aviation has become a cornerstone of their relationship. "Now we go plane spotting, visit aviation museums, and plan our lives around travel," Simokov said.