It was 20 years ago this month that Chelsea last went into a pre-season without any chance of European football.
Times have been good for the Blues, and their supporters, who have travelled the world in two decades of success.
Chelsea's unimpeded run of European qualification was kicked-off by the goals of Roberto Di Matteo and Eddie Newton in the 1997 FA Cup final – the very two men who went on to lead the Blues to their greatest ever continental success 15 years later.
In the following two decades battle was done, not always successfully, in four competitions: the now defunct European Cup Winners' Cup, the UEFA Cup (latterly the Europa League), the Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup.
Kicking-off at home to Slovan Bratislava on 18 September 1997, a game in which Di Matteo again found the score sheet, this has without a shadow of a doubt been Generation Easyjet for Chelsea.
But, all good things come to an end.
This season there will be no pizza in Napoli, no vodka in Moscow, no call to prayer in Istanbul and no partying in Munich.
Manchester United used to mock their City neighbours with a song to the tune of an Inspiral Carpets track: “This is how it feels to be City, this is how it feels to be small, this is how it feels when your passport's locked in the drawer.”
Now it's Chelsea's turn to sit on the sidelines.
But, always willing to notch-up some miles, and with an eye on the positives, fans are already searching out the new locations that could provide this season's flights of fancy.
For those who have seen Chelsea win literally every trophy possible (let's not talk about that trip to Japan just now), yesterday provided the first step on a new crusade.
You may have previously thought that the EFL Trophy was a goblet awarded to dyslexic goblins; but it turns out to be the most exciting new addition to Chelsea's bare-looking calendar.
Get to fixtures by Freight Rover, Sherpa Van, Leyland DAF or LDV Van; make sure you have a policy with Auto Windscreens or Autoglass – because this is just the old Associate Members Cup, given a new coat of Johnstone's Paint.
Derided both by those in it, and those out of it, for the first time this season it pitches a few Premier League development sides into the mix.
That means a young Chelsea side will be hosting Oxford United in a home game this autumn, and making trips to a couple of places not usually on the sat nav.
Swindon Town's County Ground, nestling beside the world famed (stay with me here) Magic Roundabout hosted the Blues just three seasons back in the League Cup.
The fourth team to make up the group stage is the enticingly titled Grecians of Devon.
St James Park, not to be confused with it's apostrophied Northumbrian namesake, will be a new ground for most intrepid fans to tick off the list - Chelsea having not visited in a competitive fixture since 27th January 1951.
Then it finished 1-1, as Blues were forced to replay (and win) their FA Cup fourth round match four days later back at Stamford Bridge.
While last season's ever present fans followed their team beside The Douro, The Dnieper and the Israeli beaches of the Mediterranean; this time around they will be doing it by The Exe.
But the excitement does not end there – oh no.
Looking back to that season two decades back when Chelsea were last without European travel, there was another addition to the fixture list – only available to those Premier League sides who are land-locked for the season.
The League Cup, this season re-branded the EFL Cup (it stands, prosaically, for English Football League) has a second round – and Chelsea will be in it.
Back in 1996 it delivered a two-leg tie against Blackpool, though now it is only a one-off affair.
Fans will watch the draw next month with baited breath, in the hope it may throw-up a new or long forgotten location: a Crawley Town or a Leyton Orient.
This, indeed, is the world we are now in.
If all of that seems a little domestic for your liking, there are still part of the club where you can put your passport to good use.
Chelsea Ladies will go into the round of 32 of the Women's Champions League – the draw for which is yet to be decided.
And the Under 23s men's side participate this season in the Premier League International Cup: where Swansea City, Dynamo Zagreb and Feynoord await.
Anyone fancy a trip to Croatia?
