Why are you even playing an MMO?
Kind of a pointless request, considering you already DO unlock it through the main story.
Granted, it's only for Azys Lla (which leads me to believe there will be loads of stuff to do there in future patches), but still...
"GOD, I actually have to lift my fork to my mouth to get fed? Why can't I just pop open my maw like a trash can lid, stare at the sky, and have food fall into it?!"
That's what these threads always sound like.
Just spam your compass while doing the MSQ/Side Quests. I did that and ended up getting all the explorable currents on all the areas before finishing the MSQ dungeons. And no, I didn't even have to go out of my way much to get them.
Note that of all the flyable areas, Azys Lla is the ONLY one that you need flight to actually finish the MSQ, so it makes sense that you get it much more easily. 3.1+ may involve flying in the other areas, but as it stands right now you can pretty much do all the required content without flight in every area but Azys Lla.
Exactly my point.
In Azys Lla's case, it is required for you to fly around, thus, you end up getting all Aether Currents from the MSQ there.
I doubt that the MSQ for later patches will force you to get the Aether Currents from other zones, though.
But for side-quests/side-dungeons? Fair game for those, I guess.
Because it's a game, it's entertaining, etc. Also, I realize we unlock the ability to unlock flight at 60, but that doesn't really make much sense except to try and buy time by making someone run around looking for aether mcguffins. Sight seeing log is a better exploration incentive.
Um... You unlock the ability to unlock flight at fifty, not sixty =D Silly 5 and 6 being next to each other on the keyboard, eh?
For me, it was pretty much the opposite way around though... It annoyed me that flight was stuck behind main story quests. I'd have all the currents found, all the possible side-quests done... and then forced to wait for that last MSQ to unlock the last bit just as I left the area behind ;_;
"OMGYESICANFLY....aww, poop. New area. Back to walking again."
(Yes, I know you go back to previous areas for hunts or levelling alt classes, and flight is primarily -- at least how I see it -- meant to ease that part due to huge maps... Doesn't really make it less of a "sadface ;_;" moment to not be able to revel in it for a bit longer before the MSQ drags you on to the next area ^^)
Pro tip:
Pick up all the your side quests
Grind the MSQ in the zone
Spend 10 mins to look for the Aetheryte Currents (most of the currents are easy to get to, if you are running straight and you see a mountain in the distance, might wanna get a pair of glasses or stop being stupid)
You are ready to fly, it will roughly take you 30 mins to an hour to do all of these, then you can spend the rest of the time flying around the zone, zooming from one side quest to another.
Disclaimer: Sea of Clouds has a secondary part of the zone you cant access until after you gotta chase Bismarck down.