Quote Originally Posted by Zfz View Post
The entire aetherflow is a very well thought-out system that strikes a balance between convenient flying and actual exploration. You need to explore each zone as it is while discovering the aetherflow points along your main story quest path. Then after you unlock the zone, you get to look at it from the air and finish off the side quests easily.
Honestly, I'd be fine if you could unlock flight by just gathering aether currents, it's fun exploring on the ground then being able to fly, but the addition of them being in sidequests isn't something I like.