Just wondering if there are any budget travelers that have status? Almost a silver on NW.

I'm United 1k / Star Alliance Gold.

i should rephrase my question. how many budget travelers have gained status by ONLY flying for leisure, not work related. Just curious.

LH SEN (i.e. *G). Made it by flying all-Y, normally on the cheapest available fares, combination of intra-European and a couple of long-hauls. Don't think I can keep it under the new rules, sadly...

AA Gold, no work at all (still in school)

AA Platinum, all leisure. Within arm's reach of qualifying for EXP for next year.

how many budget travelers have gained status by ONLY flying for leisure

I have top tier status on AA with 100% leisure travel.

No status, but I just cached in 140,000 for a first class award ticket to BKK on SQ F.

The sad thing is that the sky suite is probably nicer than any of the beds I'll sleep in the 10 weeks I'll be in SE Asia :D

Thanks to FT I was able to find promotions, credit cards, and other tips that helped me reach my savings goals.

i should rephrase my question. how many budget travelers have gained status by ONLY flying for leisure, not work related. Just curious.
Made FTL and SEN on LH in one year only flying leisure.
Made HON flying 50% lesiure.

I made no business flights this year and will re-qualify for Silver Medallion on Delta.

AA Plat. Love the challenge. Though i do tend to travel more than my peers: to school and back 6-7 times a year and some Asia/SA mixed in there.

W

GP on US, 100% leisure. Will make CP mid-september.

-JC

12000 miles from NW gold.

With this double EQM promo.. i'm going to definately get gold now.

Also AS MVP, which I used to comp to NW silv.

Before this year all my travel was leisure. This year I had a couple domestic trips that were work related. Even without those work trips, I still would qualify for 1K on all leisure travel. It's quite a bit of work to fly 100K each year and I don't even want to think about trying to requalify w/o 1K benefits hence i take the appropriate measures to requalify each year. Also SPG Platinum on 100% leisure travel.

LH FTL since last year purely on leisure travel, probably won't be able to afford keeping it though (changes in M&M program last August) - I'm still a poor grad student.

David

All mine are from leisure travel. Travel between BWI AND UTH at least 4 times a month.

I'll make *A Gold in the next couple of months purely through 'leisure' travel - a quarter of my wages goes into shipping myself and my partner between LHR & NRT to see each other. He would have made Silver on Skyteam but the KLM-Air France merger happened a week before what would have been the last qualifying trip on Malaysia Airlines and that dream got scuppered :( Shame, as I would have loved to have gloated about getting 2 x status as a budget traveller.
Must admit though, I've stuck with an alliance (paying up to 20% more for the priviledge sometimes) MrLapLap has always insisted on the very cheapest option - we've both ended up with the same amount of miles (admittedly his are on two FFPs, and only because with FTs help I've enrolled him on plans and told him which ones to use - Alaska Air and KLM/Flying Blue caught all his flights between them, even a cheapo CX flight I never beleived we'd actually get the miles for!)
I do all my European travel using non earning LCCs.

I'm currently AS MVP and willl be MVP Gold by the end of the year. I spent about $1080 (+1 $300 bump voucher) to get the 31,000 status miles I have now. I'll be flying another 20,000 for $14 out of pocket. I'm flying that on vouchers af various types that I picked up from bumps and delays on the earlier flights.

AA Gold, no work at all (still in school)

How did you go Gold in school? International flight or two?

.....

I too am NW gold, all done for leisure and mostly on K fares. Now, with the double EQM promo, I may even get to Platinum for one year.

UA 1k with 50% business 50% leisure

Currently NW Gold, will be NW Plat by the end of the year - 100% Leisure travel

Currently US Gold, will requalify for US Silver by the end of October - Mostly leisure - only 1 business trip & that was BWI-PHL-HVN & back for about 2K EQMs - the other 23,007 (yep, I'll requalify with 25,007 miles!) are personal leisure travel.

No status with AA or any other carriers, but I've also flown 11K w/ the Fiji trip & have cashed out 2 awards for myself this year including one SEA trip & one Thailand/Cambodia trip in November - so my overall butt-in-seat flown miles for this year will be about 120-130K miles - all leisure except that 1 work trip to HVN.

Last year I flew about 30K EQM on AA to make Gold naturally, am Gold now (was actually Platinum last year through the Plat Challenge), and I'm very much a budget leisure traveler. One of those trips was for business but that was only about 2500 EQM so I still would have made Gold naturally without it. Not going to happen again this year though, don't think I'll even be breaking 10K EQM total.

i should rephrase my question. how many budget travelers have gained status by ONLY flying for leisure, not work related. Just curious.

United 2P on 100% leisure travel. I do several transcontinental flights a year and at least one trip to Europe and one long-haul flight a year for vacation.

Will be NW Plat by October 9 this year. Had no status on May 6 of this year. And account only showed 30,900 EQMs last Friday.

Will have about 10,000 miles of business travel. 3,300 of it from the double EQM promo.

Accrued/will accrue 67,800 EQMs in 5 trips.

1) Spring trip to Rome with wife ($495 each)- 10,500 EQMs 5 cpem (cents per elite mile)

2) MR to SIN in May on $550 fare- 19,400 EQMs the hard way (2.8 cpem)

3) MR to SFO Sept 20- DTW-DCA-DTW-SFO-DTW. Booked for $150 Mem Day weekend. Will get double EQMs from nw promo for 10,300 total EQMs (1.5 cpem, originally 3 cpem)

4) Trip to Maui for a day, 3 days after SFO trip. 22,476 EQMs for $470. Could have booked for $400 if I had not been on work trip with no internet for a few days. (Actually, I was too cheap to pay $10 a day). 22,000 EQMs the easy way. (2.1 cpem)

5) Repeat of #3, but in November for ONLY 5,150 EQMs. 3cpem

I think this qualifies me as a budget traveler. I'm actually about value. The miles I'm earning actually make these trips "free". I'll have enough FF miles to take my kids and wife on some really fun trips in the future. Plus, as a plat, we can plan far in advance with an award ticket, and buy a paid ticket if a cheap fare appears.

My goal at the beginning of the year was to hit Silver and to get Gold only if price and schedule allowed.

All mine are from leisure travel. Travel between BWI AND UTH at least 4 times a month.

UTH? Not in airport lookup quick link.

I'm GP with US, less than 4K short for GP next year. Debating if it will be worth it or not at this point.

Most of my travel is leisure, with some "business" in the mix.

AA- LifeTime Plat & CO Plat (1st time) will end up with over 100k on CO this year. ALL Leisure on mine own dime, Just LOVE those CO VDB bumps $700 a pop out of EWR on Intl flights

I earned my SAS Silver through intra-Europe flying only. My Czech Silver I got with a MR to USA.

As a student, all of my trips have been paid for by myself by working nights at a hotel.

The OP on this thread seems to imply that budget travelers are poor and thus won't accrue status. That is not necessarily the case. I have money to travel well but I can't stand the idea of spending big bucks when it is not necessary (particularly for a place just to sleep).

It would be a shame to miss being gold this year when I'm so close, but I don't know how much Katrina is going to disrupt my life, since we haven't been able to check on our home yet. There have some good offers this year on Northwest that have made it pretty easy for me to get Silver.

i should rephrase my question. how many budget travelers have gained status by ONLY flying for leisure, not work related. Just curious.

How would you classify "Budget Traveler"? I'm a 99% leisure traveler (exactly 1 business trip a year, usually staying in the Northeast). I stay in hostels and friends' couches, take buses and subways, and fly entirely deep discount economy fares. But the money saved on hotels and rental cars gets spent on a relatively high volume of weekend trips to visit friends and family, enough to make me a United Premier Executive and probably put a couple bartenders through school.

Also see this older thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=375752

Definitely 100% leisure travel for me.... dispite the misleading nickname ;)

100 % leasure travel, all on own dime, all for fun,...

It took me about a year for LH SEN and one serious summer of flying for SQ PPS.

but this is the topic for me.

Am NW Plat for past 2 yrs, CO Plat 4 yrs prior. At one time had status on DL, CO, and AA simultaneously. ALL LEISURE, on my dime. And I don't believe in spending alot. My backpacking days are long over, yet I am shocked when I see people asking about $100 "budget" hotel rooms in third world countries .

This is my fourth year as US Chairman's Preferred. My husband is Gold and will move up to CP in a couple weeks. 100% leisure on our own cost-conscious budget - no business travel for either of us.

BD Gold here, all on my own dime (56K to get it first time around).

Earned SEN status previously through leisure travel, but with the new earning rules of LH M&L, there was no hope of renewal, so I switched programs to keep my free lounge access.

Just wondering if there are any budget travelers that have status? Almost a silver on NW.

Yep, gold on NW, gold or higher on at least one airline for 13 straight years now. About 95% of it all earned on my own dime on leisure trips at rock-bottom fares. Would usually try to pounce on spot specials, the freakish fares that'd last only a few hours (like NW's $98+ RTs earlier in the year from ATL to SEA and PDX).

Budget travelers have been hit especially hard in the last 5 years by program cutbacks. Few promos apply to the lowest fares anymore, and upgrades are generally much harder to get.

AA Plat, thank to a the challenge. No business travel. Enjoying the budget travel. However, I think I may have gotten a little to old for dorms in the hostels. :eek:

The OP on this thread seems to imply that budget travelers are poor and thus won't accrue status. That is not necessarily the case. I have money to travel well but I can't stand the idea of spending big bucks when it is not necessary (particularly for a place just to sleep).

Why spend the bucks for a room you will only use to sleep for 8 hours? I would rather go out to a fine restaurant with the $ I saved on that cheap room.

The OP on this thread seems to imply that budget travelers are poor and thus won't accrue status. That is not necessarily the case. I have money to travel well but I can't stand the idea of spending big bucks when it is not necessary (particularly for a place just to sleep).

my question is not implying anything. my question is exactly how its stated. Again, i am almost a silver on NW and all leisure, if you are in a similar situation, please share your story.

My family of 4 is AA Platinum (we flew 86,000 miles last year), all leisure/self-financed travel.

Two trips to Sweden (one financed with bump vouchers) and one trip to Vegas just got me 2P (Premier) status on UA.

My "Program" description to the left says it all. Maintain it with 2 RT, open jaw bargain fare (Q, V, N) trips to the States each year along with one or two (Lan oferta) jaunts to nearby Argentina.

Still have Hertz #1 Gold status for no $/year gained back in the days AA and AAdvantage was flush with cash.

Most consider AA Gold nada but its great to be able to use Lan's special first/business/elite check area at SCL (I'm sure my pareja chilena is impressed) and normal business check-in elsewhere. Lounge access??…I don't need no stinkin' lounge access when you can do camouflage BYOB ;) to wait out boarding and free wireless at SCL. Previous sentence spoken like a true "budget traveler……:D

NW Silver here. Will be Gold by the end of the month. And Platinum by the end of next. All of my qualiflying flights this year have been on my own dime, save for two domestic business trips.

UTH? Not in airport lookup quick link.
Bikeguy, UTH is Udon Thani Thailand.

I don't think status is a bad thing to have even if you're a budget traveller.. the perks and bene's outweight the futility of flying w/o status. With all the alliances and stuff, it's fairly easy to pound on miles toward status.

Skyteam seems the most favorable if you're a US/CAN based flyer.

My wife and I are budget travelers, zero business travel.

Thanks to FT, we maintain silver status fairly easily. We fly nothing but lowball sale fares (and the occasional mistake fare :) ). She puts her miles in US DM, and I accrue UA MP, so we fly with status on both airlines.

This means exit rows and frequent upgrades on US flights, E+ and 500-milers on UA (and occasionally a mooched op-up), priority ticket lines and Zone 1 boarding whenever we fly, and generally an all-around more pleasant travel experience.

We will qualify easily this year, all on our own dime, and also burned 100,000 award miles.

My status earnings have pretty much always come from business travel, but having status certainly can spice up budget travel.

Few years back being btw jobs after dot-com bubble we travelled for 4 months in SE Asia, Pacific, NZ, OZ etc. We had cheap considolidator tickets and mainly backpacked, but it's certainly nice to go Cathay lounges for showers and endless supply of noodles after tramping all over hot and sweaty Hong Kong or check-in to Sheraton Auckland after weeks at backpackers even if valet parking attendant makes funny faces at your rent-a-wreck car with plastic bags taped to windows (after a break-in).

I don't think status is a bad thing to have even if you're a budget traveller.. the perks and bene's outweight the futility of flying w/o status. With all the alliances and stuff, it's fairly easy to pound on miles toward status.

If you can maintain gold level or higher the 100% mileage bonus is huge, as it means an inefficiently routed trip can earn back in mileage value as much or more than the ticket cost. The doubled miles really change the math. So you not only get the lowest fare (usually, if you know when to pounce), but also that much back in benefits.

Still, I won't go someplace and then just come back on my own dime, unless it's a late-December type top-off situation. I think for it to be worthwhile on a leisure basis you have to get enjoyment value out of both the earning trips and the burning trips and really like to travel.

<snip> people asking about $100 "budget" hotel rooms in third world countries .

:rolleyes: :D :rolleyes: :D

CO Gold, since I have to get to wherever I'm going. Will requalify this year on my own dime, my one biz trip to SAN is inconsequential with only 2,606 EQMs.

Very rarely stay in hotels over $50, usually around $30, sometimes hostels.

EmailKid

My user name says it all. I have flown two times for business since October 1990; both times were DFW to Corpus Christi. I have been AA Platinum for the past twelve years and am Platinum for life on AA since I have over 2.7 million miles. Prior to 1990, I flew AA an average of three RTs per month on full-fare tickets (the consulting business). However, I was not even Gold until I quit the consulting business. That was back in the days when there was no published criteria for elite status on AA; there was only Gold and "VIP".

My mother should reach 2 million in another year or so and almost all of her AA miles are from leisure flying and bonuses. She has never flown for business reasons. She has also been Platinum for the past twelve years.

I earned AF/KLM plat. Di only leisure trips and 2 mr. 5th year I do this ...

I fly about 80% leisure, and have been NW Plat for the last 3 years. I find that Asia and South America are often my best bet for long runs at low prices. Throw in some $98 RT to Atlanta, and you're there in no time. Wish the double EQM would have come out at the beginning of the year! I requalified in late April or early May.

I fly half way around the world for just a couple of days, almost once a month just for kicks. I have friends in many countries now. It's an amazing world we live in today. ^
Truly an amazing world. I'm back and forth over the pond like anything, yet just 100 years ago it took weeks or months with no guarantee you'd make it alive.

I'm AA Exp and HH Diamond on 80-85% leisure travel. Mrs c is AA Plat on 100% leisure travel. We still try to save money where possible though.

I don't think status is a bad thing to have even if you're a budget traveller.. the perks and bene's outweight the futility of flying w/o status. With all the alliances and stuff, it's fairly easy to pound on miles toward status.
I agree!
I normally make 1-2 extra trips per year to make sure I keep my status.
A great benefit of *G is that you are allowed to bring 40 kg of checked luggage if flying economy instead of the normal 20 kg without status (except transatlantic where it's different of course).
Having a permanent home address in more than one city/country (in my case I'm up to three now) the extra allowance is very useful as I often have heavy luggage to bring and the costs of one or two MRs to get status are easily outweighted by the money saved on overweight charges.

Otherwise, well sure it's nice to have status and being able to visit lounges etc, but I don't see any point flying half around the world just to get status if you don't really have a reason for flying frequently in the first place.

I am a United 1K from only leisure travel and usually on the lowest fare available. I have ocassionally bought up to an up-gradeable fare. I must admit that I am flying a lot just for the purpose of maintaining my 1K status.

I'm NW Silver (Gold within 2 weeks or so) and consider myself a budget traveler. I'm still in school and earned silver mainly because of a study abroad trip to China. We were booked in full Y and got the extra 50% EQM bonus on NW. That made silver a piece of cake (needed a quick vacation to the caribbean and Thanksgiving in DC to top off the account). Then I learned about FT. While I'm still in school now, I've been able to secure Gold for next year for less than a 4 credit course costs me. I consider that budget-conscious. :) Plus, I always Priceline (or red-eye) it domestically and hostel internationally.

Bikeguy, UTH is Udon Thani Thailand.

Thanks for the education. That's a long time in the air to go from UTH to BWI.

I don't think status is a bad thing to have even if you're a budget traveller.. the perks and bene's outweight the futility of flying w/o status.

I think it would be difficult to do as much travelling without status. For example, 100% mileage bonus as Gold makes some trips I couldn't justify turn into something reasonable financially.

Also, access to bulkheads and exit rows make dinner trips to SFO much more reasonable than sitting stacked in the regular rows.

Having flown first and coach, I really don't think there is that much of a difference, if you have status. Give me row 5 with a curtain on a DC9 or 319, and I'll bring my own Granola bar. :D Or even better, row 16 on a 757-200. About 10 feet of leg room.

To me, the status is about the extra miles and access to the coach elite seats. My wife likes to sit up front, but we both agree it wasn't the big deal we both thought it would be.

I think it would be difficult to do as much travelling without status. For example, 100% mileage bonus as Gold makes some trips I couldn't justify turn into something reasonable financially.

Also, access to bulkheads and exit rows make dinner trips to SFO much more reasonable than sitting stacked in the regular rows.

Having flown first and coach, I really don't think there is that much of a difference, if you have status. Give me row 5 with a curtain on a DC9 or 319, and I'll bring my own Granola bar. :D Or even better, row 16 on a 757-200. About 10 feet of leg room.

To me, the status is about the extra miles and access to the coach elite seats. My wife likes to sit up front, but we both agree it wasn't the big deal we both thought it would be.

I like the larger seats but the miles are definately the perk for me. My goal this year was to hit NW gold but this NW 2x EQM promo is only going to put me about 11k from Plat and I already have 2 flights planned before the end of the year...

I'm HHonors Gold and AA Gold (soon to be Plt) all on leisure/school.

All leisure travel, and I don't fly much domestic, so I don't get many upgrades to FC, but the other perks are still important. Now the question is, will I be able to stay Plat?

100% of my travel is leisure travel. Made AA Plat last year from 2 cheapo trips to NRT and BKK and a couple of transcons. Didn't have time to fly as much this past year so will drop to Gold next year :(

Also, it seems like I am slowly migrating to UA because it has better BOS-LAX fare and schedule than AA (at least when I needed to go home this year). Hope I'll be able to get status on UA next year.

AA Platinum, all leisure. Within arm's reach of qualifying for EXP for next year.

Correction: So, decided not to stay at arm's reach of EXP for long. Will be EXP on AA in a couple of weeks, after a weekend MR to SNN. All on leisure travel.

I had elite on AC for a while from leisure trips and traveling to/from school. One perk was lounge access, and there were definitely some looks of "how did someone under 25 get in here?" :)

Currently have gold on AA from leisure travel and a challenge, the mileage bonus is nice.

Will be Plat tomorrow :D

Just finishing up a 26,000 mile run for $260 out of pocket. How's that for "budget"? :)

I'm still a student, too.

Will be Plat tomorrow :D

Just finishing up a 26,000 mile run for $260 out of pocket. How's that for "budget"? :)


^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Guess Viajero Joven's MR Seminars are paying off :D

EmailKid

Correction: So, decided not to stay at arm's reach of EXP for long. Will be EXP on AA in a couple of weeks, after a weekend MR to SNN. All on leisure travel.

Revision: SNN MR done, changing "will be" to "am" EXP. Posted this past week. Now, to just keep it....

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Guess Viajero Joven's MR Seminars are paying off :D

EmailKid

Very much so. :) I'd highly recommend you all getting your own MR guru, too. ;)

Now the popular aphorism: I made Plat now...will I be able to keep it?

i should rephrase my question. how many budget travelers have gained status by ONLY flying for leisure, not work related. Just curious.

I travel 100% for leisure and I'm a Northwest Platinum (2005 88k EQM), a Korean Air Morning Clam, an Avis Preferred Select, a lowly Hilton Silver, and a Priority Club Gold.

The hotel status isn't from staying in them, but from other promos/comps. I'm an int'l budget traveller, so I usually stay in the $1/night hotel in Dhaka rather than the Hilton. When I travel, I sleep as cheap as possible, eat like the locals do, and get around likewise. I don't do any "pure" mileage runs since I like to stay and experience a place. Life's too short.

I guess that this past year I've dropped about $6k in airfare, which is a pretty huge part of my budget. But in 2005 I've gotten to travel to Houston about 10 times (fiancee is there), Peru, Korea, Japan, Spain, Hawaii twice, Canada twice, L.A., Maine twice, and a few other shorter trips. And that pales in comparison to last year when I was probably making 20% less. On the other hand, I don't have cable at home and I watch a 15" TV. I like to spend my money entertaining myself in places other than my sofa. Luckily I have an employer that lets me get away with about 2 months paid vacation a year since I can flex a lot of my billable hours, so I'm taking advantage of that while I can to travel like mad. :cool:

peace,
~Ben~

Mrs. MGMSTEVEN and I are both 1K on United. All on our own dime. Usually a trip or two per year to Asia, a trip or two to SA, and a trip or two to Europe. We usually use the miles to upgrade or for award tickets for our children. As *Gold we get free lounge access on international flights. Talk about budget - a nice place to crash for a few hours always with free beverages, snacks, and often with real food and internet access. The lounge access alone is enough incentive to keep flying and buying United.

I'm a UA 1K on strictly leisure travel, FWIW.

I'm a UA Premier on purely leisure fares - also just started college.

Made 2P from May-December leisure travel. If my 3 AC C tix get ticketed today, I'll at the very least make 1P this year.

Don't know if this qualifies as budget travel, but... just made Hilton Gold using their Best Rates Guarantee at Hamptons. Free breakfasts and a $50 Amex Gift Cheque!

Budget traveler as well as this year's travel was all lesiure on my own dime. Made Plat on NWA last year. Should be able to maintain I think. I have this passion for doing "long LAS road trips". Like to fly to LAS on Friday night on cheap fares, hang out for a few hours and hit an early flight back on Saturday. Work in some non direct routings and wham you're racking up miles quickly! :) Racked up about 194K worth of banked miles in '05 on NW and am hopefully by the end of this year will have enough to fly me and my g/f to Oz in WBC/FC, as the case may be, in 2007 via NW, Sky Team or its partners!!

UA 1K for fourth year, 100% leisure travel in 2005 (and around 92% leisure travel in 2004). Amtrak Select Plus, a great bargain (see Amtrak forum), 100% leisure travel. Hyatt Diamond status for fourth and probably last full year in 2006, about 95% leisure in 2005. Priceline and award stays stopped qualifying for Hyatt status on 3/1/05. Hilton Diamond for third year, over 90% leisure. Award stays count towards Hilton status.