MilesBuzz! - How May Miles Have You Spent?

A question from my son caused me to calculate how many points I have "spent" on awards. (Before you figure out the answer you might do an estimate - my "guess" was less than 1/2 of the actual).

I keep all my records in Quicken so it took about 30 seconds to prepare a report showing the actual answer.

Since 1991 (I used points before that, but my Quicken records only go back to 1991) I have spent 2.6 million points. [Edit: 1 Million of those were hotels, rest was airlines] Anyone else?

Edited as reflected in brackets

[This message has been edited by sbrower (edited 06-13-2002).]

I have spent a grand total of zero miles for award travel. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

FewMiles..

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[ Unofficial Guide to AAdvantage (http://www.fewmiles.net/AA)] [ Unofficial oneworld Info Desk (http://www.fewmiles.net/oneworld)]

Lets see...

Airlines (AA,DL,US,NW,CO) Since 2000 ( First redemption ever )
620K

HHonors (Since 16 Aug 2001 With only one ALON http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif )
~350K

Although I do not have that many miles. but I have spent over 90% of miles I earned.

Millions! At least 4,000,000 counting mine and DH's.

I have redeemed over 120K already. Since I still have lots of OP miles I'm definately going to use them for award travel to Asia or Europe this fall or next year, and finally bring up the number of miles redeemed.

I don't know about fellow loyAAl flyer Fewmiles, but I seem to have a big problem! I do not plan on spending a single mile till I get to 2 million miles in the account... and that's like yeaaaaaars away! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif So, yeap, also a grand total of zero miles spent!

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Spare the miles, spoil the flight!

540k spent this year on US, UA, QF, and NZ awards.

Spent 160K on awards for my parent's anniversary - I'm bringing the whole family to Europe this November 01 (and other family members are using points for our hotel and car rentals).

And then have plans to use the rest of my miles next summer to bring the 5 members of my family over to Spain to visit me.

Hopefully will keep flying so can bring at least one of them over every year.

Never use miles on myself since I want to earn more! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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I Love New York -- Viva España

Spent 930 K the last 6 month on SQ,TG,UA,LH and BA/QF

Cheers

Thomas

Over 20 million miles spent with airlines (including about one million lost to Ansett). I dont think that the airlines realise how much revenue I actually make them from points sales (being a non-elite flyer with over 100 flight segments per year and 250,000 flying miles).

If the airlines sell miles for 1c each I would have net them over $200,000 in the past 5 years (not bad for a non-elite flyer).

3,400,500 miles spent

for around $110,000 USD travel.

[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 06-13-2002).]

~ 600k miles spent in the last 18 months: mostly on SYD in F for family members.

I estimate I have spent about 850K airline miles (not including hotel points), but that is over about 15 years.

For those spending that much in a few months or those spending in the millions, my only question is not how did you get that many miles, but where do you find the time (vacation time) to spend that many and still fly enough on paid fares to retain elite status? I can understand if one takes a family to SYD in first class that miles spent go up rather quickly, but trips to SYD are not usually weekend events. Have some of those miles spent been used for business travel as opposed to leisure travel?

I don't like to redeem miles for myself. When I'm flying on an award ticket, I know I'm not getting miles for the flight. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Most of my miles go for my wife and kids to travel.

I have spent about 300K miles, mostly given away to family.


Jay

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MileKing:
For those spending that much in a few months or those spending in the millions, my only question is not how did you get that many miles, but where do you find the time (vacation time) to spend that many and still fly enough on paid fares to retain elite status? I can understand if one takes a family to SYD in first class that miles spent go up rather quickly, but trips to SYD are not usually weekend events. Have some of those miles spent been used for business travel as opposed to leisure travel?</font>


Hello Mileking,
I have spent the 930 K in the past 6 month on three trips for between a long weekend and a max of 10 days. Bearing in mind that working in Germany has its upsides such as 30 days paid holidays p.a. part from a suitable number of public holidays. They were lesiure trips always for the misses and myself sitting upfront.
In terms of collecting, I generally have one to two returns a week - mainly domestic and some intraeurope - almost always in C - because the price difference for one or two day trips generally is about 10 - 30 €UR / US $ (yes, I am liberal with the exchange rate http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif) and every second trip is with a connection, that I generally in the year qualify double for the requirement of retaining elite status http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif not that it is worth much - at least with LH M&M - apart from the guranteed seating - which I find invaluable - and makes it worth to stick to LH.

Cheers

Thomas

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by maple:
I don't know about fellow loyAAl flyer Fewmiles, but I seem to have a big problem! I do not plan on spending a single mile till I get to 2 million miles in the account... and that's like yeaaaaaars away! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif So, yeap, also a grand total of zero miles spent!</font>

Why are you holding out? If it's for lifetime PLT status, you don't actually need 2MM in the account.

As Carl Sagan used to say when asked about how many stars there were in the universe: "Millions and millions." Which about sums it up for me, having collected these things since they started back in the early 80s. And thanks to these programs, my significant others and I have seen pretty much all of the world, something that would not have otherwise been possible.

probably about 3.3 mil. currently have about 600k available.

About 2.5 million so far mainly for Europe trips from LA over the past coupe of years for family and myself

Not anal enough to track it, but the UA website shows -570000 in the "Other" total column since Jan 1 2001.

I know I spent 250K of my AAdvantage points this year (because my account, she is empty!).

I also estimate that I've spent 90% of the miles I've earned...

[This message has been edited by skofarrell (edited 06-13-2002).]

About the millions, for us it is actually well over 5 million spent if we include Amex and hotel points. We signed up for our first FF programs in 1984. Until recently
littleleaguedad earned 85% of them flying to Asia (constantly!) on business and son and I spent most of them, going along or flying elsewhere while dad was working. Luckily around the time all the miles were gone because dad switched to Philippine Air which does me no good, I discovered FT and now have plenty of my own, all from leisure trips and FF activity.

Zero

I'd estimate over 2,000,000 airline miles (but not much more) on UA and under 200,000 AS, 100,000 SPG points, and a few occasional other awards from long ago (AirCal, HP, WN)

I've only been accumulating AAdvantage miles since 1999, and only started to pile them up since Feb. 2000. I have claimed *zero* awards.

I don't get any credit card points or hotel miles or anything. Just airline. I'm in the Sofitel program, but that doesn't accumulate points you redeem.

Far too many! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Surely over a million to this point! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redface.gif

I've spent 415k AA miles, 100k USAir miles and 250k BA miles so far. 100k of the AA miles was bringing in people for the wedding, and the 250k BA miles were for our honeymoon. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by hauteboy (edited 06-19-2002).]

I have spent 265K AA so far this year mostly on Hawaii.

Great thread and a subject that always brings a smile to my face ('cause that's what they are there for, right?)...Redeemed Miles! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Just United: About 4 Million spent and still spending!

All other airlines combined: About 1.5 Million spent (most of it long ago).

Total: 5.5 Million Miles Redeemed.

Percent spent on me: Estimate only 20%, tops.

Actually, this is pretty easy info to find out. Just call your program(s) to get your lifetime total miles and subtract your current balance.

Hotel points...totally unknown. I'm an airline whore, not a hotel whore. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif


[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 06-13-2002).]

I just started so, ZERO...
but there are plans... Oh, YES... there are plans. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

In 6 airline programs(US-AA-CO-DL-NW-UA), counting the award I just have on hold, 270k. I joined my first program about 7 years ago but have not flown much the last couple years after flying multiple times per month for a few years before that. Generally I spend the miles when I have an opportunity to. I don't horde them because there is too much I want to do with them and they are not earning me any interest sitting there in the account.

Since 91 spent about 1,000,000 with another 1,500,000 available. I hold no elite status and have never paid for a flight or hotel.

If I subtract my current mileage balance from my lifetime mileage earned, it appears that ~1,000,000+ miles have been removed from my FF account. I would never have guessed that I spent that many miles, although I did spend 280,000 miles last year flying the family and parents in C on vacation last year.

Probably less than 100k points for hotels and miscelaneous other loyalty programs.

I have spent 137,000, and might I say that it was an uncomfortable feeling to see them leave my account. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

It is such a soothing thing to see my balance increase. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

The trips were great though.

Subtracting my current WorldPerk (WP) miles from my lifetime WP miles, I have redeemed 1,187,000 miles. This is a surprise to me since I burn the miles mostly for relatives and friends. I also redeemed 30,000 USAirways Dividend miles. For hotels I have redeemed 80,750 Starwood points for hotel stays in Tokyo and Brussels and 25,000 HHonors points for one night at London Gatwick Hilton.

It's interesting that several folks in this thread are amazed that they have spent that many miles after they actually do the math.

Hey...I'm one of 'em!

Seems to take sooooooo long to earn those big balances. But then they seem to vanish in an instant when you are burning them.

Normally, I just kinda watch my balance go up and down and it seems to hover roughly around the same level. I never seem give much thought to the cumulative total that I've redeemed.

All I know is that if I added up all the value that those 5.5 Million Miles were worth? Man! There can be no question. These Frequent Flyer programs are great deals!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I think it's really more relevant to ask what percentage of miles you've spent. Some of us earn more miles than others, after all.

I'm personally hovering at ~50% - which is about 500k miles so far.

[This message has been edited by Plato90s (edited 06-13-2002).]

Under Platos suggestion (percentage spent of total earned) I am at about 60%.

On airlines (UA, DL, CO, AA, NW) a total of 581,000 miles.

On hotel, 100,000 pts for a Hawaii award on Hilton HHonors.

Between the two of us, we have spent 615,000 miles since '95. We are strictly leisure travellers, so our balances are roughly equal.

[edited b/c I forgot some]

[This message has been edited by IAH_FLYER (edited 06-13-2002).]

Total miles/points consumed;
AA 410,000
UA 100,000
NW 5,000
DL 5,000
HH 200,000
SPG 35,000

Easy how I spent that many. Some went to my friends and to my charities. Others were front cabin trips for the whole family to South Africa etc. Doesn't take long to spend that many over 10 years.

From 1990 to date, I'd estimate between 900,000 and 1,000,000 miles (I remember all the free tickets, but have trouble remembering precisely when I've used miles to upgrade.) Most were used back in the days of expiring miles or for expiring programs (e.g., TWA equity miles), expiring partnerships (e.g., US/BA) or expiring airlines (a hefty portion of those were from Pan Am). I think I've only used hotel points once or twice--old Westin (pre-*wood days) ones for a trip I gave my parents. I'm a hoarder.

[This message has been edited by rfrost (edited 06-17-2002).]

Since 1995 around 560k miles spent on Lufthansa, BA and Qualiflyer. Around 1/4 to friends.


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Hajo's World (http://www.britishexpat.com/travelhajo/hajosworld.htm)

[This message has been edited by HajoFlyer (edited 06-14-2002).]

As an estimate, I'd say about 350,000 CO OP miles--- all for upgrades. 20% for use domestically (when I really, really wanted to guarantee those FC seats EWR-LAX & LAS http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif and the rest pre & post HoKeY on international fares, which thankfully all came through http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
As far as hotels go:
Marriott: 95,000 (for a Bose CD/Radio)
leaving me with currently 100,000+
Hyatt: 7,000 (for one upgrade way way prior to my becoming Diamond http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif leaving me with 185,000 + currently
Starwood: 165,000 (all transfered to Qantas for BA F & Concorde travel) leaving me with only 114,000 currently.

[This message has been edited by mauld (edited 06-17-2002).]

We've spent so far:

25,000 AA miles (trip to Mich 3 years ago)
40,000 AA miles (husband's emergency trip to
Mich at Thanksgiving)
160,000 AAmiles (family trip-kona/maui Feb)
100,000 HHonors points - Alon - Kona
Total....325,000 miles and points

It's nice to know we've spent a lot (figure we saved $7,000 for what we got) and that we still have 175,000 AA miles and 100k hhonors points plus Marriott 50k and NW 100K after the promo plus 15 K united and 30k delta.
Yes, this is addictive.

I have only used my miles once for trips other than Asia. I have been to Asia 16 times, 13 of which were using miles, and all but one of those were in either FC or BC. It's the best "bang for the buck" in using miles.

I added them up in my head and stopped at the 2,000,000 mile mark. Thank goodness for bonus miles!

At least 300,000 for hotels.

Mostly tickets for the family and international upgrades (No SWU's for lowly 1Ps).

RAD

About 1,000,000 miles and at least that many in Hilton points. Starwood points I don't burn nearly as fast because I usually opt for the half off for 1500 points. I've probably done that 20 times or so.

It's not hard to believe I've used that many miles - an international first trip for the three of us is more than a third of that - but it is hard for me to believe I've earned that many miles and still have considerable balances. Thank you FT!

As to the question of how does one find time to use miles and earn them, I'm fortunate because I don't work so can take a trip a month and my husband usually ends up with about eight weeks off a year.

[This message has been edited by letiole (edited 06-17-2002).]

I've spent around 350,000, plus 100,000 Hilton points. Horror of horrors, I've used most of my miles for off-peak trips to Europe in coach!

Last two years...

40K on AC to go to Vegas with buddies
15K on AC so Mom can come visit
25K on CP to go on a date with girlfriend(she is now my wife)
25K on AC to introduce girlfriend (wife) to parents
140K on AC to take wife to Ireland for Holiday
50K booked to take wife (and 2 mo old baby) to visit my parents this Christmas.
120K in bank to take wife (new baby) to ??

35K travel to come in next 4 months

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I miss Canadian Airlines

I am saving them for a rainy day.

The most I have spent is 2,500 MR points so I could claim a Southwest ticket.

Don't tavel much, so I am always looking for new ways to earn without flying and without spending much $$$

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

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Another evil plot for world domination through the use of points and miles.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jfe:
I am saving them for a rainy day.</font>

Now who'd want to fly during a rainy day.... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

This is a good exercise to really make you think about how you spend your miles. I am surpised to realize that I have spent 1.2 million US miles--with only 40K for myself to upgrade j&gt;f. Boy is my family lucky! I have also spent 30K AA for j&gt;f to asia (very good spend). I have also given away 150K HH and 40K SW. I am a sucker for a sob story from a relative.

Have 1.4 Million program-to-date miles on AA. Current balance is just under 300,000. Crossed the million miles redeemed on the three tickets I just ordered for family travel this December.

Proposed to my wife by saying "Marry me and fly free for life." However, was not able to convince her that we should name our son Miles. (no, really dear, it is in honor on Miles Davis).

I don't have an exact record of the amount of miles redeemed, but I do redeem miles on a regular basis. I do not believe in stockpiling them for a rainy day. Furthermore, my income is not what it was a few years ago. So to continue travelling frequently, it's the only way to keep down my expenses.

Randy has stated more than once that he believes it is not beneficial to let miles sit in one's account. They do not earn interest and eventually will not be worth as much. For example, AA (my main program,) is discontinuing the two person awards. So taking the same trip after June 30th will cost substantially more miles. Also, when I started collecting miles, both Pan Am and TWA were major players. If UA or AA were to suddently be on shakey ground, there could be a run on redemtpions making award travel difficult. I would not want to start worrying about spending 1,000,000 or so miles in a short period of time. Just my two cents worth.

Isn't spending miles a deadly sin? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I have spent 1.6 million miles on AA, 110,000 on UA and 150,000 priority points. Miles spent on family trips from and to South America and to Europe. Very well spent. Don't believe in keeping high mile balance. Will spent another 300,000 before the end of the year on a family vacation. Most of my miles are earned on international business trips. Again, Thank God for the bonuses and CX.

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dlp

This looks fun, so I thought I'd join in.

140,000 AA miles for F ticket to visit girlfriend in Australia

100,000 AA miles for 2 first class tickets to Hawaii for parents

25,000 TW miles for last minute (would have cost $1700) ticket to BOS to see Pedro destroy Clemens in the ALCS

30,000 US miles for 2 last minute shuttle tickets to BOS

I believe that is all.

Aadvantage Miles Only

I've earned: 180K
I've spent: 160K

Wife earned: 209K
Wife spent: 200K

We earn 'em.
We save 'em.
Then we spend 'em.

All redeemed for Hawaii FC tix.

Historically, I couldn't tell. But in the last couple of years, I've burned around 600k on RTWs for my parents to see the world and their children.

Points well spent in my mind.

Haven't calculated a lifetime total but at least I don't have to worry about my US balance anymore - bought AwardGuard last September but now I've almost spent it all:

50K to bring my fiancee to LAS in F to meet me after a business trip

120K for 2F to SLU (actually UVF) for next month's honeymoon (and a Hilton GLONP for 150K HH)

120 K for 2F to NAS between Christmas and New Years and

200K for 2F on Swiss to Paris for spring break (not sure of their code anymore but hope they retain the storied pleasures of their FC service). It will be a new experience. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

edited to say UVF

[This message has been edited by gatorboy (edited 06-18-2002).]

If I were to hazard a guess, I would say 5 million over the last 15 years. Mostly on PanAm (!), Delta and British Airways. More recently on QF, AA and CO. Have approximately 3 million miles currently in various FF accounts.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by satish_ny:
If I were to hazard a guess, I would say 5 million over the last 15 years. Mostly on PanAm (!), Delta and British Airways. More recently on QF, AA and CO. Have approximately 3 million miles currently in various FF accounts.</font>

Satish, how did you acquire all those miles? Flights to and from India per every two weeks for work?