Traveling beyond your means on miles and points
#61
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,342
OK, since you ain't ADK, Jr. how the heck are you bagging these miles? I would have assumed you are just out of college with a low credit score, but do tell! You were in diapers for the pudding game, you also seem a might young to have minted miles and too undercapitalized to have a large scale paper recycling operation. What are you doing - BITS mileage runs? Can you loan your long lost uncle Aloha 50k, too.
I'm 22 years old and have earned over 100,000 FF miles between AA & UA just in the year 2012. In the last two years I've made two trips to South America (spent 5 months there total), two trips to Hawaii (second trip to Hawaii was all first class), a two week trip to Sydney, Australia (business class upgrade on the flight back-best flight of my life, I think MSRP one way was about $15,000, rumor mill went crazy after that one) andddddd i just booked a trip to Turkey, open jaw flying home from Paris after new years 2012/2013. If it is hard explaining the points rich cash poor concept to somebody as a 40 year old, try explaining it as a 22 year old. Nobody understands. My uncle honestly asked to borrow $50K from me a few months ago. It is really funny to me, most of the time I just let people draw their own conclusions. It is fun. Earn em and burn em baby!
Last edited by Apieinthesky; Jul 31, 2012 at 9:55 pm
#62
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 74
ADK, I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here. Getting 100,000 miles in a year, while significant, is not at all undoable. A simple two credit card sign up bonuses will get you there without any flying at all. While certainly impressive to the average person, we are on FT, where most of us are not average in these matters, and you should not assume such based on someone's age. I am a college student, under 20, and scored 50k miles with the UA MP card. Missed the AA Citi cards, but going on a MR later this year that will net me 25k AA miles, both without the knowledge of my parents. This isn't including any of my other flying I've done or will do. My FICO score is in the 770s (Though I will admit I'm not sure exactly why this is). I always pay off my balances in full, and often will pay for others on my CC and get reimbursed. I probably make a good income compared to the average college student, but it's likely what many of you make in a month. I absolutely love traveling and don't mind flying BIS. Who says young people can't get into the game? Especially with the Internet, it's so easy to get information.
#63
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,342
#64
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2
"Oh, but I do use them, and you could earn your own."
I usually start them out on the Starwood AMEX, I think it's the best hotel card, with low redemption charges. A Westin on Michigan Ave in downtown Chicago for 10,000 points? The Pulitzer in Amsterdam, the Luxury Collection, for 12,000 a night? Sheraton in downtown Brussels for $60 and 4,000 points? Can't touch this!
I of course get 5,000 points for the referral.
#65
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
So if Apieinthesky can do all this at his age there is at least hope for his generation. My point is - take note you late teens and twenty somethings who say you cannot get cards to fly free - it can indeed be done. But more than above average brains are required - like Key West, you have to have a strong will to secede.
And move fast Apieinthesky, as soon ADK, Jr. will be unleased upon the banks and airlines of this world. He's had a card since first grade and has a history with AMEX. If he follows in his father's flip flops, with his size 13 feet, the inventory of free tickets will soon be trampled.
PM me if ya wanna kick your volume up another level. We are always recruiting potential new members at The TCC and it is far easier to bag your first hundred countries when you are young. Have a feeling you will go far, kid.
And move fast Apieinthesky, as soon ADK, Jr. will be unleased upon the banks and airlines of this world. He's had a card since first grade and has a history with AMEX. If he follows in his father's flip flops, with his size 13 feet, the inventory of free tickets will soon be trampled.
PM me if ya wanna kick your volume up another level. We are always recruiting potential new members at The TCC and it is far easier to bag your first hundred countries when you are young. Have a feeling you will go far, kid.
ADK, I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here. Getting 100,000 miles in a year, while significant, is not at all undoable. A simple two credit card sign up bonuses will get you there without any flying at all. While certainly impressive to the average person, we are on FT, where most of us are not average in these matters, and you should not assume such based on someone's age. I am a college student, under 20, and scored 50k miles with the UA MP card. Missed the AA Citi cards, but going on a MR later this year that will net me 25k AA miles, both without the knowledge of my parents. This isn't including any of my other flying I've done or will do. My FICO score is in the 770s (Though I will admit I'm not sure exactly why this is). I always pay off my balances in full, and often will pay for others on my CC and get reimbursed. I probably make a good income compared to the average college student, but it's likely what many of you make in a month. I absolutely love traveling and don't mind flying BIS. Who says young people can't get into the game? Especially with the Internet, it's so easy to get information.
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,927
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...ey-appear.html
Read the first post on the first page first (it contains the working links and a lot of basic information about applying for the offers), then read the last few pages (for the latest info, which often includes repeats of answers to frequent asked questions ), and then ask there if you still have questions.
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: Frontier Gold, DL estranged 1MMer, Spirit VIP, CO/NW/UA/AA once gold/plat/comped gold now dust.
Posts: 37,910
OTOH, I've found 'em generally not to be good at valuing their own time. They might spend an inordinate amount of shopping time to save a small amount of money or, conversely, a lot of time selling at a market without very much to sell and not much profit on a sale. All the focus is on the money rather than the money vs. time.
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: Frontier Gold, DL estranged 1MMer, Spirit VIP, CO/NW/UA/AA once gold/plat/comped gold now dust.
Posts: 37,910
There's also a split in many workplaces between people with kids and those without. The latter group has flexibility to travel in the spring and fall low seasons, when school is in and the situation with both paid deals and mileage awards is better. If you're in a workplace where vacation requests can get rejected because of staffing coverage, being able to go in April, May or October could be very helpful (or you may lack seniority to get the more in-demand times, anyway).
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: Frontier Gold, DL estranged 1MMer, Spirit VIP, CO/NW/UA/AA once gold/plat/comped gold now dust.
Posts: 37,910
I'm a Ozzie and wish I had the benefits of credit card sign ups. I'm a poor factory worker who has a travel hobby and people/friends can't believe I'm flying in F on a RTW ticket for a family of four. They know I'm broke as a joke but they also know I'm up to something just don't know what. Although some of them think I've won the lottery but really I'm just awake at the right time I.e 4 mile ticket . It's not lucky it's dedication .
#70
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,164
While we sat and read 400 magazines a month.
Last edited by toomanybooks; Aug 1, 2012 at 3:06 pm
#71
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,342
Start here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...ey-appear.html
Read the first post on the first page first (it contains the working links and a lot of basic information about applying for the offers), then read the last few pages (for the latest info, which often includes repeats of answers to frequent asked questions ), and then ask there if you still have questions.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...ey-appear.html
Read the first post on the first page first (it contains the working links and a lot of basic information about applying for the offers), then read the last few pages (for the latest info, which often includes repeats of answers to frequent asked questions ), and then ask there if you still have questions.
So if Apieinthesky can do all this at his age there is at least hope for his generation. My point is - take note you late teens and twenty somethings who say you cannot get cards to fly free - it can indeed be done. But more than above average brains are required - like Key West, you have to have a strong will to secede.
And move fast Apieinthesky, as soon ADK, Jr. will be unleased upon the banks and airlines of this world. He's had a card since first grade and has a history with AMEX. If he follows in his father's flip flops, with his size 13 feet, the inventory of free tickets will soon be trampled.
PM me if ya wanna kick your volume up another level. We are always recruiting potential new members at The TCC and it is far easier to bag your first hundred countries when you are young. Have a feeling you will go far, kid.
And move fast Apieinthesky, as soon ADK, Jr. will be unleased upon the banks and airlines of this world. He's had a card since first grade and has a history with AMEX. If he follows in his father's flip flops, with his size 13 feet, the inventory of free tickets will soon be trampled.
PM me if ya wanna kick your volume up another level. We are always recruiting potential new members at The TCC and it is far easier to bag your first hundred countries when you are young. Have a feeling you will go far, kid.
#72
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 59
LOL I can somewhat relate to this thread, as both my wife and I are by no means poor, we are certainly not wealthy.
Having gone from a week in BC (driving from Oregon) and a week in Acapulco in a decade to London/Scotland last Sept, AR last March and Chicago seminar in Oct, with a AS/NZ trip in preliminary planning for Fall 2013, and maybe a week in NYC, all due to a lot of the techniques acquired here, I have no problems flying 1st and aiming for a week at the Waldorf Astoria, and then being the envy of everyone.
Aside from people with credit difficulties, everything I have done is easily repeatable, and yes I have out in effort for the some of the spends (hauling 35-40lbs of coins to the bank LOL) but that effort has been paid back 100x. The tools are right in front of almost everyone's noses yet they fail to take advantage of them. For the longest time I paid no mind until recently and now I will not look back. To date I have gotten:
2 AA citi 75k
1 AA citi bus 75k
CO 40k
US Air 40k
HA 35k
citi TY premier 50k
SPG 25k
DL Amex 35k
DL Amex Bus 35k
And I am coming up onto my next churn as well and refilling my AA points.
To the OP, your situation is a little different, living in AU and having a US Soc# and that has advantages.
To them I would say that travel is a priority to you and that is what your vice is. I have the belief that having a few vices are not bad, mine is bicycling, good food and travel. I make no apologies in having good cycling gear, good food and traveling well. Thankfully, the $$ I save on travel can go to feed my other vices.
Having gone from a week in BC (driving from Oregon) and a week in Acapulco in a decade to London/Scotland last Sept, AR last March and Chicago seminar in Oct, with a AS/NZ trip in preliminary planning for Fall 2013, and maybe a week in NYC, all due to a lot of the techniques acquired here, I have no problems flying 1st and aiming for a week at the Waldorf Astoria, and then being the envy of everyone.
Aside from people with credit difficulties, everything I have done is easily repeatable, and yes I have out in effort for the some of the spends (hauling 35-40lbs of coins to the bank LOL) but that effort has been paid back 100x. The tools are right in front of almost everyone's noses yet they fail to take advantage of them. For the longest time I paid no mind until recently and now I will not look back. To date I have gotten:
2 AA citi 75k
1 AA citi bus 75k
CO 40k
US Air 40k
HA 35k
citi TY premier 50k
SPG 25k
DL Amex 35k
DL Amex Bus 35k
And I am coming up onto my next churn as well and refilling my AA points.
To the OP, your situation is a little different, living in AU and having a US Soc# and that has advantages.
To them I would say that travel is a priority to you and that is what your vice is. I have the belief that having a few vices are not bad, mine is bicycling, good food and travel. I make no apologies in having good cycling gear, good food and traveling well. Thankfully, the $$ I save on travel can go to feed my other vices.
#73
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: OTP
Programs: PC
Posts: 507
@Apieinthesky, TCC is the Travelers Century Club...it is an objective for myself as well, i'm @ 53/100 of their recognized territories so far at age 28
#74
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: AA Plat,PC Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 904
The problem is: you can get to your destination free of cost but the free ticket may delude you into thinking that your trip is free. Its not.. By the time you add up your other transportation, meals, visit to attractions etc, you would have spent a significant amount.. more so if you are going to an expensive destination like Japan.
#75
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,342
The problem is: you can get to your destination free of cost but the free ticket may delude you into thinking that your trip is free. Its not.. By the time you add up your other transportation, meals, visit to attractions etc, you would have spent a significant amount.. more so if you are going to an expensive destination like Japan.