Questions/Comments that Drive You Nuts from Infrequent Travelers
Mar 28, 2015, 9:58 am
#46
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 722
Friend: "How can you afford to fly international business class?"
Me: "Well, I didn't actually pay that much. I used some of my frequent flyer miles."
Friend: "Oh, I don't have the time or patience to mess with that miles stuff. I don't even belong to a program. I just fly whatever is cheapest."
I also hate - "Why go back to Japan (or wherever)? Haven't you already been there?"
Me: "Well, I didn't actually pay that much. I used some of my frequent flyer miles."
Friend: "Oh, I don't have the time or patience to mess with that miles stuff. I don't even belong to a program. I just fly whatever is cheapest."
I also hate - "Why go back to Japan (or wherever)? Haven't you already been there?"
I'm not rich or a frequent traveller but I admit, it does annoy me when people/relatives who are often richer than me start asking me where I get all this money to travel from. People always ignorantly assume that we spend Ł10,000 per holiday, if they would bother to save and price around they'd soon realise its not THAT expensive. I'm actually not telling anyone I am going this year because I can't be arsed getting negative comments about the price.
Last edited by Owenc; Mar 28, 2015 at 10:10 am
Mar 28, 2015, 11:19 am
#47
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SJO/MGA
Programs: bits of shiny plastic w/ varied utility
Posts: 383
In Latin America it is not possible to go anywhere without everyone asking you to bring them a gift back. Not once did anyone just wish their friend a nice trip.
I used to oblige them but these people think places like South Florida are shopping paradises, you end up musing the appropriateness of a set of stainless steel teaspoons in Target as a gift for someone you barely know.
I now just slope off without telling anyone where I am going
I used to oblige them but these people think places like South Florida are shopping paradises, you end up musing the appropriateness of a set of stainless steel teaspoons in Target as a gift for someone you barely know.
I now just slope off without telling anyone where I am going
My usual response was "no hay campo" (no room in my luggage). Thank Zeus they never discovered I was flying biz class and had 3x 70lb allowance.
Of course that wouldn't work for the ex-wife's "family" -- cannot tell you how much time I spent in some MCO or HNL gift "shop" agonizing over which tchotchkes to buy and for whom.
Meanwhile, for a loooong time I was working in Nicaragua and far too often I heard (usually from an American): what's it like working in Africa?
Mar 28, 2015, 12:08 pm
#48
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: BA blue, LH Senator, KQ (FB) gold
Posts: 8,215
Answer: Yes.
Answer: Yes.
Answer: Yes. It is.
Answer: I chose my ancestors wisely.
Answer: I'm special.
Answer: No, just smart.
The only response to passive-aggressive questions is to turn their aggression back on them
Answer: Yes.
Answer: Yes. It is.
Answer: I chose my ancestors wisely.
The only response to passive-aggressive questions is to turn their aggression back on them
Mar 28, 2015, 12:27 pm
#49
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: BNA
Programs: Virtuoso, FSPP, RC STARS, Rosewood Elite, Bellini, SPG LP, Dorchester Diamond, PenClub
Posts: 357
Questions/Comments that Drive You Nuts from Infrequent Travelers
"Well you're a travel agent so you get to travel for free."
Umm, I wish!
"You can travel a lot because you don't have kids. It's easy for you to be away."
Some truth there, but traveling a lot can be quite hard. It's as true for me as it is for anyone.
"On vacation again!"
No, I just spent five days spending twelve hours a day cramming in every site and experience at <insert location>, while working early mornings and late nights. I love it, but it's not a vacation.
Umm, I wish!
"You can travel a lot because you don't have kids. It's easy for you to be away."
Some truth there, but traveling a lot can be quite hard. It's as true for me as it is for anyone.
"On vacation again!"
No, I just spent five days spending twelve hours a day cramming in every site and experience at <insert location>, while working early mornings and late nights. I love it, but it's not a vacation.
Mar 28, 2015, 1:00 pm
#50
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SEA
Posts: 79
The ones that kill me are the stunning ignorance of geography. Actual questions: Ooh, Zambia, is that in Africa or South America? Belize is in South America, right? Are the Galapagos in one of the oceans? Now, where exactly IS Scandinavia? I just want to roll my eyes and hand them an atlas. Did these people even show up at school? I don't mind answering a 7 year old's geography questions, but supposedly well-educated adults--wow!
Mar 28, 2015, 3:14 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: LHR- ish
Programs: MUCCI, BA Blue
Posts: 4,295
Mar 28, 2015, 4:16 pm
#52
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: BA blue, LH Senator, KQ (FB) gold
Posts: 8,215
The ones that kill me are the stunning ignorance of geography. Actual questions: Ooh, Zambia, is that in Africa or South America? Belize is in South America, right? Are the Galapagos in one of the oceans? Now, where exactly IS Scandinavia? I just want to roll my eyes and hand them an atlas. Did these people even show up at school? I don't mind answering a 7 year old's geography questions, but supposedly well-educated adults--wow!
After all, how many of us know where Bechuanaland, Basutoland and and the New Hebrides are?
Mar 28, 2015, 6:09 pm
#53
Used to be 'Travelergcp'
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: New Orleans
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,826
I have 4 miles and I fly Southwest once a year to Las vegas. Please find me 6 tickets using miles in business class from Paducah to London for the week of July 4th . I must travel on these dates. if you could just give me the flight numbers I'd appreciate it. I'm such a "noob"! LOL.
Also, what does "Amex MR" mean?
Also, what does "Amex MR" mean?
Mar 28, 2015, 6:35 pm
#54
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FSD
Programs: BAEC, Delta SkyPesos, VS FC, SQ KF, AA, HHonors
Posts: 1,884
Mar 28, 2015, 9:54 pm
#55
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
With the miles I earned flying back and forth to Europe for my semester abroad and the bonuses from two credit cards I was able to fly first class to Thailand the summer after graduation.
Mar 29, 2015, 12:31 am
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
Generally everyone is more interested in where I am going rather than making snide comments about my travel habits. However...
I told my neighbor how I had changed my travel dates to Asia due to a work conflict and that I would be travelling about a month later. I then listened to her tell me that I was foolish, as well as naive about Asia if I traveled there without a money belt. She told me that it was a good thing that I had changed the date, as it would allow me time to purchase the necessary travel tools to ensure my safety.
I told my neighbor how I had changed my travel dates to Asia due to a work conflict and that I would be travelling about a month later. I then listened to her tell me that I was foolish, as well as naive about Asia if I traveled there without a money belt. She told me that it was a good thing that I had changed the date, as it would allow me time to purchase the necessary travel tools to ensure my safety.
Mar 29, 2015, 12:32 am
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
Mar 29, 2015, 12:33 am
#59
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FSD
Programs: BAEC, Delta SkyPesos, VS FC, SQ KF, AA, HHonors
Posts: 1,884
Outside the US, yes, but accumulating lots of miles cheaply is pretty easy in America, even for college students. They're the ones you see on in the TR forum and a.net writing first class trip reports at 20.
With the miles I earned flying back and forth to Europe for my semester abroad and the bonuses from two credit cards I was able to fly first class to Thailand the summer after graduation.
With the miles I earned flying back and forth to Europe for my semester abroad and the bonuses from two credit cards I was able to fly first class to Thailand the summer after graduation.
I had studied in the UK for four years. A year's worth of discount Y miles on DL amounted to squat. My earnings on BA for 2nd-4th year were negligible at 25% flown until BA started crediting 100% for the latter half of that time. The miles rolled in once I could find the cash for paid J and get a big-boy CC. or two.
Mar 29, 2015, 12:34 am
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
