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Annoying Things Points and Miles Collectors Do

Creative abstract business air travel, mobility and communication concept: modern touchscreen smartphone or mobile phone with airline internet web site offering booking or buying airliner tickets online, credit cards and passports on laptop or notebook computer PC keyboard with selective focus effect

There’s a certain amount of drive and ambition that comes with being involved in this hobby. It isn’t for the lazy or faint of heart. You have to wrap your head around some pretty crazy concepts (i.e. booking a bunch of flights and never boarding the plane, checking in and out of hotels without actually staying there, etc.). I’ve always admired the tenacity and ingenuity of my fellow point collectors. Yet sometimes, that drive and ingenuity can translate to obnoxious behavior. Here are five annoying things points and miles collectors do:

1 – Brag

I guess bragging comes with the territory when you’re chasing first class flights and trying to stay relevant on social media. But sometimes it gets downright obnoxious – especially when bragging turns into people acting as if the incredibly experience they’re sharing is “just another day in the life.” I’ve known people who got into this and were humble and excited – they’re not pretentious douchebags who spend their lives doing nothing but flying around aimlessly and documenting their pointless existence on social media. Which brings me to my next point…

2 – Quitting their jobs to blog full time

Guilty. Well, sort of. I did quit my job…twice. The first time, I was offered a blogging job. The second time, I quit that job to focus on my own blog…and do a whole lot of nothing for three years. It didn’t feel good to just earn and burn miles all the time. What gets idealized in this hobby as “the dream” became a dark hole of self-loathing over the fact that I was contributing absolutely nothing of value. Yet, “quitting your job and blogging full time” remains a popular delusion for newbies. If you can make a living writing about this stuff full time, good for you. But keep in mind that there is more to life than just traveling aimlessly and standing in line at Walmart to churn out gift cards. We all need more meaning in our lives and points and miles won’t fill that void.

3 – Insisting it’s easy and everyone can (and should) do it

This hobby isn’t for everyone. I’ve said it time and again. You need to be a hustler and someone who doesn’t need a whole lot of hand-holding. Because when that deal that all the bloggers told you was a shoe-in goes bust, you’ll need a back-up plan. And you’re not always going to get that from other people. So I find it obnoxious when people in this hobby tell newbies “anyone can do this!” and that they absolutely should buy miles for 1.8 cents each and get a bunch of credit cards because “it’s a no-brainer.” It’s not for everyone and not everyone can handle the financial side of having dozens of credit cards and churning tens of thousands of dollars worth of gift cards.

4 – Self-entitlement

This one is perhaps the worst of all the obnoxious behaviors I’ve seen on display. There is a serious entitlement issue that rears its head the longer people get involved in this hobby. They feel entitled to upgrades and over-the-top service. But this entitlement isn’t restricted to the service industry. I’ve heard people express disappointment that they traveled to a remote, impoverished part of the world and “didn’t get invited to a local wedding.” Seriously? On what planet would you all invite a tourist to your wedding? It’s completely ridiculous that some people feel this level of entitlement.

Another example of obnoxious, self-entitled behavior? Expecting everyone to speak English all over the world. How about realizing that the entire world is not a 5-star resort? That people don’t need to speak English to accommodate you in their own country? And how about meeting them halfway and learning a little bit about the language and culture you’re stepping into? Which brings me to my next point…

5 – Traveling to the same places

This is a bad habit we all gotta break. I get it – when you’re introduced to this hobby, you’re going to turn to bloggers for advice on where to travel. Award availability will probably dictate your destination more than anything. But try to mix it up a little. Go a little off the beaten path and maybe don’t stay at the Grand Hyatt for the 100th time. Travel is about expanding your horizons and by following the herd, you are not doing yourself any favors.

 

I’ll admit, I have been guilty of this in the past. But in recognizing these behaviors, I’m learning to be a better traveler and a better person overall. We’re all lucky to have stumbled upon this hobby. Let’s us it to enrich our lives instead of turning us into spoiled brats.

 

What are some of the obnoxious things you’ve seen people do – other than write judgmental blogs posts about other people. ;)

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18 Comments
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cochinjew July 26, 2018

Not all frequent fliers are businessmen or bloggers or point chasers. But it is possible to lead a meaningful life while traveling well (QR Bz) and staying modestly(Double Tree KL). Let me tell you my story if you are interested. While studying Medicine in London, I knew that an office or hospital based full time medical practice was not my goal in life, but working/volunteering in less developed countries was an ideal choice. But to generate an income to volunteer in poorer countries, you need to generate an income in a richer country, also choosing not to become a slave to their system. I work as a doctor intermittently, in underserved communities in a rich country, while living a developing country which is intellectually and socially well advanced and travelling to various developing countries. Initially I used to organize my voluntary medical work, but these days, voluntary work comes to you. I have been in Sri Lanka less than a day, already have been of some assistance by giving relevant medical advice. PS To do this in a culturally sensitive fashion, once I finished my basic training in Australia, I did go back to university to complete post graduate degree in Anthropology. I used to be monolingual but now I can communicate well in four european languages, it does help

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pointchaser July 18, 2018

@KLBGO It’s a hobby if it helps you spend your time in a fun way and a job if it generates income. ;) @steveuk Absolutely! @Marathon Man “people who do this or write about it need to shut up regarding details and only post generalities” Geez man, I thought I was negative! Generalities don’t generate clicks or credit card sales. Nor are they the reason 99% of the people (including old timers) got into this hobby… @NTP9766 it’s more about following the herd. “Every bloggers stays at the Park Hyatt, so I should too!” @bkcarolina you get a gold star for spelling it right. @sexykitten7 Credit card of gift? I think we all pollute the river to some degree. But in this post, I’m referring to behavior while traveling. @travelgirl07 that’s a nice way of looking at it. To a degree you’re right. But when I saw some of the superficial behavior people I helped were displaying, it made me rethink that value. @jrpallante probably both. :) I don’t think millions of people are doing this. But it’s a pretty prevalent attitude I’ve encountered. @bigeyejim welcome to the no-status club! We offer no beverages, canapes, or a quiet place to escape the madness of the airport. We’re the gate area next to McDonald’s… @slipcitybus thank you! @profpeabody guilty! @KRSW I hear ya. ;) @Develish gracias! @robsaw observations. The “negative assumption” being made here is that this post is based on assumptions. @Marathon Man Not subtle, are you? Lol! “And finally, someone who doesn’t want you to do something merely because they figure you are getting something out of it.” - isn’t that what your two rants are about? @TrojanHorse Totally. Another thing this blogger says that’s true: You’re using the word commodity incorrectly.

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TrojanHorse July 10, 2018

Because a commodity err I mean a blogger says it, it must be true

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Marathon Man July 5, 2018

Buying gift cards to earn miles and points. While a legitimate means of putting large spend on your credit cards, more and more stores frown upon it, and frown upon the methods to “burn” them or cash them out so as to maximize value. What happens from this is that the same gene or trait most mileage and point mongers possess switches to pseudo lawyer mode when that person finds themselves arguing with a grocery store manager over why gift cards can’t buy money orders here when they did yesterday and for the past several years at this same location. The store manager preventing this is usually one of these people: Someone who is lazy and doesn’t want to do any extra paperwork that may be required involving large purchases at their store location (even if that means simply having to perform the act of double checking numbers on the night log while tallying) Someone who is jealous and thinks we who buy all those money orders must be rich and therefore he or she loaths us (you can often feel this from some clerks who make remarks when you come in again to buy from them) A rule monger who feels something MUST be wrong with whatever anyone ever does to maximize or repeatedly utilize any deal or promotion of any kind (likely the type who would not allow some store coupons even when its own printed rules say it can be used) A manager who subscribes to today’s fear based mentality that makes him or her believe everything is fraud, terrorism, money laundering and because of 9/11. And finally, someone who doesn’t want you to do something merely because they figure you are getting something out of it. This last one is the most annoying trait.

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robsaw July 4, 2018

Obviously one blogger that isn't worth reading; not with that list of negative assumptions.