Friends in New York take care of my USmail - I just give their address as my US-address ("R. Martel@............). This is even correct, as I stay with them 3-5 times/year (and just this week they are with us in Wengen).

I use them for:
- event-ticket-deliveries (examples: the next US-tennis-open and the Yankee-game with Catman)
- membership-address for organizations which only accept members residing in the US (example: AAA)
- questionnaries/promotions etc. for which a US-address is needed

I didn't use that address yet for ff-programs, as often advantages/disadvantages will balance out. Some advantages of being a non-US-resident with US-ff-programs are often not published/known: as the free Red Carpet membership for 1K with UA etc.; or the special tf-line in the US for german-speaking-mileage-plus-members which is never occupied - I am never hold on line! - or the faster readiness to help a foreigner in special/unfortunate situations. Sometimes, when things are urgent and I don't get what I need fast/efficient enough I would just pretend not to speak any english ... it can help (may be only because they want to get rid of me as fast as possible ...).

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 07-01-1999).]