Great idea for a thread and some good stories.

I had always been interested in the game since I was a little kid. My father was a Senator card holder (before HON which he would have been) and I tried to learn all the tricks of the trade from him when I was younger, tagging along on many of his business trips. Certain things that he did would probably be considered bordering on the legal line, but as a kid I was fascinated at how he was able to work the system. I can still remember him telling me to wait at the edge of the airport at about 12 years old while he convinced the UA ticket agent that 1 of 2 tickets in his name (1 of which had expired) was actually supposed to be mine and getting me on a paid *A RTW First Class trip...I still have no idea how he managed to convince them that it should not be expired (or if I just misunderstood), but didn't care as I was sitting in UA, TG, and LH F traveling to places I'd never been before.

Unfortunately, my father passed away when I was in my mid-teens and, as a result, the amount of travel dropped significantly. I was limited to a trip (2 if I was lucky) to Europe per year on the cheapest possible ticket. I continued to try the old "dress-to-impress," asking for an upgrade at every possible desk, etc. tricks. To my surprise, a bunch still worked (as Gretzky said, "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take). My brother and I were upgraded once LH EWR-DUS from Y to J simply because I spoke to a stewardess for a while then asked if it'd be possible. She, of course, said no, but a few minutes later came back and asked my brother and I to follow her towards the front. Another time, I had just had knee surgery and really shouldn't have been flying as I was in a full (adjustable, yet at the time, rigid) cast and asked if I could be moved to a larger seat on a JFK-LHR BA flight. I went from Y to Y+ by asking the gate agent and once on the plane asked if there was any space in J and was bumped up again. I loved every attempt.

As time went on, even these became rarer and every upgrade was "yes for xx,xxx miles and $xxx" or "way more than a college student or recent grad could afford." The recession came and flights became scarcer leading to more filled cabins and amenities became few and far between.

Just over 1 year ago I found FT and asked a question about a US Airways domestic F reward ticket I had from NYC to LAS. I thought I had gotten a great deal as there were options for a seat in Y for 25k miles each way and a seat in F for 25k miles each way...obviously, I opted for the F. I took the advice I got here, used it, tried a few things, and had a great flight (and time in Vegas, of course).

After a good 6+ month hiatus, I didn't really visit the site at all but had just booked a trip to Germany on CO and was looking for advice on an upgrade. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. Tips, tricks, ins & outs...the stuff I had grown up loving. I questioned my "great deal" of 50k for a domestic F with a stop...I wish I knew then what I know now. I signed up for the SPG Amex cards, Citi AA cards, did the h/s/j, and grand slam promos, and learned a great deal. I've even started some of my own ventures off of what I've learned and have helped out friends, families, and coworkers. I still had to fly in CO Y on that flight (with one of the flights on a BHX-EWR 1 aisle, completely full flight), but with all the information I had, was hoping I never would have to again. About 45-60 days later, I was able to book 2 F and 1 J ticket on the same flight for my family all for less than the price of the 3 Y tickets we flew this year.

When all is said and done, I started this year with around 10-20k miles and now have 450k (plus the 125k I just spent on a *A First Class reward for myself) spread over various FF programs and don't expect to slow down anytime soon.

Thank you all for your contributions...now where's that mint link.