Hi All!

Brand new here...in fact, this is my very first post on Flyertalk!

I am a freelance writer working on a feature about various airline frequent flyer programs, and I need your help (if you're willing!). My article is very near complete and I am looking for some visuals to send along with the manuscript; most markets pay more for stories with photos and/or illustrations. Unfortunately, I have been unable to come up with some of the most basic of items, namely those colorful little plastic membership cards and other related items pertaining to the programs (luggage tags, passport cases, etc.). All I have at the moment, in fact, besides my lowly old America West FlightFund card (not very exciting as you know...it's not even PLASTIC for cryin' out loud), are a slew of enrollment/membership applications, which isn't exactly what I wanted. I even looked on Ebay, thinking that perhaps people would be selling old/expired cards and printed matter as a collectible (heck, people collect everything else!), but no luck.

So what am I asking for? Glad you asked! What I am wanting is a few varied cards, either foreign or domestic airlines, to paste up in a "montage" photograph for my article. So, dear reader, do you have, perhaps, lying around, one or more old, expired, and/or never used frequent flyer cards that you'd be willing to either let me borrow, or barring that, which you would be willing to scan or color copy for me? I don't want active cards, per se...unless that's all you have, in which case you can obscure the name and/or account number on the card (or I will, should you opt to send them to me). I also, of course, will return them within a few days, and will give credit in my article where appropriate. Again, I don't want you all to think I'm "up to something," thus my request for expired cards, but I can't think of a better place to find some kind souls willing to assist me in this little endeavor.

If you're still reading, just to give you a better idea of what I'm looking for, specifically, I'd like to get a "set" of cards for a single program (such as basic, gold, and platinum from American Airlines, say for example) so I can illustrate the different tiers of membership. If you didn't save your old cards as you moved up in the ranks, I can combine different level cards from the same airline which I've received from different people (especially since I *will* obliterate/mask your name and account number in the photo), and get my "set" picture that way....so, really, folks, just whatever you have. I'm more interested in elite level cards, given that after seeing my AW card I'm afraid that the "basic" cards might be rather cheap-looking. And again, any other items you might have received as a reward/thank you from the airlines, i.e. luggage tags, Concorde pens, amenity kits, etc.

Finally, I will naturally pay for shipping costs in both directions, and will insure any items you would like me to; I promise to take the utmost care of your things, and will return them inside of a week of receipt.

So, if you have any cards gathering dust in a drawer, or you still have your gold elite card even though you're now platinum, I would be much obliged if you could see your way clear to aid me in my research. Please email me at scottmbensyl@ aol.com at your convenience and let me know what kind of goodies you have! I eagerly await your considerate replies!!!! Thanks again!!!!!

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Sincerely and Respectfully,

Scott Bensyl in BFL

~~~"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordian!"