I suppose it makes me out to be the amateur that I am, but I am not concerned with cents per mile. I am only concerned that the run be a place where a single female can travel alone, without hassle, and most places that get the nod get it because I find out that there is easy walking/hiking/public transport and no need for a visa (or very easy to get a visa). I consider it a run if it is not a "pure" birding trip, just as others might consider it a run if it is not a "pure" business trip. CPM is not the issue, good fares to safe places without ridiculous visa requirements or unsafe to travel alone/have to rent car is what eliminates a great many destinations for me. There are countries that want tourism, and there are countries (and I freely admit the USA is one) that do not welcome tourists and would prefer they go someplace else and they price their visas to give idiots the hint to go elsewhere...For such countries it is irrelevant to me if the airline offers a great fare if the country itself wants me to pay off a third party visa hustler and put money in somebody's pocket who is not helping the environment of that country. I prefer to go where I am wanted and where my money might help a real person, not just a big airline or a crooked third party visa company that pays bribes or whatever they do to get you a visa. This actually saves a lot of time, as I am never tempted to spend much time investigating runs to Russia, mainland China, etc.

Not interested in runs where you just turn around at the airport. To me that's just sad. It has its place but it does not interest ME...So I'm sorry and I hope it doesn't get me struck from flyertalk but I am not here to get the bottom dollar price. I am here to get a GOOD price for desirable and fun places. The cheaper the better but a cheap ticket is not the whole story.

In other words, many issues stop me from buying a ticket. Price is only one thing that stops me from buying. There are lots of cheap tickets I am happy to let slide by because life is too short for "hassle." Only on flyertalk would people be jumping through hoops to go to Burma for absolutely no reason other than a cheap ticket...!