Who: NYC based portrait/fashion photographer (work at a photo school as well), 31, male.

When: Hit 1K in mid-October after a trip to Istanbul. Should be clocking out at 125k PQM.

How: Could be considered a "leisure 1K" as most of my travel is for personal use but I have the luxury of being able to create and "work" many places I visit. This year with the GPUs helped as I was able to do a EWR-HKG-NRT-SFO-JFK BF "milage run". I'll book INTL J/F a few times a year, plus TCONs but the GPUs are adding a nice few extra trips to bump up the PQMs.

Where: Tokyo (Award NH J/F), Bangkok (Award OZ F), Hong Kong, Stockholm, Berlin, Mexico, London, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Miami, California.

Why: Banking the GPUs and additional award trips to supplement the travel I already do.

What: I've already made 2016 status with my flights booked Jan-June so far. LX F, LH F x2, SFO-NRT, LHR-NYC, Wedding in Mexico, Berlin for a birthday, MEL-LAX, TG F.