I hope the new AS devaluations will not slow the pace of these reports.
I think they very well may, at least in as far as travel aboard Emirates goes. What was 100000 is now 180000? Even Emirates is not worth that much!
I still am not sure exactly what it was that resulted in this sudden devaluation. I believe "Travel hacking" was the term used by Alaska Airlines. What exactly is that?
Whatever nefarious things people were doing, I wish they'd stop. Alas, there are always going to be some who not only want to game the system but also need to crow about it in blogs and even seminars. We'd all be better off if people would just quietly go about their mileage running, etc. and stop giving interviews to the WSJ or USA Today about how bright they are to have figured it all out.
What I love about your reports is that you do not stick to just planes like most others and describe the buses and trains and this makes travel fell alive and real.
Robert Louis Stevenson said it best: "For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move."
While planes do most of the heavy lifting, trains, boats and busses are also integral and cherished components of my travels. Trains in particular allow one to relax in a comfortable setting while enjoying the company of one's fellow travelers (rarely done on airplanes) and a wonderful rolling view of the country traveled through.
Originally Posted by cnicklo
Congratulations on your milestone and thank you for an amazing trip report. I do read (and enjoy) every word and also the photography!
Originally Posted by deuce1
Thank you as always, Seat 2A. Your adventures take me to far away places again, and the excitement, yet clear writing makes this such a fun read. Looking forward to the next one, whenever that may be.
Originally Posted by AtomicLush
Congratulations Mr. 5M! Amazing report.
Originally Posted by snabbu
Echoing the congrats on 5MM BIS omg! (and the one again epic report) Bravo.
Originally Posted by SFO777
Seat 2A, what a fabulous trip! And your usual outstanding report with great pics. Congratulations on 5 million miles!
Thanks for the kind words, gang! It is so nice to hear that these reports are enjoyed amongst new and long time readers alike. Fodor's this is not! I wish you all travels equally as varied and enjoyable as mine have been - if not more so!
Originally Posted by adampenrith
Just checked the Australia Post website to discover the cost of a postcard or letter from Brisbane to the USA. It is $2.75 so your two stamps were $5.50 AUD. Same price everywhere so they were not gouging you because you are at the airport.
Thanks, Adam! My apologies to the Brisbane Airport and its store. When I asked the clerk about the price, I understood him (perhaps wrongly) to say the prices were less outside the airport. Still, when you consider the cost of sending a postcard overseas from most anywhere in the world, I do think $2.75 AUD or USD is more than a bit exorbitant. My next postcard from Australia will be an e-postcard! Additionally, I'd love to return to Queensland to ride a few as yet unridden trains and pay a visit to the Qantas museum in Long Reach. Looks like It'll have to be on an airline other than Emirates, though...
Originally Posted by FlyForFun
Thank you for sharing a fantastic experience with those of us who truly treasure the wit and wisdom of the written word. I prefer descriptive prose over a photograph because it stimulates my imagination and allows me to participate on an introspective level.
Congratulations on reaching 5,000,000 miles! You have inspired me over the past ten years or so that I have been reading and relishing your reports.
As I am mulling retirement options and am growing less eager to spend hours in front of my computer at the office, it is becoming more difficult for me to put in my required eight hours. Yesterday, I discovered your latest report and almost squealed with joy that I would have something exciting to help pass my time at work as I snuck glimpses of your report during moments of downtime. Thanks again and please never stop writing your reports!
You are so welcome,
FlyForFun. It takes time for me to put all these words together into a cohesive report, and it means a lot to hear that the difficulty in doing so is not lost on my readers. Thank you!
I hope your retirement options include a nice mix or First Class air and rail accommodations to whatever corners of the world capture your interest. Happy travels!