This thread got me thinking about the fact that many of us started traveling before the internet really took off, and many of the loopholes during those days were much better than current deals, though a far cry the stuff we mined/discussed here between 2000 and 2010 (e.g. Valumags may well have been a peak that mankind will never ascend again). Because there was no FT equivalent, these things tended to stick around a lot longer (i.e. until the end of the quarter, at the earliest).

I'm starting this conversation because I'm curious about how people approached the "game" before: 1. we shared information on the internet; and 2. airline IT systems all but nonexistent.

I have to admit that my business travel career started about 6 months before I joined FT, so my own knowledge isn't of much use, but I think I have enough to get the ball rolling:

1. AA miles were extremely valuable because the original marketing people mispriced the premium awards
2. DL miles were easy to accrue if you connected in DFW on transcon itineraries
3. Overbooking (bump voucher) situations were always on offer for those that cared
4. Buying one way tickets from the newspaper classifieds (e.g. BOS-LAX, 8/23, 5p, male, $75), AND getting miles in your own name
5. Booking a dummy seat in F in order to ensure your upgrade cleared (I only did this once, and still feel guilty to this day)

Have it, guys/gals!