Mt first MRs came about with in use of computers.... I learned of availability/fare classes by looking at my travel agent's screen. I took advantage of flaws in NW's routes when planning trips: around 1993 when I started, there were fares of like $78 between cities less than 500 miles apart, nonstop. For one to fly DSM--LIT or OKC, at the time, a double connection via MSP/MEM was the "most direct routing" NW offered. I got used to routing via DSM-MSP-MEM-west for extra miles. Later when EasySabre came along, I realized how many routing options were allowed, and I went to town.

I found elite status by accident-- NW sent a Fast Track Gold promo (I was actually targetted!) and I rigged up a few MSP-PIT day trips, 6 segs each, using a NW no-advance youth fare matching US. And the rest is history... I was doing my trips and earning miles from Freshman year through grad school, and stumbled upon FT during Finals week of my last semester of grad school.