In the early '80's I commuted weekly BUF-LAX. Of course, I worked for an airline, so I was always flying somewhere.

A couple of years later I commuted BUF-NYC weekly for about 3 years.

For the last 5 or 6 years, I've been either driving (BUF-DTW) or flying (BUF-BWI or LAX or ATL or wherever). Since April this year, I've been doing the weekly deal BUF-MSP. In order to get status faster, I've been routing myself MSP-DTW-BUF and the return flights either the same or direct. Got a 5-banger coming up: MSP-IND-DTW-BUF-DTW-MSP. That'll get me to Gold, and I have the rest of the year to make Plat.

I stay in a hotel at a a negoiated rate (negotiated by me) and, since I'm a platinum w/Marriott, they treat me very well. It's nice location with plenty of stuff right nearby and the traffic into the office in the morning is pretty light (as opposed to the rest of Minneapolis -- will they ever finish the construction?)

One thing you learn (especially if you're paying for everything as I do) is to work every angle possible to keep the costs down. I work deals on the parking, hotel rates, meals, everything. If only I could get the airline costs down I'd be happy, but they are what they are.

No, the family (just my wife, now) is not overjoyed at everything, but the European trips help and, like spotwelder, if I don't work I don't get paid.

Finally, we work a 9/80 plan: 5 days one week, 4 days the next. So I'm sleeping in my own bed 7 out of every 14 days. That helps a lot, too. It's also why I don't bother with an apartment.