Hello Fellow Flyers!
I joined flyertalk back in 2001 as I have been frequent flying since the age of 3, and I'm now 33
Was off the boards for a few years as I was consumed with work; running my own business in the IT industry. Decided to make a career change and now am back to contributing on flyertalk.
My real name is Monica. I chose Fox Trot as it relates to my trotting around the globe; and may have some military influence as I studied International Relations at University and interned with our government. At that time I planned to go into the Foreign Service, and who knows I may end up there one day
I enjoy contributing trip reports, photo's, reading and keeping up with the constant changes, challenges (promos/MR's/qualifiers) in the travel industry.
I'm currently working for the family business (commercial scales and food machinery) as a consultant and in IT. This makes for some flexible time and I enjoy the perks of attending conventions and the travel. However, the majority of my travels are done on my own dime.
Concurrently sending out my resume to several companies I'm interested in working for; as I'm willing to travel 75% of the time and enjoy meeting people at home and on the road. Eventually, I'll get married and settle down, for now I'll continue to travel frequently.
Flyertalk has impacted my life in so much as I have made some dear friends through meeting on Flyertalk and then meeting in the real world. It's amazing how our interests in travel bring us together in the virtual world. Hence the saying "Birds of a Feather Flock Together"
TVL4FREE has been a great friend since day one on the boards. The majority of my MR's are booked with his advice. My first MR was a tough road and it's to bad the trip report is no longer live on the boards (at least I can't find it). I flew from SAN-LAX-HNL-GUM-NRT-SIN-NRT-HOU-SAN in economy on CO. I made CO Plat thanks to
TVL4FREE and continued to hold status until 2004 (living in SAN at the time).
Then I moved to the Bay Area and started from 0 to gain status with UAL. I made the mistake of getting comped status with UAL and AA in 2003 and did not use the status. Hence, UAL would not comp again so I jumped on the band wagon to attain 1k from GM in 3 weeks (with the double EQM promo) recently. Again TVL4FREE helped out with the most varied routings that are virtually impossible. I've also recently met
Pat89339 who was kind enough to sponsor an upgrade to business from SFO to HNL at the start of my 0-1k journey.
There are several other members who I have lost touch with and hope to re-connect in the future. If you read this and remember getting together in SIN in 2001 at the Conrad lounge send me a PM.
My post is a long one, so I'll close in saying that it is a pleasure to meet everyone and an honor to participate on the boards.