I'm a 46 year old (male) IT manager in public service in Leeds, England, who travels totally for leisure. Thank heavens for credit cards and flexitime! I was introduced to FT a couple of years ago by BDLord - I mainly just read the AF/KL Flying Blue forum occasionally, and am more of a lurker than regular poster.

My travel history goes back to 1973 when, as a 12 year old, I accompanied my parents to Zambia where my Dad was starting a 6 year teaching contract. To keep me quiet on the plane they bought me a "Travel Log", and the Martinair plane (on loan to Zambia Airways) gave out a useful info sheet, detailing sights en route, staff on board, even the aircraft registration. And hence to this day, I can (sadly?) list the registration of every plane I've ever flown! Returned back to England in 75 for education reasons, but had 3 free (contractual) trips to visit my parents every year and so got that travel bug and became adept in my teens at requesting flights with different airlines and via different places, as well as travelling independently. Most of my flights during that time were with Alitalia or Zambia Airways via Nairobi, but I flew several other carriers, most "interestingly" Aeroflot from Zambia to Moscow to London in 79. Oddly enough, the flight from Africa was far more basic than the one to London!

I pretty much stopped flying in 79, got into employment and real life, and didn't pick up travelling again until 95 following divorce. I now travel mostly to North America to go to gigs as a fan - I follow one particular American rock band (Cheap Trick). I run an unofficial fan website, and as a result of this and my frequent travels I have lots of friends all over the States (and further afield) that it's nice to see occasionally. I also have a girlfriend in Chicago, so some travels are purely to visit her. My travels have gradually built up since 98, and I'm now averaging 9-10 transatlantics a year (now not too far from 100 round trips across the Atlantic - hope to celebrate the 100th in Business!) Have also travelled to Europe, and 4 times to Japan since 1999 to see the band. Most of my travels are with KLM/NW, and I've been Royal Wing/Platinum with KL since 2000. Sometimes fly DL as they're often cheaper in the summer months. I also had a couple of years where I flew occasionally with *A (BMI, Lufthansa) but it proved impossible to retain high status in two programmes, so I choose Skyteam as my first choice now (aiming for Lifetime Platinum with KL). And seeing as my travels are all personal, I pay for them myself on a modest salary and hence fly economy on the lowest fare that earns 100%. Have been lucky with a few upgrades with KL and NW plus bought a few flights in Business using award points, so I do very much appreciate the rare treat of sitting in the front cabin!

My favourite airport is Amsterdam, and also very familiar with Manchester UK and T5 at Chicago O'Hare. Liked HKG too last year. Strongly dislike Heathrow and Paris CDG. Favourite runway approaches include descending across water into both Boston and San Francisco, flying past the Manhatten skyline into Newark, and barely missing that parking garage at one end of the runway at San Diego!

Whilst it can be tiring and frustrating at times (increasingly so as I get older and the security hassles increase), I still think travelling to new (and favourite) places is one of the most wonderful things to do in life, and my next goal is to get to Australia & New Zealand. And thanks for this great site, I've received helpful advice from many of the nice folk on the KL forum in particular.

There, that's my tuppence worth!
KG