I discovered FlyerTalk in 2004 after my first-ever (independent) trip from Australia to Europe. I had read in a Lonely Planet that it was worth joining a frequent flyer program and my travel agent recommended UA.

Bless them, because that Y trip to Europe yielded me enough miles for a trip to Tahiti 12 months later. Needless to say, I was instantly hooked.

By this point I was also working for a medical publishing company and managed to collect a decent swag of miles flying QF regularly for business (and a little bit of pleasure) as well as running a lot of expenses through my AmEx.

Since 2004 I have traveled through a small part of the US and the Pacific; spent time in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore and India; and am slowly combing my way through Europe.

Right now I am living in Vienna, learning German and working on a travel magazine for backpackers. Although my hotel brand of choice is Hilton, my work is rapidly making me a connisseur of backpacker properties!