Lynda, some thoughts:
Did you mean "embellish" or elaborate? Because, if you've spent any time on these boards, you're aware that some participants sure can "embellish". Since you are an author, I should leave it to you that you said what you meant.
Second, don't you often alert Mykel about such stories, so he puts a notice at the top of all of the boards?
From my own experience, I can only add that I surpassed the 1MM and 2MM lines with United without even noticing. United caught up with me when they backed into the recognition after DL initiated 1MM status recognition, and then after AA initited 2MM recognition. I guess that I would also say that I wish I hadn't spread my patronage around so much at the beginning, or I could have made my miles count even more. But I don't regret my time on DL and others, and even benefited from "shopping".
Fourth, I have a colleague who has over six million AAdvantage miles. Really. He got started in a similar job to mine several years earlier, and will fly only AA, unless they absolutely can't get him there. And before someone challenges, it's his total -- BIS plus bonuses, as AA counts them.
Fifth, there's an interesting aspect to "the REST of the story!" here, though it may not fit with your theme. You may remember that a few years ago, USA Today convened a cadre of extreme travel "Road Warriors". They ended up abandoning it because they found that there were some pretty strange (O-C) people, or at least some pretty strange behavior, among the ranks. Along the lines of obsession, as with any obsession - like gambling, sex etc. The downside was the effects on family, job etc., that were happening as they spoke. Sometimes not pretty. Since that was not the bent of the USA Today program, they dropped it like a hot potato.
For a much lighter, sweet take on the latter point, you might check out the thread
BigLar started in MilesBuzz,
"When Do We Cross the Line?" My favorite comment was, ".....I'm Jeff, and I'm a Frequent Travel-holic". To which I replied (maybe along with everyone watching): "Hi Jeff!"
