Very interesting post, Water Polo Ref. I like the detail you provide because this gives people a pretty clear idea of a traveler's real experience with the airlines in one shot. Thank you.

I am curious if there are others willing to share the experiences in the same period to see if there is any consistency: In other words, do you think it is possible that the same kinds of things happened to 2 different similar travelers? This would be something worth knowing, I think. I tend to think that when you fly, no matter what elite or other level you may hold, it can be a shot in the dark when it comes to the service you get, etc. I have family and friends who are at various levels and we compare airline travel horrors often (with a laugh, of course).

I liked this thread because if can give a clear picture as to what the customer went through and not what the airline says the customer would go through. Excellent.

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Now, I have a few more slightly unrelated thoughts and I mean no disrespect to Water Polo Ref and others who have commented thus far in this thread:

I have written some long ones in here but this was very long as well. In fact, it was the longest thing I ever saw in here. Though WPR's may have been written with better grammar, etc. I have a few questions to some who may be reading: Why is it that no one blasted the length of the post? Not that they should, but again, it was long.

It was also interesting to see that since WPR is platinum, etc on several carriers... I am not. I am gold on AA and Prem. on UAL and Platinum in Starwood. That's it. In this case, WPR had to tell us these things (about status) to get this particular story out. But I often wondered if one should be posting in the FT if one is but a mere "economy" (gasp) traveler?...I am one of those and never minded the cheap seats. I think it's great that people attain the higher status and good on ya for acheiving this. I do not have it and have not really cared. I have wondered why so many in the FT feel they must promote their status constantly, however. Seems a bit odd to me. Again, in this particular story, WPR had to include this info so this is NOT about WPR's status! I am asking the general question.

I have low levels of mileage on many carriers. In fact, they are all about 35k which is fine by me. Used to have more or less, but my goal is to be positioned for free travelings to Hawaii/Carib/etc. with my wife and then in about a year plus, we don't plan to do much traveling for a long, long time.

My posts on ideas of how to earn a few points here and there have been aimed at people like myself. just a regular person looking to earn some miles in a current addiction with some creative ideas. Some are creative and some in depth. I share some ideas, pick up some tips and love to talk about the marketing schemes we all see growing in this field. I am in marketing myself. Water Polo Ref's post is therefore of particular interest to me.

But I wonder: Is it due to the length of my posts, or possibly, due to the fact that I am NOT elite that I get blasted for posting something as long as this one was? I am looking for intellegent opinions. In comparing travel and airlines, I also wish to compare ways of presenting mile ideas or travel thoughts. This probably opens up a huge can of worms...

Once aagin, Water Polo Ref, yours was a great post and it was interesting. Maybe mine are not (to some) but I am just asking. I had to ask in here because it is about length and so I ask this of others who may be reading here but not necessarily posting in this one-yet.

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If speed is not your thing, distance may as well be. Enjoy and embrace it all!