TravelManBiz

firstlight

Good thread,
I wouldn't have got to, and retained gold without flyertalk.

I've saved in the region of 35000 pounds in the last 4 years off list price of flights through redemptions and 241s - despite sometime having to be on the phone at midnight to get those elusive business class redemption seats.

I've had the confidence to send back cold soup in CW and get buddy dining in F, as well as enjoy 1A and 1K in F, 62A/K on a 747 and exit row seats when I go in ET and WT.

I've even got fitter from using the T5 tunnels to get to B and C gates.

A friend of mine who is BA cabin crew is in awe of my knowledge about all things BA, as is the travel team at my place of work.

Thanks to FT and this board.

DeathSlam

As others have said before, unless you would have bought all those flights anyway, you haven't really *saved* £35k you have just had an upgraded experience. What the actual value of that upgraded experience is to you is a different number. If it's more than the increased spend then you're a winner in the experience stakes!

If I spend £1k more a year than I would have done otherwise, but get increased points return value, an extra 1/5 of a long haul F return a year, enhanced lounge access on mandatory and discretionary travel I count that a good deal. I am one of those who is carefully weighing up whether an OTP-PHX trip makes sense for me. It's a few k and I'm not sure there's a rational argument for it. I may of course just do it for the HEL of it.

orbitmic

Congratulations on your 5000th post! (and I guess it's more like casino if I understand correctly - though for full disclosure, I am a total non-gambler): win some, lose some, but more importantly, as long as you know what you can afford to spend ,have fun in the process!

firstlight

Yes, I would spend that money, the savings make the money we have go further...

ratechaser

I definitely spend more because I travel rather less in economy now due to this site (in part), but the flip side is that the marginal cost increase is a lot less than it would be if I hadn't learned a few tricks along the way.

My birthday flight to CUN in VS Upper with the family using miles was a particular highlight. Although it must have been rather turbulent as I definitely felt a bit unwell on arrival. For some reason I don't remember that clearly

PUCCI GALORE

HIDDY

I've easily saved well over a £ for every post I've made on FT.

However, not sure the trips have been appreciated as much as the ones I took pre FT days. Back in those days I had to work hard in order to pay for flights even in Y.

Tiffywren

allturnleft

binman

TTmex

Before FT I'd have flown max one connection to save a bit of cash. Now happy when i see flights with 3 legs because it's more TPs. I really appreciate all the knowledge. Only joined just over a year ago and already used all the knowledge to lock in gold before August 8th. Flying has turned into a true hobby. Love sitting in the airport lounge watching EF seat maps and understanding the mechanics of the whole operation .Had never flown outside of BA and Iberia and Finnair. Now enjoyed CX, AA, LAN and Cathay Dragon. All contributed to gold. So definitely spending more money, but now feel like flying is an experience and one to be enjoyed. Even managed to get whole family in long haul J this summer thanks to tips on routing.

Being based in Mexico is not easy to meet up with others. Hope to do so one day. Got a lot of SH in europe this summer, so let's see .

Thanks

Geordie405

I think as others have said, it's a combination of three things: travelling more, travelling in style (or, at least, a better class of travel), and paying less for it. That's the financial aspect of the hobby. However, it's also being much more aware of the industry, how it works, how to get the best deal and so on. I am much more adept at using EF to find better prices, optimising routing, aircraft type and such like. FT has also taught me a lot in terms of dealing with IRROPS - basically to have a plan B (as a bare minimum) and to present that as an option to the airline rather than wait for them to come up with something.

A few years ago when I was still in Brussels I was booked with US Airways to fly to the US for a holiday. The plan was BRU - PHL - PHX - FAT but a few days before I was due to fly I received an e-mail from them stating that my BRU - PHL flight was oversold and could I contact them to discuss alternatives. The agent I spoke with initially asked if I could fly on a alternate day (no, not really an option) and then said he'd try and find alternate routing for me. I countered by asking if I could suggest something and he tell me if it worked for them: BRU - LHR - PHL - PHX - FAT instead and, of course, it was fine. He commented that it was exceptionally rare to have someone offer alternatives and it was a refreshing change to not have to do the donkey work. He did suggest flying LHR - PHX direct rather than via PHL but laughed knowingly when I said I'd prefer the indirect flight as it meant extra TPs and Avios!

What I will say, though, is that no matter how much I have learned from FT there's always something new to discover. There really is a wealth of knowledge here and kudos to all those who participate, who share that knowledge, and who help all of us with our crazy hobby

TTmex

Indeed so much more to learn. Find myself on here most days just reading random posts to eek out a little more knowledge.

golfmad

With my pedant hat on I'd like to suggest that those saying they have 'invested'* their FT savings in more flights ought to consider changing the word 'invest' to 'spend'. Buying flights is not an investment! It's a bit like when the government says it's increased investment in the police force by spending more on police officers. This is not investment.

*Unless you consider the purchase of Avios as the investment. Then it's arguable although I doubt many of us would suggest it's a wise investment.