Five Years Reading... 5,000th Post... £5,000 saved ??
Apr 10, 2019, 2:22 am
#31
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,893
It's a really interesting question and one I've probably subconsciously considered myself over the years. If I hadn't discovered FT maybe 15 years ago, I'd certainly not have travelled so much as I have (and definitely not so far forward!), so I would have spent less - but it's given me the opportunity to give the family some amazing holidays, travelling the world in CW and even F and just recently getting Gold for Life which should help to make retirement just that little more fun.
It also means that nowadays we can just hop over to Europe on RFS tickets at very low cost, so it's certainly improved things for all of us.
It also means that nowadays we can just hop over to Europe on RFS tickets at very low cost, so it's certainly improved things for all of us.
Apr 10, 2019, 5:04 am
#32
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,289
I haven't been here as long as many, but I will concur. I have indeed been spending a bit more, but in so much more style 
My first F last month, and the second one in a couple of weeks. Playing with ITA, trying to get it to price, knowing more about routing options than BA agents on the phone, HUACA, giving up and calling Propeller instead.
My friends think I'm crazy, even if my TP runs have only been in Europe recently. But then they're happy when I can guest them in a lounge... And I'm going to be Gold for the first time
My first F last month, and the second one in a couple of weeks. Playing with ITA, trying to get it to price, knowing more about routing options than BA agents on the phone, HUACA, giving up and calling Propeller instead.
My friends think I'm crazy, even if my TP runs have only been in Europe recently. But then they're happy when I can guest them in a lounge... And I'm going to be Gold for the first time
Last edited by alex67500; Apr 10, 2019 at 5:21 am
Apr 10, 2019, 6:07 am
#33
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Northern England
Posts: 1,531
From what I can tell I am one of the early FT members, joining in 1998, 21 years ago next month, when the BA page was inhabited by the likes of MerryFlyer. I have in that time made a rather pathetic 1162 posts, but hopefully more on the quality than quantity spectrum.
I have made substantial savings from knowledge gleaned on FT and had much better travel experiences (better class of travel, lounge access, hotel upgrades, etc etc) from it all.
A big thank you to everyone that posts here for the benefit of all readers.
I have made substantial savings from knowledge gleaned on FT and had much better travel experiences (better class of travel, lounge access, hotel upgrades, etc etc) from it all.
A big thank you to everyone that posts here for the benefit of all readers.
Apr 10, 2019, 7:30 am
#35
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
In fact, they offer high yield customers benefits already....
Apr 10, 2019, 7:56 am
#36
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,208
And judging by what you read on here a chunk of that spend goes to other Oneworld airlines anyway.
Apr 10, 2019, 8:38 am
#37
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,289
Slightly off topic, but Eurostar face the same issue: if they try to sell cheap weekend deals for London to Paris, they all get taken away by the numerous French who live in London.
Apr 10, 2019, 9:19 am
#38
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: BaGold
Posts: 16
Great question. Just discovering ITA Matrix through this site has saved me at least $25k a year on business travel that I would have done anyway and has got me more TPs along the way. Now I’ve shared with colleagues I expect we could hit $100k pa in savings on travel we’d have done anyway which is a good win for a small/medium business! I don’t travel more but I definitely travel cheaper (good for Co) and smarter (better products chosen, lounges, travel tips etc). And the knowledge and help people give on the site is incredibly generous and insightful!
Apr 10, 2019, 12:36 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
I will happily admit that most of our big TP earners have entailed a slab of AA sectors via random routings ex-EU. And I do have a twinge of ‘guilt’ whenever we take a direct flight instead of via B, C and D. BUT ... when time is on your side, and it’s for leisure, why not?
It’s a sort of hobby, I guess, playing TP earning against cash. And we Elders find it quite fun! And we get to fly a lot, to different places. QR to CPT via DOH in J later this year ... that WILL be interesting!
Apr 11, 2019, 2:22 am
#41
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,289
Just on a short FlyBE flight last weekend with no status, no priority boarding etc. It felt really really wrong...