The Amazing Race - any FTers apply?
 

Sure it's silly, but I'm still fascinated by it and have been thinking about applying. If it wasn't for needing 40 days off work!

It seems like the kind of race that would get many FTers pretty excited. Anyone else think about applying?

I guess not...

Yeh, the 6 weeks is tough. I will respect their privacy, but there is at least one FTer that is considering it that I know of. Good luck to anyone that does go for it.

----------edited because i answered my own question-----------------------------------
I would consider doing it but 40 days is very tuff.They are doing an amzaing race 3 here is the link http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race3/index.shtml
must be 21 and have a teamate to enter http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
-howie



[This message has been edited by stockmanjr (edited 04-25-2002).]

The time requirement means you have to be unemployed or become unemployed to race.

However, there are 11 teams starting and supposedly $1,050,000 in prize money. This means your expected take is $95,454 per team, or $47,727 per person, so that's not bad pay for getting on the show.

Of course you get $1MM, $50k, or nothing, but your expected value of winnings is still reasonable.

FTers would have an advantage navigating the travel elements, so it's not totally insane to consider.

"Met on the internet" or "strangers" might be a selling point to CBS. Anyone want to try it?

I've been wondering how the teams pay for their on-the-fly purchases of air tickets. I'm sure the show ultimately pays for it, but do they get to charge on their own credit cards? (Let's not forget the miles!) Do they get to fly in business? Do they get to use their elite membership to check in faster? Do they get to count the flying miles for elite qualification? ... I have so many questions...

ChaseTheMiles:

I've been searching for the answers to your questions too without luck. One thing is said in the rules: economy travel.

It seems that they have some kind of portable way to pay for air travel. You see them booking on the phone and at travel agencies. I'll bet the show gives them credit cards which are only good for airline travel.

Last night cha-cha-cha were in business class HKG-SIN, but everyone else has always appeared in coach. Their connection SIN-SYD was in coach. I think they got upgraded on the SIN leg.

If you're allowed to use FF status to get ahead, it would seem unfair and thus likely against the rules.

Think of the value of an Executive Platinum card when vying with competitors for standby! Or more simply, the value of an OAG or Palm Pilot filled with the numbers of FTers all over the world. You see no such things on the show so I'll bet they're all against the rules.

Many FlyerTalkers created their own mini version of Amazing Race about a year ago with the LatinPass million mile promotion. I recall a few trip reports where some of our fellow FTers were zipping through half of South America over the course of a weekend.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

------------------
Addicted to airline miles? Check out: Mileage Workshop

Okay, I am intrigued as well. I have only heard about the show and not seen it. When and what network is it on?

I did find this:

http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com...orum.cgi?cn=79

It appears to be a discussion group devoted to the show. Maybe some of the answers to our questions and speculations lie within.

[This message has been edited by paradocs (edited 04-25-2002).]

So even the people who do not win get money?

I watched the program for the first time last night and must admit that after seeing team Cha Cha Cha and their antics, I'm compelled to watch the program again. I mean, who participates in this race and goes shopping for perfume and pops in to Gucci while your fellow competitors are frantically trying to make their way to the airport.

Commenting if the face paint that the Aborigine is about to apply to your face is a "MAC" product without saying it as a joke almost made me fall off the couch in laughter.

I hope they win, can you just imagine what those two would do with one million dollars?

"The Amazing Race" is probably one of the better reality shows out there. No "voting off members", no "mystery dates" - you show up last, you're out.

My father and I are applying for TAR 3. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif We've got to put our video together this week and finish the application.


------------------
- Sameer

"Didn't we just leave this party?"
www.liningup.net

i do love this show!

while i was watching the team at the Qantas counter at SYD last week (trying to fly standby), all i could think about was whipping out my OneWorld Sapphire card and beating some of the other teams on the flight. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Does anyone remember the precursor to this show called 'The Human Rat Race'? Almost the same premise, except it was just a RTW scavenger hunt (and it wasn't televised). First one back to NYC wins.

For this contest, I believe you were given a stack of flight coupons valid on certain airlines for travel to anywhere you wanted to go.

Given that these people know where they're going to be flying, I imagine it's a little easier for the producers to just give them flight vouchers for that segment of the trip.

My two pennies,
Lawrence

[This message has been edited by pseudoswede (edited 04-30-2002).]

I bet it's against the rules. I can imagine the other contestants would get pretty sore if someone pulled status to get ahead... It wouldn't go over well with the TV audience either. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif