I am sitting here and trying to understand that I have been on a page called flyertalk.com for almost three years now, it felt like I joined yesterday.

I choose to look back at those years with my 4000th post. What have I done and what have I learnt? Where have I been and with who?

When I first found this page I thought I would just visit it once or twice (now its more like once or twice each hour) the flyertalk members are almost like a family now. So far I have not been to a Freddie Award but I hope I can attend this years event in Colorado Springs (See you there!).

United has now made some serious schedule changes so I am not sure how I will get to COS anymore, not sure if I can travel from Sweden one day earlier.

When I joined this place I didn�t know how to spell to elite status in either airline program or hotel programs. Thanx to Flyertalk I am now Star Gold at AirCanada which has helped me during the two years I have had the status. I have received OP upgrades and spent countless hours in airport lounges all over the world (or actually only in Europe and North America).

I know that Mexican Hat Dance is not a dance, I know that the Bath run has nothing to do with Thai currency (or maybe it has?), I have learnt words such as SWU, RTW and mileage runs.

Maybe you haven�t seen me before? That�s before I have mostly spent my time in the Star and SK forum where I have tried to provide with information from the inside. For those who doesn�t know yet, yes I am working for an airline. Its your job to find out which one

What have I done during those years? I have been flying around Europe to get the 55555 bonus last year (my friends still think I am crazy), I have signed up for almost every FF program(including Aeroflot) so that I wouldn�t miss the next Latinpass. My next mission is some Starwood hotels in Thailand and down under, I wonder why ?

What have I done? I have attend Catman Do III, been on mileage runs with The- Longhauler and Hagbard Viking and flow down to Stockholm to have dinner with Austman and Sarecca(long time since I saw you around).

With these words I would like to say THANKS Flyertalk community. I have had a lot of fun the last three years and I hope the future will be as bright as well.

And finally, isn�t it time for a FT meeting in Sweden sometime?

It is a pretty cool place isn't it? Speaking of cool, Stockholm would be fun for a Do, but Kalmar would be better!

Congratulations Kempis: Your input is appreciated on the AC forum.

kempis-

Congratulations on your 4000th post from someone who has had the good fortune to meet you, and knows where you work, too
Look forward to seeing you at another get together in the near future.

Congrats and thanks for your input. You are now a valuable source of information for FTers both new and old!

Amen to that... I havent been to Stockholm!!

Congratulations kempis!

I remember both the CMDIII and the mini-do in Stockholm. I particularly remember being a 'bit' responsible getting a fellow passenger (then, with no Star status) into the SAS lounge at EWR and upgraded to business class EWR-ARN while I got 'stuck' in economy!

I'm going to some Starwood hotels in Taipei, Bangkok and perhaps Sydney soon myself and I'll perhaps be back in Stockholm sometime in May or June.

Hoping you can make it to COS for the Freddies... if you need a ride from the airport, let me know!

thank you kempis. you have been a great help, informing us for years now about many details (rules) of many Star-carriers-ff-programs (for me especially about Star-rtw-rules).

Yes, I remember your visit to the Catman-Do-III in New York, and how you sat vis-�-vis Gisela and me in the Underground next morning (we did head to the breakfast, your party probably to the World Trade Towers) - we all looked like needing some 'Alka-Setzer' because of the preceeding long night before.

And another big thank you for the insider StarAlliance booklet that you did send me. I did find it on my desk this morning, returning from a long skiing holiday at Wengen.

Thanx, kempis, for your posts so far! I always enjoyed your input at the SK forum.

Hope we will meet sometimes! Maybe you can make it to DUS this summer for Bernies DO?

And now on to the next 4.000...!

Congratulations kempis! A FT meeting in Sweden would be great. Maybe we can finally meet after our attempts on both sides of the pond.

kempis, unfortunately I never had the pleasure of meeting you - but perhaps I can do so at an FT gathering in Sweden? I definitely find that a great idea! Otherwise, please block March 1st 2004 in your agenda - and look for a ticket to BSL.

Also, thank you very much for your assistance to f4free and myself.

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truly yours. airOli.

I've also never met you, though apparently we were both at Cat-Man-Do III. In fact, I've never been to Sweden* - a serious deficiency for a dedicated traveler! Please do arrange a Do.

*Not strictly true. I drove across the border from Norway while on holiday there several years ago. My travel companion and I got as far as the first town, where we realized that we had no Swedish currency for the parking meters, so we turned around and drove back. I don't count that as truly being in Sweden, though I may have a photo of the "you are entering Sweden" road sign somewhere.

tom911
It was nice to meet you during C III and I still remember our walk around New York City the day after the Freddies.

Austman
I remember that upgrade in NYC as well. Thank you. That was my first but not my last SK transatlantic business class trip.

Rudi
I remember that me and tom911 met you and Gisela at that place. Just a few hours later we also met Glen and Joh on the ferry to staten island. I am glad that you liked the Inside Star booklet.

ralfkrippner
DUS is a SK destination so you never know

AusTXHiker
I am sorry that I missed you in CPH a few months ago. Next time...

airoli
March 2004? Oh, thats far into the future. I dont even know what to do next week I have never been to Switzerland, so why not?

I'd like to repeat Gaucho100K's sentiments about going to Stockholm too!