eMailman - As someone who had one of his best snowboarding days ever on the St. Moritz slopes I am QUITE jealous of your current hometown...while a great town, Chicago doesn't offer much in the way of skiable terrain...

Since you have to live somewhere, it is an advantage to be able to live somewhere nice.

The long rides are bearable as soon as I look out the window from home at the view. We had a light snow Sat morning, but the lifts are all closed for upgrades http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Greetings, All!

I've been posting for just a couple of months here, and am slowly expanding my sphere of influence (annoyance?) beyond just the ol' AA board.

I've lived in Japan for about 7 yrs or so, 4 yrs by KIX (and Itami before that), and the last 3 out here by NRT. <Figured that'd be easiest to understand to all you FFs!> Taught English at local high schools for the first 4, and have since reluctantly embraced (I don't get it, either) the role o' businessman, as "Import Manager" for a large Japanese company.

Flew UA until a couple of years ago, but have switched to AA. Four Japan-US trips last year vaulted my back o' the bus self to Plat, and I haven't flown AA since! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Got married officially in March 2000, but are having the ceremony/honeymoon in late July. (If you're headed to Bali's R-C Hotel, be sure to leave us alone!) It's a non-qualifying JAL flight, dangit!

I've enjoyed "meeting" a host of people here, even though not much seems to happen in the Tokyo area. Anyone with a couple days in town is welcome to contact me at [email protected]. My travel's been limited to US-Japan runs, but I'm hoping to get a bit more exotic when I'm older! (29 now)

Your Kid in the East. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Ok, I'm going to add my little life story to the rest. Since I've been meeting more and more FTers on the boards and for real (Hi, dgolds and johna!), seems like the right time to introduce myself to the rest of the crowd.

As you can probably guess from my username, I'm Jack and I fly AA pretty religiously. My partner and I have lived in NYC for about 4 years and we absolutely love it here. We're both from Texas - me from Houston and Scott from Ft. Worth. We met in school at the University of Texas in Austin and later moved to Dallas for about 4 years. While we return to TX frequently to see family and friends, it's a safe bet that we'll never live there again. The 90+ degree temps this Memorial Day Weekend in Houston reminded me of why I don't miss it!

I work for an internet solutions company that's based in San Francisco. Though I officially work out of our NYC offices, I'm rarely there. These days I'm spending most of my time in SF, though over the past few years I've also spent lots of time in LA, Dallas, Miami, Seattle, and Chicago. I do a bit of international travel as well, to our offices in London, Singapore, and a few others coming on line soon that I can't tell you about yet! It's the international travel that I love the most and I can never get enough of it. A few years ago I had the good fortune to work in Munich for 6 months, just outside of Rome for 3 months, and Paris for 4 months. Since that time, I've been aching for another international assignment and am hoping to get one later this year. Keep your fingers crossed, everyone!

As you can imagine, doing the transcon every week racks up the status and the miles. So far this year I've got about 130K qualifying miles! I've been Executive Platinum on AA for about 3 years now and I have to say it makes the travel life a WHOLE lot easier. I still have my days of unhappiness with AA (like with that @$$inine gate agent at JFK last week, but that's another story...), but I find that for the most part there's a dramatic difference in the way you're treated, even between Platinum and EXP.

On the transcon flights I'm lucky enough to fly Business Class, and occasionally I get to go Premium Class. Unfortunately, that spoils you forever; just like you never want to fly Coach after getting First or Business, once you've been in Premium you never want anything else! When I'm not doing transcons, as an EXP I never have a problem getting upgraded. I know it sounds snobby, but I can't remember the last time I flew in Coach. Probably my favorite perk of all is the upgrade - more than the miles or anything else.

I think unlike many Road Warriors, I'm just as happy to hit the road for pleasure as I am for work. Often Scott and I will meet somewhere for the weekend rather than return home. He travels a lot, too, in his job as a manager of marketing and promotions with a major apparel company. But we enjoy going new places and favorite places as much as we can. In the winter you'll often find us in Miami Beach, in the summer we tend to look for cooler climates. In July we leave for 3 weeks in London, rural Norway, and Barcelona. That's a trip I'm really looking forward to.

FT has been a great resource for me. When you fly as much as most of us do, you think you know all the tricks of the trade. But I constantly discover new things and get tips on stuff I'd never come across on my own. This is a great resource we have and I thank all of you for your contributions here.

Wow, I never thought I'd ramble on this long! I really enjoy participating here and hope to meet many more of you in the future. 'Til then, happy trails everyone!

jAAck and kidpachinko: Thanks for posting, and good to have you both here with us.

Shadow: Could you edit the links at the beginning of the thread to www.webflyer.com.... (instead of talk.webflyer.com....)? They no longer work as they are now.

[This message has been edited by dgolds (edited 06-01-2000).]

Now http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/001305.html

Thanks David...nice catch. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I guess its my turn to tell you who I am. I am one of the newest to this board. Only been here for a few weeks and I really enjoy this place. I check it out every day so far and I will probably continue to do it, if you are looking for some chat I am often on the Flyertalk chat around 4 PM Et.

So who am I? I have asked that question several times myself http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif As you can see I live in Sweden, is in my mid 20s and is one of the few here who is actually working in the airlines business. Working for a major swedish airline(oh, thats a tuff one to figure out).

I live in a small town in the north parts of Sweden(no we dont have any polar bears on the streets).

When I dont work I like to travel(who doesnt on this site) Got any questions? Dont hesitate to email me.

Hi kempis! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif How far North, like Umea? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

Hi Doc!
How do you know about Umea? I actually live 100km south of Umea(one hour with car). Speaking of Umea I used to study there for 1 year.

I travel a bit! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Also a somewhat famed pathologist of some repute is "stationed" there! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Interesting (and quiet) place for sure, but I'd probably stick with the Stockholm and Uppsala visits in early summer (zummer) - ideally befoe the rain(s) ! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I actually love Sweden! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

kidpachinko, jAAck and kempis...

welcome, welcome, welcome

Glad to have you all aboard.

Well, I feel like a seasoned veteran here, so after prompting from Catman to tell my story, I'll give it my best.

I'm 40 going on 25 and have been in CLT for three years, preceeded by five in Tucson, four near Frankfurt, Germany, two in Great Falls, MT, six months in South Carolina, two years in Omaha, two years in San Antonio, two years in SFO, and a long stretch in Las Vegas, broken up by active duty Navy time.

Well, as a Navy brat to start with, having lived in Naples, Italy at the ripe old age of five, I have always had the bite of the travel bug. Nothing thrills me more than the rush of air travel, but a good sightseeing tour by auto can also be good for the soul.

I have two wonderful boys, ages four and 1 1/2 who live with their mom in Iowa, a recent situation. But I get to see them often as I take advantage of the many miles I have banked over the years. I am quite the packrat and rarely use many miles, so now they are coming in handy.

From 85-97 I worked as a civilian for the Air Force, which will explain many of my changes in location. I also had the "opportunity" to travel several times a year in that capacity.

Now I travel a lot for leisure and an occasional business trip. I spend some time officiating college athletics, so a little travel to some garden spots in the Southeast is usually the order of the day! I have been with American AAdvantage from about day one, but Delta has been my carrier of first choice for many years. I am a slave to US since I live in their major hub, but will stop in ATL with DL rather than direct with US because the price is always right.

In my travels I have had the fortune of being a part of many great events and good times. I would have to rate number one as being present in Berlin for the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989! I even can claim fame to one piece of grafitti that made the wire photos: "They came, they saw, they did a little shopping!" One of my lowest moments came when I actually admitted to being lost when in Berlin on a subsequent trip and did not have the Wall as my landmark!

My worst flying experience would have to be the first government trip to Germany, and the last flown on charter. Never had such a miserable experience, but didn't know at the time that I could fly commercial. Never made that mistake again. Living in Montana was always fun because you would stop in Butte or Bozeman and those were steep, quick descents and would provide for a lot of excitement. But the Saab Turboprop from Kansas City to Omaha one year on the old Eastern during a severe thunderclapper had to be the most harrowing.

I'm spoiled as a longtime Hiltonian and one of these days will take the Around-The-World trip with all of those points. I'm really happy to see the purchase of Promus and have already enjoyed the laid back hospitality of Hampton on several occasions.

Other programs that I claim are America West, until I top off the last award level and most recently new to Northwest. I have become disillusioned with AMEX Membership Rewards since the changes and love the flexibility of Diner's Club Rewards, including the redepmtion bonuses and other one-time good deals that always seem to be out there! I am probably in my twilight years with AAdvantage Visa because their practice of posting late really pisses me off.

I am in dire love of scuba diving and never get wet enough. Someday hope to be an instructor and go part-time pro. Also have an internet-based e-commerce business and do a lot of umpiring and refereeing, not just at the college level. I collect stamps and foreign currency and proof currency coins. Goes right in line with my packratitis! I'm a true epicurean at heart, probably from my years of food and beverage management and my Las Vegas days. Which is why I can't wait to attend fly-in dinners with many of you in the future.

So, remember, be a sport and, hey, Thanks A Bunch!

Spartacus (Jim Bunch)

Welcome all new posters including spartacus, at least someone who once lived "close" to Calgary (ie Great Falls) and a state that I think still has a former Albertan as governor--we do get around!

Now I know there are more Canucks out there who haven't posted--don't be shy!

I hope I have posted in the correct place; sort of a long and winding road to get here.

Those of you who have drilled far enough past the info icon would already know that my given name is Steve.

I am an aerospace professional in the manufacturing sector. I assist airlines with their maintenance programs. The idea is to provide spares and materials (via top-notch forecasting) that will allow the jets to return to revenue service on schedule. I have been able to see several airline maintenance facilities up close and personal. My choice of carriers is very deliberate. We all assume that our lives are in the hands of the pilots when we fly. Recent evidence would inidicate that the best pilot will not overcome shoddy maintenance.

This job entails frequent travel and has taken me around the U.S. and Europe.

It is also my privelege to fly with the United States Air Force Reserve. I fly as a Boom Operator on the KC-10A which is the military derivative of the DC-10-30CF. This job has literally taken me around the world. I have flown within 200 nm of either pole, landed in the Arctic Circle, and had a ton of fun doing it. Oh, the KC-10 is an aerial tanker. We refuel other aircraft whilst flying. Unbelievably cool.

I live in Southern California. I live equidistant from Ontario (ONT) and Palm Springs (PSP) but usually fly from Orange County (SNA) for a number of reasons, chiefly the Admirals Club.

Love to fly, love to travel, enjoy cabernet, and all kinds of food.

Flyer Talk and Napster are my cyber-passions.

Now you know!




[This message has been edited by FlyAAway (edited 06-08-2000).]