Sorry, not an OG and this will be more than one backdated "note to self"

Borrow, beg, sell everything, whatever it takes to get the AA lifetime Air pass with a +1.

I also seem to recall a promotion where one airline matched the mileage balance of another. Was it KL matching Ansett miles? Literally, free miles IIRC.

Also the AA track-it promotion, would have plopped $50K on that even if it meant racking up cc debt and a few years of 0% balance transfers thereafter.

Finally, booking a bunch of global F redemptions for the first day or so after the US induction into OW. The usual liberal US routings, tons of US domestic F award space and no BA surcharges.

That's not even touching the error fares. Dirt cheap transcons in F on US. Lovely Lebanon, I miss you.

... and ART too! I flew that LAX/PIT/ART. #goodolddays

dh

Not an original member (number = 2296), but was drawn to FT 23 years ago by happening to read about the activities of Pudding Guy. I was immediately hooked. I wonder how many others joined for the same or a similar reason.

My handle is due to having been a United Premier Executive for 10 years before that (1P was the United abbreviation) and because it connects closely with my name. It was also a homage to PremEx who used to post frequently but, alas, we have not seen on these pages for a long time.

As noted on the first post of that thread, my first post on this iteration of FlyerTalk was May 13, 98, 9:19 am: Improve the program. Using dial-up. And it was one of the very first posts in the MileagePlus forum. Join date shows:

• Join Date: May 5, 98

Unlike (I assume) most of the other original members, I'm traveling MORE now than I was then. But very differently. As a full time digital nomad, I don't chaser loyalty (which has been for suckers for a decade, imho) anymore, but I do travel full time. And do still enjoy the benefits of lifetime status on UA and Marriott.

I don't know my join date, maybe it will post when I hit submit!

Is in your profile: Dec 25 1999. This is when viewing on a laptop. Viewing on a phone may show less/different.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/members/miles-man.html

Randy goes back even before FT publishing a monthly mailed magazine (Inside Flyer) and an annual directory of FF programs. I subscribed (it was deliver by snails) back then but took my time before actually signing up to FT, lurking for almost two years. I�d met Randy at the London office in the late 80s and immediately discovered what a kind, generous and open person he was. I still visit various fora here but not posting much given how much fun has gone from the mileage game. However, being here has brought some great friendships across several countries and enhanced my last two decades of travel.

When I received Insider Flyer back in 1989, I would read it cover to cover. Every word.

dh