How much have you made from Flyertalk?
 

As I booked a hotel today using a discount code from a Flyertalk forum that saved me approx $50 per night for a 4 night stay, I thought how much extra value I have made through Flyertalk, in terms of discounts, extra miles and improved efficiency of mileage redemption.

I estimate that FT has earned me $15000 - $20000 extra value in my travelling, although it is tricky to put a precise value on this.

Has anyone else tried to calculate this for themselves?

The memories created from trips based on mistake fares is priceless. I honestly can't quantify it. :)

I made alot of friends all over the planet - is that measurable in money? I guess not :)

Friends, memories and pics mostly. Sure its saved me money and helped me out in ways i can't measure. But to be honest, its gone both ways and had me spend more than i should at times too.

Thanks chrissxb for the statement. This is also what I think about it !! ^

Financially, it's probably cost me. It's gotten me into mileage runs, going for bonuses, traveling to DOs ... none of these are free, and all told they probably add up to more than I've saved.

In other ways, such as those mentioned above, its value far exceeds its cost.

When I first joined almost 6 years ago when I was a young lad of 21, I was green in the area of flying, I just became NW Silver with a trip to Asia, and didnt even know it.

Since then I have maximized mileage, gotten on some of the best deals, and used the system and its benefits to the max, there is no price tag on the 6 years of knowledge FT has provided.

People also think I am insane when I take a LAX-DTW-MEM-ATL-AMS routing instead of the direct flight :D

If anything, FlyerTalk has cost me thousands. Before discovering it, I never would have even considered flying 100K a year because none of my flying is for business (i.e., I pay for it). I used to struggle to get to 25K.

I really see it going both ways but feel I've benefited from the friends I've made, places I've visited and things I've learned none of which can really be quantified.

I concur, but would add that as an awful lot of that 100K is in the FRONT of the plane or at least biz class, it makes that travel a lot better. Pre-FT, when I first had premier status all I knew was that I wasn't getting the IDB on my weekly commute to NY, upgrades, pre-boarding, no fee awards, etc would not have been known/well-used without FT.

True enough. And, of course, I met YOU. :o :)

I've saved more money than I can count and made more friends in more places than I ever would have without FT, which is priceless.

Tough question, because I have certainly saved money if I look at it on a "I would have taken these trips anyway" basis, but the truth is I wouldn't have. I have had the pleasure of seeing some amazing places in the world thanks to FlyerTalk and making even better friends. For that reason it can't be quantified, and even it were it would still be a great deal. Now if we wanted to count the cost of the SQ F and LH F awards I have taken with miles and compare it to the cash price, I am DEFINITELY ahead!:D

Meeting people who are just as geeky as I am....priceless!

And one heck of a guy who was your "first"... ;)

....really bad ""do?" :D