"Weirdo"
 

On a recent run SFO-LHR-MAN-SFO, the immigration agent at LHR asked why I was returning the next day. I told her I was doing it for the miles, and she called me a "weirdo."

So are we all. It may not have been her place to point that
out, but that issue might belong in TS&S rather than here.

How did you respond to that?

Hopefully, just laughed it off and said something like "You may be right".

Or, if you are single and she was attractive, "You are probably right, so how about you and I hit an airport bar and chat more about this? Clearly, you are fascinated with me. You have 45 minutes to find out all you can about me before I'm whisked away on another adventure." :)

Proud
 

Only folks who ever questioned all the turnarounds in my passport were the Swiss. Never a peep from the Russians, the Chinese, the Arabs or the US on reentry.

:) Yes...absolutely I laughed...I'm re-reading my first post (and the first response) and realizing what I said might sound like a complaint...far from it! I just wanted to share the experience. Actually she was a lot of fun, and quite cute...but I am happily married and wish to stay that way!!!

Am not!

I did sound to me like it was more of a put down than a remark meant in jest. Had it been a flippant comment not said in jest I think I would've taken umbrage with said staffer.

I found it easier to get into many countries regardless of length of stay. I even entered Bali 3 times in a few days span. US was tougher on me then most other countries

I just have had the head shake. Not been threatened with divorce yet.
My mother gets concerned "All that flying isnt good for you" she says.

It gets worse than weird. After a while, stepping onto a plane seems as simple and stress-free as taking a shower. You just do it. Two Sundays in a row of SFO-ORD round trips, one with a 90 minutes layover (left home at 9pm, back at work in time for opening the next day at 11am) and IT WAS JUST TOO EASY! Oh, and that one I purchased the ticket less than 24 hours prior when I noticed a reasonable fare had just gone up.

And I'm actually getting work done while flying that I haven't been able to do at home or at work due to interruptions. Plus your smart phone brings the office to you, whatever airport you're in.

It's a bizarre lifestyle, to be sure.

This is very true. Everyone gasps when I tell them I fly over 100k a year, like it's a big deal. They ask how painful it can be. Well, first I get upgraded, but second, it's very second nature to me. I feel like the whole world is a lot smaller. And like you said, it's as easy as "getting into the shower."

Entering Canada at YVR this summer, the agent didn't know which was weirder: only planning to stay one day (even though I told her that AKL-SYD-YVR-yyz-DCA was way too much airplane for one day for my tastes and I needed a proper bed for a night) or that we'd gone to SYD twice within a year. I just laughed it off, and felt bad for her, as she probably hadn't been anywhere fun in a long time.

I agree. You get used to it, and then getting on a plane feels as natural as anything else. In fact, oftentimes when I walk down the jet bridge toward the aircraft door, I think to myself "I'm home!" There really is something comforting knowing that for the next few (or many) hours, all I have to do is sit there, and somebody else is responsible for taking care of everything. It is an escape from reality.

I also can be very productive on airplanes. In fact, I did much of the preparation for my Ph.D. comprehensive exams while flying back and forth between JFK and SFO during a promotion years ago. Traveling in AA's NGBC on the 763, it really didn't feel any different from my office. Plus, and more importantly, there is NO Internet, NO texting, NO calls, etc...

Keep in mind that most people would not consider it "fun" to spend time on aircraft, and most people tend to minimize their amount of time doing so each year to the bare minimum. I would include immigration officers among these people. So, it might be quite a shock for them to learn that so many of us intentionally spend money and time flying just for the sake of miles. It is indeed "weird."

But, you know what? It is our hobby. Many people have hobbies. Some people collect stamps or model airplanes, some people go fishing, some people raise alpacas. Some people have very unusual hobbies. People spend a small fortune on these kinds of hobbies every year. We, in turn, choose to spend a portion of our disposable income and free time to requalify for our status each year. When you put it in the context of hobbies that people have, it doesn't seem as "weird."

Keep in mind, too, that MRing is a hobby that yields ongoing benefits that can be work-related. Earning or maintaining status can help you with upgrades the following year on non-discretionary travel, such as for work. It is not the case for all of us, but some of us are willing to fork over a few thousand of personal funds per year in order to make a year of business travel more tolerable.

I did a mileage run to Dublin (from Newark) two weekends ago. Spent 48 hours there and on the way through US Customs in Dublin Airport, the agent asked the purpose of my trip. When I told him it was air miles, he said "Oh, the $378 fare?". Apparently there were tons of us that went through that weekend and he mentioned he was jealous we saw the fare.

After our recent LAX --> IAD --> LHR --> LAX run that took 29 hours to complete (8am Saturday departure - back in LAX at 1pm Sunday) - our family and friends thought us to be weird. However, in London, we had breakfast with 3 other MR's (out of Chicago and Denver) and laughed it up.

Consider it a compliment.

Worked in my favor at Canadian immigration (YVR) once. When the clerk saw my printed itinerary of 5 segments to do MSP-YVR and I explained I was after the miles I was in the admitted and land side within 5 minutes. Much better reception than the hour grilling I got upon arriving in YOW solo claiming a leisure weekend.

Had this happened to me, I'd just have answered (truthfully), "there's a reason I was called Weirdre in elementary school."

A smile and a "thank you" is an appropriate responses for immigration, customs, TSA, police, etc...

I always like to point out that we true weirdos prefer the term "eccentric," but for some reason most folks insist on calling me "weird" or "strange" anyways....

Did a MR on United to get 1K status. Went from EWR-SFO, SFO-HKG, HKG-EWR. Was there for 15 hours and came back. Had no problem at HKG but when I got back to immigration at EWR the CBP officer was puzzled. He asked how long I was there and I said "15 hours", he said "Excuse me?" So I said "Overnight". I then said that it was for a MR and joked how important it is to have 1K status now. He looked up and me and cracked a smiled and said "Welcome home". I wasn't worried since I didn't have anything to hide but couldn't help but think what he was thinking...:p

I got sent to secondary coming back from my several hours in London. Considering how close London is to the US, I'm wondering what they will say if I book the ticket to Vietnam for 1 night that i'm looking at

"Eccentric" means "Weird With Money" http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...ile_tongue.gif

In early December we discovered that a coworker of mine had something like 23,500 EQMs on Delta for the year. I said he should do a mileage run. He said "what?" and could not understand why anyone would do such a thing. It took me about two weeks to convince him it was worth it, till he decided it would be worth a last-minute trip to Las Vegas. He texted me from Vegas to let me know he had already been upgraded on the red eye back to New York. I think he's now a convert. :D

You and the previous poster should apply for GlobalEntry membership if you are eligible. It more than pays for itself when it comes to overseas quick-turn MRs.

I had worse responses and especially treatment when entering the US. :mad:

I think one of the people think that we are weirdo (For me, except for domestic, I tried to make MRs as a short trip instead of same day return) are:

1. They don't know how much we have exactly paid for the fare.

2. People don't see the hidden value that we get from MRs.

When people understand the value, more people will join for sure.

Hmmm, and here I always thought the rule was "What happens on a mileage run STAYS on the mileage run..."

At $100 for 5 years, all it takes is one bad immigration line per year for it to be worth it :)

(Depending on your tolerance for lines, it might only take one bad immigration line, once, to be worth it :) )

Hmmm, and here I always thought the rule was "What happens on a mileage run STAYS on the mileage run..."

--

Then again, re: all of this, I actually like flying. It's always a thrill to get to experience "big technology" of the kind we were promised as kids.

Every time I see this thread title I think, Weir Do....hmmmm

She is not alone
 

The immigration agent isn't alone. If you talk to most people (not flyer talkers) about a mileage run, and they will think you are really weird. More people than not think MR running is weird. We on FT try to defend ourselves and rationalize that it's normal with great perks, but if you talk to most people in society, it's definitely considered weird.

I dont think more people joining is necessarily a good thing. The value and benefits are in short supply.. Lets keep it our little secret on FT. I dont want to convert anyone else.

My thoughts exactly. Applied a couple of months ago and have used it twice. (I am probably one of the few that paid and didnt get it as a amex plat benefit..) Not to give the government any ideas, but I would gladly have paid TRIPLE+ for the service. Amazingly simple and easy. 5 minutes from stepping off the plane, to curbside. Its like having 'status' at immigration :)

Much like my wife, I hear the same at home.....

I hear that, too, even when it has nothing to do with traveling or MRs.

:D

Shhh...That's why I say here :D

I suspect I'll get some of the same coming up in Paris -- I'll be there 23 hrs 35 min, as an add-on to a San Francisco-Bangkok round trip (routing back through San Francisco, then Hong Kong.)

Mind, I could have just taken the 4-hour connection instead :)

Ahh yes, reminds me a few years back of a 20 hr. layover I scheduled in FRA on the way to TUN, where I discovered 2 things

1. Partying with fans during football (soccer) season can be very fun but tiring.
2. they design those chairs in lounges to be almost impossible to sleep in.

...But I digress...