I don't really ever want children (I see parents flying with them all the time - looks miserable) - but if I did, I'd probably name a boy after me so he could inherit my travel history!

As for Marathon Man, I've heard a lot worse than that - nothing I want to discuss publically, but if you're ever in Vegas, I'll buy you a drink!

i wouldn't go as far as to say the op commited fraud....but he did definitely game the system....

my cousin & i share the same middle & last name....we also have the same first initial....

a couple of years ago he needed to stay at a particular hilton property but it was sold out....since he had no status with hilton, he asked me to make the reservation for him using the diamond gaurantee....

long story short, he paid rack rate to get the room & i got the points & stay credit....

We must have different definitions of fraud. Clearly violating the terms of the offer, and the terms of the program, in order to accrue miles in an account that were not earned by that account - how exactly is that not fraud?

Gaming the system is working within the rules to maximize your benefit. I don't subscribe to the "it's not cheating unless you get caught" philosophy.

My dad, younger brother, and I all have the same name.

When dad died, he lived in Houston, and I lived in the British Virgin Islands. It was ultimately easier to convince AA to merge both accounts than it was to do the paperwork ordeal.

As for my brother, he's never cared about earning miles. No matter how many times I've told him it's worth it, he doesn't care. So until secure flight was implemented, whenever he'd fly, I'd get the miles.

I've had any number of opportunities to cheat merchants, large and small, one way or another. I'm no saint, but I generally manage to resist the temptation.

This is no different. The OP made a mistake, didn't want to suffer the consequences, and lied to get out of the situation. The lying may have been creative, and the result may have been the same as would have happened the first time absent the mistake, but that doesn't change what went on.

OP might not have been out for fraud but lessens legit requests for mileage fixes from shopping sites. I had a beef with one recently and only after much hassle did they correctly credit my earned miles. OP will risk even those valid concessions with such behavior.

to each their own....

Your fathers name was "Little Cupcakes" too?

When I screw up I try to fix it within the T&C's - if I can't, I ask for a mulligan. I usually get it. Most company reps are nice* and if you explain the goof up they try to help you. I've had many people go out of their way to accommodate me when I screw up and ask for help.... maybe OP has just never had that happen.



* does not apply to airfare.com

That was his given name of course, but when I was born naturally he became known as "BigCupcakes".

I would.

like i said before, to each their own....

ok.
fine then.
I'll post on here again. Ya'll knew I would.

I have been getting PMs anyway that suggest I should just shove the middle finger in the face of the naysayers

Look, I did this thing. I don't deny it nor do I regret it. I do not attempt to justify it except to say that we all know airlines are notorious for screwing up their own promos or portals and they had done so so much to me and others I know that I felt this was a perfect opportunity to screw em back. It worked. I also never did it again and who cares if you now don't believe that.

Yeah, I know, if this were like law and crime then that doesn't necessarily hold up in court.

BUT PEOPLE: THIS IS NOT COURT AND THIS IS NOT THE BIG CRIME OF A CENTURY THAT SOME OF YOU SO BADLY WANT IT TO BE!



Does that matter? Is it STILL wrong or fraudesque? Yeah, maybe so whatever. Like I said I DON'T CARE. AND it was long long ago in a web site far far away. Yes DL absorbed NWA but things changed since. Databases long since purged, personnel most likely long since shifted, etc. Maybe THAT is why I posted this. It exposes nothing unless YOU all make a big issue out of it and raise the eyebrow of some DL employee who wants to make a name for him/herself with this. AND it was about less than 1,500 miles. It is a lot different than murder. In court, I'd probably pay a fine and walk away. In airlines, yeah, they may want to close the account but if I petitioned that I might end up with a miles-like fine too.

Is my action and this thread in the spirit of FT? Well, to some, even the mint coins promo is a 'scam' but most of us here don't think so. It is about stories involving miles, so yes, I argue that it is....

Let me repeat that...

The reason for my post was to hear stories about anyone who ever made - ie faked miles/used other accounts/etc.

And Ok fine, ask the MOD if we can change the title. I was never meaning to hide anything so sue me for word choice.

I
Don't
Care!

There have been only a few people who have come forth telling their own stories about what they have done. I am happy to see their posts. Those people are not fearful. To me this makes them strong. Their actions were also creative. So were mine.

I know that many others have done things too but they either fear big brother or they are pretending they never have done things. Now, if something they have done is very recent, then yeah, maybe don't post it. But to sit here and blast people JUST for thinking or just for suggesting that a thing is a possibility HAS to be equally as bad as the thing itself! Think about that statement. Read it again.

TO sit here and blast people JUST for thinking or just for suggesting that a thing is a possibility is wrong. And, yes, it is also stupid.

I mean, most of you people are purely and obviously getting your rocks off simply by flaming me. That's weak, people. Just plain weak.

Step up.

Show me something better than that. Go ahead, tell me it's fraud but then be big enough to say, "...but I did this or that" or "I know a guy who," or "I can see why you did this or that," or "yeah, airlines do make promo or sign up mistakes."

To just sit there and get off on your supposed do-gooder stance is NOT, in my opinion, the spirit of this or any forum.

I am posting here again because it's clear people want this thread to stay on top in the active list. So when I stopped posting, it wasn't just me who potentially put it in the eyes of those who may be viewing from the travel industry. And who cares if they do see it. It wont make them stop doing miles promos or anything. Instead, they may just say: "wow, what could we have done/do better to prevent these mishaps from taking place on our end."

A side note clarification: The miles were only credited to me, not my relative. Someone had asked about that.

Finally, and sadly, I am still making a list of the types of people I probably wont share (valid) ideas with. So those of you who are posting with attitude and bitter zeal are simply exposing yourselves to someone who usually loves to help with the cool promos in here but is feeling less and less inclined to share anything in this place.

Now I axe ya, how does THAT help the supposed spirit of this forum? It does not. So please don't wreck it. I don't want to begin thinking that one simply cannot THINK or post something in here out of fear.

Just shut it, and step up and tell me stories about things YOU did. I know what I did already. No more excuses.

:-:MM

don't even get me started on airline portals....i use the aadvantage eshopping mall very frequently....the miles for only 40% of my purchases have posted....the other 60% are nowhere to be seen....to the people who think this thread is wrong, i ask you, is this not fraud on behalf of the airline????

& before people start attacking this post, i have followed up countless times with them & its been almost a year since i was supposed to get some of those miles....

I guess thats better than being named "Little Cupcakes Jr."

hilarious....