I primarily collect miles for vacation.

mileage usage 1998:
* AA one award IAD-LIH with stop over at HNL
mileage usage 1999:
* AA two award IAD-KOA with stop over at HNL

Dan.

I too use them for vacations, and without them most of my vacations become unaffordable. I also find domestic coach tickets to be wonderful Xmas gifts. A little guilt sets in, that I didn't really pay anything for them (technically my employer did), but this passes quickly after I see how excited the recepient is.

I have visited around thirty countries (or foreign "territories"), mostly the courtesy of United Airlines over the last ten years. This has enriched my life, and I am forever grateful for frequent flyer programs, and my employer allowing me to retain the mileage.

Planning a trip for the next year or two to China with my niece - her relatives will be living there and I'm hoping she and I can fly for free or upgrade to 1st if I have to buy the tickets!!!

geo1004: Like hnechets, I too do gifts and bribes and have a tall, attractive, single daughter WITH MILES, who is fluent in 4 languages and does get by, just fine, in another 6. I am also the only person I know who was born during my decade and still remains grandchildless.

I'll be happy to give you a job and miles if you can convince my wanderlust girl to get married and give me grandchilden sometime before my dottage. (When, of course, I'll be too busy burning up miles and points to fool with the little dickens.)

geo1004: Don't sweat it, you were NOT giving me a hard time! Your comments were very valid and appreciated.

JAWS_II was having problems keeping the Jamaica thread under control; I'm afraid the skin is going to peel back from his face when he sees what this thread has degenerated into!!!!

(I can see it now..."ARRGHHH. We've become the MATCHMAKER BOARD!!! I'm a-gettin' my six-shooters out!")

To quote Matt Wald:

"I ain't saying a thing."

But, the idea of a frequent flier/love connection get together is kind of funny.


[This message has been edited by geo1004 (edited 04-27-99).]

In the near future (with just a few more miles) my wife and I each hope to have:

20,000 united miles
30,000 globalrewards points
20,000 Qualiflyer miles

I think we will probably use these miles as follows

1. Use the global rewards points for a round Australia flight (possibly even business class)

2. Use the Qualiflyer miles for a return AOM flight Sydney to New Caledonia

3. Use the United miles for a Darwin to Kuala Lumpur return flight with Ansett

So in the end the itinerary will look like this

Melbourne to Sydney Ansett
Sydney to New Caledonia AOM
New Caledonia to Sydney AOM
Sydney to Cairns Ansett
Cairns to Darwin Ansett
Darwin to Kuala Lumpur Ansett
Kuala Lumpur to Darwin Ansett
Darwin to Perth Ansett
Perth to Melbourne Ansett

3 weeks should do it including short visits to my relatives in Cairns and Perth

Aaaa... I can see myself sunning on a New Caledonian beach now...

cheers Peter

ps not a bad use of ff points eh?

Saving up the AA miles to take my husband to Hawaii for his 50th birthday. Nice tie-in, huh-50th birthday,50th state. Any excuse to get to Hawaii.

I've been using my miles (and now Sally's, since she's gotten smart and started colecting them) for vacations for the past twenty years or so. We vacation where Delta flies and Marriott has hotels. Hawaii, Bermuda, Barbados, etc. The bottom line is that Delta miles pay for our first class air and Marriott points pay for the hotel. Once in a while we break the pattern and take a cruise, for which we pay. That just provides more miles for the following year.
I'll occasionally use miles to upgrade, since I'm only Silver Medallion and I sometimes want to be sure of the upgrade when I make the reservation, rather than waiting until 24 hours out. That's only on long-haul flights, though, or when I want to make sure both Sally and I can be upgraded.
Phil

[This message has been edited by philforest (edited 04-27-99).]

I collect them! (you didn't really think I would actually use them did you?) With my total FF account balance closing in on 1 million miles (should be there sometime next month), you might have guessed that finding the time to use them can be difficult. And that doesn't include over 1 million Hilton and Marriott points. I'm usually traveling for business somewhere. This month (April) I will have been home only 6 nights. Last month I think it was 8 (wow)! I do manage to use the miles/points for vacation at least once a year for a week or two.

I just have so much fun earning them that I usually give them away to family members that would not usually travel.

I have used them form myself to go to Bali, Hong Kong, and Mexico but most of them (70,000 a pop) were used for my family.

I am taking another family member to Europe this summer as a graduation gift.

OMNI: Rudi: I lived in Oberammergau for two years back in the fifties. Got to see a Passion Play dress rehearsal.
Phil

philforest: I have never been there - yet. But I really should see the Passion-procedure and theatre once.

Three words: upgrades, upgrades, Upgrades.

The hotel points go for free nights.

OMNI: Where is JAWS to monitor this love connection? Cute but is it travel related?

Maybe if I save my miles I can go to the moon someday!