I've used 2+ million miles for all the usual things (upgrade, trips without the Saturday stayover, etc.), but here are four of my most memorable:

I've taken each niece/nephew to DC for a long weekend as they reach 13 or 14 - old enough I can enjoy being with them for several days in a row, and they can appreciate the museums and memorials. I call it "Uncle John's Civics Lesson."

Flew one sister from Spokane to Houston for another sister's 2nd wedding - she thought work would tell her she was too busy, but when she was blue the day before the wedding they said "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, your missing your sister's wedding. Of course you can go!" The airlines wanted $1,200+

Flew myself to Fargo, North Dakota (seriously!) since that would complete I've been to all 50 states.

And (the most morable use) flew parents, myself and five siblings, with spouses, to Hawaii for a family reunion. No kids (who really wants to watch a 5-year-old on the beach), but I told them all that United's Hawaii freebies allow a stopover, and it didn't have to be on the routing (at least that was OK in '92). Houston went home by way of Spokane to see that sister's house & kids; Spokane went by way of Charleston, SC (really!) because she considered this a "found" trip and she'd always wanted to see there. Denver visited friends in San Diego on the way, and parents (also Denver; I gave them first class as an anniversary "bonus") went home by way of Florida.

For memories, maximum value, and everything else, that was probably my best use. But guess what: I live in San Francisco, so fares to Hawaii are cheap enough that my partner and I PAID for our tickets (and earned more miles)!

Got to comment to all of you, this is one of the better threads running. I agree totally that while we all earn the miles, it's the story of how we use the miles that one of the more interesting. As for Catman, I'm dissapointed he didn't stop by Colorado Springs on the way round the world. Here, you can visit the world renown....House of Miles. Keep the comments coming. One thing to ponder on, does it sem that because you have lots of miles, that others always want to use them?

Randy, good question! My family thinks I'm addicted to FF miles (and they may be right)! After signing up my sister as an additional member on my AMEX card (for 2500 DL miles of course), she now expects me to come up with a free ticket for her. When I explained that 2500 miles doesn't get a free ticket, she settled for a free day Avis coupon. I've given them (my family) a few freebies and they are actually quite grateful. They won't ask for anything, probably because they know I'll never use everything I have and they will receive an award every now and then from my generosity.

My UserName just changed from BSL to newgold??????

I have used my miles for boring stuff like sending finacee IAH-LAX at the last minute and myself IAH-BOS. But the best redemption so far is my Post-Bar Exam trip.
Month longtrip
IAH-LAX-HNL-Stopover
HNL-JON (Yes, possibly the most remote place in the world. BTW the army stores NERVE GAS there it is basically a runway surrounded by water.)
JON-MAJ-KWA-KSA-PNI Stayed for about 2 weeks. WOW WWII, hiking, exploring etc..
PNI-TKK-GUM-ROR Stayed 2 weeks wow! diving sea kayak etc...
ROR-GUM-HNL-IAH home and work...

The next adventure is first class to Europe on ponits connecting to Paid ticket to the Maldives for the two weeks. Staying at the the Hilton on Points too. Then a week in Europe before coming home. (Honeymoon)

Currently saving to take soon to be Wife and I to Bali in 2000 and have air and hotel free.

How about this, It took me 8 years of saving on CO to get the 70K needed for micronesia trip (college, grad & law schools) then I more than doubled that first year out and made Gold.

Kwaj? You've been to Kwaj? Did you have orders and thus able to stay there and do some diving? Or maybe Majuro?

We lived on Kwajalein for 4 years, and talk about finest diving in the world! No tourists, and 100+ feet visibility.

Wow, newgold, you just brought back some mighty fine memories. Hope you got a chance to stay awhile and enjoy a place that's really off the beaten path.

Sorry, Catman, I know it's OMNI, but this time I could not resist.

Great thread.

I'm planning on using a load of these miles to fly around the world backwards from Aspen to Colorado Springs and take Randy's job. I couldn't think of a better way to get paid (wait a second, Randy, you are getting paid, aren't you?) Never mind. Bad idea. No way I'd be able to fill HIS shoes.

Funny this topic came up. It occured to me on my last flight how fortunate I was to be able to travel as much as I do. My grandmother has always wanted to see Ireland and my grandfather to visit Normandy where his brother was burried after the war. Plans are already in the works to send them both, though they don't know it yet. Lord knows they deserve it. It's the LEAST I could give them for all they've done for me. The only problem is that I'm not so sure if they'd be able to stand being cramped up next to one another for the duration of the flight! )

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g'day
wl

Newgold: Is JON Johnson Island or, maybe, Wake? I imagine either could meet your description of a "Runway surrounded by water". I've been to both.

It's Johnson Island. It's Air Mic's first stop on the way from Hono.

Remind me to tell you sometime about the guy who went shark fishing one night with the hook tied to a jeep's bumper with a BIG rope...

Another good thing about having a LOT of miles is if you have a relative or friend who needs a ticket right away you can GIVE your miles in the form of a ticket to them on some airlines.

I think that's a great thing about having a lot of miles... if you have a friend in need you can help them out.

And Randy: OK, I will change my itinerary if you will be there to greet me when I return from my world journey!!!

Another good thing about having a LOT of miles is if you have a relative or friend who needs a ticket right away you can GIVE your miles in the form of a ticket to them on some airlines.

I think that's a great thing about having a lot of miles... if you have a friend in need you can help them out.

Randy: OOPS! I figured you all would be too busy to see me as I make my way through. I will adjust my itinerary yet again!

Don't ber silly, you guys. Miles are just for taking your spouse and children with you wherever you go, rent cars, get hotel rooms, get upgrades and have fun.

If you're not using these things up every year or so, you're just one of the statistics of unused miles that the airlines love.

I don't even know what it means, but every time I get my United statement and look at the 'Round-The-World Awards, I know I want it. 960,000 for two.

NJDavid, nothing will go unused (I hope) but it is difficult (if not impossible) to use everything each year. Over the last 3 months I have racked up over 140K UA miles (including all sorts of bonuses) and that's just what has been posted. Non-posts are around another 12,000 miles and the UA Travel Card, which I signed up for for the triple miles they offered thru 5/31, owes me about 20,000 miles. And believe it or not I managed to get 3 roundtrips on US in there as well (also double miles from DC)worth maybe 10,000 miles in total. Using all of these miles will be tough (especially with the expiration of UA miles) but I'm sure my sisters won't mind a couple of free tickets.

NJDavid: I'm not so sure the airlines love the unused miles. After all, they are liabilities.

On the immediate horizon are trips to Australia this winter and perhaps Panama this summer.

In the more distant future are travels to India, China, Japan, and Russia. It's great having most of those miles in a program in which miles don't expire.

In the past, there have been many trips - Florida, Costa Rica, Europe, as well as lots of upgrades for business travel. (No need for using miles for that since I switched to CO a couple of years ago.) Have given away many trips to friends and relatives. And I had a long distance (1500 miles) fling for a year, with visits nearly every other week.