I like you posted words out of my mouth, especially the part about friends asking how you can afford and do things one day here and the next there.
I'm also still hitting the books in socal (now studying abroad) but this year because of FT I've hit more than I could have ever imagined.

Going overseas has always been a dream of mine, especially Europe. While I probably could have afforded to go anytime, something always came up that made me spend the money elsewhere. Finally, after reading about credit card signup bonuses I jumped on the Continenal MC 50k bonus. That plus the HHonors points I have from work travel I was able to go on my first trip last September using points and miles. 4 days in London, 4 in Edinburgh. The trip was a blast, I have a ton of pictures and memories and I'm already planning my next trip, possibly Rome and Israel.

Cash can be used on anything and frequently has to be spent on needs. Miles & points are good for just one thing so I had no excuse to not go.

I scrowl more at the DM's sitting smugly up in FirstClass, because I know they took my upgrade

An original member with 12 post or abt a post/year?

I sat down to create a thread I have been thinking of an lo and behold, someone beat me to it. My wife and I are in Paris right now. We are in a suite at the Park Hyatt Paris Vendome. On Sunday, we train to Belgium for two nights at Le Meridien Brussels. Flew here on Lufthansa First Class and flying home non-stop on United First Class.

It all started about 7 years ago. We had purchased a couple of timeshares - first a Marriott and then a Westin. That got us into getting their credit cards. Both purchases came with a slew of points (don�t flame me - I was young and stupid and didn�t know better!) so we had a bit of a head start. Then I discovered FT! I�m also fortunate in that as a dentist, I get to charge quite a bit each year for supplies and lab costs.

First big thing was learning about alliances. Thanks to FT, we flew First Class to Paris on BA but my Starwood points were transferred to Cathay Pacific�s AsiaMiles. That got us First Class for (at the time) 90,000 miles each rather than the150,000 BA wanted. Not one of my friends (or even my wife) could fit that into their heads. Seemed daunting until I did it. Thanks to the Starwood transfer bonus, those 180,000 miles only cost me 145,000 Starpoints. Stayed at the Prince de Galles on Starwood points where we were upgraded to a magnificent one bedroom, two bathroom suite with a small balcony right on the Avenue George V.

From there it just went on and on. First Class Air France NY - CDG- Malaga and return MAD-CDG (layover)-NYC. BA First to Italy. Last May BA First to Israel. This summer BA First to Moscow and home from Copenhagen. The list is too long to list them all and it goes on and on.

As many of you have alluded - very, very little of this would have happened but for me finding FT. Just look at your friends who have no idea what you are talking about and you will realize that we do not represent the masses! As I wrote once before, the game gets harder but the rewards are still there. Let�s keep sharing!

I got involved when, through spending on my credit cards for my business, I began to accumulate large quantities of miles and other perks. Wanting to optimize my return, I learned the game. Now almost a decade later, I've earned somewhere north of 17 million miles/points, status seemingly everywhere, and I travel at a very low cost almost at will. My friends, family, and employees have benefited from my knowledge and participation as well.

Joined FT in 2006. Here are some interesting accomplishments:

$3/night at Osaka Hilton (should be $300, mistaken rate at 300 JPY)
$200 summer 2009 high season airfare SFO-Europe
$1500 mistaken CNZ biz class airfare USA to NZ (should be $15000)
3 million NW/UA miles earned
whole family travel to Asia in biz class awards every year

But, I missed $0 airfare to Europe. Bummer.

For the record, without going into any political debates, there's no Republic of Taiwan.

It's Republic of China. Or here on FT, usually Taiwan will do, so not to confuse with China. Discussion about Taiwan happens in our Asia Forum, while China goes to China Forum.

I am starting off where you were 10 years ago. My business is growing and I charge everything. I have accumulated a lot of points and and starting to investigate how to use them. I hope to have the same success you have 10 years from now

Dave

Reading through some of the posts in this thread... it really is amazing when you think about it...

The people on FT represent a tiny fraction of all travelers. Most people on FT are "regular" people (not celebs, athletes, super rich, etc), and yet, frequently we travel as good as, or better than, people with way more money/resources.

And then, by other "regular" people, we're often made fun of for having some weird obsession with miles and points.. but then they get jealous when we show them the pictures

I had a dozen or so friends think I was NUTS because of the US Mint coin thing. But I racked up hundreds of thousands of miles/points. And now I'm traveling in style to places friends of mine cant even fathom, and with routings they'd never even begin to contemplate putting together.

I love FT!!!

Hi All,

Love this thread, I can completely relate, but I have some similar but different experiences.

First, I have busted my butt to keep my credit rating for over 20 years as high as possible. So when I stumbled on flyertalk, it was love at first byte. This was time to benefit from those years of building that FICO score. Second, I have always been a cheapskate, hate paying retail for anything, designed schemes to save money...on everything. Strangely enough, I have always been a pretty good tipper at restaurants and hotels. I think because if it wasn't for a few influential ships that passed my way in the night, I may have been that waiter or bellman. But I digress...

I believe that the best thing in life is options...options to go travel the world or stay at a spa. Flyertalk expands everyones options, if they choose to pursue them, and those options have taken a large amount of stress out of my own life and those people I care about.

My best "option" was when my friend from High School called a few years ago. He let me know that his father was dying, but with a wife and 2 kids, and the economic crash in full swing, that he just couldn't borrow the money to go to AZ and be with his father at the expense what little of his family's financial resources he had left. This guy was the friend you had, that no matter what you needed, he was always there for you. Even though we drifted apart in later years, he never changed. Anyway, because of Flytalk and the posters showing me the way to bonuses, it was a no brainier to use my stockpiled miles - so I flew him home a few days later. His father lasted a bit longer than expected, but my friend was there while his dad could appreciate it and for the most part, say goodbye. Rarely in life do you actually get to make such a difference. It was pretty cool!

As a result, I have been "paying it forward" by letting good people know how they can afford vacations or getaways with the knowledge I glean from all you great people. Your advice has found its way from students, newlyweds, families, and retirees all taking meaningful trips that would have otherwise only been "pipe dreams."

I am still motivated by self interest, but I have to admit, I do like helping others travel just as much as I do.

Warm Regards,

Alex

I got to go to the 2010 World Series. If I hadn't had Delta miles I wouldn't have been able to afford a last minute RDU-SF Area ticket, but because I did, I got to go watch my beloved Giants win Game 1 on their way to their first championship since 1954.

I've also used miles to go to six countries I probably wouldn't have seen otherwise and flown products I certainly can't afford, but as a long suffering Giants fan, the world series moment will probably always be my favorite redemption.

I've actually had better luck with the "mistake" fares and discounts posted here than the points/miles.

Years ago, we were not as financially well-off, and yet FT taught me how I could afford to fly back and forth to see my wife while we were working out which coast would be home.

It also meant our first international trip, mostly through the generosity of United's revenue mgmt dept. And just this summer, we scored cheap tickets to Hawaii. (And ended up earning back vouchers that made it free. Thanks again, United!)

Really, FT has meant the difference between choosing travel or creature comforts. It's saved us enough to have both. I owe such a debt to so many contributors here.

Good catch - that error carried forward from a Traveller's Century Club list. The TCC needs to correct the designation on the checklist, although the TCC checklist itself is somewhat unique.

Actually Hong Kong, Macau, PRC and Taiwan each count as a country on the TCC list as does Alaska and Hawaii, but not California or Texas. On my flagged countries visited list I subtract Alaska, add Hawaii, Texas and California and throw in the Republic of Sonora for good measure.

Here is a long thread by the founder of Flyertalk and how it changed his life and our lives.

Enjoy!