What are you NOT willing to do for extra miles/points/status?
Oct 8, 2013 | 4:19 pm
#78
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA, AA, US, DL, PC Plat, Dollar, Avis, National, SPG, HH Gold, CC Gold
Posts: 1,212
Oct 8, 2013 | 9:01 pm
#80
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PBI / JFK, ISP, LGA
Programs: AA, AS, AV, B6, DL, F9, WN
Posts: 868
Thank God there is someone else who refuses to be on Facebook. I hate that site with a passion. I already spend too much time online for work and email, I don't need another reason to do it. Besides who needs FB "friends" when I already have many real ones?
Oct 13, 2013 | 10:53 am
#84
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: LAX
Posts: 36
As a student money is my limiting factor. When I don't have a use for the points I won't pay money for them. So if I have a trip coming up and I can get free nights at a hotel via a sing-up bonus but the first year fee isn't waived, I'll do that. Otherwise I accrue points through everyday use and sign-up bonuses with no costs.
Oct 15, 2013 | 8:59 pm
#85
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: DL,AS, AA, UA
Posts: 19
Oct 16, 2013 | 9:16 am
#86
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Dallas Area
Programs: AA EX PLT, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 149
Mileage Runs
This year after analyzing my planned trips for rest of the year, I came up about 5,000 miles short for AA Executive Platinum.
I searched and found a RT from DFW to SEA, for $276 which gives me 3,300 miles
I am now looking for another trip on a day that fits my schedule for another 2,000 to ensure I keep my status.
Flying a few one day trips to keep top tier with all its benefits like 8 global upgrades and complementary domestic upgrades is well worth the $ and time.
I even considered a RT DFW-LHR at 9,500 miles.
I searched and found a RT from DFW to SEA, for $276 which gives me 3,300 miles
I am now looking for another trip on a day that fits my schedule for another 2,000 to ensure I keep my status.
Flying a few one day trips to keep top tier with all its benefits like 8 global upgrades and complementary domestic upgrades is well worth the $ and time.
I even considered a RT DFW-LHR at 9,500 miles.
The things we do to earn extra miles/pts/status: mileage runs, mattress runs, applying for tons of credit cards, VRs and GCs - we can all relate to some of these. They come at a price however. They take time and sometimes limit our choices. We each decide what's worth it and what's not.
I thought it would be fun to compare which aspects of your time and choice you feel are not worth it. For me, the dining experience is a priority and I'm not willing to dine at a mediocre restaurant just for extra points. Having that choice and flexibility is important to me. I'm also not keen on paying full price for hotels in order to earn status when I can get them for 1/2 the price on Priceline, or as I've been doing more and more - find great hosts on Airbnb for a low price.
I thought it would be fun to compare which aspects of your time and choice you feel are not worth it. For me, the dining experience is a priority and I'm not willing to dine at a mediocre restaurant just for extra points. Having that choice and flexibility is important to me. I'm also not keen on paying full price for hotels in order to earn status when I can get them for 1/2 the price on Priceline, or as I've been doing more and more - find great hosts on Airbnb for a low price.
Oct 17, 2013 | 10:48 am
#87
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: DL PM, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum, National Executive, IHG Platinum
Posts: 129
Oct 17, 2013 | 10:58 am
#88
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: DL PM, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum, National Executive, IHG Platinum
Posts: 129
This activity fails a critical test for money laundering, that the money was gained by illegitimate means. In fact, no bank should have any reason to object to this activity at all, they collect swipe fees on VR transactions just like any other.
Oct 17, 2013 | 2:39 pm
#90
Moderator: CommunityBuzz!, OMNI, OMNI/PR, and OMNI/Games & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ORD (MDW stinks)
Programs: UAMM, AAMM & ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott lifetime Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 24,165
The question I would ask is do you get to keep up as much as you'd like with your "real" friends?
If you do, God bless, I think you are in a unique situation. I know I & all my friends (as well as many clients of mine) lament the time we don't have to stay in touch with those we care about.
I did not join FB until just this past spring. Since then I have enjoyed keeping up with real friends via FB. Of course there are the friends that I see have a little too much time on their hands with their posts & I don't follow them anymore, but for the most part, my friends are judicious in what they post and therefore worthwhile to me. I don't go on FB everyday, perhaps 3-4 times per week.
I'm not here to defend FB but like any form of communication, it can be useful when used correctly.
Now back to the topic at hand:
I used to chase status/points/miles incessantly, now I'm not willing to do that.
I now only pursue the status/points/miles that I can make a good ROI case for.