From the Discussions about the various programs, it is obvious everyone belongs to a number of Airline, Hotel, etc MILES/POINTS programs. Air, hotel, car rental, etc.

How many cards do you have?
How many do you carry with you when traveling?
Do you use them to ID yourself for checking in for flights or rooms?
How do you store or carry them, when traveling?
Do you leave any at home? Or take everyone of them on trips?
Do you keep them in a special drawers or 'safe place'?
Do you keep the old Gold or Platinum cards after you fail to requalify?
Are you embaressed by the NO ELITE STATUS cards?

Wow, what a list!

Yes, I do carry all of the card with me in a separate folio in my breifcase. I use this folio to keep the cards, coupons, certificates, upgrades, etc. in one place for easy access. Before my trip, I place the appropriate "cards" in my wallet for the airlines, car rentals, and hotels that I would be at that night. I ALWAYS show the card at checkin, it helps in making sure you get the credit for the activity!

8 airlines, 1 elite, 1 premium
5 car rentals, 3 elite, 1 premium
8 hotel, 3 elite, 2 premium
1 frequent parker program

I carry all my cards when I travel, and I use my DL for checking in the airport and my credit card and hotel card for checkin-in.
I bought one of those big wallet for plane tickets and credit cards.
I have 7 hotel program cards with 1 platnum and 2 gold.
1 rental car card
2 frequent park
7 Airline FF cards
Why should i be embrassed for the non-elite cards? These cards only mean that I am at home more than those who have these elite cards

Fun topic.

I have cards for every major US program except Alaska (though they now codeshare out of PIT on American flights -- I see Alaska flights to Chicago on the board here all the time!) So that's nine or so and also Midwest Express since they fly here.. Though I threw away my United card when I got it..

I only cary my USAirways Chairman's Preferred and American regular (waiting for my Platinum card). I hope to try for Continental next year and will start carrying their card too.

I have elite status hotel cards from Marriott, Hilton, Starwood and Hyatt. I only carry the Marriott unless I know I'm staying at one of the others.

I have elite (I guess) status with Hertz and carry that card. I also carry my USAirways Club card and that is the only card I use often -- others are not really required other than to impress (some) people at dinner.

All my other cards are in a stack on my desk, safe enough for me. I still keep all my old cards, luggage tags, etc.

The most interesting association that ROADRUNNER's post dredged up was that of keeping expired cards. In the 80's and early 90's, I had really spread out my business among the companies and belonged to five airline clubs. In the last four or five years, I have stayed with one airline and have let all the other club memberships expire. However, I kept all of those cards and have used them to get into busy clubs at busy hours more than once. The only time I threw them out is when they were redesigned.
Otherwise, I keep no expired cards and carry about a dozen in a large ticket wallet together with my passport which I carry at all times. In general tho, I ID myself when checking in with my DL and do show the status cards just in case the agent forgets to look at the screen.

I have more then a couple of handfuls of cards. Keeping them handy is a major undertaking, that I find is a distraction, since I know the important numbers by heart and have them entered in my Daytimer. I keep the current favorite few in the wallet. The rest are collecting in a drawer and elsewhere along with a lot of other unnecessary stuff.

My only question is does flashing the card at checkin HELP with the services and upgrades or does the reservation information deteremine the final outcome more? There is more information to access on the computer screen then a simple look at the card. Most of time, the agents don't even want the card!

I keep all of my cards in my computer bag. None in my wallett except credit cards and Crown Room card.
6 Airline
3 Car rental
6 Hotel
3 Parking cards (Atlanta has real problems with parking.)
I toss the old ones

Way, way too many!

I generally carry all my "active" cards in my actual wallet, as I need to pull them out just as much or more than my other bank cards etc. My "inactive" cards, or memberships in programs I rarely use, I keep in my Filofax. I carry them like this when travelling, unless I'm taking a whole wack of flights with a wierd carrier, like Air France, in which case I might throw that card in my wallet. As a rule, I ALWAYS hand the agent my card with the ticket at check-in, as with some carriers it will get you an upgrade on over-sold flights, and incase the number had not tracked to the booking. NB-I do not keep any cards with my passport.

I have found frequent flier/hotel cards to, generally speaking, suffice as identification at check-in. I used to be able to get from North America to the immigration desk at Heathrow without ever taking out a passport. I've noticed that BA in particular has become a great deal more strict with their formalities; which seem to exist more to establish the PAX's eligibility to enter the UK than to establish who they are.

LOL I am not embarassed of my basic tiers - I remember before oneworld existed, I was racking-up 60k miles a year in partner activity on CP, but still had a basic tier! And yes, I do keep my �lite-tier cards after they expire, mainly as they have useful information on the back. Here is my breakdown of cards:
Airlines: 2 �lite tier, 6 basic, 1 unknown
Hotels: 2 �lite, 2 basic
Cars: ~none~

[This message has been edited by Fly Boy (edited 09-14-2000).]

I COLLECT FF CARDS AND HAVE A SPECIAL WALLET TO CARRY THEM. aT LAST COUNT 27 AIRLINE CARDS AND GROWING...BUT MY AA EXPLAT STAYS IN MY REG. WALLET.....

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MRKEY

I carry all my cards in a huge wallet in my suitcase, but only 2 (AA & NW) in the small front pocket wallet on me. I only really ever use them for miles at rental car counters. The rest of the numbers are in my Palm Pilot &/or head.

Freefaller12k

I agree with Roadrunner. The reservation screen will have your status and I never show my FF card or hotel cards to the agents.

If you are looking for an upgrade to first or a suite it always seems pretentious to throw out the elite card. I prefer to just be polite and show it only if asked.

I keep only the cards I will use on a particular trip in my wallet excpet for my Alaska Air which is always in my wallet

My acct was upgraded to CO GOLD Elite this afternoon and I just might flash that a little more then the NO STATUS edition. A nice reward for my weekend milage run SAN-EWR-PWM for some 'LIVE' Lobster.

[This message has been edited by ROADRUNNER (edited 09-20-2000).]

[This message has been edited by ROADRUNNER (edited 09-20-2000).]

Where are NWK and PWE? NWK is not recognized by SABRE and PWE is Pevek, Russia?

Gosh, I hope I didn't get them wrong, but they are NewarK, NJ and Portland, Maine. I better go to bed and get some rest.