Well, up to recently, collecting was all I seemed to care about. However, on a mileage trip (Latin Pass million miler), I met a beautful young lady while climbing Huayna Picchu. We spoke for about 45 minutes at which time I had to leave. I found out enough to e-mail her and we've been talking ever since. Since she is from Argentina and I'm from the US, a flight to visit is very expensive ($1000+). Thankfully, I had lots of miles to use up, and traveled there last weekend (after a UA defeated attempt a month ago). We plan to meet again soon, perhaps in Costa Rica, perhaps in Australia, probably using miles.

So, earning them was great (=meeting her), using them is even better (=seeing her again).

I think it's a challenge to gain all the miles we can when promos are offered and by structuring our itinerairies for the most miles. Miles earned by not flying are very important also and usually come in very samll increments. This is satisfying. When I use miles for special trips like my last trip to Maui 8/28/00 using 75,000 old Delta FF miles for FC round trip for my wife and I I enjoyed the trip but realized that that's a big chunk of FF miles! But what's the point of earning and accruing them if we don't have the pleasure of using them?

Well, on the most used airline, 1,600,000 miles collected. 459,000 available. 75% happily given to others.

My quest this year is more related to actual miles and crossing into 1K territory for the first time.

I would be part of the sicko group that prefers paying for the ticket and collecting miles. One that cannot sleep unless registered at a brand hotel giving back 9% of what is being spent.

Imagine spending a year locked behind bars. Or a year at a desk job, forbidden to travel.

"Hello, my name is Steve, and I am a Frequent Flyer........" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

(With profound apologies to AA - not the airline)

I used to believe that accruing miles was the thing that made me happy until .....

I booked the discounted fare to Europe and upgraded to 9 A&B for my daughter and me for Christmas time. To watch her skip through the house and say "I'm going to Paris and London (in Biz)on a 777" was worth every bit of the 100,000 miles it took.

Cheers,

I'll buy any FTer a pint in London/Paris Dec 15-23.


DR

I hate spending miles.. I always think I can do better.. but I had an eye opening discussion with someone who's not a frequent flyer who just kept repeating 'The miles are worth less every year -- point inflation'.. and he tells me he spends his miles as quickly as he earns them.. got a big screen TV last year.

After mulling it over I know he's right. That's one of the few things I look forward to if the merger goes through -- burning a half million mileage plus miles as soon as possible!

Count me in on the user side.

Collecting is a skill. It can be finely honed to maximize points. But I do not believe that "he" who has the most points wins!

Assests are best when used (not necessarly used up). A wonderful house, fine wine, travel, fine dining....

The way the airlines, hotels, etc keep devaluating the "value" of our points using them is just the sane thing to do. If you had money in the bank and they charged you to keep it there, you might consider other arrangements.

That is one. Next, points not use when we check out early, is certainly a lost opportunity for most of us.

I am not sure what the is the use of collecting miles if your do not "use" them? A bit of age probably adds to this understanding.

Warning- if you are HAPPY with the way you are flying, skip this post!

Take heart all you addicted FT junkies. You know who you are by the way you have to sign up for every bonus and every 1000 point offer or even the 100 point offers. Collecting them like loose change in programs you will probably never use to really get anything, You rather hoard, then spend.

A 12 STEP program is in the offering to help you get back in control of your life, and include fulfilling activities other then reading messages like this all day long. Don't dispair, there is still hope for more constructive times like flying somewhere and really enjoying it for reasons other then the miles and points, while knowing it didn't cost you a fortune to sit in that wider upgraded seat with food, that is recognisable even by your dog. Yup, it is possible to transform yourself with people with the same habits supporting you every step of the way! That is the only way out of the maze you find yourself in.

Cost will depend on the number of members that join the group. Mileage/Points in prominent mainline airlines and hotels programs will be accepted in 50,000 unit blocks. It doesn't have you to cost you real money!!

Please sign up below to be WAITLISTED for a seat on this trip. It will prove to be enlighting. You are assured, that your seat will not touch the person's next to you. Do not bring your favorite luggage with you. You may bring your favorite brand name bottled water in case we don't stock it. When you are enrolled, you will get the menu to choose your preferable sandwich choice.

Thank you for your interest. I will see you there!

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

Earning them is great, especially if it is a bargain mileage run or something like that (since becoming a mileage addict I finally understood why my wife gets so excited about shopping bargains). However, at a certain point you just have to break down and use some of those accumulated miles. Never in my life would I ever pay anything close to $15K for a ticket(nor allow anyone to waste that kind of money on a ticket for me) but I will be going F class on BA next year to Asia on my first mileage redemption and my first trip in F. I will be better able to answer the earning vs spending question after that trip http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

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

Using.

Great topic.

I earn but don't either accumulate or use much.

My friends and relations count themselves lucky (in this one respect at least).

Of course, there's always enough padding in the account so if I just have to be in Taipei and there isn't a decent fare, I can take me and my sister.

I thought about this queston for a while and this is what I concluded:

I love the challenge of finding and earning bonuses over the standard miles earned for flying, renting cars, etc. I get a real mental "high" when I logon to a site to check mileage balance and see an increase over my last visit. You know...thrusting your fist in the air while uttering a gutteral "YESSSS!!"

However, I have no problem spending my miles either. Oh, it hurts when actually going through the process and it kills me to think that the next time I logon to check my balance, the number will have been reduced. BUT....I start thinking about my business class/first class trips to Amsterdam...Maui...Budapest...Mexico...Vienna....K odiak Island...Paris...all of the wonderful places I would never have been able to afford to see if it weren't for the free tickets. When I think back to memories of my trips, I think about the romantic meals I had with my wife, the unexpected discoveries and the wonderful people I met. I don't miss the miles once I've spent them and have traveled.

------------------
Addicted to airline miles? Check out: The Airline Mileage Workshop

The positives to being a FTer (the few that there are) is the accumulation of miles.

I have been AA Plat for the past 4 1/2 years and it took me 4 years to accumulate 500K lifetime miles. On May 1, I learned about AA Lifetime Gold status with 1M lifetime miles. Coincidentally, that is the day that I hit the half-million mark. I got focused, serious, and committed about earning the next 500K. Last week I hit the 600K mark without a single flight (25K from Kellogg's; 25K from MyPoints; 25K from Starwood; 25K miscellanous mileage certificates). I am taking three trips to EUR on AA which will net me an additional 118K before December 15; 3 domestic trips will net me appx. 50K; 100K on Diners Club waiting to be transferred; 28K in AA Certs from Greenpoints which I have to send in yet; etc.

I only use my miles on upgrade flights to EUR and to give away to friends for the weddings or engagements.

I honestly enjoy collecting them and giving them to friends equally!

Erik

When I first started collecting miles (almost ten years ago), I was loath to part with them. I also wanted to have a minimum in my AA account for an emergency trip (to Italy). Then, as my skills as a mileage collector and the opportunity for collecting miles increased, I began using them more and more. Since I've found Flyertalk, all my various accounts have become fatter and fatter, and I've enjoyed spending more and more miles. I LOVE to take frequent interisland trips, and I haven't bought a ticket on HA or AQ in more than two years! I also like to play the game "how far can I get with the smallest amount of miles". I think this April's trip to Italy on AA (in coach, alas! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif but luckily we ended up having two stopovers) from HNL to MXP for 30000 miles takes the prize.

[This message has been edited by honu (edited 09-15-2000).]