What gives more joy: Earning or Using Miles
 

In a moment of retrospection, I thought about the time I spend on FT and all the effort we put in to get those extra miles. I realized that I get a kick whenever I get miles (and they are coming in truckloads with the TTBNS bonus on AA and suck up bonus on UA). I try to maximize my miles and am even thinking of taking a trip I do not need to take just to enjoy the TTBNS though I am already booked to reach ExPlat this year.

However, whenever I have redeemed miles (thrice on UA for my better half JFK-SFO on less than 24 hours notice), I do not get the kick I thought I would get given I am saving in excess of $1500. Similarly the 40K I coughed up for upgrades on AA did not make me feel good; though I did not mind the $200 I had put in a week before to get some stickers.

Am I becomming so possessive of my miles that I am only obsessed with accumulating them and am afraid of using them? Am I alone or are there others sharing the same feelings? or do I need to seek help http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif ??

[This message has been edited by SJC2ISP (edited 09-14-2000).]

I'm with you -- I LOVE earning miles and LOATH using them!!

After reading the other posts, thought I should edit mine (so that I don't sound like a total miser). Although I loath using miles, I do use them -- primarily as gifts to family & friends or to upgrade int'l trips.

I like to keep a minimum 1,000,000 miles in my account which permits me to sleep better knowing that I can jet off to any part of the world in 1st class at a moment's notice.

[This message has been edited by AAPlatinum (edited 09-18-2000).]

I too am addicted to earnigmiles. When a FT member mentions a promo nobody has heard of yet, and I jump on it and earn extra miles...its a real good feeling. This has been an obsession of mine for years, but I'd almst rather pay for my trips and accumulate more! I have talked to many FT'ers out there and they are also reluctent to spend miles. Is this a obscure way of thinging and behaving, or is it a passion for playing a game and winning? I'm not sure,but I will keep earning and flying 'till the cows come home. I just requalified for ExP status yesturday and I am only shy 25k for my 1 million mile program to date program. Many thanks to all of you out there who share our common goal and of curse lastigs friendships., and last but not least THANK YOU RANDY!

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MRKEY

The preference to collect is common to other hobbies. I’m sure stamp collectors prefer getting some new rare or beautiful stamp than selling one. The aspect of mileage/point sickness that bothers me more is that it can unduly influences my decisions. For example, two weekends ago I stayed at the Westin Mission Hills resort in Palm Springs mostly because I earned a stay for Platinum status next year and got a “free” upgrade to a suite. On the surface this all seems great, but in reality I was staying at a large sterile resort overrun by kids. I had a partial victory by checking out after a day and moving to a wonderful inn in Old Palm Springs (but I still got a stay! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif ).

I, too, enjoy accumulating miles, but rarely do I use them. What can I say, I'm a mileage-tightwad!

OZ WE need a comment from you on the stamp deal...you combine both habits...keep it up...I once flew MIA-WPB 4 times in one day just to earn last minute miles! But I do have a question...do the FA's and TA's think we are all crazy..or are they just being nice?

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MRKEY

Earning by far. Who the heck wants to fly more, for pleasure, on vacation, with kids, in Summer??????

Somebody once posted saying how much actual time we spend waiting and changing currencies, border crossings, 'sky food' ,schedule changing and planing for these trips..how many hours in the air for 1k miles? total time/trip ? I agree I'll keep earning miles. I travel for business at least 1k/year and its 100% international.....I'll try to get a life...but I can't stop I love it....and you say obsession?

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MRKEY

I am not in your class. I am a retired lady that LOVES to travel. I have actually paid for the last three out of ten trips. I always ask "what would this ticket cost if I was paying for it?" I love the idea that I can go someplace for free. You guys that do not want to spend your miles can send them my way. This old gal is going to go until I can no longer carry my own luggage. I change my phone company every six months, charge all my purchases at the supermarket and love the idea that on a limited income I go all over the world. Long live frequent miles.

Using Miles? What does that mean? I didn't even know that was possible. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif

I always thought we could only earn miles! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I guess I am never too old to learn something new.

sdix - The very reason that I so enjoy earning miles is so that my kids and I can see the world together.

jnl1588 - That's the spirit! I would gladly carry your luggage for you.

The worst about using miles for a free flight is that you do not earn miles.

I recently used miles for a trip to Hawaii because it made economical sense for me. All the 20 hours sitting in the plane between NYC and Hawaii and back I was thinking how many miles this would have added to my account - leave alone the miles I was spending the same time.

Having burned up approximately 75,000 miles this year on tickets for bereavement reasons-- I have mixed feelings about using mileage. I was more than happy to use 80,000 miles to get my mother a first class ticket on BA to visit me in London, but to piddle it away on short notice domestic fares was hard.

You really can't take them with you when you go, so maybe you should enjoy them while can.

just my 0.02/mile worth,

lala

.

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

But I am in your class. There is nothing more I like to do is travel. I have seen least 40 foreign lands an I too can't stop. In Miami , I sometimes get off a flight and take a short hop just to go! I use my miles, but I don't have to..company pays....I'll never stop the Adventure and I'll only be 49 Sunday.....

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MRKEY

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.

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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).]

schriste makes an interesting point above. My business for 20 years has been dealing with stamp collectors.

Collecting is a passion with lots of people. some collect stamps, others coins, others Wedgewood figures, others empty beer cans, others Bowie knives, others flyer miles.

Very few living collectors sell me stamps. their relatives do when they pass away.

With that happy thought, I'll glance at my ballooning Starwood and UA and Amex statements, and go back and watch the Olympic opening ceremony!




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~ Glen ~

While I do love the game of collecting miles, the real victory for me comes when using miles for trips that would otherwise not be possible.

All of my travel is for pleasure and paid for out of my own pocket. Seeing the world via Businees Class on QF to Australia (past) and Business Class to New Zealand (future) are both way out of my budget... but with miles - these things become possible!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

For myself, I almost never use miles. I want to be earning them instead! Nearly all of my miles go toward free tickets for family members so that they can accompany me.

The argument that miles are worth less every year is sound. I used 400,000 Delta miles last year so that my wife and I could fly the Concorde to Paris. That is impossible to do now and may not be possible ever again.

I try not to have too many miles "on hand" at any time, but I keep at least enough for a couple of last-minute tickets anywhere I might want to go. At present, I have half a million unused Delta miles. But I've used many millions -- and gotten my money's worth!

Bruce

Let's see. I've earned 241,868 UAMP miles YTD. That's mostly on UA metal with bonuses, about 1,700 on *A flights, about 5,000 from Hilton a few hundred from Hertz and the rest from the UA First card, etc. As always, earning these miles has been a mixed blessing: Weekends away from home, but the thrill of going places and meeting people.

I've spent 145,000 YTD...less than in years past 'cause UA has been stingy to date with bonuses (pre-True Flyer deposit in Jan.) and I like to keep my balance around 300,000 +/- 50,000 and I spent a bunch of miles last Christmas. I also spent zero miles on upgrades for the first time ever this year thanks to the 1k systemwides and NA confirmeds. I spent my miles this year on: 80,000 sending my in-laws to MCO for their anniversary, 40,000 as a birthday present to a friend and 35,000 for RCC for myself and wife. As always, spending these miles has been a true joy. Giving loved ones things that neither I nor they could afford otherwise is the biggest thrill I get out of the whole mileage game.

I really don't pay THAT much attention to the total balance though (other than keeping it around 300,000). STATUS miles, on the other hand, I obesess over like a derainged miser... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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

Both.

I love the quick fix of earning miles (yes I show signs of being an addict) but real joy comes when I can fly my wife and child somewhere without spending a dime. This was especially true this past summer as we took a wonderful beach vacation -- the warm memories still linger . . .

I too thought about the "lost miles" while I was on the plane, but the joy of a great vacation overshadowed that quickly, and our vacation budget still shows a surplus for the year. Now, back to earning more miles.

I love "the chase" too. That's why I mostly use my miles for upgrade on trips out of the country. If you by the lowest upgradeable fare, you earn the miles but reap the rewards by upgrading to business or first. You get the best of both worlds.

I don't fly a lot for business so for me the only way to accumulates is with the credit card (almost 85% of my miles). We are three in the family and four in a near future so the ticket price is x4 ... My home is not a Air Canda Hub so everytimes i go somewhere for leisure it cost me a lot. I use the points everytime i can keeping in perpective the 2 cents rule. And by the way i enjoy a lot taking a 500$ flight for 15000 miles (short haul in Canada).

Christian

My goal for miles is twofold:

1. To always have 120,000 miles available in a major airline account, so I or a loved one can get anywhere in the world on short notice in an emergency. When my grandmother passed away in March in Greece, my dad ended up finding a cheap coach consolidator ticket on 24 hours notice. But while he was doing that I had piece of mind that I had booked a business class award ORD-ZRH-ATH on Swissair if he needed it.

2. To have other people join me on vacations. I've taken my parents to Paris, and various friends and cousins on domestic trips. I use miles for their tickets, pay for my own ticket to earn more miles, and they pay for a fair percentage of the ground costs. It makes those trips much more memorable.

Collecting miles is my hobby, using miles in F or Bus is my wife's and my passion.

It's both with the scale tilting towards using them.

Not just for me and not just for guaranteeing upgrades (based on availability) on United. But occassionaly giving some miles or tickets to friends who need them.

After all what's the point of having points and miles if you can't share them?