Mileage accumulation trends of Flyertalkers...
 

Looking for some answers from everyone.

Are you a business, business & leisure, or leisure flyer.

Do you have a yearly budget cap on how much you would spend for accumulating miles and points.

On an average, how many miles and points do you amass in a calender year.( 2000 and 2001 firures )

Current Airline/Hotel/Other Programs breakup of miles and points

Sounds like another journalist using FlyerTalk as a one-stop data shop... can I ask why you want this information?

Yeowch....

Me a journalist. Gimme a break. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Yea, Bourne made 97 posts so he could suck us all in. What a Joke.

I fly a mix of business and pleasure. Domestic business travel about 10+ segments a month, 60-70k a year.

Then 40-50k leisure travel and mileage runs for status and bonus.

Mix of business and pleasure. Mostly business. Did 100k+ last year; don't remember segment count. Will try to do 100k+ this year, but don't know exactly because of economy. Travel expense has been cut back by corporate.

I guess the reason for confusion was that I did not put my details in.

A leisure flyer, I rake up 30-40K by flying and another 60K + by promotions, phone companies and other methods.

I fly about 85-90% business. Every year for the past 5 years or so, my travel has substantially increased. Thus far in '01, my current pace puts me somewhere in the 350-400k-mile range by year end, maybe a bit more. I do not keep close track of my segments, as most of my trips are long-haul. My budget for the express purpose of accumulating miles and points: zero.

81k this year total. About 75/25 business/personal

~95% business flights, with a few personal flights thrown in here and there.

As per mileage programs, I put almost all airline miles (100k/year) to Am West to hit platinum. Hence, many free upgrades and a 125% mileage bonus. Sidenote: Earning miles the hard way since almost all flights are CONUS.

As per the visa, hotel, auto, dining, phone tie-ins; these all go to other airlines (SWA, UA, NW, AA). It keeps some activity rolling forward each month on each account, and allows for a FC upgrade on that once or twice per year that I fly these airlines (with the partner miles and the few miles from prior flights). Result: FC almost all of the time, regardless of the airline (SWA notwithstanding, of course).

P.S. I am tied in with UA on the dining program. I do not have any idea which restaurants participate. However, since everything is automatically posted, little surprises just show up here and there on my UA statement.

Not a bad deal, although clearly not in the marketer's minds-eye when the program was developed.

95% Business, 5% Family Fun http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

So far this year 01 Jan 01 - 30 Apl 01 as follows;

AA 36 Segs, 125,000 miles
UA 6 Segs, 10,000 miles
NW 8 Segs, 15,000 miles
DL 3 Segs, 5,000 miles
TW 1 Seg, 1,000 miles

Hilton, 14 stays, 18 nights
SPG, 9 stays, 11 nights
Marriott, 3 stays, 5 nights
WestCoast 2 stays, 2 nights
Hyatt 1 stay, 1 night

I'm on the middle level of accumulation. Flew about 50 to 60,000 business miles last year, all domestic. I am able to do the majority with one airline - American. I was flying BDL to BWI on USAIR, but I won't be able to move miles after the summer. Also took 2 "leisure" trips last year. In December I spent $200 for a milage run to put me over the top for AA Platinum.

I also stayed loyal to one hotel chain, HI, where i spent the majority of my 94 nights on the road, becoming Platinum there as well.
I've always loved the merchandise and hotel awards, but the hotel awards are now unreasonable, and even more important, there has been a big decline in quality in some properties. If I could stay at CPs only, I would stick with them.

I continue to stick with American, but this year I'm spending more time in Starwoods.

Wonder if there are any flyers who fly more for leisure than business.

I fly solely for leisure; my job does not require travel at all. I try to do everything as inexpensively as possible - travel off-peak season to Europe, sale fares domestically. I fly primarliy on CO, NW (yuck) and US. I'm shooting for elite status for the first time in my life on CO this year. I should be able to do it with one more trip to Europe. The benefits of being loyal to one airline are apparent to me now.

So far this year I've been to Reno (NW), Glasgow (CO), Denver (CO); will be flying to St. Louis (CO), DC (CO) and Brussels (US). I will also be taking my first official mileage run (CLE-TPA-IAH-LAX-IAH-SDF-CLE on CO) at the beginning of June. I'm doing the mileage run the weekend after I get back from Brussels - talk about jet lag.

Do I set a cap on how much I spend? Well, no, not really. If I find a great fare somewhere I jump on it. Most of my trips are just short little weekends to visit family and friends. I guess travelling is my "hobby" - people here at work think I'm totally nuts.

Now with the Hilton 50K bonus, I'm working toward earning that one. I've never really tried to earn elite status at a hotel. I'm going to give it a try this year.

I really just turned into a mileage junkie this year - after amassing enought points over the years on both CO and NW for a trip to Europe on each. All of a sudden, earning miles just seemed to pay off, so now I'm doing everything possible to maximize what I earn.

A big round of applause to all you seasoned FTers. I've learned so much from all of you. Just by reading these boards and registering for two bonuses on CO, I earned an extra 14,500 miles I never would have known about or been credited.

I have zero miles, and am proud of it http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

100% leisure activities. About 100,000 miles so far in US Airways. Will start pursuing miles on NW Worldperks and AF Frequence Plus programs.

No caps. I work on impulse. Yearly I accumulate about 25,000 - 30,000 miles.

[This message has been edited by aw (edited 05-03-2001).]

Almost 100% leisure. In the past, I've never attained much more than 50,000 status miles a year on United. This year is different. If I "knew what was good for me," I'd probably drop UA like a hot rock. Instead, I'm going for 1K, just to find out what it's like. I have low expectations... Tickets purchased so far this year: 77K status miles/80 segments. All domestic (except one SEA-YVR RT).

Budget cap: no, but I expect to spend in the neighborhood of $14,000.

Accumulation: I don't know, really. I'm more interested in status than points. The points will come.

UA: 400,000+
HH: 200,000+ (YTD: 8 stays, 10 nights)
And a bunch of smaller totals here and there.

I don't fly for miles. I fly because I need/want to be somewhere. So far this year I'm north of 100,000 miles flown -- probably around 140-150k.

My god, do you mean to say 140/150k in just four months? That means ~ 10,000 miles per week, or 20 hours per week in the germ tube.

I thought that my 120k (100k HP) per year earned the hard way (all CONUS/142 nights on the road) was bad enough.

I've flown 35 paid segments so far this year plus 4 on a bump voucher, none of them on business. My wife has flown 34. The trips are a combination of our hobby and visits to family plus one purely leisure trip to Rome. I DO have one business trip upcoming, but even that is at a deeply discounted fare (on a route that competes with Southwest).

(Almost forgot about the bump voucher to LAS.)


[This message has been edited by rtpflyer (edited 05-04-2001).]

99% business travel--but I can't say I do any leisure travel, b/c the one non-business flight I'll have this year involves going to visit the in-laws, which I don't consider "leisure." http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

41,000 status miles on AA this year, 41 segs. 52 Marriott nights.

Last year, 75,000 status miles on AA, 110+ segments, 160 Marriott nights.

Marriott nights go to MR points; all business travel expenses to Amex Rewards to TWA Aviators to AA, for now at least.

I used to think I traveled alot until I read some of the other posts here! My only consolation (if you can call it that) is that all of my miles/segments accumulated without a) international travel or b) transcons.



[This message has been edited by SuperSlug (edited 05-04-2001).]

95% leisure, 5% business

I'm a recovering mileage-run addict. I've given up on elite levels and any sort of goals, and fly when I have to, and only when I have to, and take the cheapest, most convenient route. I am the Anti-Christ of Flyertalk. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Last year at this point I had 40,000 miles and 50 segments. This year I have 10,000 miles and 12 segments. I've even flown AirTran several times instead of USAirways (where I am elite) and stayed at Hilton instead of Marriott, and even used Priceline many times for hotel stays, and used Hotwire for air travel.

It's a new world http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Is there a 12 step program for this affliction? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif So far 54 segments with 12 credited to AA and the rest to US with 40% of that on my own rather than business. Have to make it on segments usually because of the short hops. Probably 20-24 US segments for leisure in May and June.

I fly 99% on leisure. So far this year I have 14 segments and around 13K miles for leisure and 4 segments and no miles for business http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

I fly 90% for leisure now that I switched job. Only recently became a mileage addict as a result of the CO bonuses. It took me four years to earn 100,000 status miles, which I just used to fly four of my family members to attend my wedding. Now, I've earned that many miles from Jan01 to Mar30 (on two trips) because of those bonuses. Now, I'm hooked.

I have accumulated about 800k MR on AX so far this year, about 900k all last year from business purchases.
I fly 95% leisure 5% business.
I use points for what I deem the best value, ie; Gap Certs for Kids, Family Travel, 1st Class for Mrs. and I to Europe mostly DL or US. I do give some award tkst to key employees as a bonus and will load up Mother-in-Laws AX on ocassion so she gets good Travel options and keeps me in good graces.

mostly business
2000 104 DL segms (100 for business 4 vaction)
2000 160 marriott nites 15 hilton
2001 38 DL segms 1 BA 1 JM (all for business)
2001 62 Hilton nites 1 SPG
(my company is feuding with Marriott)

I'd say close to 80-90% of my travel is leisure, mostly international. I only have 3-4 business trips a year on average, mostly domestic. So far this year, I've had 5 trips, 4 international leisure trips, and 1 domestic business trip.

I'm up to 550k lifetime miles on AA over the last 4 years, nearly 200k of that earned in the last 6 months.

I fly 100% non-business, as I still am in school. I wouldn't say all my travel is leisure, it's mostly going home to see my wife and child on the weekend. Last year I racked up 120K+, 90K+ being on AA (about 50K+ actual status miles). Mostly PHX-LAX-SAN, and with trips to PEK, HKG, and BRU for actual leisure.

Now, as for really flying last year, I racked up 80 hours PIC... but we don't get miles for that! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

------------------
preez mine da pratform gahp.

I fly 100% for leisure and usually make 3 paid trips to Asia each year, plus a few other trips to various destinations, all on Northwest. I always make sure I reach Platinum status each year.

So far this year, I have 31,087 actual NW miles and have purchased tickets for 3 more trips in 2001. These 3 trips will net me another 43,964 actual miles, which will give me 75,051 for the year.

I don't have a budget cap, I just plan in advance and try to get the best deal on tickets.

I am a leisure flyer--no business travel whatsoever. I only fly two or three times a year, so most of my miles are from charge card purchases, surveys, phone deals, etc. I would say I earn 25-30,000 miles in an average year. I don't have any specific spending cap, but I usually don't fly unless I see a great airfare bargain. (On all of my international trips except one, I have either found a bargain or used a frequent flyer ticket.)

I love this board, but often feel as if I'm the only one here who doesn't feel like staying in a Comfort Inn or flying in coach is a huge tragedy--not that I would turn away the perks of business travel if they were available to me!

[This message has been edited by mareh (edited 05-06-2001).]

75% Business
25% Leisure

No particular budget for travel on business. All leisure travel done on miles/points.

Over 200K miles in 2000 but am slowing down this year so will hit 100K.

Last year all on AA but now splitting between AA nad UA because of routes and fares.

Too many nights in hotels to count.

330K miles on Visa last year, Well over $1 Million on Amex.

Comfort Inn Rates = Hilton Value Rates.( Hamptons too )
Coach ticket + Upgrade = Business or First

You don't have to be a business traveller to be on the right side of the equation. All it takes is a bit of ingenuity and love for miles.

I'm glad to see so many leisure flyers! I am a 100% leisure flyer and my husband is about 50/50 with 3 or 4 business trips/year. I collect miles anyway I can but try not to spend extra money to do it. I've never considered mileage runs. My goal is not to buy a ticket over $250.

We took 4 family members to Hawaii over Christmas using up our stash of UA miles - finally! I used AA and Delta (thanks to Diet Coke) to take 6 of us to the Caymans for spring break. Now I'm busy planning for next year's spring break. I have AA tickets on hold to both Hawaii and Cancun... Will have to choose soon.

I have about 200,000 AA miles, 60,000 Delta, 25,000 CO and some orphans.

Deb

You are definitely not the only one on the board for whom coach is not a tragedy. I have had a lifelong desire to travel the world, and now that I have that opportunity, I'm certainly not willing to whine about how I get there or where I stay!

100% of my travel is leisure travel funded by prioritizing my discretionary funds and by working part time. My actual "seat in metal" miles for the year will be about 30,000-40,000 with trips to date being Belgium and Italy, and an upcoming trips later in the year to Peru and Sweden.

My flights are 90% leisure. The other 10% are business...and those are usually quick hops down to TPA on Airtran. As for my mileage though, before I moved to ATL, I primarily flew AA (out of MKE and ORD) and also still have their CitiBank AA card for mileage accumulation....so that's still who I accrue most of my miles with. My mileage totals are AA 60K; DL 15K; NW 30K; Midwest Express 5K and a couple free tickets on Airtran.

[This message has been edited by scotty00 (edited 05-09-2001).]

The only reason I consider flying in coach something of a tragedy (as much for seatmates as for me) is that I am a RATHER large person. That said, it is only very recently where I have been able to concentrate my flying on a single airline in order to get more than the occasional upgrade. Prior to that, I spent MANY years traveling in coach almost exclusively (including to Europe and Australia).

My travel is about 50-50. Last year I flew about 150,000 miles and spent 200 nights in hotels, but I've changed jobs. So far this year I've ONLY flown about 50,000 miles and spent about 25 nights in hotels. However, my travel is only just beginning. By the end of the year I'm sure I'll fly at least 125K, but have substantially fewer hotel nights.

This is for Mareh and PltPrincess and all the other leisure travelers who want to travel the world far and wide without spending a fortune.

I'm a youthful sixtyish grandma, retired, who absolutely loves traveling, (I get a high just from being in an airport) I only buy a ticket if it makes sense because of the low price. I primarily use miles, sometimes even in a market where I could get a good price but using the miles gives me the convenience of last minute travel, stopovers on the way, itineraries that would not be possible at the low price and, at least in the case of AA, holding a reservation for months without ticketing until I make up my mind as to the final routing.

When I add up all my miles I have about 1.4 million, the major ones being 130,000 on AA, 190,000 on BA, 50,000 on Air Canada, 160,000 on DL, 130,000 on US, 50,000 on TW, 55,000 on NW, 15,000 on UA, 100,000 on Hilton and 430,000 on Marriott. I keep a bank of miles in Diners and Starwood, plus credits at Southwest. The rest are in an assortment of airlines and hotels. I belong to every program because you never know when you will be able to move miles from one program into another. And by the way, I've never bought a ticket on AC,NW or BA yet my combined mileage on these is about 300,000.

Some of these miles and points were holdovers from working days, especially the Marriott ones. (I'll be turning these in for a 714 in July) But mostly I keep replenishing my miles annually. No matter how often I use them I seem to find that I can add them right back on without having to buy a ticket. Now of course this means that I do not get to elite status but since my goal is to travel a lot, as reasonably as possible, I can manage without the elite. (We will be going to Thailand on a tour this year and our air on UA is included. I think I read somehwere on this board that one such trip brings you fairly close to Premier. Is this actually so?)

This past year I calculate that I have added about 150,000 miles without counting the miles from my credit card purchases which themselves are a substantial amount since we put everything, but everything, on credit cards.

Where do the miles come from? Sure there are surveys and insurance quotes and on line statement bonuses etc., but those are only the tip of the iceberg. And of course, on the occasional time that I buy tickets, doing so online gives a bonus as well.

The big mile accumulations without actually buying tickets come from a variety of sources:

Telephone - we have two phone lines and change the carrier often, this year getting 40,000, last year 50,000 miles.

Credit card sign on bonuses - DL Optima 10,000, BA Chase 5000, Marriott Platimum 10,000, Hilton Optima 7,500, Hilton Platinum Visa, 7,500 and on and on. And that's just this year. They are all free cards for at least the first year. Use it once, then you can cancel, wait a while, sign up again. I just got something in the mail today for a free NW card but only 3,000 bonus points. I'll call them to see if they can do better before I sign up.

Special promotions - NW recent 10,000 promotion was a cinch. We registered our credit cards, went to 5 restaurants, asked for separate checks and ended up with 20,000 points in no time.The AA 20,000 promo is not going to be as simple and I think I may have to pass on that one.

Diners - I put everything that I can on Diners, leave the points banked until they come up with their annual double miles promo and transfer everything over. The only time I convert Diners is during the double promo.
Also, there is the Diners retention bonus which I just learned about thanks to Flyer Talk. One call and I have another 10,000 points.

Starwood - I have the old Sheraton Optima which is free. This is my second favorite card since when I transfer 20,000 they throw in a bonus 5,000. I only transfer 20,000 Starwood at a time to get this bonus.

Hilton update - this is a great deal. We each have a Hilton account. That's 16,000 points a year just for updating our accounts.

I' sure I have forgotten a few but these are some of the highlights.

I hope this has been helpful and if I have missed any other major way to accumulate points without buying a ticket or filling my garage with cereal, please let me know. I'm always grateful for new ideas.

We're off next month to Switzerland and Norway on AA and SR. Our reservation has been held and changed by AA for months while we worked on the itinerary. Now we have decided to also include a stopover in NYC. I just couldn't do this with a purchased ticket without incurring fees. Nor could I do a stopover both domestic and international without it having become an expensive ticket. That's what I love about flying on miles.

PointsGalore,

Wow, that's impressive. Thanks for some of the hints on how to accrue even more miles!

Just became UAL's top flyer with 380,000 actual flown miles this year. Have 27 more int'l trips left for the year which will net me a total of 537,000 for the year.