View Poll Results: Which describes you?
I "hoard" my miles and points for later day use.
149
70.62%
I "use" my miles and points for instant gratification.
62
29.38%
Voters: 211. You may not vote on this poll
Poll: Are you a hoarder or a user?
Jun 1, 2005, 8:44 pm
#61
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
There's no button for both.
I earn and burn roughly in balance over a period of a few years, as miles and points continually get devalued dont see the point in saving forever. But in shorter time frames I may be building or burning balances depending on circumstances.
I earn and burn roughly in balance over a period of a few years, as miles and points continually get devalued dont see the point in saving forever. But in shorter time frames I may be building or burning balances depending on circumstances.
Jun 1, 2005, 10:25 pm
#62
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Programs: AA- Lifetime Platinum; Marriott - Lifetime Platinum: Starwood - Gold; IHG - Platinum
Posts: 2,201
Both a user and a hoarder. But, more of a hoarder lately with trying to keep my elite levels on AA and Marriott. It's a Catch 22!
Jun 1, 2005, 10:31 pm
#63
Join Date: May 2002
Location: DTW
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 1,934
A Hoarder.
It has taken me four years of mainly business travel (and not much of it) and Fly Free Fasters and other sundry promos to get 130k miles on NW. Although now that I am travelling more on business, I might be more likely to become a User if I know that my supply will fill up a bit quicker then in the past.
It has taken me four years of mainly business travel (and not much of it) and Fly Free Fasters and other sundry promos to get 130k miles on NW. Although now that I am travelling more on business, I might be more likely to become a User if I know that my supply will fill up a bit quicker then in the past.
Jun 2, 2005, 5:54 am
#64
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Programs: AA,HP,MP,DL,SPG, MR
Posts: 2,092
Being only a leisure traveler, with miles harder to come by, I was always a hoarder. Cashed in miles only for a few round trips to Hawaii in first with my honey. Howver in the last few weeks I gave my daughter's family four free trips, my son and daughter-in-law three free trips and I used one for myself. I still have plenty of miles on Delta and AA, but figured people should enjoy them before they all go bust. Now I will probably continue hoarding again. I haven't decided what my fantasy trip would be, but want to make sure I have the miles when I finally make up my mind.
Jun 2, 2005, 7:22 am
#65
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: PHL, PA, USA
Posts: 839
I spend the miles almost as fast as I earn them. I would rather have a cash discount in lieu of these miles. The travel vendors are not getting super loyal customers either. The typical "Gold" membership does not mean a whole lot. Let us face it, even the travel vendors cannot get off the mileage treadmill, so they keep on diluting the value of the miles/points.
Thanks to this board, I have been able to maximize my mileage earning/spending capability.
Thanks to this board, I have been able to maximize my mileage earning/spending capability.
Jun 2, 2005, 7:23 pm
#66
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Posts: 180
I'm a hoarder then user.
I accumulate then burn on premium space to Australia/South Africa/New Zealand/Europe. Very rarely use miles for domestic coach awards. Do use miles for Mrs Flyer Jon's upgrades -- after all, she earned a ton via Starwood Amex.
I accumulate then burn on premium space to Australia/South Africa/New Zealand/Europe. Very rarely use miles for domestic coach awards. Do use miles for Mrs Flyer Jon's upgrades -- after all, she earned a ton via Starwood Amex.
Jun 3, 2005, 2:51 pm
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Greener Pastures
Posts: 10,515
Mostly a hoarder - cumulatively, in all programs - in the few years that I've been doing this, I've gotten about ~800K airmiles (NW/UA/US/DL/BA/AA - the goal was 1 million cumulatively by 30, so I've got 4 years to get 200K - shouldn't be a problem at this rate!) & the airline equivalency of about 60K in hotel points - I've burned 170K on my mom & sister, 50K as a wedding gift to some friends, and 61K on myself (30K for an upgrade on US & 31K for an Y/F award ticket on NW).
I'd like to start using them more often, but the way I see it, I'll use the miles for upgrades on int'l flights & only on domestic flights I can't financially afford but need to take. Currently, my friends can mostly afford to come on the paid trips that we do - so I don't need to give them tickets & if I had a S.O., I'd probably do some pretty sweet Biz or F trips internationally, but I'm single, so I don't really have anyone to spend them on other than family. And they've got their own little collections of mileage too...
I'd like to start using them more often, but the way I see it, I'll use the miles for upgrades on int'l flights & only on domestic flights I can't financially afford but need to take. Currently, my friends can mostly afford to come on the paid trips that we do - so I don't need to give them tickets & if I had a S.O., I'd probably do some pretty sweet Biz or F trips internationally, but I'm single, so I don't really have anyone to spend them on other than family. And they've got their own little collections of mileage too...
Jun 3, 2005, 3:16 pm
#73
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska 100K - MM, defender of shoes on the carpeted bulkhead 4ever, AA LT PLT, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia
Posts: 7,443
Thought I was a hoarder until I realized I had burned through 1,000,000 AA miles in about 4 years on upgrades to biz.
Yikes, 1,000,000 miles for mediocre food and a moderately comfortable seat.
I'm sort of hoarding again, but not flying as much.
lala
Yikes, 1,000,000 miles for mediocre food and a moderately comfortable seat.
I'm sort of hoarding again, but not flying as much.
lala
Jun 3, 2005, 3:31 pm
#74
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Living the dream in Antigua and the nightmare in Florida
Programs: AA PLAT 2MM, *A Gold, WN detractor
Posts: 49,841
A little of both
I am using up my UA miles as fast as possible, before they go belly-up. I hold miles on NW and Delta, but I am not using them up anytime soon. Most of my balance is in AA - the account stays steady with 4 tix to Caribbean every year.
Jun 3, 2005, 5:45 pm
#75
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: MCO
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum / Titanium, AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 959
user
When I have enough for a trip, I use them. I may save enough for a specific award, but I use it when I need to use it. No reason to hoard the miles, they are not earning me any interest.