How much do you travel?
 

I am curious to know how much everyone travels. I just started traveling for my job every week.

I do 2 legs on Sundays - 500Miles and 1197miles, with AA Plat bonus is doubled, and I repeat on Thursday.

Just wondering what everyone else is doing.

I have an odd inconsistant travel schedule, but it works. I have your standard trade shows to attend, a week in Chiacgo, Philly, Vegas, etc. But most of it is like my July schedule:
Mil, WI July 11-12, Miami 12-15, Nashvielle, TN July 15-16, Knoxville, TN July 16-17, Atlanta July 17-18, back to DC. Then San Fran July 20-23, St. Louis July 24-25.

I'm on pace for about 120,000 FLOWN miles (CO) this year(not counting any bonuses)...and should get over 200+ hotel nights(Marriott,Hilton and Starwood)....BTW...I'm divorced with no children..and I LOVE it!!!

[This message has been edited by IM4Travel (edited 06-12-2001).]

I pretty much travel for fun, or to see relatives/friends. SO I am always looking for the deals. I have gone on 6 trips this past year.

I'm doing PHX to EWR 3 out of every 4 weeks on HP. About 4300 miles a week. I've got about 60,000 flown miles in this year. I haven't had any major horror stories yet this year, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

As with Flying Mike, I fly three weeks out of each month from Phx on Am West. No horror stories in two years of doing so.

Average 3,000 miles per week; somewhere along the lines of 120,000 per year. Roughly 100k with Am West, a few SWA and a smattering of UA/AA/NW. Predominantly HH and Marriott family of hotels, 142 road nights last year and looking at 144 for 2001 if my schedule holds.

I'm probably towards the higher-end of fliers here. Last year I did around 300-350k miles. I don't know the exact number. I stayed in hotels enough to earn top tier at IC, Hilton, and Starwood.

This year I'm slowing down, but it's still unusual for me to go 4 days without getting on an airplane.

Time for another Phoenix Phlier to check in... I flew PHX - TRI almost every week for 3 months, Now it's PHX - PVD. All on DL (and watching those miles add up, Platinum isn't far away!) No horror stories here either.

350K... OK, curiousity peeked... may I ask, what is your profession?

I have flown ~45K/8 trips this year strictly flying for fun. I did take my first mileage run a couple of weeks ago: CLE-TPA-IAH-LAX/LAX-IAH-SDF-CLE for $235/16.5K miles including bonuses ($.014/mile). I was upgraded 4 of the 6 segments; the other two segments were on jets with only one class of service. I have purchased trips to London, Ireland and Denver for later in the year. I've also booked a reward trip to Scotland over Labor Day. Fun, fun, fun...

The wanderlust comes from being the daughter of a retired US pilot...I just have to pay for my tickets now. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif I guess mileage rewards and elite upgrades are the next best thing to free...

I'm good for about 250K miles a year - 95% domestic. I usually split them on AA and DL. Always good to be top-tier on more than one airline when those infamous mechanical and weather delays hit.

Usually stay at either Hyatt or Marriott - about 150-175 nights a year - so top tier on both.

I get around 40K a yr flight miles for the job, low compaired to most others, 10K pleasure. My job has me cover TN, AR, KY (you can see short hops in this @500miles min on NW)to major cities and my HQ city ATL at least four times a year. Car is company provided but the miles just keep adding up. I have elite status on NW and with the land bonuses (hotels and such) the perks are there. With my quirky schedule and out of the way places I have been flown first class on my last five flights!! I feel great about my trips now that can reach the perks.......I am plotting and planning to make a "Mileage run" from MEM soon......

Another PHX flyer... but on AA. Every other weekend, sometimes more to SAN to see wife and child. Soon I may be moving to DFW, and commuting to SAN till the New Year every other weekend. Earned 90K on AA and partners last year, about 30K-40K elsewhere. I'll take AA via LAX to get to SAN any day of the week rather than HP. More miles, less, well... America Worst. However, I am curious as to the experiences of the other PHX-HP fliers on this post... did I miss something with HP, or just have too much bad luck?

2 Many Miles... is your company hiring? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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

Lots of domestic hops. Lately, sometimes 2 per week.

In general, aqround 50 round trips a year...this is allowing for "bench time," too.

Since I live by a regional airport, all of my flights are at least 2 segments up, 2 segments back. Sometimes, the schedule is absolutely crazy--Florida to California for 2 days, then California to the East coast for 3 days, then back to Florida on Friday.

I'm not a "long-hauler." 99% of my travel is domestic. Short on miles, lonnnngggg on segments.

FWIW

Another PHX flier here. Until 6 wks ago my job had me on HP almost every week - some UA, some Delta, some BA - one marvelous BC class trip on NW to Japan.

HP is not bad to me - only one major delay and that was weather in BWI when all airlines were grounded. I feel well taken care of - those auto upgrades really spoil you after a while http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I do about 250-300K a year, mostly international. I have averaged 122 flights a year for the last few years (exactly one flight every three days). What makes mine worse is that about 35% of mine are long hauls in excess of 8 hours. My average flight time is probably 4-5 hours per flight.

I do 5-6 long hauls (YYC-YYZ-GRU-CGH-SDU) every year, plus 2-3 trips within Canada....usually YYC-YYZ for about 50-60,000 "Q" miles annually.

This has not changed in the last two years....nor do I foresee it changing anytime soon. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Carioca Canuck (edited 06-12-2001).]

Since there are quite a few PHX postings here, I need to throw one in from the other city, TUS.

My business travel stays fairly consistent, about 1 trip every 3 weeks, 90% of them to DCA, and the balance to BOS or MHT. I usually also have one or two internationals per year, usually in Business to MUC, AMS or MAD. Domestically, I fly almost exclusively AA, and internationally UA (per company agreements).

Leisure travel is usually 2 or 3 trips per year, ironically, almost every time out of PHX due to the fare competition.

AZGUY, what in the world were you doing in TRI? (I lived there for 28 years, and I thought I turned off the light).

Chuck Dee. Tough question as to whether or not you missed something with HP or just had bad luck previously. Many persons report spotty performance, if not downright poor performance from HP. Conversely, a number of highflyers report generally solid performance (myself included).

I will say this, HP treats their elite persons exceptionally well, even the lowest tier (silver). If you are a gold or platinum on HP you are set. Part of this is due to the dearth of such flyers, and remember that HP offers no international flights (i.e., no way to rack up 20k qualifying miles at a shot). HP flights are essentially all domestic, with the longest flight being PHX to BOS and the seasonal PHX to ANC (~ 2,500 per).

As a result of the above the only real way to be a platinum on HP is to live in Phx and throw essentially all of your business to HP. That is exactly what I do, and HP treats me and the above posters well for it. If you only fly HP a few times a year, odds are that you are not going to be treated as well. -Also bear in mind that once the pack (a.k.a. the news media) turns on a Co., then everyone comes out of the woodwork to throw a rock.

[This message has been edited by Butcher Bird (edited 06-12-2001).]

Another Sky Harbor survivor chacking in...

Mostly CO, occasionally HP or NW. Avg abt 125K-150K/yr.

Given HP's bad numbers, I've ALWAYS had a good experience with them. During TS Allison (whan IAH was under water), HP "rescued" me with a direct from SAT-PHX. Also, they'ce got some of the more creative meals in FC. Gate and in-flight personnel have always been great, too.

"America West: One employee away from being a great airline."

I had an extended assignment at ETSU... I couldn't imagine living there for 28 years!

AZ Guy-
If PHX to PVD is a regular for you, why not switch to CO? They will match your delta status. That route can almost always be had for $230. Plus, you'll be flying in first more often than not. (not that I wan't another elite competing with me for upgrades)

Same question for Flyin Mike. Why HP?

-just curious

I'm usually on the road for one week per month. During that week I visit only one city. I live near a small airport and commute to DFW for the long leg. Therefore, I get four segments with each trip. I average around 35-40K miles per year. Not too many compared to the most avid of FT'ers! But at the same time, I have two teenagers at home that need attention - mostly to keep them from hurting each other!

I probably will in a couple of weeks (once I reach DL PM)

always delayed,
2 MANY Miles says he is a 'wandering bum'!

300,000-350,000 miles a year is nothing, since he doesn't have a home to go to! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

You're exactly right, I still can't believe I lived there for 28 years. And, as I'm sure you know if you traveled around there at all, you were in the cultural center of the area, LOL.

Starting next summer I'll be doing YUL-LHR-DXB-LHR-YUL on BA three times a year!

In excess of 500,000 flown miles per year. All in best available class. (I am being cautious here it may be alot more, but it is easy to calculate using the maximum pattern and forget about holidays, illness etc.)

Normally consists of intra-europe flights to London; Paris; Brussels; Stockholm; Gothenburg; Madrid; Turin; Zurich; Vienna; Amsterdam; Gothenburg; Frankfurt; Berlin; Munich etc.

Lasting for an average of 3-4 hours on the ground for each trip. So normally two locations per day. Normally 5 days a week. My office is in Holland and I live in the UK, so even if it is a rare occassion that I go to the office (normally a couple of days a month) I have to fly.

In addition, on average monthly trips to Dubai; Saudi; Bombay; San Francisco.

Quarterly trips to Hong Kong; Singapore; Melbourne and Seattle or to Latin America.

Bi-Annual trip to Nigeria and Southern Africa.

Of course it is not that regimented, but you get that is the rought pattern.

On average 260 hotel nights a year.

That may sound alot, but in terms of miles it is nothing compared to the miles I used to do commuting London-Houston on a weekly basis.

Nick

[This message has been edited by Merry (edited 07-03-2001).]

I forgot we were also talking about Elite membership levels, currently:

Hotels Earnt: Hilton (Diamond); Hyatt (Diamond); Marriott (Platinum); Omni (Gold) are the main ones.

Hotels invitation: Starwood (Platinum VIP); Swissotel (Swiss Club Gold); Leading Hotels of the World (Leaders Club); Destination Hotels & Resorts (Cliveden Club); Summit Hotels (Summit Club Platinum); Concorde (Prestige).


Airlines Earnt: AA (Exec Plat); UA (1K); British Midland (Gold).

Airline Invitation: BA (Premier); Quantas (Chairman's Lounge); Cathay Pacific (Invitation); LH (Hons); KLM (Captains); Finnair (Club VIP); Qualiflyer (Circle); Lan Chile (Comodoro); Air France (Club 2000)

Airline Comped: Iberia Plus (Platinum); Delta (Gold).

No status: Virgin Flying Club - They won't comp me, so I won't give them my business. A dead-lock; Continental - used to comp me each year, but nothing this year; Air Canada - used to comp each each, but since the take-over nothing.


Nick



[This message has been edited by Merry (edited 07-03-2001).]

I usually fly around 170K miles a year, mainly on AF, and then on LH/OS/VO & UA, with occasional flights on SK, TG, AA, DL, AM and SR.

Two flight patterns:
- two monthly intra-European flights (from Paris to Vienna, Frankfurt, Munich, Madrid, Oslo, Stockholm, Athens, Prague ...), mostly with a return flight on the same day,
- one monthly extra-European flight (from Paris to Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Taipei, Seoul, Hong Kong) with an average stay of 3 days.


[This message has been edited by JOUY31 (edited 07-03-2001).]

"Same question for Flyin Mike. Why HP?"

A co-worker of mine doing the same route was wood over by CO. He's been pretty much just taking them for about 3 months now. I was gonna have them match my status, but never got around to it. I do find Continental's service to be a bit better than HP's though. My upgrade percentage on HP is much higher than his on CO (we're both PLAT on our respecitve carriers). Since I've had no non-blizard related problems this year, I decided to stick with them untill they really piss me off.

Another issue for me is that I usually spend 6 months on site and then change clients (I just finished off my last EWR trip last week). Before that, I was taking NWA to NRT (Upper deck BC - used to be FC), and before that HP to SFO for a whole year. At one point during the SF days, I was so sick of HP's problems that I called UA to get my PLAT status matched. They basically never responded after I sent in all the info they requested. I just assumed they didn't want my business. I called once, and they siad they received everything, but after that, I never really persued it. I would have tried them if they would have matched, but it's pretty hard to walk away from a near 100% upgrade percentage, and they never mathed my status. My only other choice from PHX to SFO at the time was SouthWest. I'm the type who likes to spend as little time as possible in the airport. Since SW does not have a Frequent Flier checkin line, I would have to get to the airport much earlier to wade through that huge line they always have in terminal 4. And then there's that no-first-class thing again.


HP does seem to bend over backwards for me sometimes. A couple of months back, I showed up for the wrong plane to go to EWR (I was booked on the 1:00, but showed up for the 4:00 - D'oh!), and ended up in 1st on that plane anyway. I also got them to cough up an extra reward seat on a plane without having to use double miles a few weeks ago - something that I didn't even know they would do untill the CSR said she could put in a request - it was approved.

I guess once I hit PLAT for next year (only 10k to go), I may try another airline depending on where my next client is. I'm really trying to find one here in town though.

So I guess to sum it up, 3 reasons why I've stuck with HP during the dark ages:
- Upgrades
- I can push them around sometimes
- Best flight selection out of PHX

Mike

What upgrade % is your friend (CO PLAT)?? He should be at or near 100% if he's PLAT unless purchases his tix very close to flight time or on extremely heavy loaded flights.

I guess the fact that ETSU has a Masters Degree program in Bluegrass kind of puts everything in perspective. As for culture, Johnson City actually has a sushi bar now... though I couldn't quite drag myself to try it... probably the bait shop next door was the clue. LOL

"What upgrade % is your friend (CO PLAT)?? He should be at or near 100% if he's PLAT unless purchases his tix very close to flight time or on extremely heavy loaded flights. "

He's around 75% to 80% on them. I'm at 28 for 31 this year on HP. The PHX to EWR route has lots of full fare frequent fliers (FFFF's) that get those seats before people like myself and him who pay $400 do. Although he's been doing better lately - I assume bacause it's summer time and there is less business travel going on.

I don't know about CO, but HP holds 2 seats back untill 1 or 2 days before to give to people who pay full fare. This kind of defeats the purpose of having a platinum status. I have spoke with golds on flights who got upgraded before I did.