Tracking Miles: Handheld, Web or Desktop?
 

Hi Folks

I run BizTrip.com, a web site for road warriors. I'm doing research on what technology people use to track their miles. Do you use Palm OS based software, Windows or a web based program? Tell me which one and why you like it. Feel free to email me direct with comments or questions. Thanks

Would you believe "none of the above?" Like many others here, I use a Macintosh. (I know you weren't intending to promote Microsoft - if you were, you would have at least mentioned Pocket PC as an option alongside Palm OS.)

However, the platform is not the issue. I think you really meant to draw a distinction among hand-helds, desktops/laptops, and the Web, and listed the first platforms that came to mind. I use my desktop computer, whatever it happens to be, running a spreadsheet program, which happens to be Microsoft Excel 2001. (No, Windows users, that is not a typo.)

The spreadsheet tracks trips as planned, booked, completed, and fully or partially credited. It plotsg miles year to date on a background of straight lines representing qualification for Gold, Platinum and EXP on Dec. 31st, so I can see progress versus goals at a glance. It also calculates the positive or negative difference between YTD miles and what the required even-pace mileage would be at this point in the year for PLT and EXP.

I only track AA miles, since my trips on other carriers are infrequent enough not to need technology and I'm not likely to qualify for elite with anyone else. In the past I used the same spreadsheet for Delta.

I like this approach because I designed it to fit my preferences in terms of inputs, outputs and ease of use. (For one thing, I'm more interested in tracking progress toward status than total miles, though it does that too.) Someone else might hate it. Since I have no plans to distribute it, that's not a problem.

I don't actually track my miles independently of the program websites. I do however use a tool to estimate future mileage based on my booked trips. It's an itinerary app from twopeaks software called Traveller, which has both a PocketPC and a desktop version.

If I want to do some estimation that doesn't involve booked trips, I generally use my notepad (or excel).

I bought an app for my Palm Pilot called TravelTracker, which is good for keeping track of flight/hotel/car details of trips, but is inadequate for tracking miles/points. For that I use a ridiculously large, complex Excel spreadsheet that I created for my own purposes and jollies. I have a feeling that most road warriors will agree that number of miles in the account tends to be less relevant than things like miles toward status, upgrades, etc.

What would be really nice is a utility that tracks both miles and hotel points, providing scenarios for how one might transfer points to miles and vice versa. That kind of thing makes my brain freeze.

Like Efrem, I use a custom spreadsheet on my Macintosh. (life's too short to use Windows)

None of the above. I write in the upper right hand and lower right hand corners of printed Outlook calendars to track the beginning and ending segments for each month for 3 airlines. I keep the boarding passes to make sure I get credited. I try to reconcile the rental cars and hotels about every quarter. Even if I had a PDA, I doubt I would use it to track mileage...too much effort, besides if anyone saw me, it would prove I'm a mileage addict.

Like Efrem and Flying Dutchman I use Excell to log all the data that is important to me, which, from what others say they log is quite different. That may be a good follow up question for you. What data do you track?

I have seven columns:

• Airline / Hotel
• Account Number
• PIN / Code
• Current Miles / Points Balance (Not annual)
• Telephone Number to Elite Desks
• Segments / Hotel Stays
• Upgrade Balance / Hotel Nights

I update this chart almost daily, as I travel enough to warrent it. err, plus I'm a bit addicted to it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif


[This message has been edited by Dudemon (edited 12-21-2001).]