That's quite a cut at those of us (typically computer professionals) that use K for thousands and M for Millions. Although K is most correctly used for 1024 (2 to the 10th power) when describing memory size (e.g. 2K bytes of memory is 2096 bytes or 2 Kbytes); and the is a similar definition for M (to get Megabytes). It is not entirely coincidental that 1K bytes is ALMOST equal to 1000 bytes and 1M bytes is ALMOST equal to 1000000 bytes making Kbyte and Mbyte ALMOST fit the metric definition for the prefixes Kilo- and Mega- respectively.

Hey Mikey, please update us if anything happens as a result. If one tries to think of this from the hotel's perspective, it makes perfect sense to give all the points to the planner. Still that wouldn't assuage my jealousy if I'd stayed at the hotel ... Re the K vs. M vs. MM thing, let me just note that "mil" is thousand en espan(y)ol. tls

Side topic:

Why does United call it "1K"?

Why not "100K"? Or "100M"? Or "0.1MM"?

"1K" makes no sense. One round trip - that's 1K. Right?

It seems to me that the meeting planner may have ended up with 50,000 Marriott points. And since according to your own figures it requires 20,000 points per room night. That she earned 2 rooms nights at a value of @ $120 per night, or @ $240.00. Why does this bother you? As I would guess that the value of the frequent flyer mileage earned on many of your (company paid for) trips is more than this?

just my .02 worth

Mikey,

I'm sorry, but I basically see you with the same desire to benefit from a corporate expenditure. You weren't the one responsible for paying for the bill, and you weren't even responsible for planning the event.

So why did you try to link the master bill to your Marriott's account, if not to "feather your nest at company expense"??

Did you disclose to the manager that you tried to claim the Marriotts point for your personal account?

It seems your zest for "ethical behavior" was only aroused when the points went to somone other than you. If you had received the points, would you have "disclosed a personal benefit" which you didn't earn?

In fact, it seems like that had she arranged to split "the take" with you, there would have been no fuss.

I think you already know the saying about people who live in glass houses.

OT: UA calls their top tier members "Premier Executive 1K". That's where the term 1K comes from.

The use of the term "k" to describe thousands is from the metric system, which is based on Greek.

The use of the term "M" to describe thousands is based on the Roman numeral system, which is also where Spanish is derived from.

[This message has been edited by Plato90s (edited 03-06-2002).]

Is there no honor among thieves?

Do us all a favor and read the posts above. When you do so, you will find that you are wrong.

In fact I put my number in my *personal* room record in the hope that I may get the points allocated to that room (and any incidentals). This did not happen, and the rest is as I have written above.

Please be cautious about making, then repeating, allegations that are not supported by the facts within your purview.

Mike

Well, given you didn't make it clear you tried to claim YOUR room only, the conclusion was obvious.

But I'm confused now by the fact that you knew the entire conference was master-billed, but somehow expected the hotel to break out your one-specific room for the purpose of giving you points. I thought the whole intention of master billing is to take away the individual records.

So now we have a different story. It doesn't really change my opinion, but it's not like my disapproval will actually change your opinion or that of your company.

True, however in the Roman system, MM = 2,000 (M+M) not 1,000,000 (M*M). Sometimes one just has to accept convention. The use of M and MM for one thousand and one million in serious finance and accounting is prevalent worldwide. If it were not for the computer revolution, I doubt that there would be any confusion on this issue.

I thought it was their top 1,000 flyers.

It wasn't that obvious to me. I got the impression from the first point that he was looking for the points for *his* room and *his* incidentals, not all of them - even *before* the post was edited for clarification.

Mike



[This message has been edited by nako (edited 03-06-2002).]

You're exactly right about that if the mtg planner lets the goodies she'll get sway her to a certain property instead of going with another that may have been more beneficial to her company or its clients.

But, the logistics of coordinating a mtg at a place not conducive to what is really needed, or easiest, just for a couple perks, has got to involve so much more stress and headaches than its worth, one has to wonder how much this is done.

I wouldn't go through it.

Of course there would, since metric is also used worldwide. Of course, k (kilo-, one thousand) is used a lot more than M (mega-, one million) in metric.

Somebody stop me before I digress into a discussion of the differences between metric and SI (Système international).

islandcub

United's actual name for the "1K" tier was "100K" meaning 100,000 miles per year, with the "K" having its usual meaning of 1000. "1K" is faster to say and write, but to me also calls to mind the "karat" unit for measuring the purity of precious metals.

Probably then the 1k contraction was due to a 2-character limit for the FF status field in the reservation system, ala 1P, 2P.