Afraid? No way. My newest travel addiction is fantastic. Thanks to FT this 23 yr old newbie is making all her friends jealous going to Hawaii in 2 weeks for only $370 from Boston, getting 20,000+ miles thanks to my PLAT status, and based on my travel I'll have the miles to take the trip to New Zealand in Jan 2004 that I've been dreaming about for years.

Long live mileage addiction! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by ethereality (edited 10-25-2002).]

My 10 year old just asked about doing a mileage run with me to NYC and see Mama Mia in again. He wants the miles for summer vacation in Europe and Asia.

Never too young to start this addiction http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Is there like a "Personals" forum where I can look for mileage run buddies? My friends, family and girlfriend don't understand my obsession and refuse to go with me. So is there someone in Southern Cal in the same boat as me? I would love a buddy on my next run.

It's more than a "miles addiction"; even though the miles and elite status are great, as is flying almost exclusively in FC, there's more to it for me.

A lot of times, "on the plane" is the only time I can really work without the phone ringing, or the sig other/family hounding me. I relish the "downtime" spent flying. I also get to visit other cities, see how other people live, what sights and sounds are peculiar to a place. I still like flying...the notion of getting blasted thru the sky in a shiny metal tube, landing somewhere ridiculously far away in a short period of time.

Next weekend, I'll go SEA-ORD-LAX-ORD-SEA to earn nearly 7K Qmiles towards EXP status. The real bonus: enough time to get the database programmed for a new product line my company is adding in early November (without interruption).

My buddies gave up trying to figure out the miles addiction a long time ago; you either "get it" (and it works for your lifestyle) or you don't.

Check out both Community and Itineraries forums - you may find someone is already on your flight! Or that someone wants to join you.

I am currently "suffering" from future hotel point "withdrawal" in that my December trip is going to result in me not being able to earn points on at least 8 of the 11 nights due to lack of chain hotels. On the other hand, I am looking forward to decent low cost quality charming lodging http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

It is me. Travel is in me. The accumulation of miles/points merely facilitates an expression of who I am. I have difficulty with people who have no desire to travel. My passion cannot be expressed with fervor to others though, they just do not understand, and it requires to much explaning to a skeptical party.

I don't have an addiction. I can stop any time I want. But not next weekend, because I'll be away.

I fear I am losing my conquest of miles.
I cancelled a quick trip to NRT at a good price upgraded, since I decided not to go for Gold this year with the extra trip. And am using other airline miles for an award trip to BKK on CX in Dec. No miles.

Even worse, it is not bothering me.
When you lose it, it must be over and
gone!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

[This message has been edited by classy (edited 10-26-2002).]

Has anybody found a psychiatrist that can help me get over this terrible frequent-flyer addiction? Does s/he take Delta Amex? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Seriously, I like to spend time in any town or city I visit, seeing the touristy things like parks, museums, tall buildings, guided tours, etc. Going into McDonalds for a morning cup of coffee and sitting near a group of talkative locals so I can eavesdrop. Taking a riverboat tour.

I treat each city as if this is the last time I will ever be there, and for a lot of them it probably is!

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Middle_Seat

As the wife of a business traveler, I am the one addicted to the miles and status. Mr Fish puts in his 200K miles a year, and I make sure we get the most miles and status (he has status on 3 airlines and 4 hotel programs). I tell him what airlines he needs to fly and what hotels to stay in. And the thought of him switching to a job that requires less travel makes me panic, just a little, even though he would be able to spend more time with us. I prefer our time together to be spent on vacation in some exotic locale.

The addiction spread early around here; both little fishes have been Elite on CO since they were 3 (now 13 and 15). This year they (and I) hold Gold on CO and Plat on AA. We have done family mileage runs to Asia and Europe, and RTWs for both points and pleasure. The kids resent going away so often, but at the same time, they are starting to appreciate all the things they have seen. The oldest is on an Academic Team at her school, and finds herself knowing more about geography than her classmates, and the youngest is the only one in her class that could point out UAE on the globe. They are spoiled, but not brats. They don't know the exact balances of their FF accounts, but do know that those miles get them that FC seat. And I think they have seen enough in this world to feel empowered to make a difference as adults.

I must admit that I am getting tired of the guilt I feel for the travel this family does. By no means do I feel it strongly enough to stop, but I do find myself spending much too much time these days researching and reconciling. Every aspect of our lives has now become dependant on our travels. The "outside world" just doesn't understand. I often long to be like my friends who just call a travel agent to book a family vacation. But then again, I cringed when a friend wasted all her MR points for a family flight to MCO. Someday soon I will find a balance!

Robin

[This message has been edited by Fishbait (edited 10-26-2002).]

classy said:
Whoa...you may need to find a 12-step program! We can't let another FT'er just give up so easily. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

(Writing this from the Hilton in ANC on an AS mileage run).

This condition is not easy at all. There are moments, when I think I should go for it and take that trip for the GOLD. Then moments later, I think it is a pain in the butt, when 14,146 miles are needed this year for Gold, then another domestic trip would be necessary. Don't have the patience to work out one R/T to take care of all the miles short. Part of the reasoning is hung up on thinking, will CO make more enhancements for 2003, anyway!

This is a serious condition, and doubt if there is professional help to take care of it, if I can't! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

My wife used to have a bit of a problem with it until she started seeing the benefits on her own!

I don't have an addiction. I can stop any time I want. But not next weekend, because I'll be away.[/QUOTE]

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I currently work as a part-time manager of a pizzeria in a working-class neighborhood for lack of professional career employment. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif I have to watch what I say lest I be perceived as a braggart. For my co-workers, a weekend in Cleveland is the vacation of the year. When I meet a traveler in bar or restaurant, I feel so relieved to be able to speak freely. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

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Play the travel game 3 vacations into the future!