Hi, I'm not a reporter (have seen those posts), just a total newbee to the whole concept. I have been reading, and reading, and reading -- and gotten great tips! Y'all are wonderful!
I just don't understand how you do it, mostly afford it. I am not trying to ask for personal information, just trying to understand how you swing all these fantastic trips (as I wipe the drool off my keyboard while reading about all the places you go). I very much want to do this, and am learning more everyday, as I wade my way thru all the boards -- and the great links, but it still seems to involve a rather great deal of funds. I have been plodding away at different accounts for years, slowly building up the miles dreaming of a neat vacation 'one day', but y'all make it sound easy to pop around the world.
How does one, having limited funds, but willing to spend time and effort to earn elite get there?
How can that same person maintain the status, again with limited funds, but a willing attitude (willing to be bumped, etc)?
I have read many ideas, but just not sure where to start. Any ideas will be appericated (oh, I do belong to most clubs/points earning options that I have found here). I also hope this is the right place to post this -- please forgive if it is not.

Fly on a mega mileage run during low season--NOV==>MAR. The airlines often have super low fares during that time. One or two mega mileage runs will get you enough miles to become/remain elite and the miles can be used for trips during the more expensive peak season.

If you just do not have the funds, try the kellogs approach or hope to find one of the mistakes that occur now and then.

I have always made travel a priority for myself and family. If there is a will there is a way.

Well, the first thing is that this community is not an average cross-section of society. It represents a highly biased sample of people who have a propensity to fly for business, or who own their businesses. Those that do the so-called mileage runs do so with (I would hope) discretionary disposable income.

How do you do get elite status with limited funds? There are, as you've seen, numerous schemes, ranging from semi-crazy segment runs in Thailand, to highly leveraged mainstream flights, such as those that are discussed on the CO boards regarding Amex Platinum card ticket purchases (you'd need a $300/year card for that). My advice? Probably look for the best bang per buck, in terms of miles per dollar spent. It seems that about 0.02/mile is in general about as good as it gets, which means you'd spend at least $2000 for 100,000 miles, or 1k, on UA. (Beware, your actual mileage may vary ) With that you'd get status and a nice vacation.

However, I'm not the best person to give advice, because I usually don't look all that critically at mileage-run type deals, since I fly too much as it is on business. However, I do sympathise with your quest, and wish you all the best.

Thanks Tango -- that is a great boost! I didn't find y'all until recently and have been lamenting the 'late start', but checking the flights in that time frame gives me a starting shot!

Thanks UAL traveler -- I understand about the business flights, and do not envy them (you), other than their 'easily' earned miles.

Having a couple hundred dollars worth of Voluntary Denied Boarding Compensation doesn't hurt, either.

Thanks EPS, did a search, read about 'being bumped' will now start a file of potential 'easy' earn routes from the posts, to get the feel of that. Never thought of it as a way to 'fly for free' before.

Tango has the right idea.

Travel is a priority for our family.

We probably could put more $ in the bank, but our memories are worth every penny.

I've spoken w/too many of my parent's friends that always told themselves they would travel the world when they retired or got older. Most of their friends have not gone outside 50 miles of their home, still.

When you sit down and look at what you spend day to day on living expenses, it is amazing how much you can do without. If you get rid of or cut down on cable and eat at home more often it will add up to some serious pocket change. We have one "beans and rice" dinner at home every week. The more you save on other things the more you have for travel.

"A person's true wealth is what they can do without".

When you do travel, stay away from the American branded hotels. Staying at Hiltons and such will not give you any unique memories and will only end up costing you money. Opt for local hotels/B & B's. You will come home with a more memorable trip.

You have to decide what your priorities are. I will spend the money on travel before I buy a DVD player. The milage accumulation is really a side benefit and a profitable hobby, once you decide you want to travel before arthritis sets in and you can't go anywhere.

We toss all of our spare change into a piggy bank either at home and we both have one at the office. That alone more then pays for one of the winter sale fares to Eurpoe every year.

Cut out something you spend money on all the time (I have a friend who sees three movies every weekend, hell, that's a cruise by the time you figure the tickets, popcorn, etc)and either open an account separate from your other bank accounts or use the piggy bank method, and you will be shocked to see how quickly the money grows. The key is you have to keep that money separate, and not use it for anything else. Otherwise it just won't add up.

There is another discussion here about using credit cards to buy savings bonds, doing that on a weekly or monthly basis will not only get you the miles, but cashing them in every year would be enough to get another vacation.

Our goal is to save in bits and pieces to get the money for a trip, then go. Sign up for the weekend deals, check out the specials, get everything in order now so you can just get up and go when the deals are good (valid passport, a multi day feeder for the pets, etc), and when soemthing strikes your fancy just book it and go, don't hesitate.

WOW! such great tips. Thanks all! I have used many of the non-travel ones (piggy banks, but will open seperate account to put them in), but needed to put them togeather with the travel ones to make the dreams come true. Last child off to college soon, and had already told her that I was 'out of here', just didn't know how I would swing it. I don't want to wait until I can't 'play' when I travel (plus wanted to hook her)-- why I am asking for ideas now -- and your ideas are great! I am still reading, reading, reading -- and profiting from your ideas and exchanges by the moment -- thanks all!!!

I happen to earn most of my miles on business trips (but nowhere near as many on some of these boards) but am always looking for quick cheap ways to augment those miles by using my own funds.

Try to book most of your travel on a signle aireline or alliance (i.e. I belong to AA's programme and have earned Platinum status with them). This way your miles will accumulate faster and in one account that you can hopefully use for that dream holiday. Also visit your airline's website and register for all their bonus offerings. I never travel to Asia but have registered for all AA's Asian bonuses "just in case" but I have managed to earn 10's of thousands of bonus miles on my flights to Europe.

Also, consider getting a mileage earning credit card and putting all your spending on the card. I, again, earn lots of miles this way.

Finally, check out other ways to earn miles. Tango mentioned Kellogg's certs for AA miles, and you can try AOLAAdvantage.com and look at opinion place. Take a survey and earn 150 miles. Doesn't seem like much but every mile helps.

Good luck and welcome to our crazy addiction.

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I wish I were 1,000 miles away

I venture to guess that it is no mistake that lots of us here are business travelers, whether on the corporate dime or business-owners, who by nature are optimizers of resources, whether those resources be money, time, etc.

Part and parcel to this is having a keen memory, too, of what promotions are going on with what airline, hotel, car rental company, or other mileage-garnering entity, and booking/buying accordingly.

So I don't think it's really any trick, per se. Just a good fit - well-adapted hunters (i.e., travelers) seeking their prey (i.e., miles).

[This message has been edited by ETOPS01 (edited 05-03-2001).]

I get my basic status from business travel, but I've found that all of my travel is much more fun when I plan my leisure travel to get more status.

My basic concept is to set a mileage goal and a budget each December. I set a budget of $3500 for 50,000 status miles. $3500 of airfare can usually get me 10 trips a year, including three trips to Europe. I get about 130k/year in total program miles from these leisure trips after various bonuses.

Get a friend or a relative to travel with you in order to split the ground costs. I use my miles to coerce people into going with me the first time (I ask them to pick up 70% of the hotel costs instead of 50%), they usually travel with me in the future on their own dime.

$50/day/each for hotel+ground transport is not an unreasonable budget. Use Priceline when possible for hotels, visit places where cars are not critical and figure out what's an acceptable level of inconvenience.

For staying in big expensive cities like London, or in resort areas (e.g. Phoenix in high season), I save up AMEX Membership Rewards points for 3-4 years and cash in an award with a hotel chain.

Most importantly though.... research which airline plan you're going to use and stick with it. From Chapel Hill, your best choice might be Continental (allowing you to use Midway and Northwest), although if you want to fly overseas a lot then either American or United might be better.

Where do I skimp to afford it? A little here, a little there. Clothes, electronics, and concerts/sporting events are the main places where I deliberately cut.