I remember watching an episode of ABC's Lost with some friends of mine. There is a flashback scene where they are clearing security. The person in front gets up to the agent, and then starts opening his bag to take his laptop out. The guy behind him says sarcastically, "Oh, NOW you start taking that out?"

Of my friends, I was the only one that laughed.

Actually, YOU obviously don't fly particularly much as a vast majority of the world doesn't subject travelers to such an elaborate pantomimed rigmarole at security.

Try getting out of your continent sometime.... :)

IMHO Frequent flyer is a member of airline frequent flyer program, or to be more specific, a member of airline's official loyalty program aka "frequent flyer program :)
I am sure legal people can come with clear definition and court case practice probably already generated what does it mean "legally"
Also FF is a tier at Lufthansa M&M (maybe for some other programs)

AX

Actually 747, I would say half of what the guy writes is pretty much the same everywhere, especially about people not preparing themselves adequately for the metal detector, etc.

Anyway, I would actually say that it is the second tier that makes someone a true FF, I have sen too many grannies and "civilians" with lowest tier cards that are clue less. It is however more about attitude and knowledge than actual flights.

Almost right - FTL Frequent Traveller is a tier of Miles & More.

There was a thread with a title something like "You Know You Fly Too Much..." not that long ago but I haven't been able to get it to come up on search.


Edit: found the thread I was remembering http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=370953

Hmmm. After reading this thread and some other posts on FT, I have decided I am NOT a Frequent Flyer. I am more of a Frequent Traveler. While I may be gone from home station quite a bit, the flights are not that frequent because I stay at my travel destination longer. As an example, for '05 I made about five trips to various West Africa nations. These trips were for a duration of 3-6 weeks each. Also business trips to SoCal for about 1 week each, several to New Orleans for 1 week each, etc.

That's not a lot of flights, but is a lot of time away from home station. So I think Frequent Traveler is probably more apropriate as a label, being that Frequent Flyer may be more descriptive of those here that get a on plane every other day, i.e., many flights of short duration.

Well..... I was beginning my return (EWR-ORD-SJC) last Thursday, and timed my arrival at the airport, through security, and got to the gate right at the first call for boarding. I went up to the counter just to ask if first had checked in full when the agent mentioned my name on the PA system. As I stepped up and traded my boarding pass for the upgrade, the young woman at the front of the 10 people in line at the counter said "Hey... what was that? He just got here and I've been waiting for an upgrade".

GA: "There was only one on this flight, and it's his".
Young Woman (incredulously): "Why did he get it when I've been waiting and am first in line"
Me: "I fly a lot".
Young woman: "So do I! I've been on 10 flights this year!!"
Me: "Sweetheart.... this will be my 8th flight THIS WEEK" (I chose to not use the more accurate segments). As her jaw hits the floor I add "I'm somewhere around 120 flights this year"
GA (with a sly smile, handing me my new BP): "Actually Sir, I show you at 138 flights posted as of last week, so add your 8 to that, Do you get next week off?".

Being a flyertalk regular, that's not all that much, but for the Christmas infrequent flyers who were in line to "check in" at the gate, there was a quiet but still audible gasp. I thanked Jack and wished him a great holiday, told him I'd see him in 2 weeks and headed down the jetway.

I suppose I qualify as a frequent flyer.
Cheers,
D.

brassai

I loved your story :D. Merry Christmas

mpc1

- When you fly one of our major airlines and no matter which route, day, or time of year you know AT LEAST one of the FA's on board if not all of them.

- When you check-in at multiple worldwide airports and they have already brought up your reservation before you even give them your ticket/passport.

- When you fly an airline out of a station so often that once when
you were running extremely late and absolutely had to be on that flight (calling them from a traffic accident informing them of such), they hold the flight for you for 20 minutes.

- On an airline that does not do upgrades, but fly very often in Biz, that automatically upgrades you when flying in Y with family.

- When you can show up ast minute for a flight that is oversold by 30, with 20 showing up and they still make sure you are on a plane.

- When you are so familiar to passport/immigration officers in certain countries that they literally waive you in (les prevalent since 9/11).

- When the airline/station knows you so well that they will literally put up a bond for you or a member of your family to connect through a place that you don't have a visa for.

- When as an extreme FF'er your airline semi-regularly invites you to events such as Tennis matches, Golf Tournaments, Movie Premiers, etc.

- When your airline routinely sends you all sorts of presents (non-existent after 9/11).

- When your bag is damaged an the airport manager tells you not to bother with the paperwork and sends you either a new bag of greater value or compensation greater than the value of the damage quite quickly.

- When you are solicited both in person and/or by phone to switch allegiance to another carrier with top status.

- When you are looking for award availability and even though there s none, they make some.

These are hallmarks of true Frequent Fliers.

This has nothing to do with frequent flying. I fly more than almost anyone here, and I never EVER remove my shoes when walking through. And I quite often will argue with the security people if they are the slightest bit unprofessional. That has nothing to do with frequent flying. That is just my nature.

Hmm...

Guilty
Guilty
Sometimes guilty
Guilty
Always guilty

And I've got >100K EQM this year...

I would like to know the answer to that question and this one: How many people do you know that have NEVER flown? I live in the states and have a few friends of limited means that have never flown. My sister in-law can afford it, but refuses to fly, much to the dismay of my brother. I have one friend who refuses to fly since 9/11. I was 27 years old when I made my first commercial flight, yet I see many children on the planes these days, especially on SWA. (I can't believe that my family drove to California, Florida, New England and Niagra Falls for vacation!)

Is is safe to say that the average person who does not need to fly for his or her job flies on the average a few times a year - for vacation, weddings and funerals? If you've got a job that keeps you on the ground, you can't be flying too often!