What is a frequent flyer?
 

Don't laugh. Yeah, I know that looks like a silly question, here of all places. I don't consider myself one, only flying 6 or so RTs a year. But, what I wonder is how much the average man/woman flies in a year and how this compares to flying habits of the average person over time. I can remember a time (dating myself here) when it was a big deal to fly. Now that airfares are relatively cheaper than they were decades ago, how much of an impact has it made on travel frequency?

RWW

It's an interesting question how one would operationalize 'frequent flyer.' I would venture to guess that with 6 RTs per year you fly much more than the average person, but probably less than the average FTer. The majority of people, on a global scale, have never flown, and many more have only been on a small number of trips. A 'frequent flyer' would probably have to fly at least a few trips annually, but not necessarily have status, or even a mileage account. A 'frequent flyer' could reasonably be expected to be able to navigate airports, and to be familiar with the general procedures of air travel. Some 'frequent flyers' will have elite status, memorized the safety announcement, made friends with gate attendants, etc. So the term 'frequent flyer' may mean different things to different people.

For me, anything less than 200K miles per year is a cake walk. Over 200K per year is work. Over 300K per year is real work.

I don't necessarily equate being a frequent flyer with status because I flew an ATA roundtrip weekly for a long time before they ever institued their Elite program. When they finally did, my husband and I were two of the first members. Unfortunately, they pulled out of Midway almost entirely a few months later, so my Elite card is nothing more than a decoration in my wallet (we've switched to SW). For me, knowing the gate agents and knowing certain types of aircraft (737 and 757-300) as well as I know my house are signs that I fly way too much. Also, the fact that I know MDW and MCO just as well. We're basically commuters by air, so if you consider a train commuter to be a frequent train rider, the same could be said of us for flying.

There's a lot of folk (non-FTers of course), for whom more than a couple round trips a year is a frequent flyer.

From the airline's perspective, a frequent flyer probably means more than that - perhaps whatever is equivalent to their lowest status level.

A lot of being a frequent flyer is about attitude and behavior, besides miles. There are certain things you know, and certain ways you act, and when you start doing that, then you come more and more to fit the bill of a FF. For example, when you know you'll be standing by for flights, don't check luggage if you don't absolutely have to. Learn your airports to know the shortest lines. know the best seats. Know how to talk to and deal with TAs, GAs and FAs. Once you have these things covered, you are a FF. Most people that have greater than 30k/yr BIS are there, but there are some with a lot less that would also be classified as such.

I'd say about 25K, which correlates to the lowest level for elite status with most US major airlines.

Its hard to put an exact definition on that b/c YMMV. Some do a handful of international segs with lots of miles and little segs and then you got purely domestic with many segs with little miles. As previously stated FFers know the ins and outs of airlines dealing with fare rules, good seats, "getting the upgrade", knowing their options, and so forth. Many have different sets of airport club memberships with their favorite "angels". As you can see many different elements go into this catagory of a frequent flyer which I equate with more of a road warrior (or air warrior).

You must be a frequent flyer if . . .

. . . you know your local airport code, know where to park at the airport, how to minimize your time at the airport before departure, how to take minimal baggage, how to prep yourself for going through security, and where to get a good breakfast or a good beer while waiting to board.

experience
 

Agreed!
Non-FF could be decribed as 'no tickets in hand, digging for passport, forgot to empty pockets, can't find gate, too much carryon, last on the plane, (add your cynicism here...), etc etc.

though - to quantify a number, I would have to agree with posters above re: lowest level on a given FF plan would be the measure of a FF...

I agree that there's no specific number. To my mind, a frequent flyer is one who flies noticeably more often that most of the people s/he hangs out with. A town police officer in my area - they tend to be incredibly great guys and gals, but as a group they're not big travelers - could be a frequent flyer with far fewer miles/trips per year than a top troubleshooter for Cisco Systems. It's all relative.

:D ^

You might be a frequent flyer if...

... you remember all your FF and hotel program numbers by heart.
... you have a loyalty program card for the airport car park.
... the airport car park checkout guy greets you: "See you again tomorrow."
... you purchased a specific bag in order to fit it in the overhead on all the RJ's and mainline jets of your 'primary' airline.
... some of the gate agents start remembering you by first name.
... you know what 1K, EXP, FEBO, RTW, SWU, CR1, op-up and eVIP stand for.
... you bought a belt with a small, thin buckle for WTMD.
... you know what WTMD stands for.
... you have flown 8 times around the planet in a year without leaving North America. :mad:

;)

Sami

P.S. Oh, and you might be a frequent flyer if you're writing a 'you might be a frequent flyer' list at the LAX Admirals Club while waiting for your next segment of the day... :cool:

You should seriously start a thread with this title... you'd probably get some great responses

Depends on definition. Travel is such a way of life now for so many. What you'll find here are the hard core examples. FWIW it's not just status, but attitude, familiarity with the system, personal tricks to make it easier. However it's subjective.

You're a FF if you groan with irritation when stuck behind an "amateur" in a security checkpoint line...
* they don't have their id and/or boarding pass ready
* they don't have their pockets emptied of metal stuff
* they have metal stuff on (i.e. big belt buckle) or in (i.e. piercing) their person
* they don't take their shoes off
* they don't take their coat off
* they freeze before or in the metal detector waiting for...instructions?
* they argue with TSA..."I wore these shoes the last time I flew and they didn't say anything"