Does having a High Frequent Flyer status make you fatter?

[whatmeworry]

One thing I have noticed on this forum, is that people that have high status (Gold or greater) often mention how much great booze and food they consume in lounges and on the aircraft.

I guess my question is, do Frequent Flyers gain weight as a result of this frequent flying or is it because they can not resist the temptation that airlines provide or has their temptation thresholds been lowered because of the stress of commuting or because they can get something for free?

 

[totd]

I can't comment on SG+ side, but I can say that the last time I was in the VX lounge they had very little I could actually eat... so despite it being open slather I just had a little bit of sushi... Although, based on the way I went to town on the fruit plater, I can understand someone having difficulty resisting.

 

[medhead]

My max weight was about 110kg, maybe 115kg. That was when I was a frequent drinker, mostly at company expense, and a bronze flyer. Now, as a plat, I yo-yo between 95 and 100.

 

[Skyring]

As a WP, I was over 90 kg mostly. Now, as an NB, I'm under 80. And my blood pressure is much better!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Yes it does

 

[serfty]

Yes it does

Agree ...

Mid to late 90's I was an (old, top level) Gold flyer (WG?) with Qantas with a sedentary life and lots of domestic travel on flex fares.

Back then the QP catering was much much better with the "competing" Golden Wing lounges of Ansett and I did indeed partake.

It was not until I went to Europe for three weeks and came back 7 Kg lighter that I realised how sedentary I was. My pant size had reached 107/112 and I weighed over 100Kg

I began to play golf regularly after that and after a year or So I was fitting 102cm and my weight averaged mid 90's.

 

[PrincessK]

When I was WP it was quite common for me to live in hotels for up to 5 months at a time. The combination of late night meals, cooked breakfasts, drinks in airline lounges and premium cabin food definitely contributed to me being about 7kg - 10kg heavier at the time.

Obviously I could have resisted (particularly in the lounges) but sadly, I am weak!

 

[simongr]

I left my consulting job to take a job with travel I was about 80kgs. Within 12 months with multiple weeks in hotels I was 95kgs. Then in 2010 I had a tumour on my thyroid removed and started taking thyroid supplement so am now back to 85kgs.

I need to exercise...

 

[NinaG]

I am willing to volunteer for a research study, all I need is for QF to send out the WP card (to replace the existing NB). Purely for the sake of science you understand.

 

[pshepvic]

Too funny - I've been saying for a couple of years now (since being Platinum with both QF and VA) that one's waist size is directly proportional to one's frequent flyer status!

 

[Mal]

Nope. Waist size is relevant to your lifestyle.

Wp doesn't cause an increase of weight, its the lifestyle which goes with it (lots of travel equals lots of hotels equals lots of unhealthy food or alternatively Wp equals lots of travel which equals replacing good meals with bad.)

There are some super fit wps... they exercise daily..

 

[Foreigner]

Body Mass Index (BMI) would be good measure to go by.

I've not moved beyond Gold status but I've dropped from 80+ kg to 74 over past 4 months. Aim is to get to 70, This with running every other day, drinking one alcohol when I'm not running next morning.

 

[PrincessK]

Body Mass Index (BMI) would be good measure to go by.

I've not moved beyond Gold status but I've dropped from 80+ kg to 74 over past 4 months. Aim is to get to 70, This with running every other day, drinking one alcohol when I'm not running next morning.

Foreigner, I read your post very quickly as "drinking alcohol next morning"!!!!!!! Oops!

 

[Foreigner]

Foreigner, I read your post very quickly as "drinking alcohol next morning"!!!!!!! Oops!

Bit of ambiguity I say...alcohol consumed evening before the day I don't run. I'd love to have a beer after my run but that wouldn't help the dehydration.

 

[Skyring]

Bit of ambiguity I say...alcohol consumed evening before the day I don't run. I'd love to have a beer after my run but that wouldn't help the dehydration.

I read it as drinking or running in the morning. Must be a tough choice sometimes.

 

[samh004]

I'm still roughly the same size

 

[wingspan]

Both my partner and I are WP, and we both have quite low BMI. We run between 8 and 16km several times a week, and run half marathons in running events. I'd say that several other WPs are the same - driven, motivated, and the extra baggage allowance means you don't have to forgo taking sporting/exercise gear on your trips.

I guess I'm fortunate though that alcohol just doesn't interest me. Whenever we're on F lounge runs I always feel like the "nice" alcohol is wasted on me seeing as I don't even know what any of it is. I do eat A LOT, though. In fact, it's only after 9am and I've had two fun size chocolates!

Another high tier frequent flier I know is super fit - Michele Bridges.

 

[drron]

Frequent flyer status is no match for frequent cruising status.Before i took up cruising I would be 95-100kg occasionally visiting 105kg.Since cruising it is 100-105 with visits to 110kg.Proof that the exposure to sea air shrinks your clothes.:shock:

 

[Sprucegoose]

When I was WP it was quite common for me to live in hotels for up to 5 months at a time. The combination of late night meals, cooked breakfasts, drinks in airline lounges and premium cabin food definitely contributed to me being about 7kg - 10kg heavier at the time.

Obviously I could have resisted (particularly in the lounges) but sadly, I am weak!

so you peaked at 55kg!!

 

[PrincessK]

so you peaked at 55kg!!

LOL... 57 actually