How do you explain your frequent flying?

[cmon0005]

With great difficulty... There have been many a conversation I've had which went along the lines of.

Them: "So you're going to LA for the weekend".
Me: "Yes"
Them: "Why?"
Me: "Because there is a party on"
Them: "But won't you spend half your time in the air"
Me: "Yeap, that's half the fun"
Them: "But surely if you are going to spend that long flying you'd want to actually spend time there"
Me: "What part about traveling is half the fun don't you get?"

Totally agree with this, pretty much the same conversations I have.

The journey is most fun!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

My friends and family just think I am "lucky...."

From my perspective I have a very lucrative and fun part-time job - As no points, or flights, are actually free as even when there is no cash to acquire, or redeem, there is at least some time involed.

Mind you, for some flights, like my flights for two to Port Douglas every second year, that contribution is miniscule Sometimes it can be literally be a split-second seize the day decison and only a few minutes of time to act to take advantage of "glitches". ie Free upgrade from J to Suites FRA-MEL, or 900 British Pounds of London Hotel accommodation through using points twice, after noticing that my cluth of J European flights after being booked did not lower the points balance!!

 

[boomy]

The problem with this points "game" is that standards are getting higher and higher all the time. At first J was the pinnacle, then it became boring so F was the next exciting thing and later this year after flying the Apartments nothing else will be special anymore
Seemed so much simpler back in the days when all I knew was Y class, oh the innocence
Now how can I explain that to my friends?!

 

[Deleted member]

With great difficulty... There have been many a conversation I've had which went along the lines of.

Them: "So you're going to LA for the weekend".
Me: "Yes"
Them: "Why?"
Me: "Because there is a party on"
Them: "But won't you spend half your time in the air"
Me: "Yeap, that's half the fun"
Them: "But surely if you are going to spend that long flying you'd want to actually spend time there"
Me: "What part about traveling is half the fun don't you get?"


Simply change the location to places like Hong Kong / Singapore / Miami / Auckland / Taipei, and change the reasons to "Buy a suit" / "Have Lunch" / "Because I'm in the neighborhood" (hey I'm in the right hemisphere, what more do you want?) / "Because I can"
I've tried explaining that for me, flying is half the fun, I love to travel and thus don't find it a chore.

I'm not quite as badly addicted as you. BUT I really do get it.
Not so long ago, the idea of suggesting to a bunch of people that it would be really great to fly to ZQN go on a (steam) boat ride , dine at a top restaurant , visit a winery and then go home, would never have entered my mind. Now I think. Why not and I'm pleased there are plenty who think the same.

 

[Mattg]

I'm not quite as badly addicted as you. BUT I really do get it.
Not so long ago, the idea of suggesting to a bunch of people that it would be really great to fly to ZQN go on a (steam) boat ride , dine at a top restaurant , visit a winery and then go home, would never have entered my mind. Now I think. Why not and I'm pleased there are plenty who think the same.

I'm flying to ZQN in 2 weeks for a weekend. I asked one of my friends if they wanted to come with me and he said "Why on earth would I want to fly all the way to NZ and only spend 2 days there?"

 

[stoneman]

I'm flying to ZQN in 2 weeks for a weekend. I asked one of my friends if they wanted to come with me and he said "Why on earth would I want to fly all the way to NZ and only spend 2 days there?"

I get it ( my friends don't either!! )
Great to see others with the same sense of adventure!!!

 

[TomVexille]

I'm flying to ZQN in 2 weeks for a weekend. I asked one of my friends if they wanted to come with me and he said "Why on earth would I want to fly all the way to NZ and only spend 2 days there?"

"all the way"?? it's less than 4 hours...

I did explain to friends last year when a mate and I went to AKL for a long weekend to watch the rugby that it actually cost approximately what they spent going to LST for a Hawthorn game.

 

[Mattg]

"all the way"?? it's less than 4 hours...

I did explain to friends last year when a mate and I went to AKL for a long weekend to watch the rugby that it actually cost approximately what they spent going to LST for a Hawthorn game.

Yep... In fact, it cost my roughly $60 more to fly SYD-ZQN-SYD than it would to fly SYD-CBR-SYD, and that's with QF. I've also taken JQ over to NZ for considerably less than the cost of a flight to CBR.

 

[Deleted member]

The only (flying) downside of ZQN is the daylight curfew. I would probably look for a 3 day pass.

 

[Lowjhg]

I'm flying to ZQN in 2 weeks for a weekend. I asked one of my friends if they wanted to come with me and he said "Why on earth would I want to fly all the way to NZ and only spend 2 days there?"

Lol, they will bawl if they knew i go to SIN regularly one weekend per month

 

[Deleted member 29185]

You lot had best shut up or the airlines will raise the stakes again.

And it's not just the flying. I must admit to being slightly amused recently when sitting with colleagues in a lounge and then comes boarding...."where are you sitting? We're in row 7" with an air of the almighty frequent flyer. "Row 2" I replied and then watched the looks change. Recently I arrived in CNS with some other associates who were also staying at the Hilton. They caught a taxi (which I should have as well) but I trudged over to domestic to pick up the hire car. Consequently they arrived at the hotel before me and were trying to check in (something was wrong with their booking). I strolled up and said hello to them and Kat happily handed me my door card and welcome letter and said "welcome back Mr swanning_it, 9th floor as usual and executive lounge is open for another hour". The looks I received made a shy retiring type like me feel a little self conscious, but that was not all! I forgot to hand my car keys to the valet and as I headed to the elevator he came racing after me and said "may I park your carMr swanning_it...and what time would you like me to have your vehicle brought up for you in the morning?", all in full view and earshot of my associates who were watching with looks of amazement. I must admit that I did feel a tad exposed by the event, but thems are the breaks. Have I mentioned that I do like H-CNS! :mrgreen:

 

[Isochronous]

People think I'm retired and am 'permanently on vacation' because they always see my Facebook check-ins at the F Lounge. Someone once even asked if I was a spy.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

The "You're travelling again?" get's a bit tiring.

I just say it keeps me sane to escape reality semi regularly, and exploring the world is a great way to do it. Memories don't devalue over time, if anything they get better as you polish the good ones and slowly forget the less than fun ones, or at least learn to laugh at them.

I do so wish I'd known the world of purchased miles all the way through the mighty pesos time, but will do my best to make up for it.

Getting to fly Eva J from LHR to BKK was a treat, TG F to Sydney an experience, and so looking forward to seeing what OZ F is like with a 32" TV to enjoy.

It's definitely nice to look forward to the flying as much as the actual site seeing.

 

[blackcat20]

'How was your holiday?'....'which one?'

I explained AFF9 to someone last week as a bit like a conference. Activities, fancy dinner,nice location, but no boring talks.

 

[Intra]

All my traveling keeps me happy - Its also my hobby....no wait, my passion! No one has really bothered to ask in detail how I do travel so much, or how I do get Business class flights all the time. Some people spend there money on nice clothes, going to sporting matches, eating at fancy restaurants - I use my money so I can fly in J (And not pay full price too!); What's the difference? Its about the choices we make, and how we act with what we have in front of us!

The pinnacle so far for me happened only afew months ago; There was a young adult conference in PER just after Christmas that went over New Year's, people flew in from all over Australia. Everyone had paid atleast $500/$600/$750+ for return flights in Y. I knew I had afew people jealous when they asked me how much I paid coming from BNE - $80. Return. In J

Its only the beginning; Europe in J next year is the next goal! (Then we'll work on F!!)
The work reaps great rewards; But you got work hard for it first!

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Well isn't this thread bloody brilliant! It's like a Frequent Flyers Anonymous meeting. Makes me feel so much better hearing about all the others who, like me, largely keep their travel discreet.

I actually get a bit embarrassed talking about it. Some people love hearing about it and are just so intrigued and confused as to how it's possible to fly premium cabins so regularly. As many others seem to experience, people kind of resent it. They don't like hearing about it, or just mock me.

Work colleagues generally have no idea. Too many uncomfortable conversions in the open plan office. All they know is I take frequent leave for short periods. Close friends I'll mention that I got a good deal, but it's still a bit awkward, and I usually leave out the cabin part p) It means I don't do a lot Instagramming at airports.

As far as students go, I really only tutor my parents. I just want them to enjoy it as much as I do. This game is hard work and generally most aren't committed enough to make anything of it. The hardest part is finding someone who'll come with me on weekend trips to the other side of the world!

The sentiment of it being a 'hobby' applies well. I'm more than happy to throw money at something that makes me happy.

 

[cmon0005]

The sentiment of it being a 'hobby' applies well. I'm more than happy to throw money at something that makes me happy.

That is my thinking as well, family often ask me "why would you waste your money on flying and on QF/premium airlines" then I reply the same reason they enjoy going water skiing in a dirty cold Victorian river and spend many $$$ on waterski equipment... Generally just don't tell them these days except my wife as she is now addicted to flying as me

 

[Mattg]

Work colleagues generally have no idea. Too many uncomfortable conversions in the open plan office. All they know is I take frequent leave for short periods. Close friends I'll mention that I got a good deal, but it's still a bit awkward, and I usually leave out the cabin part p) It means I don't do a lot Instagramming at airports.

When I was working in Europe I used to fly overseas almost every weekend. I didn't tell many of my colleagues what I was doing, and most would have had no idea for a long time. But then later on as I started to get to know my colleagues better they would ask me things like "What did you do on the weekend" and I would reply "I went to Italy/Turkey/Austria/Morocco/etc". Many of my colleagues didn't believe me, until I showed them photos. I think most were actually quite impressed, and I ended up teaching a few colleagues about miles/getting cheap flights.

 

[JohnM]

When I was working in Europe I used to fly overseas almost every weekend. I didn't tell many of my colleagues what I was doing, and most would have had no idea for a long time. But then later on as I started to get to know my colleagues better they would ask me things like "What did you do on the weekend" and I would reply "I went to Italy/Turkey/Austria/Morocco/etc". Many of my colleagues didn't believe me, until I showed them photos. I think most were actually quite impressed, and I ended up teaching a few colleagues about miles/getting cheap flights.

And I (plus two other AFFers still digesting their pork knuckle and Grosse biers ) know where you worked... - so that says quite a lot more than you have revealed . Good on you, mattg - you are a true master and a gentleman to boot .

 

[kevrosmith]

I'm slightly tiring of the question, "what day do you fly out this week?" - for the last nearly-5 years I've been flying out every Monday, with only an occasional change to the routine.

I cant convince my Dad to jump on the points wagon, though I know his detailed personality would easily chew it up. I know my mum would love to travel overseas more, and I'd love them to fly up the pointy end. I also get disappointed when family and friends don't ask for advice and I hear they booked their flights a certain way and wasted precious points.

Most friends are in the marrying, baby-making and toddler-training phase of life to even care about flying overseas, though they do express some disappointment when I tell them I'm heading to Europe in First.

As as others have expressed, I'm often more excited about the flight compared to the destination: friends find that hard to comprehend. (They tell me Florence and Rome are full of history and culture, but I just can't wait for the EK F flight home...)