If you could give just ONE piece of advice......

[Benzo]

Hi guys,

I am pretty new. And I am very definitely aware of the fact that I do not know what I do not know in regards to this whole area. There are probably many very important or very useful things that many of you take for granted that I haven't even thought of yet, and may not for some time. Which could be a shame.

It reminds me of one of these grandfather and grandson kind of conversations.......but oh well.

If you could give just ONE piece of advice to a new person, just one out of all your hard earned experience as a frequent flyer - what would it be? and why?

Feel free to share experiences as to how you learned this or when it has come in useful.

I look forward to seeing your answers.

 

[maninblack]

Stay home.

 

[puppysparkes]

Lurk here and use the search function. Many questions have been asked and comprehensively answered and opinions / comments provided.

 

[Fifa]

Study AFF - read each thread that may interest you from start to finish and you will learn so much.

Also, always look outside the square - eg. I found the US Airways thread a year or so after it started and wished I had found it sooner. What fun we have had travelling first class

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Stay home.

Did I miss something in original post that warrants a response such as this?

Benzo AFF has completely changed the travel lives of many members and we were ALL newbies to the world of pointy end travel at one point in time - so the ONE piece of advice I would give you is READ READ READ AFF as much as you can - there is a wealth of accurate quality FREE advice here which is unavailable elsewhere. READ READ READ - COMPREHEND COMPREHEND COMPREHEND.

In no time your knowledge bank will be vastly larger and you too will reap some of the benefits that many of us do take for granted.

Oh and do not stay home - use the knowledge you gain here to travel further farther faster and at a level of comfort you previously only dreamed of.

 

[opusman]

It's called whY for a reason.

 

[browski]

Don't chase FF points on a particular airline when there is a cheaper flight on another, (Unless someone else is paying for the flight)

 

[amaroo]

Work out if you're going to be a flyer or buyer. I.E. if flying, select a scheme and stick with it ... if a buyer (points), be promiscuous and enjoy!

 

[knasty]

Get the app on your phone, research in your spare time, share ideas with like-minded friends, do as much travel as you can before you have kids (assuming you don't yet have kids and want to, of course).

 

[Benzo]

Did I miss something in original post that warrants a response such as this?

Benzo AFF has completely changed the travel lives of many members and we were ALL newbies to the world of pointy end travel at one point in time - so the ONE piece of advice I would give you is READ READ READ AFF as much as you can - there is a wealth of accurate quality FREE advice here which is unavailable elsewhere. READ READ READ - COMPREHEND COMPREHEND COMPREHEND.

In no time your knowledge bank will be vastly larger and you too will reap some of the benefits that many of us do take for granted.

Oh and do not stay home - use the knowledge you gain here to travel further farther faster and at a level of comfort you previously only dreamed of.

Thanks mate. I think maninlblack got up on the wrong side of the bed. I have definitely found AFF members extremely willing to help. And I have been studying.

 

[Benzo]

Don't chase FF points on a particular airline when there is a cheaper flight on another, (Unless someone else is paying for the flight)

Thanks for that. Interesting. Will consider it. Someone else is paying, but we aren't doing a lot of expensive flying. In general Qantas (or OneWorld) has the best network through the destinations that I generally go. But will keep this in mind cos I agree it's easy to get stuck into just one airline when it isn't necessarily smart.

 

[Benzo]

Work out if you're going to be a flyer or buyer. I.E. if flying, select a scheme and stick with it ... if a buyer (points), be promiscuous and enjoy!

Hi, I am not sure that I understand this distinction between Flyer and Buyer - would you mind elaborating a bit more?

 

[Geegeela]

What ever class you are flying, be grateful and travel hopefully.

 

[amaroo]

Hi, I am not sure that I understand this distinction between Flyer and Buyer - would you mind elaborating a bit more?

Since joining this community I've learnt there are two/three types of flyers;

1. The Flyer - someone that flies a decent amount e.g. sufficient flying to rack up year on year elite status, achieving a LT (lifetime) status level. IMO this type of flyer would be best to carefully select a scheme that suits their needs and then stick with it.

2. The Buyer - this person has the means to source (via CC earn or bulk mile purchases) significant* points/miles without the need to board a plane e.g. they fly on points/miles earning no status, however they get to enjoy the same benefits that the elite status flyer had to earn. IMO this flyer should spread the love and go for it!
* significant if you're planning multiply trips with more than one passenger.

3. The Combo - this person can achieve both ... and live happily ever after.

 

[Deleted member]

Since joining this community I've learnt there are two/three types of flyers;

1. The Flyer - someone that flies a decent amount e.g. sufficient flying to rack up year on year elite status, achieving a LT (lifetime) status level. IMO this type of flyer would be best to carefully select a scheme that suits their needs and then stick with it.

2. The Buyer - this person has the means to source (via CC earn or bulk mile purchases) significant* points/miles without the need to board a plane e.g. they fly on points/miles earning no status, however they get to enjoy the same benefits that the elite status flyer had to earn. IMO this flyer should spread the love and go for it!
* significant if you're planning multiply trips with more than one passenger.

3. The Combo - this person can achieve both ... and live happily ever after.

That pretty much sums it up.
I'm more of a buyer, but by virtue of that a combo as well , although next year achieving WP will be almost Impossible I suspect.

 

[cove]

Expect blank faces from non AFFers when you tell them what you have discovered. Pictures of pointy end flying can get them interested but not straight away.

 

[Clivem]

Never pass through the threshold of your aircraft's door without first touching / tapping / or rubbing the exterior of it's fuselage. (Not much else matters)

 

[Benzo]

Since joining this community I've learnt there are two/three types of flyers;

1. The Flyer - someone that flies a decent amount e.g. sufficient flying to rack up year on year elite status, achieving a LT (lifetime) status level. IMO this type of flyer would be best to carefully select a scheme that suits their needs and then stick with it.

2. The Buyer - this person has the means to source (via CC earn or bulk mile purchases) significant* points/miles without the need to board a plane e.g. they fly on points/miles earning no status, however they get to enjoy the same benefits that the elite status flyer had to earn. IMO this flyer should spread the love and go for it!
* significant if you're planning multiply trips with more than one passenger.

3. The Combo - this person can achieve both ... and live happily ever after.

Wow - that's a great differentiation. Thanks. I am definitely a Flyer. All of my earning is through flying and I am doing a good lot of it. Yeah - I try to stick with Qantas or One World. Particularly since I am mainly flying economy and those SC's are more hard earned than for those flying other classes. Flying other One World (than Qantas) is already a bad enough kick in the shins in terms of SC's and points - let alone flying another alliance where I get nothing. Plus flying another alliance is the exception to the rule generally, so anything earned on them becomes useless.

Again, thanks.

 

[juddles]

Never pass through the threshold of your aircraft's door without first touching / tapping / or rubbing the exterior of it's fuselage. (Not much else matters)

I do that! Thought I was the only one.

But I also pat the plane on exitting too. Psychologists probably have a name for my condition

 

[juddles]

..... just ONE piece of advice.....

You can read fórums such as this one and learn heaps of tricks etc that make travel more fun, pleasurable, etc. But what I have learnt is a simple truth:

Real travel gurus, gods, have something in common: they have zero status!! They have learned to look beyond the apparent appeal of having fancy cards and noble titles. They buy business or first class tickets using points that they accumulate in all manner of ingenious ways.

I have yet to attain that skill.