The ten signs that you travel too much. (my personal ones)

[winetraveller]

1) On long haul flights the Hosties know you by name, and you know them. My two are United, and Lufthansa. Love those Lufty girls. Similarly the lady who runs the Red Carpet Lounge at Sydney knows you by name, and waves you through without looking at your boarding pass or membership.
2) The barman at the First Class Lounge at FRA knows (Jens, who used to work in Melbourne) that I drink a G&T (or three) before I fly Longhaul.
3) You recognize the TSA staff when you arrive at LAX, Newark or JFK.
4) You’ve seen all the movies (or rejected the cough ones) on all flights you take.
5) You’ve tired of collecting free in-flight merch, although I still take First Class amenities kits.
6) You can’t be bothered chasing the 45,000 air miles missing from your account.
7) Hilton delivers a bottle of Champagne on your birthday (sadly alone on ones's birthday AGAIN)
8) Your sleep patterns are completely destroyed, and you don’t really bother to try and catch up with sleep knowing it’ll all be screwed up again when you leave again in two weeks.
9) You wake up with no idea where you are, even when you’re at home.
10) You spend more time on an aircraft than in your own bed.

 

[Hawkeye]

The sad thing is, a lot of us are envious!

 

[NYCguy]

... [T]he lady who runs the Red Carpet Lounge at Sydney knows you by name, and waves you through without looking at your boarding pass or membership.

I knew I couldn't be the only one! The SFO Int Flounge too...

For me it's also when the immigration agent at SYD examines my much-stamped Aussie passport and asks, with a puzzled look on his/her face, "so, where do you actually LIVE, Sir?".


Or how about when you can't remember the last time you were even vaguely excited by the arrival of a new 'elite' membership card in the post?

 

[Evan]

For me it's also when the immigration agent at SYD examines my much-stamped Aussie passport and asks, with a puzzled look on his/her face, "so, where do you actually LIVE, Sir?".

One with a sense of humor, most of them seem not to have any sign of life.

No 7 seems to be a common one, even at the holiday in this year i received a very nice cake, fruit and a bottle for my birthday

Last year the regular crews to NRT knew me well, probably helped i almost always had the exact same seat !

E

 

[Commuter]

1) I sleep better on an aeroplane than in my own bed
2) I often don't know where I am, even in my own bed
3) Friends ask me where I am before they ask me how I am

Still, I don't think I travel that much compared to some of you.

 

[Febs]

3) Friends ask me where I am before they ask me how I am

I get a slight variation on that - "Oh, you're actually in Sydney now??"

Can't say I can identify with the original 10, as I don't really travel that much. Want to swap for a while, winetraveller? (Hah, girlfriend would kill me).

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[winetraveller]

Girlfriend, that would be nice, I'll swap, but only for a little while. Had a few, none of them can handle the "downtime", that is the month or so I travel, every month, well not quite, but it's generally one month home six weeks away.

 

[winetraveller]

Or how about when you can't remember the last time you were even vaguely excited by the arrival of a new 'elite' membership card in the post?

Yes more worried about how to fit all the cards in the wallet, and how many bloody passwords etc you need.

I currently have enough Hilton points for about 30 free nights.

Two weeks ago I had the once over by US customs, who asked me to reel off all the countries I'd been to this year, they sat there open mouthed, that was funny. Even thought I have an EU Passport (and spend half my time in the EU) I'll fill it within a year, unfortunately when I had to get a new passport earlier this year they had no 60 pagers available.

Australian customs are similar, I almost get an "I feel sorry for you" when I get back home, and they ask where I've been.

I also get the "where are you" before anything else from friends and family, even when I think I've told them where I'll be, but it changes so rapidly that I don't blame then for it.

 

[simongr]

Girlfriend, that would be nice, I'll swap, but only for a little while. Had a few, none of them can handle the "downtime", that is the month or so I travel, every month, well not quite, but it's generally one month home six weeks away.

I am getting the reverse currently - 6 weeks home one month away.

I dropped a hint to my boss abotu future career options next year - happy to have more frequent travel - just less long term travel - perfect balance would be two weeks home 1 week away... I can dream I suppose.

In terms of my top X signs...

1 - I am more often greeted with "Where are you?" than "How are you?"
2 - I have seen more of my nephew in Cyprus than in my nephew in Sydney
3 - I have a wash bag with a complete identical set of wash gear etc. to make it easier to pack when leaving
4 - I dont think it is unreasonable to have maps of London, NY, Hong Kong on my pda/GPS
5 - The thought of putting any coins in the "Change for good" envelope is alien as I know I will need them shortly
6 - My first thought when talking to friends who might be travelling is "Hmm perhaps we could do lunch?" even though that might involve a four hour flight/detour
7 - Flights over 4 hours and less than 8 are referred to as "little flights"

 

[winetraveller]

4 - I dont think it is unreasonable to have maps of London, NY, Hong Kong on my pda/GPS
6 - My first thought when talking to friends who might be travelling is "Hmm perhaps we could do lunch?" even though that might involve a four hour flight/detour
7 - Flights over 4 hours and less than 8 are referred to as "little flights"

Google maps is my best friend.

I try and do detours to see bands, and as you say a four hour detour for lunch, is no big deal.

Yes the flight across the US is a little flight, much to the surprise of my US contacts. But so is trans-atlantic, it's either a days work, or a nice dinner and a movie, and a nap.

 

[Nathan75]

After reading this thread I was left wondering....

What sort of work do all of you do that warrants such travel?

I'm a teacher/trainer and do some travel, mostly OZ. (About 40 flights YTD)

 

[winetraveller]

After reading this thread I was left wondering....

What sort of work do all of you do that warrants such travel?

I'm a teacher/trainer and do some travel, mostly OZ. (About 40 flights YTD)

I run international sales for and Australian Wine Company, so my job is 100% O/S, in many different countries.

 

[NM]

After reading this thread I was left wondering....

What sort of work do all of you do that warrants such travel?

I'm a teacher/trainer and do some travel, mostly OZ. (About 40 flights YTD)

Have a look at this thread:
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/playground/our-jobs-what-we-all-10645.html

Please continue job/work type discussions in that thread.

 

[Nathan75]

Have a look at this thread:
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/playground/our-jobs-what-we-all-10645.html

Please continue job/work type discussions in that thread.

Will do

:arrow: :evil:

 

[tscharke]

one sign that i have just realised:

When you have most QF flight numbers and airport abbreviations added to your Outlook spell checking dictionary (a result of firing off so many emails to the TA striving for the best flight )

 

[Tooner]

One I know I've mentioned before:

When the SYD/MEL MEL/SYD trip feels just like catching a bus

 

[wallacej]

One I know I've mentioned before:

When the SYD/MEL MEL/SYD trip feels just like catching a bus

In fact, it is shorter than some rides commuters that live in Syd/Mel take on the bus/train....I know where I would rather be... the bus with wings thankyou very much

44 dom flights since Jan 1 this year sure does feel like a bus.... I fly Y, and prefer the back seat... just like my old days at school!!!

​

 

[thomsonjs]

A few more signs:
1. When checking in at the counter, you cant remember where you are going.
2. When you buy cosmetics etc, you buy two of everything (one for home that is rarely used and one for the travel bag)
3. Spending 24 hrs coming to Oz for 4 days (was based in Eu) makes sense as you can see your family and friends
4. You have more friends in cities you visit, then where you live
5. Accidently driving to the airport when you are ment to be going to the office (for a change)
6. You only meet up with friends/colleagues in countries other then where either of you live
7. Most of the clothes you own are bought in airports
8. You know flight numbers, destinations and most importantly rules better then the check in people

 

[Starship]

Loved some (most) of the points, made me get off my backside and register here!

A couple of others:
1/. When you can hire a car at your destination, and you no longer have a need for google maps ie. Washington DC, Denver Co., Brussels.... (or you can give the taxi driver better directions)
2/. Locals ask you for directions, and strangely without hesitation you are able to help them
3/. When flying to the US or Europe from Australia for a one day meeting is not a big issue (shortest time on the ground was 2 hours for a meeting at Atlanta airport - on 2 January, and turning around to come straight home)
4/. There are more calls to your US 'cell phone' than my local mobile
5/. You can sleep better on the plane (even in economy) than you can at home
6/. Hosties ask you to help other people with their laptop adapters as they know you carry the full kit
7/. You plan the trips so that you have time to read / complete all the paperwork you would not have a chance to do in the office.
8/. You unconsciously plan your (QF) flight schedule to arrive or depart the US on a Wed, Fri or Sunday so you can use SFO and avoid LAX, even if it means using United for the next leg.
9/. New baggage restrictions are no brainers because you already travel light

and important in the US
10/. You can mentally do the calculation about whether it is better / quicker to hire a car and drive to the destination rather than do a short air hop, based on your understanding of the TSA delays, flight schedules, expected weather patterns and local traffic conditions.

 

[tscharke]

...
3/. When flying to the US or Europe from Australia for a one day meeting is not a big issue (shortest time on the ground was 2 hours for a meeting at Atlanta airport - on 2 January, and turning around to come straight home)
....

WOW! now that's a mileage run!!!!