What makes a "Frequent" flyer?

[TanyaGordon]

Hi, I'm new to your site, and it looks like there is heaps of really great information on it that will come in handy. Hopefully I can provide some in the future too.

I'm just wondering how much you guys fly? I thought I was a "frequent" flyer, I've racked up 61 flights so far this year, with a few more booked before xmas. But it looks like some of you fly a lot more than that! I thought I was the only crazy one.

 

[moa999]

Tanya,
Welcome to AFF.
At 61 you are probably more than most on this Board, but not some.

Hopefully you can get some good ideas here on how to maximise your points, status and enjoyment on your flights.

In my mind AFF is less about the frequency, but more about the interest

 

[ozmerish]

In my mind AFF is less about the frequency, but more about the interest

I'd agree with that point. With the amount of travel I do, my friends think I'm nuts spending my "free" time reading about it in this forum and FT. What I try to convey to them is that this is a brilliant resource that helps make travel easier and more enjoyable.

 

[simongr]

Can. Worms. Open.



On that other site (FT) there are people who don't think you are frequent flyer unless you fly 200K+ BIS miles per year. I personally don't subscribe to that theory

With 61 flights you certainly blow me away - I am onloy at 34 for the year, but they are mostly long haul so that bumps up the miles quite a bit

I come here as it is a great place to share experiences with similar minded folk - people who don't lfy a lot don't really understand what it is like.

Hopefully you will be able to use the site to get some of the benefits that I have been able to get - F seats, RTW in J and free trips for mrssimongr

Cheers

S

 

[TanyaGordon]

Thanks Simongr.

Yeah, didn't mean to offend anyone. I was just wondering how much people travel.

Some of the articles I've read on this site are excellent, and will make my travel life much easier. So thanks to all the contributors.

My travel is mostly domestic, with a few long hauls in there too. But it's all work. My friends think I have the best job, and it is hard to explain that flying for work isn't like flying for fun. It's just Airport, Hotel, Newspaper office, hotel, airport! (repeat..over and over and over again.)

 

[mzy]

One of the things that amazed me about this site when I found it earlier in the year was the number of people that actually tracked the details of their travel. Since then, I have done a great deal of travel and spent many hours in airport lounges and in hotel rooms, and I too now keep track (what else do you do?). At last count I had made 62 flights this year and spent just over 14 days in the air, plus many more sitting in lounges and waiting to take off. I guess I am a "Frequent" flyer. Next week should be my last trip for the year and I am seriously looking forward to staying home over Christmas and enjoying the sunshine.

Cheers...M

 

[straitman]

Thanks Simongr.

Yeah, didn't mean to offend anyone. I was just wondering how much people travel.

Some of the articles I've read on this site are excellent, and will make my travel life much easier. So thanks to all the contributors.

My travel is mostly domestic, with a few long hauls in there too. But it's all work. My friends think I have the best job, and it is hard to explain that flying for work isn't like flying for fun. It's just Airport, Hotel, Newspaper office, hotel, airport! (repeat..over and over and over again.)

TanyaGordon,

I really don't think you seriously offended anyone.

At 61 flights you are well and truely up there. (I've had 19 flts) The real aim for you now is to get the maximum benefit out of what's available and that is what this site is all about.

Good luck and we look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[ozmerish]

No offense here

Welcome to AFF and enjoy the site!

 

[littl_flier]

In my mind AFF is less about the frequency, but more about the interest

Welcome to AFF Tanya. I have to agree with Aubs here and I think this site is about those of us who have a love for flying and the mechanics of FF programs and optomisation of them. I've only flown about 30 sectors this year but I have a huge passion for flying and find it genuinely interesting to have an idea of how airlines work, what seat I can expect to allocated based on my status level, how the upgrades work etc. I think we all just have a common interest and love to contribute and help each other.

I look forward to your contributions and again, welcome to AFF!

Cheers,
littl_flier

 

[JohnK]

Frequent flyer would have a different meaning for most people.

This year, Jan-Oct, I have flown 67 sectors and just over 80,000 miles. Not as much as some people on this forum or Flyertalk but a lot more than most. I would like to be able to fly at least once a month and I consider myself lucky if I achieve this goal.

 

[drron]

Another welcome TanyaGordon.I've surprised myself this year but am only up to 28 flights so far with another 8 planned before years end.However from this and similiar forums I will end the year as an AA explat and another 7 members of my family platinum.1 family 8 successful plat challenges!
Probably the most interesting thing though is that with the knowledge you get here travel has become a lot more enjoyable.

 

[futaris]

Close to 60k total miles this year for me, but only 27 sectors so far (see BA97). In the past I've only managed 10-20k max, so it's been a big year for me.

Haven't managed to get to a second tier in any FF program ever, but I've managed to get a few good deals thanks to people on here and flyertalk.

Would have loved to get AA Plat earlier this year...

 

[Shano]

By the end of the year I should be just over 60 flights and 75,000 BIS miles.

All of my travel is in Y except for those segments where I have been able to use points to UG to J. This does make for much more pleasant travel.

I have managed to retain platinum for another year (3 years in total now, although 1 year I was comp'd) with this years requalification only taking 6 months.

The information gained from this site has certainly helped me to achieve this.

 

[QF WP]

My travel is mostly domestic, with a few long hauls in there too. But it's all work. My friends think I have the best job, and it is hard to explain that flying for work isn't like flying for fun. It's just Airport, Hotel, Newspaper office, hotel, airport! (repeat..over and over and over again.)

Welcome TanyaGordon. Hmmm, you weren't the scribe that interviewed Dave Noble a few weeks back for some articles, were you??

Now back to your original question. Trust me, 61 flights is probably higher than the median member here. I can totally relate to the mostly domestic travel (as he sits here in MEL QP typing away)...

 

[Mal]

61+ flights is an impressive effort for the year.

I've never worked out what makes a frequent flyer, and people have lots of different opinions as to what one is. My Qantas card says 'Frequent Flyer', so perhaps I am one after all!

I'm currently on about 46 flights/79000 miles for the year so far. I think that will end up about 50 flights total, with the miles being between 81000 and 90000 depending on whether I organise a trip away at the end of the year or not.

I see this site as being great in many ways -
1. I share a like interest with people who help me as a support group for my addiction
2. I learn huge amounts from the various posts here (and another forum I visit). This ranges from how to get a visa in some far flung country, to what hotels to avoid in Sydney.
3. People are normally very friendly and will go out of their way to assist when you post a question. I've met about 10 of the regulars here on various occasions, and have enjoyed meeting them.
4. The tips about how to maximise status, earn extra points, and cheap ways of doing things are great.
5. It's Australian centric, so the tips often apply to me rather than an American with some kind of American credit card.

Anyways, welcome to AFF!

 

[Dave42]

This year I've done 3x US trips, 1x Asia trip, 4 domestic trips and I'm off to Bangkok next week, so compared to some here I am a sort-of-frequent flyer, but to others (like my mum) I appear to be a super frequent flyer.

But given that every trip is discount economy, I will just fall over the line and requalify for QF silver again this year. So I guess it depends whether you measure frequency by sectors or QF SC's...

 

[straitman]

Perception is reality :!:

 

[htchapman]

43 for me so far this year, mainly AKL-SYD, SYD-AKL. Including four SYD-LHR return and throw in a few domestic AU.

61 is definately a FF Tanya.

 

[serfty]

I'll toss something up in ther air:

A Frequent Flyer is someone who in a year:

- Travels a minimum of 20 air segments OR

- Travels a minimum of 40,000 air miles.

Opine at your leisure ...

 

[NM]

I suggest that anyone who attains the requirement for OneWorld Sapphire (earned, not challenged) or OneWorld Emerald (or equiv status levels in any FF program) could be called a Frequent Flyer.

And some people who fail to reach those status levels may still be frequent flyers based on a significant number of discounted domestic sectors.

This year I will do 33 flights and attain AA Executive Platinum status. So not a huge number of flights, but certainly anyone reaching EXP would have to qualify as a FF.