Are you a frequent flyer?

[sirduncs]

Just curious about whether anyone else has a life in the skies like I do...I work in the travel industry and fly pretty much every week. Usually Europe, short haul but often, next week I go to 3 different countries. Lots of airports. Lots of hotels, lots of longingly gazing into Rolex window displays in Duty Free...

I got a 16610LV in March and it's now started its European tour. Would be interested to know if anyone else travels a lot all the time.

duncs

[Mick P]

Originally Posted by sirduncs

Just curious about whether anyone else has a life in the skies like I do...I work in the travel industry and fly pretty much every week. Usually Europe, short haul but often, next week I go to 3 different countries. Lots of airports. Lots of hotels, lots of longingly gazing into Rolex window displays in Duty Free...

I got a 16610LV in March and it's now started its European tour. Would be interested to know if anyone else travels a lot all the time.

duncs

Duncs

I used to travel Birmingham -> Paris -> once or twice a week for 3 years and grew to dread it.

Now, in my retirement, I fly to Spain 4 times a year and also on various trips to Europe. I see more Rolexes on passengers wrist in aircraft than anywhere else. This has convinced me that the majority of Rolexes are flying at 35,000ft above the ground.

Regards

Mick

[MattSoCal]

For a couple of years, I was working in a different city just about every week, and home on the weekends. All U.S.A. domestic flights though, so no time spent in duty free shops.

The whole thing kind of felt like I commuted to work once a week, and it was usually anywhere from a 2-3K mile commute each way. In some ways, I'm glad for the experience, and in more - I'm glad I don't do it anymore.

[texex91]

Gave that much travel up about 6 years ago...still have 1M miles to use on United.

Hated it at the time and glad I don't do it anymore.

[rr-nyc]

I'm a million miler on Delta as I used to fly several times a week for 15 years - Mostly domestic but still a few trips to Europe each year. I recently cut back my travel significantly to the point where I haven't been on a plane since December.

I actually love it.

[watchwatcher]

Yes, although travel has really slowed this year due to budget constraints. Kind of miss it but at the same time have enjoyed being home with the family this year, too.

[martinr]

Southwest A list. Oakland to Burbank same day round trip about 25 times a year. A thrill a minute.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

I'm a million miler on Delta as I used to fly several times a week for 15 years - Mostly domestic but still a few trips to Europe each year. I recently cut back my travel significantly to the point where I haven't been on a plane since December.

I actually love it.

I'm a Million Miler on United. At one time I was flying from DC to Narita or Osaka once or twice a month on client business. Now we go to London once a year (I buy coach and upgrade with miles); I also booked two first class tickets to Lima, Peru in a couple of weeks using accumulated miles; and we're taking our oldest granddaughter to SFO and LAS in June so she can meet her West Coast cousins. Other than that, we only fly to FLL several times a year.

[Danny83]

Virgin America Gold/Jetsuite sometimes you can fly in a private plane for 500 bucks

[jot_]

Spent a while at a former job travelling once per week. Mostly domestic, sometimes international. Very glad I don't do it anymore.

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by Danny83

Virgin America Gold/Jetsuite sometimes you can fly in a private plane for 500 bucks

I just looked at Jetsuite's website. Have you ever actually gotten one of those deals under $1000? If so, how does it work?

[GerardoG]

Guilty here

[SLRdude]

I used to fly close to 100k miles a year for work, from 2001 until 2008.

Now... Maybe 4 times a year for work and about as many times a year to visit friends, with one of those four being Europe.

I don't think I crack 25k a year those days, and I'm okay with that.
The days of only being home on weekends (if I was lucky) are behind me. While I don't miss it, I got to see a whole lot of places on the company's dime, so I don't regret it one bit.

On the other hand... I work from home 100%, and that gets old quick too.

If I had my way, I'd like to travel once a month, for about three days or so.

Sent from my iPhone

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Danny83

Virgin America Gold/Jetsuite sometimes you can fly in a private plane for 500 bucks

A couple years ago, they would tweet repositioning flights for $295. Problem was finding a ride back!

[JRolex]

Originally Posted by texex91

Gave that much travel up about 6 years ago...still have 1M miles to use on United.

Hated it at the time and glad I don't do it anymore.

Too be honest, I'd kill to travel that much, haha.

[Danny83]

Yes they are just a spur of the moment deals,for those who know it is very cheap sometimes just check the website

[breitlingherst]

Was traveling heavily for work last year, did almost 80k miles including a trip to India. But unfortunately spread out amongst a few airlines, so no big perks. Was able to use cumulative miles on Delta to book a first class ticket for myself and my wife to SFO this Labor Day for a wedding.

Sure I would have preferred to be sleeping in my own bed, but honestly never minded the travel. Rack up the miles, hotel points, and was able to use my personal amex so all the points were mine for free! Always enjoyed flying so it was a pleasant experience for me, even on those 14.5 hours flights to India.

[sirduncs]

I haven't totted up how many miles this year so far, but I think I have done 12 or 13 trips this year, mostly shorthaul Europe. Next week I have London then Germany but have managed to get out of going to Holland too!

One thing is I am struggling to get the balance - between being away and then being home. When I am away a lot of my life seems to go on pause, waiting for me when I get back home.

I also see a lot of Rolex on the plane. It seems to suit the business traveller!

[DiamondJack]

I fly about 12 times a year on European flights plus a few long haul flights and have done so for the last 10 years. None of them for business.........which I probably only fly a few times each year.

I don't particularly look forward to the travel or enjoy it but can't see myself stopping anytime soon.....just have homes in various places and like the variety and lifestyle......

[Soly20]

BA Gold here and BMI gold before that for as long as I can remember. I travel at least 20+ times a year mostly for business but I do tend to extend some of my trips to include mini holidays.

[tfly212]

Delta Diamond Medallion here via a mix of travel and judicious use of the AMEX co-branded cards...actually making this post from 2B on SLC-JFK.

[One Ping Only]

Another Delta Diamond here, although some changes may drop me to Platinum this year.

[sea-dweller]

I've had jobs where I was traveling 5-6 times a month. Now, it's down to 2-3 times a month. Still managed to be a part of Southwest's Frequent Flier club!

[Angrypuppy]

37,000 - 40,000 miles a month.

No status.

This week, SEA-BOS-SFO-JFK-STI-BOS-SEA

[joeychitwood]

Not a frequent flyer, but when I do, it's often a flight across the Pacific. Tokyo, Bejing, Shanghai, Truk, Guam. I'm too cheap to spend $8K on a First Class ticket, so I sit back in Coach swearing to myself that I will NEVER fly 18-26 hours again. It's like being in jail for a day. Headed to Fiji for a dive trip in January.

[Shibumi]

I counted 65 passport stamps in 2 years...

[Ruud Van Driver]

Worldwide, irregular and sometimes very short notice and 99% of that on business responding to shipping/marine casualties and incidents.

I try and get back home to the UK three times a year too.

[zama]

I have done 4 overseas trips (2xUSA, 1xSingapore, 1xNZ) along with 2 interstate trips in last five weeks, not a great fan of travel, my Platinum status has some perks I guess.

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

Not a frequent flyer, but when I do, it's often a flight across the Pacific. Tokyo, Bejing, Shanghai, Truk, Guam. I'm too cheap to spend $8K on a First Class ticket, so I sit back in Coach swearing to myself that I will NEVER fly 18-26 hours again. It's like being in jail for a day. Headed to Fiji for a dive trip in January.

Totally agree. Flying home to America in coach is awful. I try to upgrade to business when I can.

[sickened1]

Yup, anything more than 10 hours then it's business class for me. Also I fly to southeast Asia at least once a year and usually I try to use AA/JAL since I have an AAdvantage card with them.