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White Collar Travel: Three perspectives on business travelers and their miles
What would you do with 300,000 frequent flier miles in your account – not to mention enough hotel points to get you 10 days in the blissful destination of your choice? Your imagination is probably running wild, as mine did when I got my first travel-intensive gig a decade ago. I had visions of southern France: soaking in the Mediterranean sun, roulette in Monte Carlo and smoking Cuban cigars from a balcony overlooking the ville. Six months later, I fantasized about sleeping in my own bed for three nights in a row, in a one bedroom apartment I shared in a suburb of Boston. Eventually, I did burn most of my miles, some of them to Nice and Monaco, but not under the circumstances I expected. Along the way, I saw three major attitudes that business travelers had toward the points and miles they'd collected.
1. Points are to be amassed, not used
Among the hardcores, this was the norm. We were all engaged in an unspoken race, the point of which was to make the numbers ever higher. Strangely, this exercise was separate from status. Points are for "winning," status is about comfort. As far back as 1999, a client mentioned to me that he'd overheard two guys in a restaurant swapping astronomical numbers. He asked me, "Will they ever use those miles?" I just shook my head "no" and let out a mouthful of smoke.
2. My day will come
Road warriors who have plans to leave the life at some point think about consumption. In a few years – when they get "normal" jobs – they'll take a few mind-blowing trips ... in style. Exotic locations, first class seats and unimaginable luxury are the salient objective, and there may be plans for the girlfriend/boyfriend or spouse who tends to materialize shortly after life on the road comes to a close. The major risk is burnout: these folks need to get off the road before they find the prospect of travel under any circumstances utterly loathsome.
3. Go away instead of getaway
I ran into a few people who had but one dream: watching it all expire. They miss their families and crave a normal life. I remember one of my bosses reflecting, "The only thing better than watching 'em get higher will be sitting back and watching 'em expire."
Among the hardcores, this was the norm. We were all engaged in an unspoken race, the point of which was to make the numbers ever higher. Strangely, this exercise was separate from status. Points are for "winning," status is about comfort. As far back as 1999, a client mentioned to me that he'd overheard two guys in a restaurant swapping astronomical numbers. He asked me, "Will they ever use those miles?" I just shook my head "no" and let out a mouthful of smoke.
2. My day will come
Road warriors who have plans to leave the life at some point think about consumption. In a few years – when they get "normal" jobs – they'll take a few mind-blowing trips ... in style. Exotic locations, first class seats and unimaginable luxury are the salient objective, and there may be plans for the girlfriend/boyfriend or spouse who tends to materialize shortly after life on the road comes to a close. The major risk is burnout: these folks need to get off the road before they find the prospect of travel under any circumstances utterly loathsome.
3. Go away instead of getaway
I ran into a few people who had but one dream: watching it all expire. They miss their families and crave a normal life. I remember one of my bosses reflecting, "The only thing better than watching 'em get higher will be sitting back and watching 'em expire."
Be sure to check out Episode 5 of Travel Talk TV, which features a Santa Cruz beach adventure; explains why Scottish money is no good; shows how to cook brats the German way; and offers international dating tips!
Filed under: Business, North America, France, Monaco, United States, Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Paul Mar 18th 2010 5:53PM
There is a 4th type... Those who use their frequent flyer miles to get products instead of travelling. I know not all programs offer this but I've been able to get a PS3, XBox 360 and 2 DS consoles (I sense a pattern here) so far but depending on the program there's also kitchen items, sunglasses, movie/theater vouchers, TV's etc. etc.
Tom Johansmeyer Mar 18th 2010 5:54PM
Good point, Paul. I scored some shirts that way but really put most of my miles to vacations (eventually).
scot marsh Mar 21st 2010 8:51AM
with the merging and rule changes that are taking place in the industry (at least with my former favorite carrier) miles and vouchers are about the only perk left for short distance frequent flyers. my vouchers tend to expire (who wants to get in a plane and stay at a hotel on their time off) and my miles are starting to pile up again, still a little under half a million, but guess i should use 'em.
my sport is to see how decent a family vacataion for 4 i can take for how little money. so far the best was an $800 week in Curacao. $200 for an excursion, $100 for sightseeing, the rest for dinners and junk the kids just had to have. the flight, hotel, and car were freebies. still would have been nice to stay home and do some yard work.
Tom Johansmeyer Mar 21st 2010 8:53AM
@Scot that's pretty wild, actually. Interesting "sport."
k9waste Mar 21st 2010 9:29AM
I recall back in the 80's, a person with a 100,000 miles was considered a God.
Karen Mar 21st 2010 10:32AM
Can you give them away....to someone who desperately needs them? Like me? :)
Susan Mar 21st 2010 11:11AM
I don't know if you can give them away anymore as flying has become so much more restrictive..Back in the 80's, my husband worked on oil rigs all over the world he used to fly everywhere and we racked up miles. We used to give them to my mother, his parents and family and still have left over for us. As for not stepping foot onto another plane, I am sure he understands that as well..He was pretty excited when the time came to give up the world flying life, that time came when our first child was born..Some might envy it, but it does take its toll..
ScotwithoneTeee Mar 21st 2010 10:42AM
I am currently accepting skymile donations, so I can go see the pretty girl I met in California!
Years ago I was amassing them faster than I cared too... and I gave them away... hoping that karma comes back to me. Just hit the reply button if you are my benefactor! Thanks!
Pammie May 25th 2010 12:09AM
Did you get a donor for the miles you needed.
I too am in need of miles and would like to find a donor who's miles are about to expire and they can't use them fast enough.
ScotwithoneTeee May 25th 2010 10:07AM
No one responded.... good luck, hope you find someone. S
Curt Mar 21st 2010 10:56AM
Did he really say HIRE instead of HIGHER???
Al Mar 21st 2010 11:02AM
I fully understand his comments as does anyone that travels a lot. I've accumulated between 6 and 7 million FF miles over the past 25 years. I'm lifetime elite on Delta and American plus Chairman's Preferred (top level) in US Airways. Currently I only have around 1.2 million miles left in my accounts as I have taken some very nice trip (Business class for 2 to Australia, First class to Bermuda, etc) but I run a national practice and am on the road all the time. Air travel has become so painful and difficult (even when you are upgraded all the time) that having all the points expire and not setting foot on a plane again is very attractive. Unless you live the life you can't understand this but the story is right on point.
pete Mar 21st 2010 11:55AM
I used my points to upgrade to Business class on long trips. I mean looonnnngg trips. Flying coast to coast is not that bad in coach, but flying LA to Japan, or NY to Europe or Miami to South America can really cramp one's style, not to mention legs, back and attitude. After about my first year, I alwasy up'd to Business. I flew First class one time. It seemed somebody was waking me up every 20 minutes for cheese, chocolate, "like something to drink," etc. Flying time was the only time when I could catch up on reports and record keeping, then nod off for as much rest as I could get.
When it all ended I used what points I had left for things like bikes for the famly, PSP, and other toys. What pizzed me off most about the whole system was that I could only take a maximum of $300 in savings bonds and/or cash payout.
Doug Campbell Mar 21st 2010 1:15PM
If you have frequent-flier miles racking up and you want to contribute to a good cause, you can donate your unused miles to United States soldiers and their families. The organizations Fisher House and Operation Hero have teamed up and work with airlines to give injured soldiers free trips home to visit their families. If a soldier is too hurt to travel, the miles can be given to his family so they can visit him. So if you want to support soldiers in need, there are ways to easily donate your unused frequent-flier miles.
Check out http://www.ehow.com/how_4928367_donate-frequentflier-miles-soldiers.html