1 the 30-year love affair with frequent flyer miles* 1 * ok, there were one or two rough years

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3 30 things/30 years 3

4 bonus pre-registration. i kind of liked the days when i earned bonus miles and points without ever knowing why. and while i now have to stay on top of things to make sure im enrolled in the right bonuses, there are enough places that i can learn this fromso were good. 4

5 mileage expiration. i never changed programs because of expiring miles, nor did i ever consider it when choosing a program. i became a bit unhappy when my miles expired, but I got over it. 5

6 peoples express. who would have ever thought that as a backpacker and budget traveler i would ever have a chance to earn free travel. guess its not all for the travelers in the suits was a very good year for me... sorry, got to run, meeting some friends at the hostel. 6

7 no. when I saw comedian david spade in the capital one credit card miles commercials saying no to the requests of customers trying to redeem their frequent flyer miles for awards, i laughed and then I left... my current frequent flyer credit card. 7

8 first to leave the light on. man does not live by miles alone. i loved it when travel became a two-step program thanks holiday inn for convincing me to choose you for points in

9 i have heros. i want to grow up to be like pudding guy. i want spend like mrpickles. i want to think like beaubo. i am george clooney. i am up in the air. 9

10 no safety net. the world is not always fair to me. i lost my miles for the first time in 1983 when braniffs metroplex program failed along with the original airline. ive since lost miles and points with aloha, ansett and ataand Im still in the As... 10

11 one word: plastics. it was october 1985 when one of my business friends told me that his unique credit card just got more unique. his credit cardDiners Club. the uniqueness? something to do with frequent flyer miles. never heard of it … never heard of them. 11

12 flightFUND. im not sure im getting why this airline wants to be different. earn miles based on how much i pay for my ticket vs. how far i fly? its 1987 so maybe that has something to do with it. but a few of my friends dont seem to mind it so maybe it isnt all bad. habits are hard to breakwell see. 12

13 flyertalk. heres everything and more that the airlines never taught me about earning miles. i never realized there were so many other people who loved frequent flyer miles the same way I do. i will never sit in coach again. 13

14 fly three, fly free. i love it when airlines and hotels give me reasons to travel. sure, i got my normal have- to-travel trips, but when there is the carrot... im hungry to nibble on it. 14

15 triple miles. i remember 1988 well. i flew for no reason at all other than to earn more miles. imagine, triple miles for all flights flown. weekends spent shuttling between Dallas-Houston. now they call it a mileage run. 15

16 HR While i dont follow legislation too much, i was always intrigued by the possibility of the IRS wanting to tax my frequent flyer miles. nice to see that even our representatives are greedy and protective about their own miles. 16

17 passages. i never understood why an airline would choose to develop a frequent flyer program designed strictly for their premium class passengers. think Id change airlines to pay more? im a businessman too. 17

18 vs. wolens. pretty cool when even the highest court in the land (the supreme court) says that frequent flyers have rights against program changes without noticealbeit at the state court level. 18

19 member since. while credit may have its limits, it also has its choices. when the centurian on one of my american express cards decided to award me miles and a choice of various airlines and hotels to convert my miles into, i listened. 19

20 aaim higher. when all of a sudden i could earn miles for mortgages and dining and any number of things that didnt seem relative to my travel, it literally changed me into a more connected memberthough a more confused one at that. 20

21 freddie awards. im a consumer. i love it when i get a chance to tell others where I get value from. i have a voicelisten to me and my crowd. 21

22 brand. i cant remember when it was, it all happened so casually. sure, in the early days i called it the american airlines AAdvantage program, but for the longest time, its just been AAdvantage to me. 22

23 shareholder value. they can say all they want about Wall Street, but when it comes to shareholder valuei still think im the shareholder though my name is not on the stock certificate. 23

24 star alliance. im just sayingit was the star alliance that really introduced me to the worldas in around the world. really, SAS isnt a software company? best thing ever since an extra-large wallet for program member cards. 24

25 save skymiles. i dont like it when programs change things, especially when they dont do a good job explaining it to me. i saw the movie Network and loved the line im mad as hell, and im not going to take this anymore. we also shouted from our windows... 25

26 more money, more miles. ok, I admit it, i didnt have enough miles. and my next trip wasnt for months so i guess your frequent flyer program is of no use for me. what? i can buy miles without flying to top off my account? sign me up. seems expensive, but what do i know? whats my limit? Whats the point(s).com? 26

27 in need. in deed. i put money in the red kettle every christmas. i have given to the red cross. every dollar helps these causes. and in 1990, every mile started to help these and other causes. charity begins in my frequent flyer account and it does make me feel better. 27

28 red for no, green for yes. has there ever been any way other than redeeming my miles online? if there was, i cant remember it. i love self-servicei seem to get better results. 28

29 e. my how times have changed. i used to read all my newsletters which programs so diligently printed and mailed to me. today, that same information fights for attention in my overfull inbox. google is my friend when i need to find something out about my program. sorry. 29

30 saver this. boy was 1988 a year to remember. along with capacity controls and blackout dates, united mileage plus introduced a saver award for me at only 20k mileslater changed to 25k. all I know is that it remains my most popular award choice. getting more for less. 30

31 want ads. years ago i noticed dozens if not hundreds of ads in newspapers seeking to buy my frequent flyer miles. today, my miles are listed on craigslist next to the used washer and dryer. or on eBay wrapped in a white envelope. 31

32 status match. for many years i did not know that i could leave you and take my status with me. miles are one thing, but my gold card? love you or leave you, its nice that for every one of me that leaves there is likely another taking my place. thanks. 32

33 pay at the pump. i suppose the idea of selling me stuff at the kiosk including more miles and more legroom is a pretty good ideano argument here. but could you ever possibly guess that the more miles i have, the more miles I want. fill it (my account) up 33

34 happy birthday AAdvantage*

35 one final voice of the customer* 35 * yes, every customer

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37 the end* * really