Showing posts with label Gold. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gold. Show all posts

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Gold is Good, Right?



So, as the title of my blog implies, I travel, a lot... In a previous blog I wrote about the size of my passport compared to the normal, standard issue one. Well now I have another battle scar of travel...

The only saving grace of traveling a lot is the frequent flyer/visitor clubs. And for those that travel a lot, getting to "premium" levels of membership has privileges, express check in, priority baggage handling, lounge access and even express security in some airports. My question is, if one attains a "premium" level, is that a good thing or a sign of something else?

Early in June when I flew to Mexico and back I hit my 50,000 mile mark on a Star Alliance airline. For those not familiar with these milestones, this is only counting from the beginning of the calendar year, yup in just over 5 months, I flew 50,000 miles. Since my frequent flyer club is Dividend Miles with US Airways, this makes me a Gold member. They even reminded me that I travel too much by sending me a html e-mail with the gold banner glaring at me.

Now, the really sad thing is this is just the end of June. I currently have over 58,000 miles (Mexico was worth 16,000 alone and they have only credited half the trip so far). Since summer is coming, I only have one trip officially booked which will get me another 2,000 miles. However, my home trip will be on a Star Alliance airline which will rack up 14,000 miles. I also have to make at least one additional trip to the US which will add another 14,000. In total, another 30,000 miles to get a grand total of 88,000 miles. I figure it will be about mid-August when US Airways sends me yet another reminder that I am away from home too much when I get the Platinum topped e-mail after 75,000 miles... If I make one additional trip to the US I will go over 100,000... I wonder what color will be at the top of the "Chairman's Club" e-mail...