Flying Gold

My friend Palomino thinks frequent flyer programs are a hoax. "It's just another means for solicitors to obtain your contact information!" he said. Nevertheless, I convinced him to sign up. After a roundtrip to China, he declaimed "What good are those points I earned on that trip?!"

What he doesn't realize is that it starts to pay off when you've logged at least three trips across the Pacific Ocean - or across any great distance for that matter. First, you get priority when checking-in at the airport. Have you ever seen the check-in lines at the ticketing counter around the holidays? And when you did, didn't you envy the fellow who cut right to to front of the line to check his bags? Yeah, that someone was ME!

Second, have you noticed that airlines have now designated bulk-head rows and emergency exit rows as "Economy Plus" seating? It's still economy, but you'd have to pay an extra $200 if you want to the luxury of stretching out your long legs. I don't have long legs, but I do get up to use the lav quite often.

Third, have you ever observed a peon, unsuspecting economy traveler get called to the podium at the gate, only for her to turn around with an ear-to-ear grin, holding a crisp, brand new boarding pass, and then entering the aircraft through the First Class doors? That's ME!

Why? Because I am what the industry calls an "elite" frequent flyer, having flown roundtrip across these glorious United States and across the Pacific Ocean for a total of five times in the last three hundred and sixty five days.

Here's living proof. My last trip to Micronesia and the Philippines.

Knowing that I'd have to pay for a boxed lunch on the fligh from Seattle to Guam, I packed a healthy sandwich and fruits from home. Oh, and my friend, The  Author, gave me some cookies and Twizlers to munch on.

But who wants a plain, night-old sandwich on the verge of sogginess, when you have all this on the menu!                   

  

Ah, Guam. I was told at check-in that upgrades are not given on flight in Micronesia. But at the gate, I was presented with a crisp brand new boarding pass when the one I was originally issued would not go through the reader. So from Guam to Truk, this was what I had for breakfast.                           

So is it worth signing up for a frequent flyer program? 

Yes. 

The catch?

Fly the airlines that honor that program.

And you're good to go gold!

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