Vanishing Frequent Flyers

I have been in Zürich this week because I’m trying to reduce my travel. In company-speak, I’m must reduce travel expenses. Last week I accomplished that goal by combining trips to London and Frankfurt. It costs less to fly Zürich-London-Frankfurt, with a 3 day stay in London, than it does to do a day trip between Zürich and Frankfurt. [A single airline flies between Frankfurt and Zürich; multiple carries fly the Zürich/London and the London/Frankfurt routes.]

The New Year brought unwelcome news about my Frequent Flyer status. I took seven (7) transatlantic trips last year as well as a veritable myriad of intra-European flights. Nevertheless, somehow I did not qualify for Platinium Elite status on SkyTeam. Equally befuddling, I was unable to retain Senator status on OneWorld. The travel division performed this miracle by ruthlessly negotiating prices so low that ‘reward’ miles didn’t count as “qualifying” miles.

Even worse, I currently have insufficient miles on either alliance to convey both Nazy and myself to the South Pacific (business class). So, since we want to holiday far away this year, we will have to choose to:

· Fly on separate airplanes – hardly romantic;
· Fly peon-class for 24 hours and across 9 time-zones.
· Purchase (ga$p!) bucket-class tickets using miles to upgrade.

There are disadvantages to each option. Of course…

“Couldn’t you just forgo your vacation, Dan?” The reader asks.

“Excuse me?” I reply – bewildered and bemused.

“The shambolic state of the global economy suggests that prudence and caution will be well-rewarded.”

“Nazy and I would be well-rewarded by a vacation in Australia and New Zealand,” I reply.

“The banking industry may collapse before..”

“The planet Venus, pictured at above, might collide with Earth leading to mass extinction – before Nazy and I have been to the South Pacific. It's a good idea to leave now.”