Thank you. Thank you for stopping by to visit my blog. Thank you for commenting and sharing you experiences. Thank you for the e-mails — expressions of your own thanks, but also your questions, I love answering them and working through puzzles with you, and I love knowing when I’ve contributed in some way to you.
Similar to last year I thought I’d take the Thanksgiving opportunity to express my thankfulness for each of you that reads my blog and interacts with me throughout the year. I’ve said this many times before but I really do consider myself one of the luckiest people, and certainly much more fortunate than I could have ever imagined.
I was a semi-frequent flyer as a young child. My parents divorced when I was young and I flew back and forth between the coasts. I remember boarding planes and looking at first class cabins — not imagining who would pay so much more for the seats (and back then it really was a lot more), and knowing that I would never be one of those people.
And of course I haven’t ever paid for international premium class travel. At least until I bought a China Eastern business class ticket but that cost me less than $100. And a flydubai business class ticket, which cost me less than Emirates coach. (Of course that doesn’t include the countless mistake fares or the British Airways sale that used an AARP discount and either Chase discount or miles-as-payment promotion.)
I’ve been fortunate to travel the world, and to do it in the sort of comfort I couldn’t have imagined. I’ve stayed in remarkable places, met remarkable people, and I’ve seen and experienced interesting things — none of which I could even have imagined growing up or at the beginning of my professional life.
At about age 5 I had family move to Australia. I remember flying American Airlines to visit them — back when they flew Honolulu – Sydney with a DC-10. Continental flights to Australia were cheap back then too.
When I finished college and moved to the East Coast for work, my family gave me frequent flyer miles to come home for holidays. I remember burning my grandfather’s British Airways miles back when you could get peak holiday domestic travel on American Airlines at the saver level.
From a young age I learned that:
- Travel was how you stayed connected to family
- Miles were how you showed someone you cared, especially if you weren’t very good at saying it.
In the past year or so my life has changed tremendously. My wife and I welcomed our daughter into the world. It means my travel priorities change a bit — I’m going to want to redeem more seats, I’m going to worry about infant fares, and I’m careful to make my business trips as quick as possible. I want to be home when I can be.
I posed with my daughter and a TSA agent the first time she went through airport security:
I often travel for Thanksgiving. One of my favorite things is to fly to India over the long weekend to have Thanksgiving dinner with Indians or that’s the answer I’ve given to US immigration authorities upon return to the U.S. when they’ve questioned the trip.
I started this blog in 2002 when I was first documenting my own learning. I wasn’t an expert. I had only 5 years of elite status under my belt. But I knew more than many, and I did get lots of questions about miles and points and it seemed interesting to people. I knew others who were blogging and I thought I had a unique voice to offer (it was mostly political blogs back then). And yet looking back through the archives of earlier posts I didn’t have much of a voice at all!
I’m also deeply shy, which some people can find off-putting when I meet them (thinking that by not being outgoing with them I must not be interested). The written form has allowed me to connect so well with many. And I’m grateful for those connections, although I don’t share nearly as much detail that’s personal many of you know me very well from my writing — certainly my opinions, my quirks, my sense of humor. This hobby has enriched my life in so many ways, including less obvious ones.
This blog has done that for me as well. In many ways it’s still the same personal blog I first started, I write and share what is interesting to me. I usually write as though no one is reading, and I’m shocked when I get a call from an airline’s or hotel’s communications shop because a C-level executive is unhappy with something I’ve said. (It’s happened a lot this year…)
Now there are just a whole lot more people reading the blog than when I started and I appreciate each and every one of you. Even the ones that are trying to insult me! (Here’s what I’ve learned about growing a blog and making money online.)
I don’t always have as thick a skin as I should, but I try my best, because each and every reader has something to teach me or challenge me. And the positive feedback touches me deeply.
So thank you. Thank you. I look forward to continuing to share this journey together, and I appreciate this opportunity to reflect — and to acknowledge.
Thank you!
Cheers for another great year of travel Gary.
Thanks for all the information and fun you shared with us this year just like all other years.
Thank YOU, Gary. You have taught me to be a better, smarter flyer, and because of that, I’ve been able to keep my family and friends close, even when they are far away.
Best to you Gary and all the readers.
Happy Thanksgiving !!!
Thank you for all the information and the personal responses when I needed them.
Thank you! We appreciate your blog as well.
Well, Let Me Thank YOU, Gary!
As my free time has diminished, I’ve cut back on my blog-reading. Yours is one of only two still standing. I always appreciate your content and the mature tone you take. I’ve learned a lot from you, and your blog has helped me to experience travel in a way I’d not thought possible.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving and you family, wherever you may roam!
Happy Thanksgiving to one of the few bloggers I read daily. I consider you my Internet friend.
All my best!
Thank *you,* Gary, for all your helpful and interesting posts! Here’s wishing you and your now-expanded family a happy Thanksgiving.
Thank YOU!
You have taught me so much and pointed me in so many right directions.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Thank you, Gary…IMO, your blog is one of the best!
Happy Thanksgiving! It’s been quite the ride!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and doing the homework for us. I am grateful to you, for the experiences I never would have had, without the knowledge you shared.
Sure, my comments may at times appear to intend an insult, but think about the blog posts that motivate them: typically a bit unfair, agenda driven or lacking credible knowledge. Sometimes we forget bloggers are driven by opinion and we should respect that. Regardless, you have provided to me, a valuable service. That’s the point we need to remember. Thank you.
Thank you Gary!
This reminds me of your every 1000 post review on Flyertalk.
Have a nice Thanksgiving, and keep ’em coming.
dhammer53
Dear Gary, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Your candor and willingness to write the truth, and interest in helping fellow travelers, has earned my admiration and loyalty. All the best, Mel McCombie
That’s pretty cool! Happy Thanksgiving
Thank you @Gary.
New year’s resolution: Read the comments for @Gary followup that might be a question to clarify something which would otherwise be left hanging.
What are the best and easiest points to buy for airline travel
As an everyday reader I also thank you for the great insight into the FF and air travel worlds. Good to know your comments rattle The Chief Cooks and Bottle Washers.
Thank you Gary for all you do, here and the other sites where you lend your knowledge, time and talents. Appreciate your views and insight into travel. I love this green and blue gem of a planet we call Earth and home, and am so blessed to get an opportunity to marvel at its wonder.
Thank you Gary for all the help, advice and answers to my emails. You’ve helped me learn a lot for which I am grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and all best wishes for the Holiday Season and New Year, too!
As the great Don Pedro Vargas used to say: muy agradecido muy agradecido muy agradecido. Thank you for the wonderful information you share with us
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Gary. I’ve been reading your blog for quite a few years and have reaped the rewards of your expertise. Thank You! What a blessing to be able to understand first hand how fellow mankind all over the world live and dream the same as we. So many withstand unthinkable circumstances yet preserver with love for others and hope in their hearts. Wishing all the best to you and our fellow travelers – may we be able to bridge the gap of hatred and bigotry one encounter at a time.
Thanks for all you do, Gary! I got into the miles game about 10 years ago largely because of you and 110+ free round trips later, it’s really enriched our lives. Mainly we just have just used points and miles to visit family when otherwise we would have had just used cash (such as right now as I write from my in-laws’ in Indiana). But some of these trips we probably wouldn’t have made if we had to pay, and definitely some of the real VACATIONS would simply have not happened without your guidance (in particular, the Boston-Dublin Aer Lingus for a family of 5 for 102,500 BA Avios). It has truly enriched our lives.
So thank you again!
Adam
Edison ‘96
Thank you Gary!
Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. Wishing you and your family all the best.
Congratulations on the baby, Gary!
A growing family is a beautiful thing.
Thank you for the points/miles knowledge you continue to share.
Yes, a HUGE thank you for all your great and useful travel information. I’ve learned so incredibly much from being a daily reader of your blog. Keep up the great work!!!
How very kind of you to thank us, when it is you who do so much for us. I doubt I shall ever achieve high status as a traveler, but I have learned a lot from your blog and appreciate it. Now that I am in my 70s, my trips to Panama are made in first class on American Airlines. It’s the only airline which flies out of Roswell, New Mexico. My hotels are not “first class”, but sufficient for my needs and I enjoy reading about the very fancy ones for the rich and famous. Blessings and safe travels to you