Saving My Airline Miles…for a Trip which Will Never Happen

When I was in medical school, I accumulates airline miles because I had to fly back and forth between the medical school campus and where I spent my semester breaks at my parents’ home. When my health declined and I could no longer attend medical school, I diligently saved my airline miles. The process was complex. I had to have activity on my airline miles account once a year to prevent the miles from expiring. I began jumping through hoops.

The airline had a credit card, but the card was not free. It cost $99 a year for the credit card, but for the first year, they would waive the fee. So, I would take out the credit card and immediately make a purchase of $1 or more. Sky miles were credited to my airline miles account, and my miles remained active.

At the end of the one year period, I made another purchase for $1 or more. Again, a few more airline miles were credited to my miles account. I then had to quickly cancel the credit card to avoid being billed $99 because after the first year, the credit was no longer free.

Next, I waited about 10 months. I hoped I would receive a credit card offer in the mail asking me to come back, and once again, the first year fee of $99 would be waived. So, I applied for the card, prayed it would arrive quickly, spend $1 or more and hoped the sky miles were credited to my miles account before one year lapsed from the last time I had airline miles added to my account from the credit card.

I did this process because I wished to one day visit a dear roommate from medical school. I thought what better way to use miles I had accrued in medical school than to use them to see a med school friend. I had enough airlines miles to afford a round trip ticket if I flew at the most inconvenient times.

Recently, a family member was trying to book a flight. He only needed a one way ticket. He refused to fly economy, but he also did not want to pay over $500 for a first class ticket. I checked with the airline. I had just enough airline miles to purchase my relative’s ticket. However, I could not do it. I could not give up these airline miles.

Thankfully, my relative discovered he had airline miles on another airline carrier. He was able to book a first class ticket using his own airline miles.

I decided I should use my airline miles and just be done with trying to keep my airline miles alive. I decided I should go visit my medical school friend this fall.

Shortly after making this decision, I received an email from my friend. She informed me of some “big news”. She was immigrating back to her native country. Her home was sold, and she was packing up the last few things. She was going to be moving very soon.

Tears cascaded down my cheeks. I could not believe the words I was reading. How could this be? I wanted to visit her this fall? Now, I will most likely never see her again. How heart-breaking.

Well, I guess this trip is not going to happen. I feel slightly guilty. Perhaps, I should have been kinder and allowed my relative to use my airline miles. With my miles used up, I would not have felt so gutted that my roommate was moving.

I ponder now what I should do with my airline miles. I cannot go any place too expensive because I do not have that many miles. Also, I only have enough miles for an off-peak, early morning or late at night flight. Perhaps, I can contact another medical school friend and visit her.