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Sacramento, CA: I'm such a stickler for airline miles. Specifically, American Airlines miles. I choose to fly it whenever I can (though it becomes a conflict when Southwest offers more nonstops!) and I have a credit card that accrues miles for every dollar spent. I hoard them until the last possible minute and then do something like...
take my Mom to London for her 64th birthday. You know, whatevs. No big whoop.
But I often forget about this line on my AA account statement that reads "YTD Elite Qualifying Segments." I honestly don't know how they are accumulated, but I do know that for each flight, I am able to check a box that asks me if I want to use them to upgrade (without touching my miles). Normally, I just aim for an exit row and with my 5'2" frame, I have plenty of room. But on a flight such as one from Dallas to Sacramento (a 3 hr. 14 mins. trip), I wouldn't mind having the extra room... and a hot towel to wipe my hands, warm mixed nuts in a ceramic bowl and a friendly flight attendant who asks me, "would you like some wine with your salmon salad, Ms. Snell?" So I cast my request into the universe and hope they're not a completely full flight.
#30: Flight Upgrades
Of course, the only downside to this is when you're doing a boot camp on said flight and can't have that free wine or warm cookies they're offering.
I know, it's a rough life.
