Where do these jet setters afford all their travel?

[Anonymous]

I suppose number 2 applies to me, but I do stay in nice places and have nice experiences -- I travel on points and miles, and I'm definitely not alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every "How does ___ afford ____" thread is the same.

1. They have more money than you realize (family money, lucky on investments, etc.)

OR

2. They spend less than you imagine (curated social media creates false impressions)

OR

3. They are in debt more than you realize (second mortgage, credit card debt, etc.)

Or some combination of the 3. Fin.

+1 This. You could end half the threads in this forum by making this post a sticky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Travel churning. New credit card, meet minimum spend to earn bonus, move on to the next card. Never carry a balance, if done correctly.

That or budgeting well and prioritizing.

+1 when done responsibly, this is the way to go. This year we took 3 trips, one of them to Hawaii, all on points earned from CCs.

Does this work with any credit card?

No. Top tier credit cards like AMEX Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve offer the best value. You will have high annual fees but they are waived the first year. You can also use airline cards that offer high sign up bonus points and use that card exclusively. Just type credit card churn into Google and you get a plethora of information.

[Anonymous]

If you scope out deals you can travel almost anywhere on a budget. It's just a matter of planning and patience. Not very hard for the average person to do if you build travel in to your monthly budget and save up credit card points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It’s an anonymous site so you can pretty much say what you want . However I reserve the right to doubt your claim that business/first class is waste of money . It maybe transient as you say but it is nonetheless excruciatingly unpleasant.Moreover, people who can afford business/first seats aren’t looking to save so they can afford more trips , so based on your comments you clearly seem to lack the means to afford that on a regular basis , therefore clearly not the target demographic . The idea that the flying experience on a long haul flight ( even short one) where you can’t even move your knees and run the risk of being trapped next to some mouth breathing morbidly overweight fellow in coach is the same as business class where you aren’t reduced to being the human version of canned sardines is the same is quite frankly pitiful

You do you, honey. I’ll spend my money on things that matter to me.

I’m not sure why you feel the need to insult others who don’t care to waste money on such things. That says a lot about you. It’s like you need to justify your spending to yourself. Do you fly business because you need to feel superior? Again, it’s your money. If that feeling is what you like when you fly, have at it. You way want to consider giving to charity.

The wealthy people (even by DCUM standards) I know fly coach and drive unassuming cars. We all have our priorities.

You’re quite the sad and strange creature , if stating the facts is insulting so be it . You’re desperately pushing the false narrative that coach and business are one of the same thing and such dishonesty should be vigorously contested .No! I’m not better than you because I can afford to fly business whenever I travel. I’d be damned if people like and your barely disguised envy and jealousy are not confronted. You keep insisting that it’s waste of money without providing verifiable and pertinent arguments as to why , of course it was only a matter of time before you brought in that tired trope of wealthy people driving unsssuming cars . You’re not even good at trolling .

DP here, but you sound desperate. The PP means that coach and business are one of the same thing in the sense that you will get from point A to point B, and this is what her goal is. Why are you so emotional about someone's choice to fly coach? It is like a sofa that cost $1000 and $30,000 is the same thing -- it is the sofa and provides you with the place to sit on. You can argue as much as you want that the $30,000 is so superior, and people who think it is a wast of money just jealous and envy, but the reality is: it is still the sofa.

Your interpretation skills are lacking , keep whatever day job you have if at all you’re employed . If PP meant what you say she meant why didn’t she say so? It’s because it’s not what she meant, she clearly alluded to the fact coach and business are similar in experience and further proclaimed that in lieu of business class seats she’d rather take two other vacations . All I did was point out that insinuating business and coach are the same thing flies in the face of reality and that people who can’t afford business class on a regular aren’t concerned about how many vacations they can take


Your sofa analogy is pathetic , if all you can afford is a $1,000 then it’s fine. However let’s not pretend that before long you wouldn’t be on the lookout for a replacement once your sweatshop-made sofa is coming apart like they always do . What are the chances of the $6,000 sofa ( Forget $30k) disintegrating in a short time?

Why are you so aggressive to the other poster? I never said they were the same experience, but you can pay 2-3x as much as I do, and we will arrive at the exact same time. In that sense, they are the same.

You should take a luxury vacation and chill out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It’s an anonymous site so you can pretty much say what you want . However I reserve the right to doubt your claim that business/first class is waste of money . It maybe transient as you say but it is nonetheless excruciatingly unpleasant.Moreover, people who can afford business/first seats aren’t looking to save so they can afford more trips , so based on your comments you clearly seem to lack the means to afford that on a regular basis , therefore clearly not the target demographic . The idea that the flying experience on a long haul flight ( even short one) where you can’t even move your knees and run the risk of being trapped next to some mouth breathing morbidly overweight fellow in coach is the same as business class where you aren’t reduced to being the human version of canned sardines is the same is quite frankly pitiful

You do you, honey. I’ll spend my money on things that matter to me.

I’m not sure why you feel the need to insult others who don’t care to waste money on such things. That says a lot about you. It’s like you need to justify your spending to yourself. Do you fly business because you need to feel superior? Again, it’s your money. If that feeling is what you like when you fly, have at it. You way want to consider giving to charity.

The wealthy people (even by DCUM standards) I know fly coach and drive unassuming cars. We all have our priorities.

You’re quite the sad and strange creature , if stating the facts is insulting so be it . You’re desperately pushing the false narrative that coach and business are one of the same thing and such dishonesty should be vigorously contested .No! I’m not better than you because I can afford to fly business whenever I travel. I’d be damned if people like and your barely disguised envy and jealousy are not confronted. You keep insisting that it’s waste of money without providing verifiable and pertinent arguments as to why , of course it was only a matter of time before you brought in that tired trope of wealthy people driving unsssuming cars . You’re not even good at trolling .

DP here, but you sound desperate. The PP means that coach and business are one of the same thing in the sense that you will get from point A to point B, and this is what her goal is. Why are you so emotional about someone's choice to fly coach? It is like a sofa that cost $1000 and $30,000 is the same thing -- it is the sofa and provides you with the place to sit on. You can argue as much as you want that the $30,000 is so superior, and people who think it is a wast of money just jealous and envy, but the reality is: it is still the sofa.

Your interpretation skills are lacking , keep whatever day job you have if at all you’re employed . If PP meant what you say she meant why didn’t she say so? It’s because it’s not what she meant, she clearly alluded to the fact coach and business are similar in experience and further proclaimed that in lieu of business class seats she’d rather take two other vacations . All I did was point out that insinuating business and coach are the same thing flies in the face of reality and that people who can’t afford business class on a regular aren’t concerned about how many vacations they can take


Your sofa analogy is pathetic , if all you can afford is a $1,000 then it’s fine. However let’s not pretend that before long you wouldn’t be on the lookout for a replacement once your sweatshop-made sofa is coming apart like they always do . What are the chances of the $6,000 sofa ( Forget $30k) disintegrating in a short time?

Why are you so aggressive to the other poster? I never said they were the same experience, but you can pay 2-3x as much as I do, and we will arrive at the exact same time. In that sense, they are the same.

You should take a luxury vacation and chill out.

Aww such a fragile soul . What makes you think someone in business class isn’t aware that someone in coach will arrive at the same destination as he/she? Thanks mr/ mrs obvious ! At the risk of repeating myself , I do believe the discussion was centered on experience not on your water is wet argument of making it to the same destination

[Anonymous]

If you really dedicate yourself to collecting rewards points, you can stretch travel dollars pretty far.

But to do so, you need some money and time/flexibility.

People who are able to make lots of trips tend to have family money, but they are probably spending less than you think.

[Anonymous]

For the "How do they get the time off" question...

DH and I traveled a lot before kids. We had each been working for many years as Feds, and put in a lot of extra time in the office while we were single so we had a lot of leave banked. We had flex schedules (every friday off) and worked for extra credit hours. Work travel also meant travel comp time and annual performance award was credit hours. So we were able to take multiple long vacations without draining our leave bank.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It is best to do these applications strategically, however, as card issuers have their own requirements, such as Chase, who have a rule of no more than 5 cards within the last 24 months. I started with two Southwest cards, earned Companion Pass, then got a Chase Sapphire Reserve for a lot of Chase Ultimate Rewards points and primary car rental insurance. Moved on from there. There are lots of internet resources.

I highly doubt you're able to cycle through so many cards and still have a decent credit rating.

[Anonymous]

Most of my fun traveling friends from my 20s were in a perpetual state of around 20K in credit card debt that they only got serious about once they were trying to get proposals from more level-headed boyfriends. I know this doesn't comport with all the budget-minded people above, but lots and lots of people carry credit card debt and I'm betting many don't admit it.

[Anonymous]

I work a four day work week and my boss is flexible so she often lets me take one Friday followed by a Monday for a four day weekend using no leave. Worst case scenario is I only get a three day weekend or have to take leave.

Like someone posted upthread, I churn and burn credit cards. I've got it down to a science. Earn 50,000 to 100,000 miles or points, spend the minimum, pay the card off every month. Rinse and repeat. I can't remember the last time I paid for airfare. And I take 3-4 big trips a year. I think I've burned over a million miles/points in the last ten years on airfare.

There are tricks, you just have to be willing to learn them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It is best to do these applications strategically, however, as card issuers have their own requirements, such as Chase, who have a rule of no more than 5 cards within the last 24 months. I started with two Southwest cards, earned Companion Pass, then got a Chase Sapphire Reserve for a lot of Chase Ultimate Rewards points and primary car rental insurance. Moved on from there. There are lots of internet resources.

I highly doubt you're able to cycle through so many cards and still have a decent credit rating.

It's not a problem, as long as you stay under 5 credit cards in a 24 month period. And most business cards don't count against that number since they don't show on a personal credit report.

[Anonymous]

Our friend’s cousin is 28 and is always somewhere crazy, and documenting it on instagram. He dropped out of college and got some crazy gig doing IT or computer engineering at some sf startup that was bought by linked in. He made bank and now freelances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) insta and FB are curated - it’s what people want you to think of their life - not what their life really is - the exception are the influencers - but they’re a different subject

2) many of these “jet setters” are fakers (most are, just look at the data). They’re not living it up as much as it looks like. They’re taking budget flights, with multiple connections, with overstuffed carryons, sleeping at budget hotels and hostels, etc. they’re also prioritizing their spend to save for these trips.

3) if that’s what you want to do - do it too - image citation just takes time and desire. I’m taking a international trip with one of my “jet set” friends, and the difference is stark. My travel and accommodations budget is much more than his. I’m flying business, he’s in emailer economy on the same flight. I’m staying at 4 and 5 Star Hotels, he’ s budgeting. The difference is how I enjoy traveling vs how he enjoys it - but in the end, we’re going to the same place and seeing the same stuff. I’ll do this a couple tomes a year, he’ll take like 5 of these and be glamorous on insta...it’s all about projecting an image - and he enjoys it knowing he isn’t projecting reality

It isn’t faking to go to places on a budget. Staying in a 5 Star hotel does not enhance my experience. I could care less about flying business, waste of money. Like you said, he enjoys himself and sees all the same stuff you see. He is projecting reality, which is that I bet he is way more easygoing and fun to travel with!

This. Business class is a complete waste, and 4 and 5 star hotels abroad totally detract from an authentic experience. We've been all over the world and have plenty of money and it never occurred to us to be that silly. Plus if you do that you're surrounded by rich people the whole time, and generally speaking rich people suck to travel with internationally. They're timid, not adventurous, and zero fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people work from home and can therefore work from anywhere. I have friends who have traveled for up to 3 months at a time this way.

Last year I spent a 4 day weekend in the Caribbean in February, a week in Orlando (Disney), another long weekend in New Orleans, and then 4 days/3 nights in Paris.

1) Caribbean trip - flew business, using miles. Paid $150 total for two nights at a beach resort since I split the room with a friend. Spent the other two nights staying at a friends house there.

2) 5 nights in Disney using Marriott points. Took DD and paid under $200 R/T per person and we got upgraded to business both ways. I would have used miles but the flights were too cheap. Daily access to the parks was using a friend of a friend's passes. I paid for meals and other incidentals.

3) New Orleans trip in July during Essence fest. 4 nights, flew down using miles. Split the room with a friend using a discounted rate. Spent about $300 on lodging.

4) Paris trip with DD in October. Most schools were in session (she was on break) so flights were cheap from NYC. We took the bus to NYC, stayed with my best friend, flew direct to Paris. Stayed in an AirBnB right in the heart of Paris. We were a block from Notre Dame and walked to the Louvre leisurely in 20 mins. Flights were $825 once you factored in assigned seating and carryon bags. Flew back to NYC to my friends place. Airbnb was $99/night for a studio apartment. So $1250 for two people once you add on the Greyhound tickets for a 5 night getaway in NYC and Paris.

I spent about 2K total on lodging and airfare for 4 trips and two of those trips included my child.

And I'm in Atlanta for the weekend because I've always wanted to visit and had a Delta credit that I needed to use.

Wow. I'd rather stay home than take most of these trips. A week in Orlando? Put me out of my misery.