AirplaneThe more I fly, the more I become a slave to those airline miles. The programs the airlines design to keep their most important customers, loyal customers is working on me. I fly Continental and I keep flying them and only them just so I can retain my Elite Status, which I earned in 2008.

I don't often get the first class upgrades like others who are Platinum or Gold, I am just Silver. But it does let you do a few things that 'basic' customers don't get. Things like bonus miles, priority phone line (no long hold times), preferred seating, priority boarding (yes, overhead space), free checked bags and more. So sticking with an airline is important for these reasons.

I feel like I need these options. They say once you fly first class you can't go back. I don't have a problem flying coach, as long as I can pick a nice seat using Seat Guru and a lot of those nice seats are taken first by Elite Access members.

This year, I flew to Israel for the SphinnCon event 2010 on miles (not SphinnCon 2011 announced). You don't earn miles for flying with miles. So the 11,384 miles I normally get to get me Elite Access yearly with ease was not so easy this year.

I have already flown 14,896 miles in 2010, outside of that singe, not counted, 11,384 trip. I have a few more trips booked and scheduled, including 1,438 miles, 2,146 miles, 4,454 miles. That brings me up to 22,934 miles, I am 2,066 short of the 25,000 mile requirement.

Thing is, if I decide to visit the in-laws in St. Louis and I take Continental by the end of the year, I will get 2,180 miles. Thus be 144 miles above the requirement and keep elite status for 2011.

I am a sucker - but at least I admit it.