I know, I “drank the Kool-Aid”, “bought into the marketing hype”, “sold out to the man”.  I just booked my annual year-end trip to Nowhere to ensure my elite-status mileage qualifications are met – guaranteeing I am loved and adored by my favorite airline for one more year. Hey, what can I say, they just make me smile!

Some might say, I realized the benefit of being a loyal customer and as a flyer of the skies know how to ensure  -for the most part - my travels are smooth, consistent and efficient. Others might say, airlines should do this regardless of how much money you spend with them and how many miles are accrued.

Here is the great thing about “buying in” and playing the mileage game – it pays off…if you are a frequent traveler.  And the other priceless benefit received – my annual flight to Nowhere always leads to Somewhere.

Every time I take this flight I meet new people, experience new places, find restaurants or bars, I might never have wandered into. I read a new book, take some down time for myself, and just enjoy the flight.

Sometimes I have flown to an airport on a morning flight, book in hand, gotten off the plane, and within 2 hours connected to my return flight. It was how I chose to spend my day.

With no agenda or definitive plan in mind I take to the skies – one time a year – I just go someplace for the pure journey of the trip. Not the destination.

This year, however, the plane is taking me to New York City – and it will be a slightly different - as this year as I am taking a frequent traveling friend with who has never seen the glistening lights on the tree at Rockefeller Center.

So the annual journey is turning into an actual destination trip – I’m kind of nervous – but let the adventure begin and the miles accrue!