Person of Interest: Greg Davis-Kean

Davis-Kean, is the author of The Frequent Miler, which gives tips to travelers on how to earn thousands of air-miles without actually flying. His family has traveled First Class for free for years based on points-earning techniques.

How did you get into “racking up frequent flier miles” and learn the “tricks of the trade” you recommend on your website? I used to travel quite a bit when I worked for Thomson Reuters in software development and technology strategy, and I enjoyed the perks that came with Delta Elite status I earned from flying. One day Thomson Reuters issued a “no travel” decree. We were instructed to hold all meetings over the phone, and I started worrying about how I could keep my airline status. After a few Google searches, I found blogs and forums dedicated to various types of “travel hacks.” I read voraciously. Our first big win was when we stayed three nights for free at the Intercontinental London Park Lane in a room that would have otherwise cost $800 per night. I was hooked!

With the rewards you’ve received, where have you traveled for free in the past few years? We’ve used miles to travel in business or first class to Alaska, Hawaii, Thailand, Costa Rica, Chile, Italy, France, England, Lithuania, and more. The most remarkable trip was when my wife and I spent 1.2 million Virgin Atlantic miles for an all-expense-paid week for two on Richard Branson’s Necker Island.

Do you have a word of advice for people who want to start earning miles? Learn, and go for it. Many are hesitant to jump into the points & miles game due to bad experiences in the past, or because of a sense that it sounds too good to be true. In this case, if you know what you’re doing (the “learn” part), the “too good to be true” stuff really is true. There are easy ways to earn points and miles that don’t require travel. And there are far better ways to use your points and miles than you’d expect. There are many ways to start the learning process, but, of course, I’d recommend starting on my blog’s “start here” page: thefrequentmiler.com/start-here.

Where in Ann Arbor are the best places to gather with friends? In good weather, I love Jefferson Market’s hidden back courtyard for lunch or weekend brunch. TeaHaus is perfect year-round for an afternoon get-together. And for drinks I really enjoy the Ann Arbor Distilling Company, and Bar 327.

What do you miss most when you’ve been away from the city? Lunch at Monahan’s Seafood Market. They have the best fish!

For more information on how to begin
racking up airline points, visit Greg’s blog:
frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/author/frequentmiler

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