When I first moved from Alaska to Texas, I did not know how to play the game wrt earning miles. I also moved to one of the easiest "bush" places, southwest Alaska, so I stayed as cheap as I could be. However, when I moved to above the Arctic Circle, flights were longer and this was what I called "major league bush", as in life was much tougher up there. I decided to reward myself every time I returned to above the Arctic Circle by using miles and occasionally money. It worked like a charm, because I only flew first class one of three flights.
Mentally it was a great reward, because I was saving and investing for retirement like a man with my hair on fire!!
I was living on next to nothing up there, and for example, when I arrived above the Arctic Circle in July 2021, I thought I would have to work in education until age 67. (I was 56 at the time). I ended up retiring at age 60!
My best moment of airfare was in the summer of 2023, when on one day I purchased with miles and a few dollars flights for the entire school year of 2023-24. That would be two round trips I think.
Alaska Airlines had a great relationship with the credit card and I had 60,000 bonus miles I believe.
Bottom line, you've earned a reward and you don't have to fly first class every flight, but I think you should reward yourself with an occasional first class flight.
Mentally it was a great reward, because I was saving and investing for retirement like a man with my hair on fire!!
I was living on next to nothing up there, and for example, when I arrived above the Arctic Circle in July 2021, I thought I would have to work in education until age 67. (I was 56 at the time). I ended up retiring at age 60!
My best moment of airfare was in the summer of 2023, when on one day I purchased with miles and a few dollars flights for the entire school year of 2023-24. That would be two round trips I think.
Alaska Airlines had a great relationship with the credit card and I had 60,000 bonus miles I believe.
Bottom line, you've earned a reward and you don't have to fly first class every flight, but I think you should reward yourself with an occasional first class flight.
Statistics: Posted by AlaskaTeach — Sat Oct 18, 2025 7:43 pm — Replies 126 — Views 11548