Before you start collecting miles, read one ticket
The first step is not finding a mythical perfect card. It is understanding the operating carrier, ticketing carrier, booking class and the programs you may actually use.
Read the storyPERSONAL LOYALTY JOURNALISSUE 001
Making loyalty travel easier to understand.
I'm Alain. This is my evolving field notebook on miles, status, airline and hotel programs. No giant credit-card list. No pretending every mile is worth the same. Let's start with the ticket already in your hand.
FLIGHT NOTE · 00109 AUG 2026
PEKBeijing
FRAFrankfurt
“Read the ticket first.
Then choose where it belongs.”
ALAIN
PERSONAL NOTES
PERSONAL NOTES
EDITOR'S PICK
This issue starts with one ticket
For anyone looking at miles and status seriously for the first time.
LATEST NOTES
On my desk
YECONOMY
What do Y, M and K really mean on a ticket?
Why two people in economy can earn completely different mileage.
10K≠ VALUE
10,000 miles may be worth less than 8,000
Ask whether you can use them before asking how many you will earn.
↑CASH UPGRADE
After a cash upgrade, which booking class earns?
The original fare, upgraded class and final credit can be three different things.
START HERE
Loyalty travel from zero
News expires; a sound method lasts. This six-part path turns a confusing system into something you can learn at your own pace.
Open the complete path- 01Read one ticket8 MIN
- 02Decode booking classes6 MIN
- 03Separate quantity from value7 MIN
- 04Understand alliances and partnersSOON
- 05Book a first awardSOON
- 06Build your own ledgerSOON
A SMALL TOOL
Where should this flight earn?
Enter the operating airline, booking class and route to compare base-member mileage across programs. I built it to support my research; you can use the beta too.
- Base-member results by default
- Archived programs excluded
- Uncertain restrictions clearly flagged