If you tire of the miles and points threads that pervade throughout FlyerTalk, how about taking a brake and steering towards the Odd Driving Customs thread?

Reading that thread is key to learning more about the driving customs, habits and sheer engine-uity of shifty characters around the world who cross the line when it comes to the way they drive. Some may say that they are not exactly “running on all cylinders”, if you know what I mean.

Go ahead — yield to the temptation, park yourself in a nice cozy spot and read that thread.

Usually when FlyerTalk member rcs85551 posts something in the Delta forum, not only is his information quite valuable, but he also regularly scoops news on FlyerTalk pertaining to Delta Air Lines.

The 2006 PM 125K MQM Threshold benefits promo thread is no exception.

If you have acquired greater than 125,000 Medallion Qualification Miles this year on Delta Air Lines, not only are you already a Platinum Medallion Delta Air Lines SkyMiles member until February 2008 (and have been so for the past 50,000 Medallion Qualification Miles), but you also have a choice of “thank you” gifts from Delta Air Lines:

• 25,000 bonus Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

• 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles carried over to 2007
• 12 month Crown Room Club membership

Read the 2006 PM 125K MQM Threshold benefits promo thread for details on how to take advantage of this opportunity…

I have been to the home of FlyerTalk member obscure2k. Does that count?

Actually, FlyerTalk member gt_croz asks this question in the What’s the most obscure place you’ve been to? thread.

In response, FlyerTalk members have been to such places around the world as far away (or as close by) as Lamu, Ochopee, Merzouga, Dhahran, Sanpokumura, Nagri, Esquipulas, Suzdal, Kribi, Kashgar, Korhogo, Armento, Afsin, Anegada, Cabinda, Cochiguaz, Zipolite, Shkodra, Plzen, Bamfield, Bhramanburia, Peshawar, Madurai, Arviat, Jahore Bahru, Biak, Svalbard, Pig — and even Hell!

Of course, as a FlyerTalk member, you know exactly where these places are located — correct?

If not, you could create a guessing game out of this — but perhaps a better idea is to read the What’s the most obscure place you’ve been to? thread and find out!

After reading the entire thread, your next assignment is to go to these obscure places. Find out what airlines and airline routes you need to get to these places, and then find a place to stay. I wonder where is the nearest Hilton hotel to Korhogo…

By the way, does the portion of my attic that is above the shower in my bathroom count? Very few people have ever been there…

In response to what FlyerTalk member GreerApproach just posted in this “blog” today, I felt compelled to introduce two FlyerTalk threads: The FlyerTalk Travel Trivia Forum and The FlyerTalk Road Network Forum threads.

Yes, I am to blame for launching both of them — but please allow me to explain my rationale.

I launched The FlyerTalk Travel Trivia Forum thread because I felt that the more one knew about geographic locations and places in the world, the more one would feel compelled to travel to them. For example, while it is not exactly an obsession of mine, I try to be in the northernmost place or the highest place or the oldest place in the world or that part of the world. Knowing how obsessive many FlyerTalk members can be, I figured who better than to ask and answer trivia questions than fellow FlyerTalk members?

As for The FlyerTalk Road Network Forum thread, that was a “spin-off” of all of the highway and road questions asked in The FlyerTalk Travel Trivia Forum thread. For road aficianados such as me, I believed that a thread dedicated primarily to roads and highways around the world was needed.

There you have it.

Next time you want to know about, ask or answer some travel trivia in general or pertaining to roads and highways, please stop by and visit one or both of the aforementioned FlyerTalk threads.

Usually, one of the benefits of reaching Elite status in the frequent traveler program of your choice is the amenities, such as relaxing in the private Lounge and enjoying free food and beverages.

However, imagine the surprise of FlyerTalk member sbtinme, who was served a bill for $10.00 for two club sodas, one of which was so full of ice that sbtinme had to order another one.

sbtinme, who is a veteran guest of this lounge, never knew that the two club sodas would cost any money. After all, this is not hard liquor or wine about which we are discussing here.

Frankly, if two soft drinks cost $10.00 plus a tip for the Lounge attendant, I would rather skip the lounge and buy my own soft drinks, as they are less expensive anywhere else — even at a restaurant!

What’s next — a fee for reading month-old magazines — or, perhaps, a coin-operated television set?

What is the point of a Lounge if one has to pay for the amenities associated with it?

Read more about this developing story in the Charging for soda in Club Lounges?? thread…

You could go to the DiningBuzz! forum and find out what FlyerTalk members think about different types of food, restaurants and the cities in which they are located — and you may just find what you need as a result of your search…

…or you could even go to the FlyerTalk forums devoted to specific regions and destinations of the United States and the world to find that elusive perfect meal that will satisfy your appetite.

However, did you know that there is an area of FlyerTalk where one can look at reviews of restaurants around the world posted by fellow FlyerTalk members based on their personal experiences?

Furthermore, if you do not feel like going out to eat and would rather prepare a meal, did you know that there is a “cookbook” area entirely devoted to recipes posted by fellow FlyerTalk members called RecipeTalk?

In fact, you are cordially invited to post a restaurant review or a recipe which you may want to share with fellow FlyerTalk members.

It just goes to show that FlyerTalk members never can bite off more than they can chew when it comes to food!

No, I was not referring to that. Get your mind out of the gutter.

I was referring to Upper Deck vs Main Deck.

No, that FlyerTalk thread is not about where in a stadium one prefers to sit in the stands, nor is it about those people who are fortunate enought to have two levels of decks on the back of their homes. It is not even about the preference of cards for poker players.

If you have ever seen a Boeing 747 aircraft, you would notice that the front end of the aircraft has two levels: the upper deck and the lower, or main, deck.

Find out which deck FlyerTalk members prefer the most whenever they travel. Of course, if you already have a preference based on personal experience, please feel free to post in that thread.

You might just have the upper hand on the discussion…

Many FlyerTalk members would do almost anything for that elusive upgrade — especially to destinations such as Hawai’i.

Imagine someone adamant enought to not only refuse to be upgraded on a flight, but actually take the trouble to contact the airline to relinquish the confirmed upgrade once it had already been issued!

How bizarre!

Why in the world would anyone be unhappy with an upgrade?

Find out in the Unhappy about being upgraded. Why? thread.

Go figure…

This is because this is the Wine Thread where you can read about pour FlyerTalk members who have had their feelings and thoughts bottled up and fermenting inside of them finally express themselves by wining at each other.

Drink in to all of the fruitful suggestions of preferred wines of all kinds from around the world. You will be grapeful that you did.

Regardless, I predict that this thread will still eventually become a vintage FlyerTalk thread. I would be crushed if it did not…

If you are an Air Canada Aeroplan member, you can earn double or triple Aeroplan miles to London from Canadian cities such as Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton, all of which have direct service to London.

FlyerTalk member tcook052 wanted to alert fellow FlyerTalk members by posting the AC’s Across the Pond promotion is here!Earn up to Triple Aeroplan Miles Canada-London thread, in which tcook052 warns: “Hurry! Register online for the Across the Pond promotion or by calling 1-800-342-8026 between September 1 and December 15, 2006.”

This offer ends on December 15, 2006.