Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Long, Hilarious Road to a “Free” Airline Ticket

by BoardingArea | May 3, 2024 | 2 Comments

Ever looked at your hotel loyalty points and felt like you were on a marathon with no finish line? Well, you’re in good company. Our inaugural #FrequentFlyerFunnies takes ‘loyalty’ to new heights… or should we say lengths?

Take a peek at the comic below where our intrepid travelers calculate just how many nights they need to bag that elusive free flight. It’s a laughably long stay – 274 nights, to be exact. And the catch? A daily game of hotel hopscotch with check-ins and check-outs. Talk about dedication!

A comic depicting a couple in a hotel room with the man excitedly telling the woman, 'If we stay another 274 nights, we’ll earn a free airline ticket!' He is sitting at a desk with a sign that says 'Frequent Stay Program', smiling and looking at his computer. The woman, unpacking a suitcase, does not look amused as the man adds, '...Course, we’ll have to check out and back in each day!' Caption below: 'Why is it that one person is smiling and the other is not? “It’s not the destination (free airline ticket), it’s the journey (274 hotel nights)

What the Comic Shows:

A couple is surrounded by the all-too-familiar chaos of a hotel stay. Amidst the unpacked luggage, one has discovered a ‘reward’ that’s almost too Herculean to consider. The punchline? They’re in it for the long haul – plus the daily grind of check-out and check-in rituals.

Punchline:

“If we stay another 274 nights, we’ll earn a free airline ticket!”
“…’Course, we’ll have to check out and back in each day!”

Why We’re Chuckling:

The humor is in the hyperbole – a free ticket at the cost of practically moving into the hotel! It’s a playful jab at the sometimes absurd points system that many of us frequent flyers know all too well.

Dive Deeper with Us:

This week’s comic pokes fun at the extreme lengths some of us go to for a “free” ticket. It’s humorous, yes, but it also sheds light on the sometimes absurd realities of loyalty programs. Let’s peel back the layers together:

  • System Gamed or Game System?: Have you ever stopped to think if we are gaming the system, or has the system gamed us? Share your thoughts or experiences where the chase for points might have felt a bit more consuming than the rewards received.
  • Practicality in Points: We all love accumulating points, but when does it become impractical? Were there times when you felt you went too far for too little?
  • Real-Life Laughs: Surely, this comic must remind some of you of bizarre or funny incidents during your stays. What’s the strangest situation your loyalty program commitments have put you in?
  • Broader Implications: This comic, while humorous, can be seen as a critique of modern consumer behavior or corporate loyalty incentives. What are your thoughts on how these programs shape our travel decisions and habits?
Frequent Flyer Funnies
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2 thoughts on “Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Long, Hilarious Road to a “Free” Airline Ticket

  1. If it doesn’t cost me more than I’m getting out of it, I’m “game” for whatever it is.

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