Page 16 - Ulpan-Or E-Tone 08.11.16 Advanced Level

E-Tone™: Ulpan-Or Weekly News Digest

Item #3 (Advanced Level)

Ten Years in the Sky

If there’s one clear conclusion from Ben Shlapig’s story, it’s probably that
being a nag pays off, and well. First class flights, luxurious lounges and
the most pampering hotel rooms in dozens of cities around the world,
comprise the life of Shlapig, just twenty five years old, who’s become an
expert in cracking frequent flyers clubs, and runs a blog in which he
documents his life among first classes and gives out tips for readers. Over
the course of his adult life Shlapig has already collected four million flight
miles, enough to fly to the moon and back eight times, and all according to
the rules and regulations of the airlines themselves. How does he do it?
Shlapig simply reads the fine print of the various clubs’ regulations and
plays them to his benefit. He has more than forty credit cards, choosing
each one of them according to the amount of miles it gives for every
purchase. He’s a member, for instance, of the AARP that gives travelers
benefits, because it turns out that nowhere in their regulations is there an
age restriction. Faulty headphones or a small rip in the seat’s leather cover,
anything like this is worth money or a free ticket. But if anyone had any
doubt – this isn’t a hobby but a career, which takes time, energy and
investment. And after ten years of a life in the air, Ben’s next dream is to
finally unpack (his) suitcase in the most exclusive club there is – the one
called a home.

Page 16 - Edition 11-08-16

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