Trip Reports

All OMAAT travel reviews are grouped into series, so you can read about each trip we take from inception, to planning, to the journey itself.

Trip in progress now!

TRAVEL REVIEW

Introduction: A Pleasant Voyage To Geneva

Welcome to my next trip report series, covering a brief journey to Geneva this spring. This wasn’t a ”traditional” review trip (where I flew just for the sake of reviewing airlines), but rather we needed to be in Europe for…

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Browse Trip Reports

  • December 22, 2012
  • Ben Schlappig
23
Bling It On
  • November 14, 2012
  • Ben Schlappig
35
Chasing The Sun
  • August 17, 2012
  • Ben Schlappig
57
Bali & Berchtesgaden
  • August 1, 2012
  • Ben Schlappig
19
Lucky Charms Ireland
  • June 17, 2012
  • Ben Schlappig
19
Lost in Translation
  • June 6, 2012
  • Ben Schlappig
8
BAArcelonAA
  • May 4, 2012
  • Ben Schlappig
28
Singapore for the Weekend
  • March 30, 2012
  • Ben Schlappig
25
The Last Aeroplan Hurrah
  • February 11, 2012
  • Ben Schlappig
18
Week in the Clouds
  • January 13, 2012
  • Ben Schlappig
32
Chasing the A380
  • December 23, 2011
  • Ben Schlappig
4
Etihad Airways to the UAE
  • October 5, 2011
  • Ben Schlappig
19
Beaches and Mountains
  • August 17, 2011
  • Ben Schlappig
14
Weekend in Paris
  • March 17, 2011
  • Ben Schlappig
13
Five Star Virgin
  • December 28, 2010
  • Ben Schlappig
3
Christmas in Germany
  • June 28, 2010
  • Ben Schlappig
6
Around The World In A Week
  • March 30, 2010
  • Ben Schlappig
10
Asia on a Whim
  • November 1, 2009
  • Ben Schlappig
5
London Quickly
  • August 29, 2009
  • Ben Schlappig
13
Quest to Istanbul and Hong Kong
  • March 17, 2009
  • Ben Schlappig
5
OneWorld Asian Adventure
  • January 26, 2009
  • Ben Schlappig
2
Northwest to Seattle
  • January 19, 2009
  • Ben Schlappig
0
Continental to New York
  • August 19, 2008
  • Ben Schlappig
13
Malta For A Song
  • July 30, 2008
  • Ben Schlappig
9
ANA To Asia
  • June 24, 2008
  • Ben Schlappig
17
OpenSkies to Paris

How do I take these trips?

All of my travel, unless explicitly otherwise stated, is self-funded. Yes, I’ve taken some sponsored trips. For example, a decade or so ago I participated in the “Amex Stars” program, whereby I got access to some awesome events courtesy of Starwood, with corresponding stays at Starwood properties. I clearly disclosed my relationship with Starwood with each post, and I think most would agree my hotel reviews were fair and balanced (I didn’t leave out the empty box of condoms I found in my room at W Union Square or my frustration with the valet at the St. Regis Bal Harbour, for example).

And one of the main reasons I took part in the program is because there was something in it for you guys. With each trip I took I could give away enough Starpoints for a similar hotel stay, so I was able to give away around 200,000 Starpoints. I figured that’s a win-win, and frankly, I’m not sure I would have participated without that, as I’ve turned down plenty of comp trips when there was nothing in it for you guys and I didn’t think you guys would find the content interesting.

Beyond that, I disclose how my trips were paid for even when they’re self-funded. In the introduction post to each trip report, I provide an exact breakdown of how many miles each award ticket costs.

So where do I earn all my miles?

Much like most savvy mileage nuts, through a combination of credit cards, flying, strategically purchasing miles, and taking advantage of every promotion out there.I earn well over a million miles a year, which I don’t think is really unattainable for most.

I probably fly about 200,000 miles per year on American, and as an Executive Platinum member I get a 100% bonus on miles, so that’s 400,000 miles right there.

I earn another 500,000 or so miles per year (at a minimum) from credit cards.

And then I try to maximize miles on everyday spend, which can add up to another couple of hundred thousand miles per year if done properly.

Lastly, I strategically purchase miles when it’s a good value.

But more than anything else I look at these trips as an investment in what I do

The two things I do for a living are blogging and travel consulting. My goal is to review as many products as possible so that I can dish out the most useful/educated advice. I’m incredibly fortunate to have the flexibility to not be limited in the amount of time I can spend traveling, so my hope is that by sampling as many different products as possible, I can help those of you with limited vacation time make the most of your trips.

And while many may not like my writing style, I hope the fact that I compare so many airlines is useful to you guys. One of my struggles with online reviews is that you usually don’t know enough about the person making them to know whether they’re credible or not.

For example, you can read a review of a Four Seasons that gets five stars because everything was amazing, while the next review gives it one star because they were angry the hotel charged for Wi-Fi and parking, and that it should be free at such an expensive hotel. Hopefully, the fact that I review dozens of airlines and hotels in a similar fashion makes it easier to actually get something out of my reviews, since you can judge them based on what you value most.

New to One Mile at a Time? Check out these guides to get started earning and redeeming miles and points:
Meet Ben, OMAAT Founder
5,163,247 Miles Traveled

I’ve flown all of the major (and many minor) airlines, including every international first class cabin.

32,614,600 Words Written

I write all my own content; no ghostwriters at OMAAT!

35,045 Posts Published

15 years (and counting) of daily blogging add up.