See you in San Diego?

57

UPDATE: The San Diego event described below is now sold out, but please see the last section of this post for details about a chance of buying a ticket.

I spent the day yesterday developing an awesome new Google Docs spreadsheet.  I had hoped to reveal it today in all its glory, but its not yet done.  Maybe tomorrow… or the next day…  I think that you’ll find it helpful once I release it.  At least, some of you will.  We’ll see.

So, instead of writing about the spreadsheet, I’ll write about something completely different: FTU Advanced San Diego.

FTU stands for “Frequent Traveler University.”  Twice per year, there is a big FTU event with many speakers and many attendees (usually over 400).  Sessions cover topics such as best ways to earn points and miles, award booking techniques, saving money on travel, etc.  The last big FTU event was in Seattle in the Spring.  The second one this year has not yet been announced.

I always enjoy attending and speaking at FTU.  It’s a lot of fun meeting people that are just as crazy as I am when it comes to points and miles.  There are a couple of problems with the format, though.  First, it’s too big.  In my experience, events with fewer people tend to be more fun.  Second, for those who have been in the game for a while, it’s too “beginnerish”.  There tend to be many novices at these events (which is fine, by the way!), but that means that presentations tend to be tailored towards those beginners.  Long time players of this game may find the presentations boring.  They’ve heard it before.  They’ve read it before.

Enter FTU Advanced

FTU Advanced is a new series of seminars focused on the advanced crowd.  The idea is to have fewer attendees, more advanced topics, and more time with each presenter for in-depth discussions.  The first FTU Advanced was in Chicago in July.  I missed it because I was in Europe at the time, but I heard it went well.  The second one will also be in Chicago, just a couple of weeks from now.  Both FTU Advanced events sold out in less than a day

Now, the next scheduled FTU Advanced will be in San Diego.

HyattRegencyMissionBay

Registration will go live on Tuesday September 16th at 8am EST.

FTU Advanced San Diego Basics:

  • Where: Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina, San Diego, California
  • When: March 6-8, 2015
  • What: Details and registration link here
  • Registration Price: $249
  • Hotel room price: $165 per night
  • Speakers: Ben Schlappig (One Mile at a Time); Greg Davis-Kean (hey that’s me!); Stefan Krasowski (Rapid Travel Chai); Scott Mackenzie (Hack My Trip); Randy Petersen (Milepoint Founder); and Daraius Dubash (Million Mile Secrets)

What to do if the event sells out

Previous FTU Advanced seminars sold out quickly.  If you want to go, but you miss out on the open registration, there will be one more opportunity — It so happens that I have access to a few secret codes that will let you signup even if the event is sold out.  If the event is sold out but you’d like a chance to get one of my top secret codes, please comment below.  Simply tell me why you want to go to FTU Advanced San Diego.  I will then use my top secret, not yet defined algorithm for picking the “winners” who get to buy tickets.  Make sure to write “Pick Me!” in the comment so that I’ll know to consider you for a spot.

What if the event is sold out and you don’t get picked for one of the secret codes?  I have a feeling that more FTU Advanced seminars will be announced soon.

Now back to my spreadsheet…

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