Frequent Miler origin story - Tim's story | Coffee Break Ep57 | 5-27-25

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May 27, 2025

Tim Stanky, Senior Author at Frequent Miler, shares his fascinating journey from the wine industry to travel blogging. At 16, he and his brother embarked on road trips that ignited his love for exploring. Tim recounts how he raised funds for an extraordinary honeymoon, leading to a serendipitous discovery of points and miles. His escapades include planning luxurious trips using savvy credit card strategies and even stumbling upon lucrative mistake fares. Join him as he reveals the thrills of maximizing travel rewards for unforgettable adventures!

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ANECDOTE

Midwest Beginnings Spark Travel Love

Tim grew up in Nebraska and didn't leave the Midwest until his late teens when he road-tripped across the U.S with his brother.
Seeing mountains in Yellowstone sparked his love for travel, expanding his world beyond his home state.

ANECDOTE

Medical Studies Fund Honeymoon

Tim volunteered for multiple medical research studies to fund an ambitious honeymoon visiting five far-flung countries.
The honeymoon involved complex planning with paper tickets and no online booking, marking his first experience using miles extensively.

ANECDOTE

First Miles Redemption Adventure

After the honeymoon, Tim tried to use his accumulated United miles to get a free flight home.
Though the connection failed and he was stuck overnight, it energized him with the thrill of free travel.

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We've been gradually telling the "origin stories" of each team member in Frequent mIler. Today, we'll talk about how Tim came to join Frequent Miler.

(00:52) - How did Tim get started in miles and points?

(02:12) - Around 16 or 17, Tim and his brother planned out a series of roadtrips to try to see beyond their Midwestern home.

(06:24) - To prepare for his honeymoon years later, Tim volunteered for medical research studies to raise money. His goal: take his new wife to the top 5 places she wanted to see. (New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, France, and Ireland.)

(09:10) - After all that travel, Tim and his wife ended up with a bunch of United miles. He started to learn a bit about miles when he attempted to use those United miles to fly home for the holidays.

(13:07) - Gradually, Tim started to learn more, starting with a Southwest credit card.

(14:14) - When Tim started entering the wine making industry, he started traveling more for work and had the opportunity to join an expensed trip to South Africa if he could get himself there. As a tall guy, he was motivated to figure out a way to fly business class.

(20:31) - Tim and his wife planned a trip to the Maldives, which got Tim even deeper into the hobby, especially when he sort of stumbled upon a type of mistake fare of sorts where his stay was earning points as though it were a paid stay.

(23:12) - In 2021, Tim was starting to tire of working in the wine industry and was itching for something new. His wife was helping him brainstorm his dream job and he said "I'd love to write for Frequent Miler." About a week later, he saw the job posting for a new author at Frequent Miler.

(27:34) - Nick and Greg shares their impression of Tim's application and interview.

(33:18) - So what does Tim get most excited about now, in the points and miles hobby?

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Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads