Would flying between 40k and 45k miles a year make me a frequent flyer?

The past few years I have kept track of the amount of (real) miles I have flown -- I say real miles to distinguish them from airline miles, because I don't always fly with the same rewards program -- and the average is about 40 to 45k miles a year. In everyday conversations, would it make sense to consider myself a "frequent flyer," or is that only for people who fly like 100k plus every year?

No

Yes, you can call yourself a Frequent Flyer.

Well was this two very long flights or many short ones?
If you think it is frequent then it is frequent.
Are Airline crew able to recognize you and remember your drink?
Does the waiter at the Airport restaurant know your regular order?
You are more frequent than most passengers at Airports.

You can travel just once a year and only go 500 kilometres a year, and still call yourself a frequent flier for the benefit of travel miles.

Too bad you can't get yourself with one or two airlines, plus their loyalty credit cards. Between spending (house bills, etc. Plus the cost of tickets) you will find that the upgrades and free miles will get you free flights, or at least price reductions. We have done this for years. And not those cards that tout airline miles, yet are not tied to any airline. Not worth having. Or if you have enough $$$ with a fine brokerage house, they will pick up the $600 for a top AMEX card. Works for us, too.

That should at least earn you elite status on the major US airlines so I would say you qualify.

I flew once about ten years ago with a Middle Eastern airline, and as it happens, I've never flown with them again. But they still send me all the Frequent Flyer info.

There are a lot of factors that make up many airlines mileage programs.

Not only do they count the number of "miles" you fly, but they will also count the number of "segments" you fly. You can read many stories of people just trying to keep their status will literally fly 3-4 short segments in a day in order to meet that number.

They also allow you to earn more "miles" if you fly a higher class. That is a First Class seat could earn you bonus miles compared to regular Economy. Still others incorporate some sort of spending requirement.

With 40-45K miles a year you probably will qualify for at least a minimum elite status with many airlines. But if you do not like being tied to one airline(or even a single alliance) then you may want to look at the various credit card programs that you can earn points on travel.

Depends, did you get all those miles on 2 long trips or on many short trips
"Frequent" has to do with the number of flights not the distance

Yes but in the eyes of an airline, maybe.
If you fly all of those miles on the same airline, then yes. You'll get elite status
If you fly different airlines, you won't get elite status

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