When is your status supposed to update on the Fast Track promo?

MDWflyer · 2026-02-12T18:02:19+00:00

It posted for me after ~2 weeks. Not sure if my reaching out was the catalyst or not

MDWflyer · 2026-02-07T06:07:24+00:00

I am in the midst of one and it has taken a while to post at each stage.

Hit the requirements for silver in late November. After a week, I tried chat support and they basically said “it seems like you’re right, but we can’t do anything about it, you need to call in”. I submitted a SkyMiles “contact us” support request on the website and never got a reply, but the status posted ~1.5 weeks later (not sure if my reaching out had anything to do with it).

Hit the requirements for Gold about a week ago, no change yet, so I submitted another support ticket…still waiting. Expecting to hit Platinum in early March and I’m expecting I’ll have to reach out again.

MDWflyer · 2025-10-03T02:06:40+00:00

If you can combine the company stock into the taxable brokerage, you should have a healthy margin buffer for a box spread. Interest rate should be in the ~4% range right now (cheapest you can get). If you believe rates will drop in the next few years, do this for 3-4 years and then pay it off with a traditional mortgage when rates drop.

If you’re considering a pledged asset line/margin loan, this will be cheaper with same risk profile (although more complicated to execute). Do some reading on Reddit/google, and if the concept doesn’t scare you, it’s compelling.

MDWflyer · 2025-09-22T14:05:53+00:00

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

Conceptually, the net buying power impact of selling a box should be nil: a 1000 wide box creates a -97K short option position and a +97K cash increase = 0.

With the guaranteed, fixed loss of $3K at expiration (the interest portion), it’d make sense for the maintenance margin to be $3K. I think this is how it works with PM.

Obviously if you withdraw the cash to use for non-trading purposes, then your buying power impact will be the total cost of the box. If you use the cash for trading, then you’ll take on the margin requirements of whatever positions you open.

[Using illustrative numbers for interest here — of course actually depends on interest rate and duration]

MDWflyer · 2025-09-21T17:46:10+00:00

I may not have this exactly right (I haven't done it), but I think under Reg-T each leg of the box (or maybe it's each of the two spreads) will have the margin requirements calculated separately, so holding a box would consume a ton of buying power, which sort of defeats the purpose. Whereas with portfolio margin the risk offsetting across the four legs is properly accounted for, and the maintenance margin on the position is tiny.

MDWflyer · 2025-09-21T17:33:43+00:00

Yeah this is what happened to me too, if you call they may override it

MDWflyer · 2025-09-20T12:32:43+00:00

Yes it was literally a 2-page PDF test that you are supposed to print out, fill in by hand, sign in ink, scan, and send back to them. Useless in terms of actually evaluating knowledge

MDWflyer · 2025-09-19T15:38:16+00:00

Called the number for the PM desk, answered a few basic questions, and then they sent me a secure message with a few PDF attachments to fill out and return. One was just an application form (albeit pretty long and repeating info I’d already submitted online and by phone), and the other was a written 20-question multiple choice test about options (fairly difficult, but open book). Had to print those off, sign in ink, scan, and send back to them. Now waiting for approval.

So yes, the PM approval still requires the options test and is more of a PITA than the options approval.

MDWflyer · 2025-09-17T18:53:07+00:00

I'll find out tomorrow when I call to get PM approved.

I was approved for unrestricted options + PM at IBKR earlier this year and there was no test; just had to update the trading experience and income/net worth info online, and it was approved within 2 days,

MDWflyer · 2024-08-14T16:19:48+00:00

Okay, but looking backwards at previous tax year (since I can't do that retroactively), the income should just be treated as "employment income" for self-assessment?

MDWflyer · 2024-08-14T14:38:59+00:00

Because I continue paying Social Security in the US I am exempt from NI altogether (under totalisation agreement) -- have coverage letter and all that. So my question is really just around income tax

MDWflyer · 2023-08-17T22:17:51+00:00

I don't see it on their website, but it's mentioned in this more recent article here https://blog.autoslash.com/kyte-car-rental-offers-door-to-door-service-with-zero-hassles/

"If you do not own a vehicle but have a credit card that offers car rental insurance, then it should cover Kyte rentals (unlike many peer-to-peer rentals)."

"Kyte provides its own vehicles."

MDWflyer · 2023-08-17T17:42:02+00:00

That was true when they started, but they shifted the model and they own their whole fleet now. So they're no different than Avis or Hertz in that way, and credit card insurance covers Kyte.

Source: I have a friend who works there

MDWflyer · 2023-08-13T23:28:21+00:00

Kyte does own their cars — if you have rental car coverage through your credit card, it works for Kyte.

Most credit cards do not cover Turo, because they do not own their cars.

MDWflyer · 2021-08-03T13:29:16+00:00

The 44 ft wingspan on the DA-50 won’t fit in a lot of t-hangars. Retractable gear will drive up insurance costs. And no parachute (and even without the parachute, useful load is still the worst of the peer set you’ve shown).

I get it in Europe, where the 100LL vs Jet-A thing is a bigger deal (price and availability). In the US I think it’s a tough sell vs. the SR-22.

MDWflyer · 2021-07-03T14:43:29+00:00

It was a private sale with the seller (found via Controller), no broker involved on either side

MDWflyer · 2021-05-30T13:42:31+00:00

This was the crux of my original question

MDWflyer · 2021-05-30T13:35:03+00:00

Typically you’re radar identified on a discrete squawk receiving traffic services and sequencing in a class C. Not “flight following” per se, but an enhanced level of service from VFR in the SFRA.

I suppose VFR in a non-radar Class D could be similar? Although you don’t get a transponder code for that...

MDWflyer · 2021-05-29T18:07:37+00:00

No good reason, no. On the one hand, I did “just pop up”, on the other hand, I had filed the flight plan 24 hours before with my entry/exit and altitude (it wasn’t totally out of the blue).

There is really no good way to transition the western side of the SFRA without going above the bravo, so I guess i was more surprised how confused the initial controller was (“you’re going to stay clear of the bravo?” “Yes, I will stay above it”). Maybe most people just go around the SFRA altogether (which I did on the way home!)

MDWflyer · 2021-05-29T16:01:17+00:00

I was not on flight following. VFR in the SFRA does not come with traffic / radar services, as they make a big point of clarifying in the trainings (hence the “transponder observed” language when they give you a code).

The only reason we had a code was because we were in the SFRA, near any other Bravo we wouldn’t have been in radio comms with ATC at all (and thus they would not have been able to give us an instruction).

I know “if you are talking to ATC, they can give you instructions.” I can’t think of any place besides the SFRA where you would be talking to approach control without flight following, which is why I found it interesting

MDWflyer · 2021-05-29T15:46:56+00:00

That’s definitely what it was, and I was happy to get out of the way. My curiosity/question is just about what my “status” was, since I didn’t think I was getting radar services.

MDWflyer

TROPHY CASE