What is the most useful frequent flyer blog?
Mar 18, 2013, 2:44 pm
#1996
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold-MM, AA Gold-MM, F9-Silver, Hyatt Something, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,393
Yes and no. You can ask, but odds are your thread will be merged into a mega thread without an answer provided and you'll have to hunt to find it. Or you'll be attacked by others for asking such a stupid question that everyone should already know the answer to. There is a TON of good content here.
To borrow and mangle a quote from the Director of the USTPO in 1895, 'Everything that can be said about United has been said, and thus I recommend closing down this forum.'
Mar 18, 2013, 3:02 pm
#1997
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
I guess this is why I consider the blogs that existed before the CC bonanza to be a bit different than the Johnny Come Lately's. And my guess is that when the froth in the market settles, these guys and bloggers similar to them will still be going while others will return to their day jobs, or just retire. We shall see.
Mar 18, 2013, 4:26 pm
#1998
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
Interestingly, I'm betting that Gary and Ben didn't expect to monetize their blogs either. Eventually their blogs became good marketing platforms for their award booking services.
I guess this is why I consider the blogs that existed before the CC bonanza to be a bit different than the Johnny Come Lately's. And my guess is that when the froth in the market settles, these guys and bloggers similar to them will still be going while others will return to their day jobs, or just retire. We shall see.
I guess this is why I consider the blogs that existed before the CC bonanza to be a bit different than the Johnny Come Lately's. And my guess is that when the froth in the market settles, these guys and bloggers similar to them will still be going while others will return to their day jobs, or just retire. We shall see.
Mar 18, 2013, 4:30 pm
#1999
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Yes and no. You can ask, but odds are your thread will be merged into a mega thread without an answer provided and you'll have to hunt to find it. Or you'll be attacked by others for asking such a stupid question that everyone should already know the answer to. In many cases it is some of the most "trusted" members of the community taking those rather unhelpful and unfriendly actions.
There is a TON of good content here, but getting at it is not easy and the community is both not welcoming and not encouraged to be such. So long as being rude or dismissive to new members is accepted and even encouraged it will remain a mess. But that will require a massive change - both in thought and policy - at the leadership level.
I think there was a thread on this a few months back, either it has died or was locked.
Not sure any real cultural change will ever come to such a long established site. Milepoint held out the promise of a friendlier welcome, even though it has the same founder. I guess it is generally more open and congenial (with a few notable exceptions), but just doesn't have the benefit of so many years of content built up as FT so far.
Mar 18, 2013, 4:30 pm
#2000
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,391
Perhaps they are different in that they've been around longer. But if they are providing the same marginal-value content as others then does it really matter? Will you still be reading them in NN months when the CC affiliate revenue stream dries up and they have to start producing useful content again? Will they still bother to produce real content then?
Hey, some people would not consider frequent flyer porn of meals, lounges, knee shots and Diet Cokes with lemons to have ever been useful content.
(I'm not one of those people, as a longtime reader, but hey...)
Mar 18, 2013, 4:48 pm
#2001
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: BUF
Programs: SPG Plt, HHonors Gold, UA Gold, PC Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 880
If FT was doing so many things wrong, I would have guessed that those two would have been the ones who either A) fostered the problems, or B) were in the position to fix it. Turns out the solution was to try to fracture the community in the hopes of making a buck
Mar 18, 2013, 4:59 pm
#2002
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
FlyerTalk is a frequent flyer points/miles forum, MilePoint is a Facebook chat room with a slight point/miles focus.
Case in point: look at the ratio of points/miles posts versus "OMNI" posts... that alone says a lot.
Case in point: look at the ratio of points/miles posts versus "OMNI" posts... that alone says a lot.
Mar 18, 2013, 5:23 pm
#2003
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,612
I always found it funny how MP marketed themselves as a friendlier and better site, and it was co-founded by the founder and the talkboard president of this site!
If FT was doing so many things wrong, I would have guessed that those two would have been the ones who either A) fostered the problems, or B) were in the position to fix it. Turns out the solution was to try to fracture the community in the hopes of making a buck
If FT was doing so many things wrong, I would have guessed that those two would have been the ones who either A) fostered the problems, or B) were in the position to fix it. Turns out the solution was to try to fracture the community in the hopes of making a buck
And his spin was that he was going to apply all the lessons he learned while making FlyerTalk into what it is. He would re-build it. And this time his points and miles IBB would be better, stronger faster.
But more cynically speaking, yes, it is rather ironic that Randy and Gary basically said 'Well we don't like what we made FlyerTalk into, so let's start over.' Even after the market valued FlyerTalk at $6 point something million.
Originally Posted by hobo13
Interestingly, I'm betting that Gary and Ben didn't expect to monetize their blogs either. Eventually their blogs became good marketing platforms for their award booking services.
I guess this is why I consider the blogs that existed before the CC bonanza to be a bit different than the Johnny Come Lately's. And my guess is that when the froth in the market settles, these guys and bloggers similar to them will still be going while others will return to their day jobs, or just retire. We shall see.
I guess this is why I consider the blogs that existed before the CC bonanza to be a bit different than the Johnny Come Lately's. And my guess is that when the froth in the market settles, these guys and bloggers similar to them will still be going while others will return to their day jobs, or just retire. We shall see.
Mar 19, 2013, 4:54 am
#2004
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
I always found it funny how MP marketed themselves as a friendlier and better site, and it was co-founded by the founder and the talkboard president of this site!
If FT was doing so many things wrong, I would have guessed that those two would have been the ones who either A) fostered the problems, or B) were in the position to fix it. Turns out the solution was to try to fracture the community in the hopes of making a buck
If FT was doing so many things wrong, I would have guessed that those two would have been the ones who either A) fostered the problems, or B) were in the position to fix it. Turns out the solution was to try to fracture the community in the hopes of making a buck
Mar 19, 2013, 5:36 am
#2005
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: DL Gold
Posts: 880
You know you're in for one serious link farm when you see this to kick off a post:
Ok, got it. all the links except those 13!
I get a referral for all cards in this post except for [the following 13 cards]...
Mar 19, 2013, 6:05 am
#2006
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,182
Oh, there was a business motive behind the creation of FlyerTalk....to sell more Inside Flyer paper magazine subscriptions. @:-)
Here's an interesting autobiography of the establishment of this site:
http://www.insideflyer.com/articles/...e.php?key=3467
I don't think he ever envisioned monetizing FlyerTalk itself when he created it. Rather it was to be a marketing and research platform for his real business: selling magazines.
Randy's Internet Millionaire story is a classic 'right time, right place' story. ^
Here's an interesting autobiography of the establishment of this site:
http://www.insideflyer.com/articles/...e.php?key=3467
I don't think he ever envisioned monetizing FlyerTalk itself when he created it. Rather it was to be a marketing and research platform for his real business: selling magazines.
Randy's Internet Millionaire story is a classic 'right time, right place' story. ^
It was part of a conglomerate of ventures, all supporting each other, and making money for the owner. Long live capitalism.What irks me to no end is the people who pop up and start 'for the people by the people' ventures that claim to be 'non-profit', exemplified by the farce posts by some bloggers why they have started incorporating affiliate links and that they will continue their quest to find good deals for their readers irregardless. Someone wanted to pay off a college loan, another expand their generous charity donations
Mar 19, 2013, 6:24 am
#2007
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: 1A with Dom Perignon
Programs: Platinum Sky Pimp
Posts: 86
Somewhere right now [a blogger] is saying “I can beat this, not a problem” ... while writing his new post titled “How to maximize UR points arranging your cat’s funeral”.
Last edited by mia; Mar 19, 2013 at 1:18 pm Reason: Remove specific blogger's identity.
Mar 19, 2013, 7:22 am
#2009
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: 1A with Dom Perignon
Programs: Platinum Sky Pimp
Posts: 86
I don’t know why you laughing [moderator edit]. Do you have any idea how important it is to pick right vendor for burial shoe box? I would personally opt out for purse box vs regular shoe box because ebags.com offers 10 extra points thru UR portal. That brings in the question of digging dirt in your back yard. You can just be ridiculously stupid and borrow scoop or shovel from your next door neighbor BUT you will pass on this AMAZING opportunity of driving to Office Depot and buying Home Depot gift card and then using it thru UR portal. There’s also AMAZING opportunity to double or triple dip your UR points if you’re willing to deep freeze your cat and postponed its funeral by 3 weeks.
Oh crap, forgot to insert my hyperlinks . Oh well.
Oh crap, forgot to insert my hyperlinks . Oh well.
Last edited by mia; Mar 19, 2013 at 1:03 pm Reason: Remove reference to specific individual.
Mar 19, 2013, 7:45 am
#2010
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,498
Or "How to maximize UR points while raising/travelling with a dog"
Last edited by mia; Mar 19, 2013 at 1:20 pm Reason: Prune quotation