What is the most useful frequent flyer blog?
#1201
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States
Programs: AA, BA, UA, Spirit, Delta, PC Plat, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,735
I don't know. May it be that it slipped his mind at the moment he was writing that? Come on, you can't deny that MMS always and unfailingly tells you when his affiliate offers are worse than the same links floating around. I even find it a bit funny sometimes because those warnings are all over the place. Blasting him for one slip even if you can call it that is simply not fair.
#1202
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Bellevue, WA
Programs: All main US FF programs basic level
Posts: 109
If anyone ever decides to add these cc links, read this and the associated comments if you haven't:
http://crankyflier.com/2012/07/06/yo...a-credit-card/
Seems like there is a minimum clicks/apps requirement?
http://crankyflier.com/2012/07/06/yo...a-credit-card/
Seems like there is a minimum clicks/apps requirement?
#1203
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, UA PS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,904
And like someone mentioned, when referral links are now your main income stream, the way you present some information may change. I've defended MMS in the past for always being honest and straightforward with links, but those were in the earlier days of the blog.
*Anchorman* "That escalated quickly."
I'm taking a break from this thread. Have a Merry Christmas and may your Ink Bold sign-ups be fruitful.
Last edited by amolkold; Dec 24, 2012 at 10:47 pm
#1205
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States
Programs: AA, BA, UA, Spirit, Delta, PC Plat, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,735
I pointed that one post out (to add to the conversation of how another blogger did something similar) and was then accused of libel and defamation. Those are big words to throw around as well. If anyone accuses me of being a liar, I'll defend my word.
And like someone mentioned, when referral links are now your main income stream, the way you present some information may change. I've defended MMS in the past for always being honest and straightforward with links, but those were in the earlier days of the blog.
*Anchorman* "That escalated quickly."
I'm taking a break from this thread. Have a Merry Christmas and may your Ink Bold sign-ups be fruitful.
And like someone mentioned, when referral links are now your main income stream, the way you present some information may change. I've defended MMS in the past for always being honest and straightforward with links, but those were in the earlier days of the blog.
*Anchorman* "That escalated quickly."
I'm taking a break from this thread. Have a Merry Christmas and may your Ink Bold sign-ups be fruitful.
#1206
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Posts: 1,887
To get a free one-way on US you need to add a segment you don't plan to fly. The segments you plan to fly technically violate the award rules, but you can trick it to make it work assuming you don't check your bags. I didn't say it was unethical, just that it pushes boundaries, similar to applying for an expired citi AA or the US chairman's offer. You don't technically qualify, but you can trick it to make it work. With the free one-way you're even taking award space out of inventory for the segment you don't plan to fly.
#1207
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA, UA, SQ, VA, QF, AF, BA
Posts: 2,865
To get a free one-way on US you need to add a segment you don't plan to fly. The segments you plan to fly technically violate the award rules, but you can trick it to make it work assuming you don't check your bags. I didn't say it was unethical, just that it pushes boundaries, similar to applying for an expired citi AA or the US chairman's offer. You don't technically qualify, but you can trick it to make it work. With the free one-way you're even taking award space out of inventory for the segment you don't plan to fly.
I know I am in the minority, but as an expat American, I can't make the minimum spend as easily as Statesiders. I can't just walk into a drugstore and buy VRs for example so minimum spends are a huge issue for me. Also, I may have issues with forex fees unless I am planning to buy something in USD like a cruise or prepaid hotels. I do want to know about various options such as on the Citibank AA cards thread.
I wish someone would start a blog for expats!
#1208
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States
Programs: AA, BA, UA, Spirit, Delta, PC Plat, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,735
This is the part I don't like. It's hard enough to get award space on some airlines as it is, we don't need people just wasting them. It reminds me of the people who book 20 Pointbreaks nights when they don't know what date they want, then cancel the ones they don't want but it shuts others out of booking the nights. At the very least, it's selfish.
I know I am in the minority, but as an expat American, I can't make the minimum spend as easily as Statesiders. I can't just walk into a drugstore and buy VRs for example so minimum spends are a huge issue for me. Also, I may have issues with forex fees unless I am planning to buy something in USD like a cruise or prepaid hotels. I do want to know about various options such as on the Citibank AA cards thread.
I wish someone would start a blog for expats!
I know I am in the minority, but as an expat American, I can't make the minimum spend as easily as Statesiders. I can't just walk into a drugstore and buy VRs for example so minimum spends are a huge issue for me. Also, I may have issues with forex fees unless I am planning to buy something in USD like a cruise or prepaid hotels. I do want to know about various options such as on the Citibank AA cards thread.
I wish someone would start a blog for expats!
#1209
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: PDX, PVR, NHA
Programs: SPG plat 75, HH Gold
Posts: 262
To get a free one-way on US you need to add a segment you don't plan to fly. The segments you plan to fly technically violate the award rules, but you can trick it to make it work assuming you don't check your bags. You don't technically qualify, but you can trick it to make it work. With the free one-way you're even taking award space out of inventory for the segment you don't plan to fly.
#1210
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Posts: 1,887
Yes, it varies by airline program. See here for US awards:
http://milevalue.com/master-thread-f...irways-awards/
http://milevalue.com/master-thread-f...irways-awards/
#1211
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 994
i've found FTG and TPG not very useful these days.
For example, TPG staff posts about how he bought $20,00 Vanillas in one day. Yikes. http://thepointsguy.com/2012/12/maxi...t-card-to-use/
For example, TPG staff posts about how he bought $20,00 Vanillas in one day. Yikes. http://thepointsguy.com/2012/12/maxi...t-card-to-use/
#1212
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 447
LOL ^^
Well since his manager said that, it must be true. Y'all need to stop pestering the bloggers.
I tried to see the join date of a few bloggers who are all about CC and affiliate links, and most seem to have a join date of 2011/2012. I was away from FT for a while but I missed what got them started recently. Most seem to have redeemed millions of miles !!
Originally Posted by Jason Steele
Actually, fraud killed VR at OD. At least that is what the manager at my OD told me. He was very happy to have my business, but recounted that other ODs in the area had people purchasing VRs with stolen credit cards. Apparently, when cashiers failed to check ID, they had to bear some of the liability, and eat some losses, which was painful.
I tried to see the join date of a few bloggers who are all about CC and affiliate links, and most seem to have a join date of 2011/2012. I was away from FT for a while but I missed what got them started recently. Most seem to have redeemed millions of miles !!
#1213
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA, UA, SQ, VA, QF, AF, BA
Posts: 2,865
If fraud is what shut down the OD/VR thing, why weren't VRs pulled from ALL stores? Why only ODs?
#1214
Used to be 'Travelergcp'
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: New Orleans
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,826
My personal strategy on all of this is to only read blogs via an RSS reader like Google Reader. It's literally the TIVO of blog reading. You can aggregate all the top blogs under a single folder, making it easy to scan the headlines for (frequent) duplicates. It also strips out a lot of the ads and bloated page layout leaving just the content.
As for the previous 28 pages, perhaps the posters should stop reading the blogs if they're so offensive. Or start their own, affiliate-free ones. This reminds me of people complaining that the free, high-definition broadcast tv beamed into their homes has commercials.
As for the previous 28 pages, perhaps the posters should stop reading the blogs if they're so offensive. Or start their own, affiliate-free ones. This reminds me of people complaining that the free, high-definition broadcast tv beamed into their homes has commercials.
Last edited by mia; Dec 27, 2012 at 10:41 pm Reason: Combine consecutive replies
#1215
formerly known as felinaar
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, AA Gold, AS MVPG, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 612
My personal strategy on all of this is to only read blogs via an RSS reader like Google Reader. It's literally the TIVO of blog reading. You can aggregate all the top blogs under a single folder, making it easy to scan the headlines for (frequent) duplicates. It also strips out a lot of the ads and bloated page layout leaving just the content.