What is the most useful frequent flyer blog?
Dec 27, 2012, 10:31 pm
#1216
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
An observation of my own: Many bloggers seemed to start doing it right after attending an event like the Chicago Seminars or a MegaDO. The credit card affiliate business started in a separate wave due to referrals within the same affiliate program, but IMO I don't think aff links are the reason most became bloggers in the first place.
Dec 28, 2012, 12:11 am
#1217
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA EXP(.96MM), AMEX Platinum, United Premier Silver, Delta Gold, SPG Platinum 50, Hilton Gold VIP
Posts: 1,744
Dec 28, 2012, 7:40 am
#1218
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
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 !!
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 !!
Dec 28, 2012, 7:54 am
#1219
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 447
Yes, I was being sarcastic. Interesting read in this thread. 
Dec 30, 2012, 1:25 pm
#1220
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 100
I track a bunch of frequent flyer blogs through my website. Here are some up-and-coming blogs I like:
MileValue -- My go-to website for learning about award booking. Scott and his team write really good stuff.
Hack My Trip -- Nice variety of content. He did a useful write-up of all the airline and hotel loyalty programs. Each has individual reviews. Then he created a downloadable PDF chart of his findings.
PointChaser -- Ariana has done some nice gift card churning posts. See her post on Macy's.
PointsHoarder -- A frequent flyer podcast. Seth at The Wandering Aramean is one of the hosts.
Travel Summary - A nice "reader's digest" of frequent flyer blogs. Recently got a slick redesign.
MileValue -- My go-to website for learning about award booking. Scott and his team write really good stuff.
Hack My Trip -- Nice variety of content. He did a useful write-up of all the airline and hotel loyalty programs. Each has individual reviews. Then he created a downloadable PDF chart of his findings.
PointChaser -- Ariana has done some nice gift card churning posts. See her post on Macy's.
PointsHoarder -- A frequent flyer podcast. Seth at The Wandering Aramean is one of the hosts.
Travel Summary - A nice "reader's digest" of frequent flyer blogs. Recently got a slick redesign.
Dec 30, 2012, 2:40 pm
#1221
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SNA/LAX
Posts: 145
I track a bunch of frequent flyer blogs through my website. Here are some up-and-coming blogs I like:
Travel Summary - A nice "reader's digest" of frequent flyer blogs. Recently got a slick redesign.
Travel Summary - A nice "reader's digest" of frequent flyer blogs. Recently got a slick redesign.
I try not to write about similar topics as all the other bloggers, but I do like to provide "color commentary" on some popular topics. My original intention for starting a blog was to 1) educate family/friends that were interested in my hobby, and 2) link to the most useful posts of the day (I read them all anyway, so I might as well point out the ones that are important).
Anyway, feedback is definitely welcome. Still working out the kinks in the new website so please forgive any "page not found" messages (and I'd appreciate you letting me know where it came from).
Last edited by TravelSummary; Dec 30, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Dec 30, 2012, 4:33 pm
#1222
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 5
Not sure if this has already been mentioned since I didn't actually get around to reading all 82 pages LOL, but I read and would recommend UPgRD.com
Dec 30, 2012, 5:14 pm
#1223
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 994
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/freque...wing-the-line/
Dec 30, 2012, 5:39 pm
#1224
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Posts: 1,887
As long as the Macy's gift card rules allow this you should be fine. That said, it does look like it violates the T&C:
http://www1.macys.com/service/gift/terms.jsp
Delta Points had a post today re ethics. I posted a comment about the ethics of representing one's affiliate credit card as "the same" as a better offer, when it is not true (see here for an example of someone doing that with the US card).
No surprise, I was censored yet again. I guess actions speak louder than words for some bloggers.
http://www1.macys.com/service/gift/terms.jsp
Delta Points had a post today re ethics. I posted a comment about the ethics of representing one's affiliate credit card as "the same" as a better offer, when it is not true (see here for an example of someone doing that with the US card).
No surprise, I was censored yet again. I guess actions speak louder than words for some bloggers.
Dec 30, 2012, 5:49 pm
#1225
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Fairmont Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,041
I believe censoring blog comments is unjustified. Yes, pure personal attacks/namecalling & posts about cialis/viagra etc should be censored and deleted. The rest should be allowed to add to the discussion.
I NO LONGER add any comments at all in blogs that censor! Censored once and it won't happen again. And I will start mentioning from now on in my blog when this occurs.
Boycott censorship!!!
Fix Fiscal Cliff!!
Screw the cardinals!! (getting carried away now)
I NO LONGER add any comments at all in blogs that censor! Censored once and it won't happen again. And I will start mentioning from now on in my blog when this occurs.
Boycott censorship!!!
Fix Fiscal Cliff!!
Screw the cardinals!! (getting carried away now)
Dec 30, 2012, 6:14 pm
#1226
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 970
For my money, TravelBloggerBuzz does a better job summarizing other bloggers - and offers well deserved criticism of those who relentlessly pimp for referrals instead of breathless comments to other blogger's work!
Frequent Miler, MileValue and LoyaltyLobby are the few blogs I read regularly.
Dec 30, 2012, 6:40 pm
#1227
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SNA/LAX
Posts: 145
I like exclamation marks!!!!! Seriously though, I feel like my posts sometimes get way too boring and hope an exclamation mark can save the day. I guess I go a bit overboard (or I just need to work on my writing skills).
Dec 30, 2012, 11:43 pm
#1228
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 22
I track a bunch of frequent flyer blogs through my website. Here are some up-and-coming blogs I like:
MileValue -- My go-to website for learning about award booking. Scott and his team write really good stuff.
Hack My Trip -- Nice variety of content. He did a useful write-up of all the airline and hotel loyalty programs. Each has individual reviews. Then he created a downloadable PDF chart of his findings.
PointChaser -- Ariana has done some nice gift card churning posts. See her post on Macy's.
PointsHoarder -- A frequent flyer podcast. Seth at The Wandering Aramean is one of the hosts.
Travel Summary - A nice "reader's digest" of frequent flyer blogs. Recently got a slick redesign.
MileValue -- My go-to website for learning about award booking. Scott and his team write really good stuff.
Hack My Trip -- Nice variety of content. He did a useful write-up of all the airline and hotel loyalty programs. Each has individual reviews. Then he created a downloadable PDF chart of his findings.
PointChaser -- Ariana has done some nice gift card churning posts. See her post on Macy's.
PointsHoarder -- A frequent flyer podcast. Seth at The Wandering Aramean is one of the hosts.
Travel Summary - A nice "reader's digest" of frequent flyer blogs. Recently got a slick redesign.
Dec 30, 2012, 11:53 pm
#1229
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 22
Thanks for the heads up HikerT. I didn't know this was against the T&C and assumed since Macy's allows it, it was ok. Macy's often goes against corporate policy as long as it makes their customers happy (i.e. encouraging us to return clearly worn merchandise, even though corporate policy forbids it). I don't advocate abusing this system. Moderation is key.
Dec 31, 2012, 1:08 pm
#1230
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA EXP(.96MM), AMEX Platinum, United Premier Silver, Delta Gold, SPG Platinum 50, Hilton Gold VIP
Posts: 1,744
There is no way Macy's will ever allow a customer to credit a gift card balance to a Macy's credit card account. This requires a manager override and is against corporate policy. Regular Macy's associates will not be able to do this function and will probably call the manager over.
The back of the Macy's Gift Card does say that it cannot be used a payment, which is pretty much what it is.
There are other ways of going about to circumvent this issue:
Buy items online with the gift card, then return the merchandise in the store. The associate will only have "Gift Card" and "Macy's Card" option for a return. You can simply say that you want to credit the amount to your Macy's account. That is probably the only safe way to avoid getting a manager and raising suspicion.
The back of the Macy's Gift Card does say that it cannot be used a payment, which is pretty much what it is.
There are other ways of going about to circumvent this issue:
Buy items online with the gift card, then return the merchandise in the store. The associate will only have "Gift Card" and "Macy's Card" option for a return. You can simply say that you want to credit the amount to your Macy's account. That is probably the only safe way to avoid getting a manager and raising suspicion.