One Mile at a Time [OMaaT] discussions [merged]
Feb 3, 2016, 7:14 am
#1621
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
My contribution to the mile value post just now. He is out of his depth on some of this.
"What A.S. said is exactly right. I am in the same situation as he is. Wife and 2 kids. Have been travelling for work going on 20 years and using miles for as long as that.
Used to be very easy to fund 2 trips a year in J cabin for me and the family with miles. The earnings rates were good and redemption levels reasonable and the availability was always there, at least with AA/CX etc.
But at some point, the availability went to heck and now the airlines are giving us haircuts on earning while simultaneously upping redemption rates. Couple that with generally poor predictability of availability and a competitive global market place for fares at all levels, and miles are indeed worth less.
And of course...while $1500 in J to Europe is a great fare, It is really $6000 for a family of four (and we can't write that off come tax time either I may add). Coach may be closer to $3000. That $3000 I would personally rather spend on a nicer hotel at the destination where I'll spend 10 days with the family. And what if I want to take 2-3 vacations a year? $20k in airfare to Europe only? For Asia those fares don't exist with the same frequency and if they do, one has to position to Colombo etc. Has Lucky ever traveled with young children? Has he had to worry about their health and safety or if nothing else how quickly they become bored? As a parent, I will fly Y on the most direct routing with the least stops over a convoluted itinerary in J or F. I've done both with my kids and I understand the trade-off. Lucky doesn't (no disrespect meant...it is simply what it is).
This post certainly shows that Lucky isn't married, has no kids, and doesn't understand in the slightest what travel is like for families. I suggest we all view his posts through the lens he writes them....as a single male self-employed person without kids, little to zero schedule to follow and plenty of money to spend.
For 99.9% of us in the real world, the real world is very different. Accordingly, some of his attempts to debunk "excuses" families have come across as condescending and douchy. My 2 cents."
"What A.S. said is exactly right. I am in the same situation as he is. Wife and 2 kids. Have been travelling for work going on 20 years and using miles for as long as that.
Used to be very easy to fund 2 trips a year in J cabin for me and the family with miles. The earnings rates were good and redemption levels reasonable and the availability was always there, at least with AA/CX etc.
But at some point, the availability went to heck and now the airlines are giving us haircuts on earning while simultaneously upping redemption rates. Couple that with generally poor predictability of availability and a competitive global market place for fares at all levels, and miles are indeed worth less.
And of course...while $1500 in J to Europe is a great fare, It is really $6000 for a family of four (and we can't write that off come tax time either I may add). Coach may be closer to $3000. That $3000 I would personally rather spend on a nicer hotel at the destination where I'll spend 10 days with the family. And what if I want to take 2-3 vacations a year? $20k in airfare to Europe only? For Asia those fares don't exist with the same frequency and if they do, one has to position to Colombo etc. Has Lucky ever traveled with young children? Has he had to worry about their health and safety or if nothing else how quickly they become bored? As a parent, I will fly Y on the most direct routing with the least stops over a convoluted itinerary in J or F. I've done both with my kids and I understand the trade-off. Lucky doesn't (no disrespect meant...it is simply what it is).
This post certainly shows that Lucky isn't married, has no kids, and doesn't understand in the slightest what travel is like for families. I suggest we all view his posts through the lens he writes them....as a single male self-employed person without kids, little to zero schedule to follow and plenty of money to spend.
For 99.9% of us in the real world, the real world is very different. Accordingly, some of his attempts to debunk "excuses" families have come across as condescending and douchy. My 2 cents."
Feb 3, 2016, 7:42 am
#1622
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,130
If you look at the N. American market you have 3-4 broad segments:
- frugal students with time on their hands and interested to explore the world
- working DINKs (this includes GLBT couples) who can pick any time of year to vacation and have disposable income
- families of 4 who look to vacation/see Grandparents when school is off, and
- retirees
OMAAT &VFTW has the second and last segment covered, Drew aims for the first, MMS for the second and third, Mommy Points aimed at the third etc.
All these bloggers usually stay true to the target market segment. OMAAT suddenly writing stuff about staying at hostels or about flying southwest to Orlando and staying at a Disney resort dilutes the brand. @:-)
- frugal students with time on their hands and interested to explore the world
- working DINKs (this includes GLBT couples) who can pick any time of year to vacation and have disposable income
- families of 4 who look to vacation/see Grandparents when school is off, and
- retirees
OMAAT &VFTW has the second and last segment covered, Drew aims for the first, MMS for the second and third, Mommy Points aimed at the third etc.
All these bloggers usually stay true to the target market segment. OMAAT suddenly writing stuff about staying at hostels or about flying southwest to Orlando and staying at a Disney resort dilutes the brand. @:-)
Feb 3, 2016, 8:31 am
#1623
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
If you look at the N. American market you have 3-4 broad segments:
- frugal students with time on their hands and interested to explore the world
- working DINKs (this includes GLBT couples) who can pick any time of year to vacation and have disposable income
- families of 4 who look to vacation/see Grandparents when school is off, and
- retirees
- frugal students with time on their hands and interested to explore the world
- working DINKs (this includes GLBT couples) who can pick any time of year to vacation and have disposable income
- families of 4 who look to vacation/see Grandparents when school is off, and
- retirees
Feb 3, 2016, 9:19 am
#1624
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,775
People can be in all categories eventually, e.g. you start as a SINK, go to DINK, get kids, divorce or split, rinse wash and repeat and eventually retire.
One post on OMAT was from Mike about 'Should Kids Miss School To Travel?'. Decisions like this come up when your life circumstances change and make the whole flying with miles or premium cabin more complex.
I for one actually won't mind to read on OMAT how he now handles finding 2 award seats or how he can pull in enough miles for now 2 persons travelling a lot.
Feb 3, 2016, 2:41 pm
#1628
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,130
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DINK_%28acronym%29
Liked this one:
Thats definitely not the target audience of CC churning MSing blogs 
Liked this one:
A close antonym, mainly intended as a joke, is SITCOM, which stands for "Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage.[4]
Feb 5, 2016, 9:14 am
#1629
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
I think this may have been mentioned or asked before....
Is anyone else sick of all of questions as the click bait strategy? I see them all in my Twitter feed and, to me, it usually means he has nothing to say since he has to put it in the form of a question.
Maybe he is hoping to get on jeopardy and is just practicing. "Alex, I'll take fun with flight attendants for $200"
Is anyone else sick of all of questions as the click bait strategy? I see them all in my Twitter feed and, to me, it usually means he has nothing to say since he has to put it in the form of a question.
Maybe he is hoping to get on jeopardy and is just practicing. "Alex, I'll take fun with flight attendants for $200"
Feb 5, 2016, 11:05 am
#1630
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,028
I think this may have been mentioned or asked before....
Is anyone else sick of all of questions as the click bait strategy? I see them all in my Twitter feed and, to me, it usually means he has nothing to say since he has to put it in the form of a question.
Maybe he is hoping to get on jeopardy and is just practicing. "Alex, I'll take fun with flight attendants for $200"
Is anyone else sick of all of questions as the click bait strategy? I see them all in my Twitter feed and, to me, it usually means he has nothing to say since he has to put it in the form of a question.
Maybe he is hoping to get on jeopardy and is just practicing. "Alex, I'll take fun with flight attendants for $200"
Feb 5, 2016, 12:36 pm
#1631
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,585
I think this may have been mentioned or asked before....
Is anyone else sick of all of questions as the click bait strategy? I see them all in my Twitter feed and, to me, it usually means he has nothing to say since he has to put it in the form of a question.
Maybe he is hoping to get on jeopardy and is just practicing. "Alex, I'll take fun with flight attendants for $200"
Is anyone else sick of all of questions as the click bait strategy? I see them all in my Twitter feed and, to me, it usually means he has nothing to say since he has to put it in the form of a question.
Maybe he is hoping to get on jeopardy and is just practicing. "Alex, I'll take fun with flight attendants for $200"
