View from the Wing [VFTW] discussions
#271
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,585
Sure it could be. Science writers for popular magazines routinely describe technologies they don't understand, yet readers still benefit.
#272
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,745
#273
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in PALMYRA, PA, USA
Posts: 58,512
I'm glad he finally conceded the point! ^
#274
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,585
Momentum causes markets to overreact before finding a new balance. FT'ers will have switched to cash back cards for several years by the time the FF programs resume adding value rather than taking it away. We are heading into some lean years for loyalty programs.
#275
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,745
We know that an increasingly revenue-based world of airline redemptions would only undercut VFTW's award booking business. And in my mind, there's no doubt that most of the airline programs would like to follow in the footsteps of IHG, Marriott, and Hilton rather than keep their FFPs as arbitrage opportunities for savvy FTers.
Of course, the question is, can they? In the short term, with an improving economy and consolidation of the major players, I think so, which is why Delta's recent decisions, while bad for most of us, are great for the financials of the airlines. Southwest and Delta are farther along the path, United is interested in closing the gap, and the exclamation point will be if AA decides they gain no competitive advantage by continuing on the older, alternative path.
#276
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in PALMYRA, PA, USA
Posts: 58,512
I read it as his attempt to convince Delta not to throw consumers into the briar patch (to use an even older cultural reference). Like the people at Delta would be listening to the guy who regularly boasts that he invented the term, SkyPesos.
We know that an increasingly revenue-based world of airline redemptions would only undercut VFTW's award booking business. And in my mind, there's no doubt that most of the airline programs would like to follow in the footsteps of IHG, Marriott, and Hilton rather than keep their FFPs as arbitrage opportunities for savvy FTers.
Of course, the question is, can they? In the short term, with an improving economy and consolidation of the major players, I think so, which is why Delta's recent decisions, while bad for most of us, are great for the financials of the airlines. Southwest and Delta are farther along the path, United is interested in closing the gap, and the exclamation point will be if AA decides they gain no competitive advantage by continuing on the older, alternative path.
We know that an increasingly revenue-based world of airline redemptions would only undercut VFTW's award booking business. And in my mind, there's no doubt that most of the airline programs would like to follow in the footsteps of IHG, Marriott, and Hilton rather than keep their FFPs as arbitrage opportunities for savvy FTers.
Of course, the question is, can they? In the short term, with an improving economy and consolidation of the major players, I think so, which is why Delta's recent decisions, while bad for most of us, are great for the financials of the airlines. Southwest and Delta are farther along the path, United is interested in closing the gap, and the exclamation point will be if AA decides they gain no competitive advantage by continuing on the older, alternative path.
But 'miles' are the past.
Meanwhile, there is a $1500 QR J class fare CMB-JFK. THAT is the future of 'gaming' air travel. @:-)
#277
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,882
Oh, I completely agree that the post was a passive aggressive 'warning' to AA not to follow in Delta's footsteps. Because it will be better for consumers and worse for the airline (and, of course, bad for Points and Miles bloggers and award booking companies).
But 'miles' are the past.
Meanwhile, there is a $1500 QR J class fare CMB-JFK. THAT is the future of 'gaming' air travel. @:-)
But 'miles' are the past.
Meanwhile, there is a $1500 QR J class fare CMB-JFK. THAT is the future of 'gaming' air travel. @:-)
#278
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in PALMYRA, PA, USA
Posts: 58,512
#280
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Lots of clickbait the last few days:
When You're Frustrated By Your Airline's Flight Delays, Don't Do This
#281
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in PALMYRA, PA, USA
Posts: 58,512
#283
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,387
Today's post is a copy of a CNN.com article from two days ago.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/09/travel...ome-colosseum/
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/09/travel...ome-colosseum/
#284
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,736
Today's post is a copy of a CNN.com article from two days ago.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/09/travel...ome-colosseum/
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/09/travel...ome-colosseum/
I'm pretty sure this guy is writing these articles for Gary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5hZeagcxsA
#285
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in PALMYRA, PA, USA
Posts: 58,512
Today's post is a copy of a CNN.com article from two days ago.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/09/travel...ome-colosseum/
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/09/travel...ome-colosseum/