Loose EK routing rules using AS miles (outed by blog)
Oct 30, 2015, 2:56 pm
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,073
Nov 1, 2015, 12:44 pm
#67
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,737
The screen shots that the blogger posted show a few things.
1) Not all segments were in first. At least 4 were in business and 1 was in coach.
2) The fees shown do not add up to $300.
3) The value of trip was based upon if you booked each segment as an individual ticket. With all tickets being in first class. Two things he did not do with his 2 award tickets.
4) Both award tickets were most likely changed by calling in. Both tickets are showing refunds for taxes as it looks like he made changes.
5) The travel period took place last March. It looks like he also utilized the chauffeur service to the airport.
It looks like at least one "legit" news agencies that ran the story tried to contact the blogger to confirm some of the details. He did not respond. The blogger writes in a style that suggests that he has little to no experience in churning or traveling on award tickets (this could all be an act). I'm having a hard time believing he found some sort of loophole that allowed him to book this ticket online after trial an error (he claims he kept adding on segments and that AS allowed him on the website). Since no one on FT claims to know the loophole it is even stronger evidence that he did not book each trip for 100k miles. He may have visited each city, but I don't believe he did all cities in just two award bookings.
1) Not all segments were in first. At least 4 were in business and 1 was in coach.
2) The fees shown do not add up to $300.
3) The value of trip was based upon if you booked each segment as an individual ticket. With all tickets being in first class. Two things he did not do with his 2 award tickets.
4) Both award tickets were most likely changed by calling in. Both tickets are showing refunds for taxes as it looks like he made changes.
5) The travel period took place last March. It looks like he also utilized the chauffeur service to the airport.
It looks like at least one "legit" news agencies that ran the story tried to contact the blogger to confirm some of the details. He did not respond. The blogger writes in a style that suggests that he has little to no experience in churning or traveling on award tickets (this could all be an act). I'm having a hard time believing he found some sort of loophole that allowed him to book this ticket online after trial an error (he claims he kept adding on segments and that AS allowed him on the website). Since no one on FT claims to know the loophole it is even stronger evidence that he did not book each trip for 100k miles. He may have visited each city, but I don't believe he did all cities in just two award bookings.
Nov 1, 2015, 4:10 pm
#68
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,991
The screen shots that the blogger posted show a few things.
1) Not all segments were in first. At least 4 were in business and 1 was in coach.
2) The fees shown do not add up to $300.
3) The value of trip was based upon if you booked each segment as an individual ticket. With all tickets being in first class. Two things he did not do with his 2 award tickets.
4) Both award tickets were most likely changed by calling in. Both tickets are showing refunds for taxes as it looks like he made changes.
5) The travel period took place last March. It looks like he also utilized the chauffeur service to the airport.
It looks like at least one "legit" news agencies that ran the story tried to contact the blogger to confirm some of the details. He did not respond. The blogger writes in a style that suggests that he has little to no experience in churning or traveling on award tickets (this could all be an act). I'm having a hard time believing he found some sort of loophole that allowed him to book this ticket online after trial an error (he claims he kept adding on segments and that AS allowed him on the website). Since no one on FT claims to know the loophole it is even stronger evidence that he did not book each trip for 100k miles. He may have visited each city, but I don't believe he did all cities in just two award bookings.
1) Not all segments were in first. At least 4 were in business and 1 was in coach.
2) The fees shown do not add up to $300.
3) The value of trip was based upon if you booked each segment as an individual ticket. With all tickets being in first class. Two things he did not do with his 2 award tickets.
4) Both award tickets were most likely changed by calling in. Both tickets are showing refunds for taxes as it looks like he made changes.
5) The travel period took place last March. It looks like he also utilized the chauffeur service to the airport.
It looks like at least one "legit" news agencies that ran the story tried to contact the blogger to confirm some of the details. He did not respond. The blogger writes in a style that suggests that he has little to no experience in churning or traveling on award tickets (this could all be an act). I'm having a hard time believing he found some sort of loophole that allowed him to book this ticket online after trial an error (he claims he kept adding on segments and that AS allowed him on the website). Since no one on FT claims to know the loophole it is even stronger evidence that he did not book each trip for 100k miles. He may have visited each city, but I don't believe he did all cities in just two award bookings.
Nov 1, 2015, 4:26 pm
#70
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Many of us do fly for our miles. I only have 1x BofA card and have never churned. Even if this alleged loophole were true, there is a reason no one wants to confirm or deny the OP's questions. If they were, they would be just as bad as the blogger himself. I'm tired of space being harder to find as the ability to accrue miles without even stepping on a plane is too easy. Too much demand not enough supply.
Last edited by CDKing; Nov 1, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Nov 1, 2015, 5:18 pm
#71
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,737
You have to give him credit... He took the trip almost 7-8 months ago. The amount of exposure his blog/business has received has to be on par with being featured on Shark Tank. The BA bloggers had little to no plan in my eyes to capture that massive wave of views and turn them into sign-ups. This guy has a website where he has visitor sign up for accounts and takes them through the step by step process on how to obtain aspirational travel. The site is fairly well designed and easy to navigate (compared to BA blogs and TPG). While this guy was pretty lose with the facts of his trip he was pretty well prepared for the massive influx of traffic his page would receive.
I'm completely jealous if he was in fact able to book that on 200k miles.
I'm completely jealous if he was in fact able to book that on 200k miles.
Nov 1, 2015, 5:56 pm
#73
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
It is the subject of this thread, this was split off from the main EK award availability thread. Not sure what there is to move on to? We could all stop posting (which I will do after this one) and let this thread sink like a rock to further reduce this blogger's recognition.
Nov 1, 2015, 7:10 pm
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
THis thread and every thread with a link to his blog should be deleted. The more linkbacks the higher the google rankings will be. Just like the serial spammer who posts embedded links to increase exposure to his scam site