What is the most useful frequent flyer blog?
#2116
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
Is there any difference between bloggers who get comped the highest, most elite status on an airline and those who manage to get free trips and hotel rooms?
#2117
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 think the free travel part comes from the credit card sign ups.. 50,000 miles for an AA card, use 40,000 AA off peak coach roundtrip to Europe, but just pay taxes (not free).
The free hotels part comes from those 2 free hyatt nights
then again, food, incidentals from hotels, shows, entertainment, transportation is not free...
there is no such thing as free really...
The free hotels part comes from those 2 free hyatt nights
then again, food, incidentals from hotels, shows, entertainment, transportation is not free...
there is no such thing as free really...
#2118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
Just to be clear: I was paying a compliment, not leveling a criticism!
I am constantly amazed and impressed (not to mention a little jealous of) the schwag that the Tommys and Garys and bloggers have bestowed upon them by the travel industry. Free travel and free status sure do beat the hell out of a few measly points or miles! ^
I am constantly amazed and impressed (not to mention a little jealous of) the schwag that the Tommys and Garys and bloggers have bestowed upon them by the travel industry. Free travel and free status sure do beat the hell out of a few measly points or miles! ^
#2119
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
Well, if one wants to get technical about it... sure, nothing is free, period. If you don't travel, you'll always save a bunch. To me, however, the ability to cut air travel and accommodations out of the equation makes my trip as close to free as humanly possible. Is it 100% free? Of course not! But I'll take it!
#2120
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Central Europe
Programs: AY Gold, A3 Gold, UA Gold, Hyatt Globalist, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 482
Lukcy (aka Ben) with "One mile at a time" still the best one out there...
#2121
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
An interesting read on the business side of travel blogging: http://mattkepnes.wordpress.com/2013...avel-blogging/.
It is more about travel blogs than points blogs (which are what most discussed here are, IMO), but I think there are some pointed parallels between the two. Not surprisingly, there is some significant discussion on the use of paid text links in posts.
It is more about travel blogs than points blogs (which are what most discussed here are, IMO), but I think there are some pointed parallels between the two. Not surprisingly, there is some significant discussion on the use of paid text links in posts.
#2122
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Just in time for our discussions: Should You Start Your Own Points Blog?
And VFTW revisits (for the umpteenth time) the only destination that matters, the Maldives
And VFTW revisits (for the umpteenth time) the only destination that matters, the Maldives
#2123
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: 1A with Dom Perignon
Programs: Platinum Sky Pimp
Posts: 86
Yes it does. Like in this "Best cards for students studying abroad"
http://thepointsguy.com/2013/03/vide...udying-abroad/
As it turns out Business Chase Ink cards are among them. Imagine that application! I wonder if Platinum MB Amex is good for a students as well.
I bet he has ending template for every post he publishes because it is so much hassle to ad 20 links in every post every time.
#2124
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,737
Yes it does. Like in this "Best cards for students studying abroad"
http://thepointsguy.com/2013/03/vide...udying-abroad/
As it turns out Business Chase Ink cards are among them. Imagine that application! I wonder if Platinum MB Amex is good for a students as well.
I bet he has ending template for every post he publishes because it is so much hassle to ad 20 links in every post every time.
http://thepointsguy.com/2013/03/vide...udying-abroad/
As it turns out Business Chase Ink cards are among them. Imagine that application! I wonder if Platinum MB Amex is good for a students as well.
I bet he has ending template for every post he publishes because it is so much hassle to ad 20 links in every post every time.
His Sunday posts seem to be pumped out a bit quicker. He should have just put up a chart that showed the card, type of rewards, forex fee, and yearly fee... then explained them all.
I would have thought the best piece of advice would be to not get a credit card at all if you are a student and only abroad for 3 months. You could get a Charles Schwab checking account for free and not be charged any ATM or international banking fees. He does suggest being an authorized user on a parent's premium card that had no forex (this probably should have been his first suggestion).
#2125
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
While I was dreaming last night (seriously!), I stumbled on this interesting example...
Anyways, I got a Klout perk a few days ago, and I'm sort of stuck in a weird place. I sort of feel like I have to say that I got a perk, because then that's the only way the perks would continue, because then if I didn't then the provider wouldn't be getting the publicity s/he wanted.
Isn't that sort of like credit cards except with bigger numbers? If you're not going to push, no links for you.
Anyways, I got a Klout perk a few days ago, and I'm sort of stuck in a weird place. I sort of feel like I have to say that I got a perk, because then that's the only way the perks would continue, because then if I didn't then the provider wouldn't be getting the publicity s/he wanted.
Isn't that sort of like credit cards except with bigger numbers? If you're not going to push, no links for you.
#2126
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat, Copa Pres. Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, SPG LT Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 769
While I was dreaming last night (seriously!), I stumbled on this interesting example...
Anyways, I got a Klout perk a few days ago, and I'm sort of stuck in a weird place. I sort of feel like I have to say that I got a perk, because then that's the only way the perks would continue, because then if I didn't then the provider wouldn't be getting the publicity s/he wanted.
Isn't that sort of like credit cards except with bigger numbers? If you're not going to push, no links for you.
Anyways, I got a Klout perk a few days ago, and I'm sort of stuck in a weird place. I sort of feel like I have to say that I got a perk, because then that's the only way the perks would continue, because then if I didn't then the provider wouldn't be getting the publicity s/he wanted.
Isn't that sort of like credit cards except with bigger numbers? If you're not going to push, no links for you.
#2127
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
Two expenses you can't avoid on the road are transportation and lodging. Both can be had on miles and points. Everything else is, strictly speaking, optional.
Don't want to pay for tours -- don't. Read a lot of books, contact locals beforehabd and ask them to show you around.
Food? You still eat out even when not traveling. Not as much, granted, but one can always buy packaged food at a supermarket or grocery. Breakfast is often acheivable with status, and same holds true for snacks and drinks at the lounge.
What else is there? Souvenirs? Come on!
Even the free ride to the airport can be arranged if you ask a buddy or relative to take you there. And a rental can be had on points too. Not the best use of points, but it's easy and doable.
So, it all comes down to one thing: airline taxes. Taxes are inevitable. Yet, unbelievably enough, even that can often be taken care of by applying for the right kind of card with a statement credit.
Leisure travel is fun and some people will argue that having fun while staying home ain't free either. Some folks have expensive habits. Go clubbing in NYC or South Beach and tell me how cheap it is. Even small ticket items like having a cold one with friends, bowling alleyes, movie theaters -- things you routinely do at home without thinking twice cost money. Honestly, no grownup out there will expect to be able to go on a "free trip" without a wallet. What you, guys, demand here is the absolutely highest and improbable level of disclosure that nobody from any industry in the world will ever adhere to.
#2128
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,607
#2129
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,168
And VFTW revisits (for the umpteenth time) the only destination that matters, the Maldives
That said, if you have a certain travel pattern you become the expert of that route. Venturing outside that niche and writing something readable about it (that people want to read) must be pretty tough...
#2130
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 787
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,306
I probably not understanding this correctly but what loophole is that? from reading it I see he spent 230K miles on each ticket.