What is the most useful frequent flyer blog?
Aug 15, 2012, 10:58 am
#856
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
So, I hadn't looked at these blogs until this thread and thought that perhaps I was missing something. I started looking, and it was like a train wreck or chick lit - I didn't know why I looked, but I did. I didn't find anything of value. Lots of trip reports that go into far more detail than I am interested in reading, yet somehow I found myself continuing to read.
But, I finally found the cure. MP post on trying to get into Olympic Park without a ticket
Great way to represent a US tourist - purposefully wasting the time of the security folks at Olympic Park. And I can say "purposefully" since she admits in her post that she knew the rule. That snapped me out of it, kind of like hitting bottom. No more blogs for me.
But, I finally found the cure. MP post on trying to get into Olympic Park without a ticket
Great way to represent a US tourist - purposefully wasting the time of the security folks at Olympic Park. And I can say "purposefully" since she admits in her post that she knew the rule. That snapped me out of it, kind of like hitting bottom. No more blogs for me.A blogger has found a loophole - using the code, booked a domestic round trip then booked dirt cheap hotels in SE Asia as throw-away and blogged about her "great find." That is picked up by one of the more famous blogger who used to be the Mod of this forum, the it went viral...
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/...or-travelocity
At that event, Steve Dumaine, senior vice president of global strategy and project innovation at the online travel booking company, spoke to attendees. His company has been partnering with the NFB on making Travelocity's site accessible to blind users, and he told attendees that the company would give them $200 off of a booking.
"It was entirely a goodwill gesture," says NFB director of public relations Chris Danielsen.
The NFB tweeted the offer on July 4, which Travelocity retweeted:
"Travelocity has offered NFB members $200 off a three-night hotel and flight package through September 4; use code NFB2012."
Yeah, Travelocity made a mistake by not specifying the code is only for attendees, but the intention is quite clear... reading the defense from the more famous blogger against Travelocity shows you how low people would go, even for someone with reputation.
Aug 15, 2012, 11:03 am
#857
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
On top of that, the bloggers have enough newbies clicking on their sites to generate page views so they can get better referral payouts. Why would they change their behaviors to make them more attractive to the FTers, especially those who are more knowledgeable? The audience target is vastly different.
But most of this criticism is not constructive. Some folks hate trip reports, while others love it. Some people are not interested in squeezing every point out of our buying habits while others love it immensely. Bit*hing about pushing credit cards is pointless as well because for everyone who is not a business traveler, credit cards is the best and the only realistic way to accumulate miles and points. Bloggers will not stop doing it because some flyertalkers don't like it. Simple as that.
Aug 15, 2012, 11:09 am
#858
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 60
I like to read "the points guy" blog but he's really whoring it out this week.
So I clicked on his amex links today -> CRTV=STALTO&PSKU=SPG&VEID=1514524983&AFFID=k561584 and then re-applied without his affiliate ID in URL by using another browser. (AFFID=k561584)
Just way too much spam & BS about his update on his "own" applications and cards that he's "keeping"..
So I clicked on his amex links today -> CRTV=STALTO&PSKU=SPG&VEID=1514524983&AFFID=k561584 and then re-applied without his affiliate ID in URL by using another browser. (AFFID=k561584)
Just way too much spam & BS about his update on his "own" applications and cards that he's "keeping"..
Aug 15, 2012, 11:17 am
#859
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, UA PS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,904
TPG provided information about the benefits of the card. You read his blog and it seems you wanted that card. But you did not want to use his Referral ID. Lastly you applied for the card when you could use someone's referral. You would not have lost anything if you had used someone's referral (atleast they get rewarded for all the informations and answers they try to give).
I agree with a lot of people here -- I really liked TPG when he first started (when it was less of a business and he put out some good stuff). But it's become a shell of what it used to be, and it's really insulting to his readers that some of his links will go to bonuses that are half of what is publicly available.
atleast they get rewarded for all the informations and answers they try to give
Aug 15, 2012, 11:31 am
#861
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, UA PS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,904
I don't know which bloggers actually read this thread, but money talks, and removing the affID is the most direct form of feedback.
Aug 15, 2012, 12:00 pm
#862
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Posts: 1,887
Bit*hing about pushing credit cards is pointless as well because for everyone who is not a business traveler, credit cards is the best and the only realistic way to accumulate miles and points. Bloggers will not stop doing it because some flyertalkers don't like it. Simple as that.
I'd say there's an inverse correlation between useful content and the frequency of referral links. When the new Chase Ink Plus card came out, who posted about it immediately and who waited for the referral links before posting? Personally I would never give another referral to the latter.
Aug 15, 2012, 12:21 pm
#863
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
The moderators' charge is to keep discussion civil. We can do this with our police power, or we can do it by steering the discussion in a constructive direction. My experience is that people do respond to compliments more than to criticism.
I want to draw out the reasons that Flyertalk members follow these blogs. I understand the criticisms, but what keeps you going back?
I want to draw out the reasons that Flyertalk members follow these blogs. I understand the criticisms, but what keeps you going back?
Aug 15, 2012, 12:41 pm
#864
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 787
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,306
TPG provided information about the benefits of the card. You read his blog and it seems you wanted that card. But you did not want to use his Referral ID. Lastly you applied for the card when you could use someone's referral. You would not have lost anything if you had used someone's referral (atleast they get rewarded for all the informations and answers they try to give).
Aug 15, 2012, 12:42 pm
#865
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 787
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,306
Aug 15, 2012, 1:11 pm
#866
Join Date: May 2007
Location: DEN
Programs: DL PM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,816
and TPG doesnt respond to reader emails *hint* 
Aug 15, 2012, 2:08 pm
#867
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 519
When I first discovered the blogs, I thought they were great. But now, I find most of the blogs are about them generating the ad revenues and click through referral commissions. While I appreciate all the bloggers' efforts in keeping up with the blogs, I find it somewhat annoying that most of the articles are written for the sole purpose of making money. It's hard to differentiate one blog from another these days as when something comes out (like Citi Hilton Reserve Card), every blog is all about you getting the latest and greatest credit card.
Aug 15, 2012, 3:44 pm
#868
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
There is at least one blogger (FrequentMiler) who listened. When a blogger focuses their energy on posting value added content, as opposed to ways to push referrals, it shows. TPG used to put a lot more energy into posting value added content, but now seems to have gone the other direction, and it shows as well.
I'd say there's an inverse correlation between useful content and the frequency of referral links. When the new Chase Ink Plus card came out, who posted about it immediately and who waited for the referral links before posting? Personally I would never give another referral to the latter.
I'd say there's an inverse correlation between useful content and the frequency of referral links. When the new Chase Ink Plus card came out, who posted about it immediately and who waited for the referral links before posting? Personally I would never give another referral to the latter.
.
Aug 15, 2012, 3:48 pm
#869
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 787
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,306
Ok, which blog is that? Can you post URL please
Aug 15, 2012, 4:05 pm
#870
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