The man who travel hacked the world
Apr 29, 2013, 2:31 pm
#1
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
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The man who travel hacked the world
Is this guy the king of the points and miles blogosphere?
http://www.today.com/travel/man-who-...orld-1B9236899
http://www.today.com/travel/man-who-...orld-1B9236899
Apr 29, 2013, 2:57 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 100
I feel like he targets a different niche, compared to other miles and points blogs. He seems to appeal more to the personal development and inspiration crowd.
From looking at that mega thread about "What is the most useful frequent flyer blog," his Art of Non-Conformity blog doesn't get mentioned as often as the usual suspects like the Frequent Miler.
Nothing against the guy. Visiting every country in the world is an awesome achievement.
From looking at that mega thread about "What is the most useful frequent flyer blog," his Art of Non-Conformity blog doesn't get mentioned as often as the usual suspects like the Frequent Miler.
Nothing against the guy. Visiting every country in the world is an awesome achievement.
Apr 29, 2013, 3:28 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Is this guy the king of the points and miles blogosphere?
http://www.today.com/travel/man-who-...orld-1B9236899
http://www.today.com/travel/man-who-...orld-1B9236899
He also takes FT info and repackages it on a monthly pay site.... http://travelhacking.org/
Apr 29, 2013, 5:06 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,737
I believe Chris Guillebeau received a bit of a backlash after soliciting the FT community for a service he provided. I think it was around a year ago. You had to pay to have access to his information, which were daily updates about Facebook promos and such that one could sign up and obtain points. Nothing you couldn't get from reading boardingarea headlines.
His books (40-100 page PDFs) can be easily found via a google search. You'll see that most of the stuff in the book about traveling is rather out dated (circa 2009).
With all the negatives put aside, he has one of the more professional looking websites IMO.
His books (40-100 page PDFs) can be easily found via a google search. You'll see that most of the stuff in the book about traveling is rather out dated (circa 2009).
With all the negatives put aside, he has one of the more professional looking websites IMO.
Apr 30, 2013, 1:45 am
#5
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There is a charm to newsletters, it gives you a digest of what is happening. This guy sells condensed FT/VFT info mailed on a monthly basis for 100€/year: http://www.first-class-and-more.de/
As someone who spends min 10-20 hours a week on FT&VFT I smile when I read the newsletter, but I see the value to people who have no time to trawl the boards.
As someone who spends min 10-20 hours a week on FT&VFT I smile when I read the newsletter, but I see the value to people who have no time to trawl the boards.
Apr 30, 2013, 10:32 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
Is this guy the king of the points and miles blogosphere?
http://www.today.com/travel/man-who-...orld-1B9236899
http://www.today.com/travel/man-who-...orld-1B9236899
The article became really dumb as soon as I read this:
Major airline affiliate networks have online tools (here and here) where you can build and book your trip.
Just like how this guy got by taking advantage of the expedia BRG, LOL.
http://www.today.com/travel/boss-fre...tels-1C8809731
May 1, 2013, 7:50 pm
#7
Formerly known as cagalindo
Join Date: Sep 2010
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That dude Chris? Yeah no respect. Love it how he is still plastering all over THC how you will get the 'latest info' yet he updates it yearly. Don't even get me started on his other fabrications.
May 1, 2013, 10:04 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
He doesn't target newbies but rather the general public, so it is up to date.
May 2, 2013, 2:00 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 267
After a few days it was evident that this information is available publicly without the need for any subscriptions.
A bit more searching found me here on FT.
May 2, 2013, 2:53 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
I initially paid for the e-book and a month's worth of the paid service to see what it was about. The service was fantastically irrelevant for me - it was far too US centric.
After a few days it was evident that this information is available publicly without the need for any subscriptions.
A bit more searching found me here on FT.
After a few days it was evident that this information is available publicly without the need for any subscriptions.
A bit more searching found me here on FT.
May 4, 2013, 10:13 am
#11
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
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Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
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I initially paid for the e-book and a month's worth of the paid service to see what it was about. The service was fantastically irrelevant for me - it was far too US centric.
After a few days it was evident that this information is available publicly without the need for any subscriptions.
A bit more searching found me here on FT.
After a few days it was evident that this information is available publicly without the need for any subscriptions.
A bit more searching found me here on FT.
I think inside flyer magazine still exists but I have not subscribed since 2000 or so...FlyerTalk made it irrelevant to me.
May 4, 2013, 4:20 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
That's sort of how FlyerTalk started: Randy Petersen invited subscribers to his Inside Flyer magazine to continue the conversation here in 1998. And thus a star was born.
I think inside flyer magazine still exists but I have not subscribed since 2000 or so...FlyerTalk made it irrelevant to me.
I think inside flyer magazine still exists but I have not subscribed since 2000 or so...FlyerTalk made it irrelevant to me.
Oct 6, 2013, 11:38 am
#13
Join Date: May 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, SPG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 333
Now giving "Travel Hacking" workshops:
http://www.creativelive.com/courses/...ris-guillebeau
http://www.creativelive.com/courses/...ris-guillebeau
Oct 6, 2013, 8:58 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2009
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There is a charm to newsletters, it gives you a digest of what is happening. This guy sells condensed FT/VFT info mailed on a monthly basis for 100€/year: http://www.first-class-and-more.de/
As someone who spends min 10-20 hours a week on FT&VFT I smile when I read the newsletter, but I see the value to people who have no time to trawl the boards.
As someone who spends min 10-20 hours a week on FT&VFT I smile when I read the newsletter, but I see the value to people who have no time to trawl the boards.
Even if what is doing is easy and just a shadow of what many have done on FT, the ability to see all 193 countries is certainly unique.
I can give better advice on value of travel options, but I have no idea or interest in seeing all parts of the world to check off a list.
But, if we each wanted to be famous or make a living off travel hacking, we all have the info and tools to do so already with FT and just reading the web.
May 12, 2014, 8:53 am
#15
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
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Yesterday on a HKG-JKF Cathay flight I finally got around to reading Chris Guillebeau's $100 Startup book which I had downloaded some time ago (maybe around when I first started this thread).
I was surprised to see that one of his subjects was Gary Leff, who had laid the financials of his award booking company bare for the book.
The two most interesting things from the profile:
1) It said Gary earned about $75k per year doing the award booking (I'm assuming that was 2011?).
and
2) Gary is one of the only people profiled in the book who kept his 'day job' while running a micro-business empire.
Overall the book was pretty interesting and inspiring. I can only imagine how many P&M bloggers were born from reading that book!
I was surprised to see that one of his subjects was Gary Leff, who had laid the financials of his award booking company bare for the book.
The two most interesting things from the profile:
1) It said Gary earned about $75k per year doing the award booking (I'm assuming that was 2011?).
and
2) Gary is one of the only people profiled in the book who kept his 'day job' while running a micro-business empire.
Overall the book was pretty interesting and inspiring. I can only imagine how many P&M bloggers were born from reading that book!