One Mile at a Time [OMaaT] discussions [merged]
Mar 10, 2016, 6:29 pm
#1726
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Admirals Club, Global Entry
Posts: 1,141
It always helps to know your market, I suppose.
I looked at Ben's most recent review of the CDG AF lounge today. (Nice review, by the way.) It cost him "only" 300 Euros. Admittedly, and considering what you get, this price is probably fair. My point, though, is imagine what this would cost a family! Not Ben's market, clearly.
If your kids were big wine drinkers (??), you could probably hit that price at a few Paris restaurants I can think of, but that's a different subject altogether. For those with any knowledge of Wall Street history, that kind of excess might remind you of John Gutfreund, who died yesterday.
And anyway, no, I'm not going to read any Part II by Ford . . . .
I looked at Ben's most recent review of the CDG AF lounge today. (Nice review, by the way.) It cost him "only" 300 Euros. Admittedly, and considering what you get, this price is probably fair. My point, though, is imagine what this would cost a family! Not Ben's market, clearly.
If your kids were big wine drinkers (??), you could probably hit that price at a few Paris restaurants I can think of, but that's a different subject altogether. For those with any knowledge of Wall Street history, that kind of excess might remind you of John Gutfreund, who died yesterday.
And anyway, no, I'm not going to read any Part II by Ford . . . .
Mar 10, 2016, 10:13 pm
#1727
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: AMS+IAH
Programs: Lufthansa: Senator || IHG: Diamond Royal Ambassador Inner Circle || Plutonium Status
Posts: 3,513
I'm using prepartion H (instead of Joan Rivers recommending it is now Team Omaat) because as an OMaat personality it's important for me to become forward.
Kidding aside, any AA review (SPG also) will not seem objective anymore. Although we all hope his downfall (
k making reality check cream) i predict he can live of his fame indefinetly and live of the hotel/airline/FFP industry
Kidding aside, any AA review (SPG also) will not seem objective anymore. Although we all hope his downfall (
k making reality check cream) i predict he can live of his fame indefinetly and live of the hotel/airline/FFP industry
Last edited by oliver2002; Mar 11, 2016 at 7:13 am Reason: removed large quoted image
Mar 11, 2016, 8:45 am
#1728
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
I'm using prepartion H (instead of Joan Rivers recommending it is now Team Omaat) because as an OMaat personality it's important for me to become forward.
Kidding aside, any AA review (SPG also) will not seem objective anymore. Although we all hope his downfall (k making reality check cream) i predict he can live of his fame indefinetly and live of the hotel/airline/FFP industry
Kidding aside, any AA review (SPG also) will not seem objective anymore. Although we all hope his downfall (
k making reality check cream) i predict he can live of his fame indefinetly and live of the hotel/airline/FFP industry
Mar 11, 2016, 2:36 pm
#1729
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,047
It always helps to know your market, I suppose.
I looked at Ben's most recent review of the CDG AF lounge today. (Nice review, by the way.) It cost him "only" 300 Euros. Admittedly, and considering what you get, this price is probably fair. My point, though, is imagine what this would cost a family! Not Ben's market, clearly.
If your kids were big wine drinkers (??), you could probably hit that price at a few Paris restaurants I can think of, but that's a different subject altogether. For those with any knowledge of Wall Street history, that kind of excess might remind you of John Gutfreund, who died yesterday.
And anyway, no, I'm not going to read any Part II by Ford . . . .
I looked at Ben's most recent review of the CDG AF lounge today. (Nice review, by the way.) It cost him "only" 300 Euros. Admittedly, and considering what you get, this price is probably fair. My point, though, is imagine what this would cost a family! Not Ben's market, clearly.
If your kids were big wine drinkers (??), you could probably hit that price at a few Paris restaurants I can think of, but that's a different subject altogether. For those with any knowledge of Wall Street history, that kind of excess might remind you of John Gutfreund, who died yesterday.
And anyway, no, I'm not going to read any Part II by Ford . . . .
Mar 11, 2016, 3:44 pm
#1730
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,737
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but a majority of his international travel is obtained with purchased miles? Especially when he's taking the other writers on his blog, his boyfriend, dad, or mom with him. Ben's blog isn't geared towards showing people how to obtain miles... it's about what miles could potentially get you. Most of those credit card signups would barely get you a one way ticket in F.
Mar 11, 2016, 4:29 pm
#1732
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
It's also only been 3.5ish years since United fired him, I mean, he moved to American, so that works with the lower than expected total. Also, it's not like the business is ONLY our fearless author - having some of his employees (the BF in particular) purchase his own miles would push the lifetime down.
Mar 13, 2016, 9:05 am
#1733
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: AMS+IAH
Programs: Lufthansa: Senator || IHG: Diamond Royal Ambassador Inner Circle || Plutonium Status
Posts: 3,513
From the tone of this post:
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2016/03/13/hotel-tripadvisor/
SPG corporate is desperate for Ben's testimonials ---- but good he posts a "meme": I just can't (saving his credibility).
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2016/03/13/hotel-tripadvisor/
SPG corporate is desperate for Ben's testimonials ---- but good he posts a "meme": I just can't (saving his credibility).
Mar 13, 2016, 5:19 pm
#1734
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere above the Mason-Dixon
Programs: DL Ham Samich
Posts: 1,661
His post re: tripadvisor today is a throwback to his less mature writing and the comments suggesting that he "grow up" are well placed.
Ben quite obviously fails to see the hypocrisy of pushing credit cards on people while complaining about hotels that put tripadvisor reviews. Almost laughably so.
He also fails to realize that these employees likely earn a substantial amount of their compensation by earning favorable mentions and the fact that Ben can't be bothered to complete something he sees as meaningless when it's quite clearly not the case for someone not in his position, speaks volumes to both his character view of others.
Ben quite obviously fails to see the hypocrisy of pushing credit cards on people while complaining about hotels that put tripadvisor reviews. Almost laughably so.
He also fails to realize that these employees likely earn a substantial amount of their compensation by earning favorable mentions and the fact that Ben can't be bothered to complete something he sees as meaningless when it's quite clearly not the case for someone not in his position, speaks volumes to both his character view of others.
Mar 13, 2016, 11:01 pm
#1735
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,737
His post re: tripadvisor today is a throwback to his less mature writing and the comments suggesting that he "grow up" are well placed.
Ben quite obviously fails to see the hypocrisy of pushing credit cards on people while complaining about hotels that put tripadvisor reviews. Almost laughably so.
He also fails to realize that these employees likely earn a substantial amount of their compensation by earning favorable mentions and the fact that Ben can't be bothered to complete something he sees as meaningless when it's quite clearly not the case for someone not in his position, speaks volumes to both his character view of others.
Ben quite obviously fails to see the hypocrisy of pushing credit cards on people while complaining about hotels that put tripadvisor reviews. Almost laughably so.
He also fails to realize that these employees likely earn a substantial amount of their compensation by earning favorable mentions and the fact that Ben can't be bothered to complete something he sees as meaningless when it's quite clearly not the case for someone not in his position, speaks volumes to both his character view of others.
I think you are stretching on this one.
Mar 14, 2016, 12:38 am
#1736
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,320
Correct me if I'm wrong here... but Ben doesn't ask people to give him reviews? He also doesn't "push" people to sign up for credit cards, not in the same way at least as an employee asking you for positive feedback.Hotels should not be soliciting people for positive reviews. He pointed out that it is okay to ask on paper for people to leave feedback. Employees should also not be asking guests for positive words for their management to see. That is just uncomfortable.
I think you are stretching on this one.
I think you are stretching on this one.
TripAdvisor helps fellow travelers. In reality, he has a motive not to see the Park Hyatt Moline or Le Meridien Mogadishu get lots of TripAdvisor reviews: people will go to TripAdvisor and not his blog for reviews.
There's a self interest at stake here.
Mar 14, 2016, 9:21 am
#1738
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,737
You guys are getting ridiculous. I think this whole thing is a valid issue and is popping up at many hotels. In fact, employees are often told they will be given a bonus if a glowing review features their name. What's next? A hotel saying they'll knock off a little bit off your bill if you post the review in front of the employee? You're going to have to support your argument a little more than Ben doesn't want to give away a review for free and is therefore complaining that he was asked to give a review (on tripadvisor mind you.... not even on his own blog).
Mar 14, 2016, 10:06 am
#1739
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,320
You guys are getting ridiculous. I think this whole thing is a valid issue and is popping up at many hotels. In fact, employees are often told they will be given a bonus if a glowing review features their name. What's next? A hotel saying they'll knock off a little bit off your bill if you post the review in front of the employee? You're going to have to support your argument a little more than Ben doesn't want to give away a review for free and is therefore complaining that he was asked to give a review (on tripadvisor mind you.... not even on his own blog).
I'm not saying it's insane to think it's annoying to be asked to review a service repeatedly. But it is rich for someone who reviews hotels for a living to complain about being asked to review a hotel, and post 2 blog posts about it. What's the upside for him? More special treatment from a hotel expecting a better review in the future? Incentives for good reviews are part of life for Ben, even if they aren't as explicit as the hypo youve described.
Mar 14, 2016, 2:34 pm
#1740
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,510
You guys are getting ridiculous. I think this whole thing is a valid issue and is popping up at many hotels. In fact, employees are often told they will be given a bonus if a glowing review features their name. What's next? A hotel saying they'll knock off a little bit off your bill if you post the review in front of the employee? You're going to have to support your argument a little more than Ben doesn't want to give away a review for free and is therefore complaining that he was asked to give a review (on tripadvisor mind you.... not even on his own blog).