One Mile at a Time [OMaaT] discussions [merged]
Aug 3, 2016, 11:09 pm
#2371
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Aug 4, 2016, 5:19 am
#2372
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
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Posts: 2,138
They work him (and Gary) right back - remember the savage posts about the devaluation quickly followed up by the "well, AA isn't all that bad and I'll still use them as my airline of choice" posts?
Aug 4, 2016, 7:47 am
#2373
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Omaha, NE
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Posts: 140
Aug 4, 2016, 11:25 am
#2374
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I think One mile at a time is still relevant and highly influential on the circle of travel blogs in regards to air miles and scoring the best deals on flights. He did cover major airlines too like Etihad Airways
Aug 4, 2016, 12:52 pm
#2375
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,328
If a blog is not providing "accurate" information while it suggests it is, and uses that inaccurate information to sell things, that's deceptive marketing.
Aug 4, 2016, 12:53 pm
#2376
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
I was just shocked to see it took him two years to finally fly the product everyone else has raved about since it launched. And disappointed to see that he seems to think he discovered how amazing it was. Late to the game but pretending it just started.
Last edited by sbm12; Aug 4, 2016 at 1:04 pm
Aug 4, 2016, 12:55 pm
#2377
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
. I think I click on his blog twice a week max now.
Aug 4, 2016, 4:46 pm
#2378
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA, CX, AS, DL / Hilton, SPG
Posts: 153
I have a genuine question. From reading his posts, one would get the impression that he is constantly working (even in taxis). What is it the he is constantly working on? I cannot imagine that the blog and award booking business require this seemingly non-stop amount of work.
Aug 4, 2016, 5:12 pm
#2379
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Admirals Club, Global Entry
Posts: 1,141
I believe that Ben's work mostly consists of the following: (i) writing blog entries, (ii) award booking & consulting, (iii) answering emails of all sorts, (iv) being a travel agent for himself, and (iv) otherwise running his small business.
Doing all this while on the road 24/7 is evidently a bit of a juggling act. I guess maybe it's better than being a junior associate in some big Wall Street law firm or investment bank (as pointed out above), but I personally would detest every minute of it.
Put slightly differently, the juggling act may be somewhat more logistical than truly substantive. I wouldn't be too impressed if I were you.
Doing all this while on the road 24/7 is evidently a bit of a juggling act. I guess maybe it's better than being a junior associate in some big Wall Street law firm or investment bank (as pointed out above), but I personally would detest every minute of it.
Put slightly differently, the juggling act may be somewhat more logistical than truly substantive. I wouldn't be too impressed if I were you.
Aug 4, 2016, 7:11 pm
#2380
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Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
If his annual blog revenue (from all sources) is in the millions as some have claimed, I figure it would have to make sense to outsource a lot more than he does. Obviously (i) and (ii) are outsourced a bit, with co-writers and co-bookers. (iii) I'm guessing there's room for improvement there, unless this is what he is doing that requires the constant wi-fi. (iv) shouldn't take that much time weekly, even with his schedule (take it from someone who has booked a few very complex awards, and Ben only travels 2-3x what I did at my peak). (v), maybe. Who knows. I wouldn't want that life though, 200,000 BIS a year was plenty for me.
Aug 5, 2016, 12:41 am
#2381
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,198
I think Ben tries to imply the travel style of a road warrior: fly someplace in C or F, stay at a 5* chain hotel, rush to meetings then to the airport and off to some other place in C or F with the next chain hotel and meetings. Its the style he started with and stuck to.
I seriously doubt he has so much work. Either its a fake or he is completely disorganised.
I seriously doubt he has so much work. Either its a fake or he is completely disorganised.
Aug 5, 2016, 5:10 am
#2382
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,039
I think Ben tries to imply the travel style of a road warrior: fly someplace in C or F, stay at a 5* chain hotel, rush to meetings then to the airport and off to some other place in C or F with the next chain hotel and meetings. Its the style he started with and stuck to.
I seriously doubt he has so much work. Either its a fake or he is completely disorganised.
I seriously doubt he has so much work. Either its a fake or he is completely disorganised.
Aug 5, 2016, 9:04 am
#2383
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I have a genuine question. From reading his posts, one would get the impression that he is constantly working (even in taxis). What is it the he is constantly working on? I cannot imagine that the blog and award booking business require this seemingly non-stop amount of work.
Ben is overseeing over 50 articles a week plus award booking plus everything else, whilst travelling like mad. His work ethic is amazing.
Aug 5, 2016, 9:17 am
#2384
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Location: Upper Sternistan
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I have to agree with Raffles here - I'm pretty sure Ben is really putting in some hours.
Further, for someone like Gary, I can't see how he has a full time job and manages to churn out as many words as he does. Granted, the quality of Ben's posts is much higher, but Gary is a machine. Something tells me I wouldn't want to be his (other) employer.
Further, for someone like Gary, I can't see how he has a full time job and manages to churn out as many words as he does. Granted, the quality of Ben's posts is much higher, but Gary is a machine. Something tells me I wouldn't want to be his (other) employer.
Aug 5, 2016, 10:25 am
#2385
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA, CX, AS, DL / Hilton, SPG
Posts: 153
Are you having a laugh? I run 21 articles a week and my site take about 50 hours of my time. That includes dealing with over 1,000 weekly emails and 1,500 blog comments and an average of 3 face to face meetings.
Ben is overseeing over 50 articles a week plus award booking plus everything else, whilst travelling like mad. His work ethic is amazing.
Ben is overseeing over 50 articles a week plus award booking plus everything else, whilst travelling like mad. His work ethic is amazing.