One Mile at a Time [OMaaT] discussions [merged]
Jul 23, 2015, 12:16 am
#601
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
Some parts of me are annoyed about being the part of "a group called Hobbyists", while other parts are incessantly amused.
Jul 23, 2015, 12:24 am
#602
Join Date: May 2004
Location: LAX
Posts: 1,849
"So this guy somehow equates a rootless existence with no family and no productive work with a New Age paradise? Hard to believe someone wanted to break up with him...
BTW, if there's a more putrid form of hell on earth than being a professional airline passenger, I'm not sure what it is."
BTW, this guy is single-handedly destroying what's left in this "Hobby"...
Again, out of words.
BTW, if there's a more putrid form of hell on earth than being a professional airline passenger, I'm not sure what it is."
BTW, this guy is single-handedly destroying what's left in this "Hobby"...
Again, out of words.
Jul 23, 2015, 5:46 am
#603
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Fairmont Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,041
I caught up just now at my favorite Panera and I am feeling...angry.
Oh the [bleep] onboard shower again...
Sell it Boy!
Oh the [bleep] onboard shower again...
Sell it Boy!
Last edited by oliver2002; Jul 24, 2015 at 12:49 am Reason: misspelled profanity is still profanity
Jul 23, 2015, 6:24 am
#604
formerly known as Frugal Travel Guy
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Greenville, SC
Programs: UA Gold, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Silver, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 1,925
Why always so "Angry"??
The reason we play this game is because at times the cost of travel is too good to be true. FT, blogs, word of mouth has been spreading this story for years and you expected something different?
You write a blog about travel hacking as well and pimp for credit card sign ups while condemning others for the same behavior. You are contributing to the spreading of information yourself, yet seem to think Ben is a bad boy because he got lucky and caught a bigger audience. Every one of you whining about the spreading of information is a hypocrite if you told your success stories to even one person.
And this media blitz won't kill the hobby. It will just add a few more players to an evolving game
Last edited by oliver2002; Jul 24, 2015 at 12:49 am Reason: readacted the quote
Jul 23, 2015, 6:52 am
#605
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Drawing negative attention to the miles & points world is not good for anyone in the long run. While one would likely never be able to point to one particular article as the sole executioner for the good times miles & points, this RS article and its aftermath can't help but be another nail in the coffin.
And how much will this inspire a few other blog personalities to try and get their own sensationalist "journalism" exposure akin to this, with more potentially negative attention?
And yeah the Yahoo comments are entertaining...
I understand the flying is free but what does he do after reaching his destination? Spend money then fly again? For what? To earn more mileage for more free flying? His life is just a vicious cycle without any meaningful purpose.
Sitting in an airline passenger seat for 6 hours a day, isn't a reward, it's punishment.
And to what purpose? The article doesn't mention if he actually spends any time at his destinations.
And to what purpose? The article doesn't mention if he actually spends any time at his destinations.
Calling them idiots for assuming good will is pretty crass.
Jul 23, 2015, 7:42 am
#606
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
In fact the "subtitle" headline link on Yahoo is the quote "The people who run these programs are idiots – and we’ll always be one step ahead." Nice
Drawing negative attention to the miles & points world is not good for anyone in the long run. While one would likely never be able to point to one particular article as the sole executioner for the good times miles & points, this RS article and its aftermath can't help but be another nail in the coffin.
And how much will this inspire a few other blog personalities to try and get their own sensationalist "journalism" exposure akin to this, with more potentially negative attention?
And yeah the Yahoo comments are entertaining...
Drawing negative attention to the miles & points world is not good for anyone in the long run. While one would likely never be able to point to one particular article as the sole executioner for the good times miles & points, this RS article and its aftermath can't help but be another nail in the coffin.
And how much will this inspire a few other blog personalities to try and get their own sensationalist "journalism" exposure akin to this, with more potentially negative attention?
And yeah the Yahoo comments are entertaining...
As far as the comments go, they are obviously right. If you read Lucky's trip reports, you'll know that he rarely eats local food at local places for example which is a shame. In that department, guys like Wandering Aramean or Gary add far more to a trip report for a guy like me...
Jul 23, 2015, 8:01 am
#607
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Admirals Club, Global Entry
Posts: 1,141
I've lived through many situations such as this in my life. In short, there will always be opportunities . . . just new ones, always new ones.
I think it's more useful to view it all like surfing: sure, this wave might be almost over, but there's always another one. Sometimes the waves are bigger, sometimes smaller. New waves come along just the same. Always.
So there will continue to be exploitable inefficiencies, or arbitrage opportunities if you will -- just different ones. And as is always true of arbitrage, getting better information than anyone else quicker than anyone else, and having the nerve and the perspicacity to act on it first, will be key. Lots of people have made a very good living over the years with those principles.
So I believe that information is where the blogs, or at least the good ones, come in. Flyer Talk, too, of course.
I think it's more useful to view it all like surfing: sure, this wave might be almost over, but there's always another one. Sometimes the waves are bigger, sometimes smaller. New waves come along just the same. Always.
So there will continue to be exploitable inefficiencies, or arbitrage opportunities if you will -- just different ones. And as is always true of arbitrage, getting better information than anyone else quicker than anyone else, and having the nerve and the perspicacity to act on it first, will be key. Lots of people have made a very good living over the years with those principles.
So I believe that information is where the blogs, or at least the good ones, come in. Flyer Talk, too, of course.
Jul 23, 2015, 8:04 am
#608
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Posts: 3,395
I got the impression the bigger issue was gaming the compensation system and finding some sort of exploit with UA's vouchers. I've been reading his blog off and on since its beginning so it all finally makes sense to me why he went from being a huge UA fan to an AA fan seemingly overnight. It brings back some fond memories of just how whacked UA's compensation system was.
Jul 23, 2015, 8:07 am
#609
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Posts: 3,395
Y'all are being a little hard on Ben.
A friend of mine wrote a little parody of the RS article on his travel site. Enjoy.
http://www.shandypockets.com/the-wheels-on-the-bus.html
A friend of mine wrote a little parody of the RS article on his travel site. Enjoy.
http://www.shandypockets.com/the-wheels-on-the-bus.html
Jul 23, 2015, 8:51 am
#610
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Stockholm
Programs: Various
Posts: 3,369
He is selling something at least:
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...r-nearly-free/
Originally Posted by Ben Schlappig
5 Credit Cards That Can Help You Fly For Nearly Free
Jul 23, 2015, 9:27 am
#611
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,424
I've lived through many situations such as this in my life. In short, there will always be opportunities . . . just new ones, always new ones.
I think it's more useful to view it all like surfing: sure, this wave might be almost over, but there's always another one. Sometimes the waves are bigger, sometimes smaller. New waves come along just the same. Always.
So there will continue to be exploitable inefficiencies, or arbitrage opportunities if you will -- just different ones. And as is always true of arbitrage, getting better information than anyone else quicker than anyone else, and having the nerve and the perspicacity to act on it first, will be key. Lots of people have made a very good living over the years with those principles.
So I believe that information is where the blogs, or at least the good ones, come in. Flyer Talk, too, of course.
I think it's more useful to view it all like surfing: sure, this wave might be almost over, but there's always another one. Sometimes the waves are bigger, sometimes smaller. New waves come along just the same. Always.
So there will continue to be exploitable inefficiencies, or arbitrage opportunities if you will -- just different ones. And as is always true of arbitrage, getting better information than anyone else quicker than anyone else, and having the nerve and the perspicacity to act on it first, will be key. Lots of people have made a very good living over the years with those principles.
So I believe that information is where the blogs, or at least the good ones, come in. Flyer Talk, too, of course.
Jul 23, 2015, 9:57 am
#612
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: UA Premier 1K: PlAAtinum; DL SM, MM; Marriott Gold; CO Plat Emeritus; NW Plat Emeritus
Posts: 4,776
Yeah, RS made it sound much easier than it is.
But I also think people are being hard on him. I think he seems like a decent guy, though he's made mistakes (who hasn't?) and I think he's pretty straight-forward. Bottom line is that those sign-up bonuses are a good deal for many.
He does seem to have hit a rich deposit -- I've had non-FT friends who know I'm into THE HOBBY ask me if I know him.
Jul 23, 2015, 11:35 am
#614
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SMF
Posts: 1,251
Y'all are being a little hard on Ben.
A friend of mine wrote a little parody of the RS article on his travel site. Enjoy.
http://www.shandypockets.com/the-wheels-on-the-bus.html
A friend of mine wrote a little parody of the RS article on his travel site. Enjoy.
http://www.shandypockets.com/the-wheels-on-the-bus.html
Jul 23, 2015, 12:09 pm
#615
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA, B6, UA, HH, WoH
Posts: 455
A friend of mine wrote a little parody of the RS article on his travel site. Enjoy.
http://www.shandypockets.com/the-wheels-on-the-bus.html
http://www.shandypockets.com/the-wheels-on-the-bus.html
Would like to see additional installments.
Maybe photo/video shoots of on-board lav facilities, Amenity Kit items, and a nice feature on the BusClub Lounge.