One Mile at a Time [OMaaT] discussions [merged]
Jul 30, 2015, 8:44 am
#796
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TUS and any place close to a lav
Programs: UA 1.6MM
Posts: 5,423
He was not banned simply for taking bumps. The story is more involved than that.
Thanks for sharing the insight Seth.
Jul 30, 2015, 8:44 am
#797
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Currently in Bloomington, IN, but Normally NYC, CDG, and even POZ or wherever FT takes me.
Programs: Northwest Airlines. MTA pay-per-ride Metrocard; zero-balance Oyster card.
Posts: 14,018
Well, it was fundamentally a puff piece, and a way for the writer to jet around the world on his company's dime... in-depth isn't a requirement in these situations.
Jul 30, 2015, 8:45 am
#798
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,597
As for how he paid for his youthful travels, that's actually in many of the early blog entries. Which I've actually read. It's not some weird, hard-to-penetrate secret. None of that stuff would've ever been for me, but it still astonishes me how close you could come in those now bygone days to creating the air-travel equivalent of a perpetual motion machine.
Unless you are talking about fraudulently using the same UA voucher over and over again...
Jul 30, 2015, 10:01 am
#799
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Stockholm
Programs: Various
Posts: 3,368
Ahum, Tracer, you know his mother's a hairdresser, right?
I have no more idea about his family's wealth than you really do. But based on the foregoing, my unsubstantiated surmise is that his family has no real wealth, "substantial" or otherwise. Or maybe it just depends on how you define "wealth" and "substantial."
I have no more idea about his family's wealth than you really do. But based on the foregoing, my unsubstantiated surmise is that his family has no real wealth, "substantial" or otherwise. Or maybe it just depends on how you define "wealth" and "substantial."
Jul 30, 2015, 10:12 am
#800
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Admirals Club, Global Entry
Posts: 1,141
Sure.
What I remember reading is this. Back then you could often snag transcon roundrip tickets for some $200. Routing rules back then were practically non-existent, too, and you could just about always do some semi-insane criss-crossing multi-multi-multi-leg route. And then, on top of that -- and with experience and skill -- you could also very often get a bump voucher by strategically picking your flights and aggressively volunteering. If I recall correctly, the bump vouchers back then were only $200 or so . . . but enough for the next set of flights . . . especially since scoring more than one voucher on a single itinerary wasn't that hard. (If I'm remembering right, one trip even netted $800 in vouchers.) Pretty amazing, at least to a non-"hobbyist" like me.
All that stuff is long gone, sadly, from today's world. The mileage running, routing, everything.
Any extracurricular activity with a voucher obviously wouldn't have been a part of any blog post I ever read. (Any funny business along those lines would've helped, clearly.)
But I did have one HUGE unanswered question -- which no one else seems to have. How on earth could he spend all that time travelling and yet be a supposedly full-time student??
Well, time has finally supplied me with the answer. First, a couple of my inlaws have now gotten doctorates from UF and have told me, in detail, what that place is like -- at least at the undergraduate level. Enough said. Second, we can all now more clearly see from the blog and the TV interviews what a truly sharp guy Ben really is, especially compared to the average undergraduate. And third, I hadn't originally realized he was majoring in "marketing." Most of you will know what that means. So 1 + 1 + 1 = Lots of free time. QED
What I remember reading is this. Back then you could often snag transcon roundrip tickets for some $200. Routing rules back then were practically non-existent, too, and you could just about always do some semi-insane criss-crossing multi-multi-multi-leg route. And then, on top of that -- and with experience and skill -- you could also very often get a bump voucher by strategically picking your flights and aggressively volunteering. If I recall correctly, the bump vouchers back then were only $200 or so . . . but enough for the next set of flights . . . especially since scoring more than one voucher on a single itinerary wasn't that hard. (If I'm remembering right, one trip even netted $800 in vouchers.) Pretty amazing, at least to a non-"hobbyist" like me.
All that stuff is long gone, sadly, from today's world. The mileage running, routing, everything.
Any extracurricular activity with a voucher obviously wouldn't have been a part of any blog post I ever read. (Any funny business along those lines would've helped, clearly.)
But I did have one HUGE unanswered question -- which no one else seems to have. How on earth could he spend all that time travelling and yet be a supposedly full-time student??
Well, time has finally supplied me with the answer. First, a couple of my inlaws have now gotten doctorates from UF and have told me, in detail, what that place is like -- at least at the undergraduate level. Enough said. Second, we can all now more clearly see from the blog and the TV interviews what a truly sharp guy Ben really is, especially compared to the average undergraduate. And third, I hadn't originally realized he was majoring in "marketing." Most of you will know what that means. So 1 + 1 + 1 = Lots of free time. QED
Jul 30, 2015, 10:16 am
#801
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,372
Could you elaborate for those of us who did not follow back in the day/are too lazy to do the research? I know I was a very, very frequent flyer back then and never came close to finding a perpetual motion machine!
Unless you are talking about fraudulently using the same UA voucher over and over again...
Unless you are talking about fraudulently using the same UA voucher over and over again...
$200 was the going 'sale' rate for a transcon, and originating in TPA, you could work a routing up and down each coast in addition to the 2 transcons...7500+ EQMs, 15,000+ RDMs and all paid for with the bump voucher. Given mom and dad dropping you off at the airport, you wouldn't even be out of pocket for parking.
Do this 6 times and you have 90,000 RDMs, which was enough for biz class award to Europe/Asia. Little to no out of pocket.
Not to mention disfunctional seats, IFE, bad meal, whatever to get additional $ voucher or miles compensation.....
Last edited by work2fly; Jul 30, 2015 at 10:26 am Reason: edited to add: Basically what FallenPlat said right above
Jul 30, 2015, 10:36 am
#802
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
I hadn't originally realized he was majoring in "marketing." Most of you will know what that means.
Jul 30, 2015, 10:44 am
#803
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,431
Sure.
What I remember reading is this. Back then you could often snag transcon roundrip tickets for some $200. Routing rules back then were practically non-existent, too, and you could just about always do some semi-insane criss-crossing multi-multi-multi-leg route. And then, on top of that -- and with experience and skill -- you could also very often get a bump voucher by strategically picking your flights and aggressively volunteering. If I recall correctly, the bump vouchers back then were only $200 or so . . . but enough for the next set of flights . . . especially since scoring more than one voucher on a single itinerary wasn't that hard. (If I'm remembering right, one trip even netted $800 in vouchers.) Pretty amazing, at least to a non-"hobbyist" like me.
All that stuff is long gone, sadly, from today's world. The mileage running, routing, everything.
Any extracurricular activity with a voucher obviously wouldn't have been a part of any blog post I ever read. (Any funny business along those lines would've helped, clearly.)
But I did have one HUGE unanswered question -- which no one else seems to have. How on earth could he spend all that time travelling and yet be a supposedly full-time student??
Well, time has finally supplied me with the answer. First, a couple of my inlaws have now gotten doctorates from UF and have told me, in detail, what that place is like -- at least at the undergraduate level. Enough said. Second, we can all now more clearly see from the blog and the TV interviews what a truly sharp guy Ben really is, especially compared to the average undergraduate. And third, I hadn't originally realized he was majoring in "marketing." Most of you will know what that means. So 1 + 1 + 1 = Lots of free time. QED
What I remember reading is this. Back then you could often snag transcon roundrip tickets for some $200. Routing rules back then were practically non-existent, too, and you could just about always do some semi-insane criss-crossing multi-multi-multi-leg route. And then, on top of that -- and with experience and skill -- you could also very often get a bump voucher by strategically picking your flights and aggressively volunteering. If I recall correctly, the bump vouchers back then were only $200 or so . . . but enough for the next set of flights . . . especially since scoring more than one voucher on a single itinerary wasn't that hard. (If I'm remembering right, one trip even netted $800 in vouchers.) Pretty amazing, at least to a non-"hobbyist" like me.
All that stuff is long gone, sadly, from today's world. The mileage running, routing, everything.
Any extracurricular activity with a voucher obviously wouldn't have been a part of any blog post I ever read. (Any funny business along those lines would've helped, clearly.)
But I did have one HUGE unanswered question -- which no one else seems to have. How on earth could he spend all that time travelling and yet be a supposedly full-time student??
Well, time has finally supplied me with the answer. First, a couple of my inlaws have now gotten doctorates from UF and have told me, in detail, what that place is like -- at least at the undergraduate level. Enough said. Second, we can all now more clearly see from the blog and the TV interviews what a truly sharp guy Ben really is, especially compared to the average undergraduate. And third, I hadn't originally realized he was majoring in "marketing." Most of you will know what that means. So 1 + 1 + 1 = Lots of free time. QED
Jul 30, 2015, 10:49 am
#804
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
So that's why RS did not explore it and other publications won't either.
Jul 30, 2015, 11:01 am
#805
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Admirals Club, Global Entry
Posts: 1,141
Oh come now, Cruisr. Reread what I said. Of course United wouldn't have gotten mad at him for doing what I describe.
And, equally obviously, they would've likely gotten annoyed for any of what I called "extracurricular activity" in my post. If any. Wink.
As a separate point, it's been said in several places that Ben's father was a banker. That obviously covers a fair amount of real estate and, by itself, doesn't say very much one way or the other.
I have to admit that I've got zero interest in Ben's personal life and less than zero interest in his parents' lives. Way less than zero. Still less interest in discussing any of it.
Oh, and thanks for the reminder about the class selection thing. I'd forgotten but, yes, there was that as well.
And, equally obviously, they would've likely gotten annoyed for any of what I called "extracurricular activity" in my post. If any. Wink.
As a separate point, it's been said in several places that Ben's father was a banker. That obviously covers a fair amount of real estate and, by itself, doesn't say very much one way or the other.
I have to admit that I've got zero interest in Ben's personal life and less than zero interest in his parents' lives. Way less than zero. Still less interest in discussing any of it.
Oh, and thanks for the reminder about the class selection thing. I'd forgotten but, yes, there was that as well.
Jul 30, 2015, 11:06 am
#806
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,372
that's NOT what got UA angry enough to kick him out. he used the same certificate over and over and over again due to a glitch in their system. It is not fraud to be bumped and get vouchers it is fraud to use a certificate over and over again. Let's say the value was $200.00 and he used that same certificate 20 times. you are supposed to get a value of 200. NOT 4000. That is fraud
Jul 30, 2015, 11:30 am
#807
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: AS 100K, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,828
From page 37 of this thread:
His dad worked for a bank according to the article. What it doesn't say but is easy to guess is what kind of bank it was. The Linkedin profile of, I presume, his brother Michael reveals he's a VP at [redacted]. Hid dad Arnold used to be the New York general manager of [redacted]bank (today merged into [redacted]bank). Not exactly poor people.
Jul 30, 2015, 11:41 am
#808
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,597
But for God's sake, don't use the H word. You're better than that. We all are. @:-)
Jul 30, 2015, 11:45 am
#809
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
and back in much older day, something (not ben) re refunding F at gate
seem to recall biggest bump runners (not ben) saying game has changed
are some claiming ben did NOT talk about family trips to germany? he did
FTG was acquired by IB
TPG was acquired by bankrate
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/exter...late-post.html
seem to recall biggest bump runners (not ben) saying game has changed
are some claiming ben did NOT talk about family trips to germany? he did
TPG was acquired by bankrate
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/exter...late-post.html
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Jul 30, 2015 at 12:31 pm
Jul 30, 2015, 12:29 pm
#810
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Admirals Club, Global Entry
Posts: 1,141
Actually he was a (mileage-running) United 1K almost from the start and so flew in upgraded F most of the time. But I still agree 100% -- brutal no matter how you slice it. Being young helps, I would presume.
And, yes, absolutely, Ben has blogged quite a bit about all those youthful family trips to Germany. Not an impoverished lifestyle by any means.
And, yes, absolutely, Ben has blogged quite a bit about all those youthful family trips to Germany. Not an impoverished lifestyle by any means.