One Mile at a Time [OMaaT] discussions [merged]
Aug 10, 2015, 11:27 am
#916
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,511
It's hard to follow the timeline given in the blog post. I enjoy the UPGRD blog from time to time but this just points out more issues with Ben's life. The RS article stated that Ben's father was home only on the weekends and that his older brother was father figure until he tragically died in an accident. Then this blog entry points to the well know thread in FT where Ben at the age of 15/16 traveled 5 days non-stop living at the airport and sleeping on planes. Not only did his parents allow him to do this, but they gave him $1,000+. I am assuming that is where a 15 year old gets that kind of money. If this information was publicized in the media I'm sure there would have been an outcry and social services would have been called. This isn't northern Europe where the courts allow 15 year olds to sail solo around the world. You'd get people like Nancy interjecting themselves into the situation and turning it into a tabloid story.
Also, it is a little creepy to read about his stalker and to know that his long term relationship stems from a fanboy writing him emails. I guess all of this publicity/media coverage exposed some of his personal life that he typically does not share with his readers.
Also, it is a little creepy to read about his stalker and to know that his long term relationship stems from a fanboy writing him emails. I guess all of this publicity/media coverage exposed some of his personal life that he typically does not share with his readers.
Aug 10, 2015, 11:32 am
#917
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,625
Aug 10, 2015, 12:28 pm
#918
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
I am assuming beyond the allowance given to him by his parents the only currency he had coming in was vouchers from airlines from being bumped. I forget when he was working the United glitch. I thought that was 2010-2011, when he was old enough to know better and had enough money coming in from his two businesses.
Aug 10, 2015, 1:16 pm
#919
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,738
That explains a lot taking that the RS article referenced how he would purposely look for things to complain about.
Aug 10, 2015, 5:49 pm
#920
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
It allowed them to go to college without the parents helicoptering continually.
Aug 10, 2015, 5:57 pm
#921
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,432
I detest helicopter parents but at the same time the part of 15 year old's brain that is called into action for making decisions is not fully developed and is not fully developed until age 25. That's why teens usually do not make the best decisions. Sending a 15 year old out into the world to sleep in airports is not something I would recommend nor condone.
Aug 10, 2015, 6:11 pm
#922
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,624
I flew to Europe alone at 15. Did a Eurail month-long ticket when I was 16. Awesome experiences, both.
That part of his bio doesn't bug me at all.
That part of his bio doesn't bug me at all.
Aug 10, 2015, 11:25 pm
#923
Join Date: May 2004
Location: LAX
Posts: 1,849
Remember how just the other week Ben wrote an article saying that RS cherry picked quotes and that other media outlet are the ones responsible for twisting the truth?
http://www.cnbc.com/2015/08/07/how-a...-programs.html
He says on air, almost every week I fly international first class to Asia or Europe on miles.
http://www.cnbc.com/2015/08/07/how-a...-programs.html
He says on air, almost every week I fly international first class to Asia or Europe on miles.
Aug 11, 2015, 7:22 am
#924
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Just in case you were wondering which reader won the Delta dirty gay caption contest:
And for those doubting the bloggers read this forum, note:
Winner #1
Fredd for the caption, “Cruising altitude is the greatest, isn’t it?”
Winner #2
wxguy for the caption, “We love your fly, and it shows!”
Honorable mention goes to: Jack, Josh, AJ, freedawg and bubu for their various takes on “extra inches,” and Charles and John Barcus for their take on the “fully upright and locked position” gag.
Fredd for the caption, “Cruising altitude is the greatest, isn’t it?”
Winner #2
wxguy for the caption, “We love your fly, and it shows!”
Honorable mention goes to: Jack, Josh, AJ, freedawg and bubu for their various takes on “extra inches,” and Charles and John Barcus for their take on the “fully upright and locked position” gag.
And for those doubting the bloggers read this forum, note:
we’ve chosen two winners, each of whom will receive a $100 Delta gift card to spend on airfare, merchandise, in-flight purchases, or Krug-and-tugs from your handsome ethnically diverse seatmate.
Aug 11, 2015, 3:14 pm
#927
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Europe & Indonesia
Programs: BAEC Gold, LH SEN, EK ex-Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 11,571
Aug 11, 2015, 3:16 pm
#928
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Ben is currently getting pageviews in the millions, the ad impressions alone should yield 700-800$ day depending on the cut BArea takes from the ad revenue 
Aug 11, 2015, 3:20 pm
#929
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374