Bloggers posting wrong and misleading advice
Oct 24, 2014 | 3:24 pm
#196
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
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Oct 24, 2014 | 4:08 pm
#197
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
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Yep. Definitely as good an explanation. I quit regularly reading FTG, The Points Guy, and OMAAT some time ago. It's beginning to look as if VFTW is the next to drop off my list.
Oct 24, 2014 | 8:36 pm
#198
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
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Posts: 5,677
Oct 25, 2014 | 7:57 am
#199
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
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And his strange silence on what could be the biggest story of the week involving a program that he's had contacts with, the likely announcement of the date for the merger of the AA and US FF programs as well as the parameters of that program, is making me think maybe his contacts aren't what they once were.
Oct 25, 2014 | 12:00 pm
#200
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But, at least we know that unlimited complimentary upgrades are bad for frequent flyers!
Originally Posted by 84fiero
I, for one, welcome our new price-gouging overlords!
Oct 25, 2014 | 2:51 pm
#201
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Admirals Club, Global Entry
Posts: 1,156
I'm not going to defend Gary. We're not friends. His post on discriminatory price offering is indeed absurd.
But for low-level elites like me, he's dead flat right that "free" upgrades would be a disaster: sure, they'd be free; it's just that I could never get one. Price controls produce scarcity, a subject on which I happen to be (through experience behind the Iron Curtain) a self-appointed expert. And before you say it, yes, I know prices are already de facto controlled and that there's consequently already scarcity; making upgrades free to all would just exacerbate the situation.
As for the merged FF program, I'll agree with the prior surmise that Gary's simply embargoed.
But for low-level elites like me, he's dead flat right that "free" upgrades would be a disaster: sure, they'd be free; it's just that I could never get one. Price controls produce scarcity, a subject on which I happen to be (through experience behind the Iron Curtain) a self-appointed expert. And before you say it, yes, I know prices are already de facto controlled and that there's consequently already scarcity; making upgrades free to all would just exacerbate the situation.
As for the merged FF program, I'll agree with the prior surmise that Gary's simply embargoed.
Oct 25, 2014 | 6:43 pm
#202
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I'm not going to defend Gary. We're not friends. His post on discriminatory price offering is indeed absurd.
But for low-level elites like me, he's dead flat right that "free" upgrades would be a disaster: sure, they'd be free; it's just that I could never get one. Price controls produce scarcity, a subject on which I happen to be (through experience behind the Iron Curtain) a self-appointed expert. And before you say it, yes, I know prices are already de facto controlled and that there's consequently already scarcity; making upgrades free to all would just exacerbate the situation.
As for the merged FF program, I'll agree with the prior surmise that Gary's simply embargoed.
But for low-level elites like me, he's dead flat right that "free" upgrades would be a disaster: sure, they'd be free; it's just that I could never get one. Price controls produce scarcity, a subject on which I happen to be (through experience behind the Iron Curtain) a self-appointed expert. And before you say it, yes, I know prices are already de facto controlled and that there's consequently already scarcity; making upgrades free to all would just exacerbate the situation.
As for the merged FF program, I'll agree with the prior surmise that Gary's simply embargoed.
So I don't have an issue with Gary's position. In fact, I think it would be awesome if AA changed its policy so that ExPlats had to use stickers too!!!! @:-)@:-)@:-)@:-) (I seriously doubt Gary would agree with THAT!).
Oct 25, 2014 | 6:55 pm
#203
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
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A reasonable explanation. But not even a link to the FT thread on the issue--which he's done on other topics. And no unfounded speculation--which he's also done (hello BA!). And in regards to stickers, I have no dog in that hunt. But his post didn't indicate this idea was bad for some frequent flyers. Although it is clear that it would be bad for the kind of frequent flyer he is.
Oct 26, 2014 | 7:32 am
#204
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: LH SEN, BA Gold, SK Gold; Accor Diamond; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meli/HH/Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,682
I could understand why if it were just a matter of hours, maybe up to 30 or so. Time to analyse, to compare what's coming with past T&C and other FFPs, and to prepare a detailed and thoughtful post for the moment the news is released. I can't understand, on the other hand, why someone would allow himself to be manoeuvred into a position where -- for several days -- he cannot speculate or report on speculation taking place elsewhere.
Oct 26, 2014 | 3:13 pm
#205
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
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Limit those elite upgrades--but not TOO much.
Seriously, does the left hand know what the right hand is doing?
Seriously, does the left hand know what the right hand is doing?
Oct 26, 2014 | 3:48 pm
#206
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Or, more likely, the company is actually being smart about how they handle this announcement and not leaking anything anywhere. Quite similar to how they managed the new livery announcement. AA is pretty good at not leaking info if they don't want it out there.
ETA: As for why not link to a thread on random unfounded speculation on FlyerTalk, I can think of a few reasons.
Last edited by sbm12; Oct 26, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Oct 26, 2014 | 4:14 pm
#207
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Limit those elite upgrades--but not TOO much.
Seriously, does the left hand know what the right hand is doing?
Seriously, does the left hand know what the right hand is doing?
Anyway, as I said in his comments:
IME, AC typically has cheaper business class tickets from DC to Asia than any other carrier. So I buy them whether I am using my own or my employer's money. So their strategy is working on me!
Selfishly, having gone airline agnostic, I hope that's the future of flying: fewer upgraders and more 'reasonably' priced business class fares.
Oct 26, 2014 | 8:26 pm
#208
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,860
Remember, his position wrt AA as an execplat is 'limit upgrades for thee, but not for me.'@:-)
Anyway, as I said in his comments:
IME, AC typically has cheaper business class tickets from DC to Asia than any other carrier. So I buy them whether I am using my own or my employer's money. So their strategy is working on me!
Selfishly, having gone airline agnostic, I hope that's the future of flying: fewer upgraders and more 'reasonably' priced business class fares.
Anyway, as I said in his comments:
IME, AC typically has cheaper business class tickets from DC to Asia than any other carrier. So I buy them whether I am using my own or my employer's money. So their strategy is working on me!
Selfishly, having gone airline agnostic, I hope that's the future of flying: fewer upgraders and more 'reasonably' priced business class fares.
Oct 26, 2014 | 9:03 pm
#209
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Join Date: May 1998
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Not according to Gary's argument. Because somewhere in there, he'll figure out how to talk about airlines making money on the margins. And he always seems to be right there in that self-defined margin. A fine economic theory that he seems to think means "give me what I want, because you'll make money on it."
Isn't that the dream!?
I know that's what United gave me for about a decade and change. Especially back when they had paper SWUs that my angels at the ORD 1k room never collected!!! @:-)
Then they wised up. JERKS!
Oct 28, 2014 | 7:12 am
#210
Join Date: May 2001
Location: IAD
Posts: 6,453
http://crankyflier.com/2014/10/28/co...r-todays-post/
Will be interesting to see which other bloggers are on the "get to know in advance" list.