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Originally Posted by GUWonder
(Post 31099616)
gleff's been in the game long enough that I consider him someone that has a lot more expertise on the miles and points game than most FTers.
I don't read VFTW as often as I used to read it -- but that's because it's become less useful for me. It doesn't mean that its owner is any less of an expert in the area even as the blog is different than it used to be. That's long since ended, and has been replaced with his client advocacy. Which, I'll reiterate, he is free to do. There are plenty of folks (Mark Penn immediately comes to mind) who had prior accomplishments, but have become increasing irrelevant to an industry as they haven't contributed anything useful in ages. |
I think it’s regretful that Gary (and Ben) abandoned Flyertalk as an active contributor. I get get why they did it from a business perspective. But it’s still lamentable. This forum made them what they are: ‘titans’ ‘thought leaders’ whatever. To me it’s like never hanging out with or even calling your parents. Cat in the cradle and all that. Lamentable. Maybe with Milepoint/insideflyer gone they will come back. |
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 31099877)
I think it’s regretful that Gary (and Ben) abandoned Flyertalk as an active contributor. I get get why they did it from a business perspective. But it’s still lamentable. This forum made them what they are: ‘titans’ ‘thought leaders’ whatever. To me it’s like never hanging out with or even calling your parents. Cat in the cradle and all that. Lamentable. Maybe with Milepoint/insideflyer gone they will come back. |
Well, IB owns FT since 2008 (?), which is longer than when it belonged to the HOM (1998--2008). Whatever happened to this site since the change of owners (internally as well as big changes in the external environment) certainly hasn't made it any less attractive.
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Originally Posted by GUWonder
(Post 31099566)
But I don't really see what more to expect from his mix on topics on VFTW, even as I take issue with some of his positions and with his seemingly default opposition to any and all legal and regulatory efforts to have stronger consumer rights in place and enforced. |
Originally Posted by Mountain Trader
(Post 31100301)
Not quite all. Last time I looked, Gary was in favor of government enforcement making airlines honor mistake fares. |
" 2 Year Old Bitten By Dog at the Centurion Lounge: Who’s Responsible? "
If only there was SHOCKING video in the headine! smh |
Originally Posted by GUWonder
(Post 31099917)
Change in parentage of FT means this place isn’t what it used to be for them at least. That venture failed. It's over Come home, Gary! Come home! :) |
Originally Posted by Mountain Trader
(Post 31100301)
Not quite all. Last time I looked, Gary was in favor of government enforcement making airlines honor mistake fares. |
Deleted.
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Originally Posted by oliver2002
(Post 31099947)
Well, IB owns FT since 2008 (?), which is longer than when it belonged to the HOM (1998--2008). Whatever happened to this site since the change of owners (internally as well as big changes in the external environment) certainly hasn't made it any less attractive.
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Originally Posted by Adam1222
(Post 31101736)
There has been a sort of perverse change leading to increased patronage of FT. Bloggers sell notion of easy/free miles to sell credit cards. People sign up for cards and then realize they can't use their miles so easily, come to FT for advice because the blogs don't provide meaningful advice. If you spend any time in the Info Desk forum, youd see this pattern play out on the regular.
Get paid for selling the dream to the customer then make the customer pay to get the reality. Make money coming and going. Brilliant business plan!!! :D ^ |
Award booking is a messy business, the effort required is nowhere close to the return you get selling credit cards.
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Originally Posted by oliver2002
(Post 31102775)
Award booking is a messy business, the effort required is nowhere close to the return you get selling credit cards.
It's not just the CC commissions. The award booking charges are an additional income. Obviously some itineraries will be challenging and time-consuming. Not all will be, though. Judging from some of the posts on FT from folks frustrated trying to book a simple award, who are either inquiring about award bookers or are recommended to use one by FT'ers, I'd bet that there are plenty of relatively simple itineraries that the award booker could do in his sleep. |
Originally Posted by oliver2002
(Post 31102775)
Award booking is a messy business, the effort required is nowhere close to the return you get selling credit cards.
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