View from the Wing [VFTW] discussions
May 14, 2019, 6:36 am
#991
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,757
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.
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.
May 14, 2019, 7:52 am
#992
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,587
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.
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.
May 14, 2019, 8:04 am
#993
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
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.
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.
May 14, 2019, 8:15 am
#994
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,132
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.
May 14, 2019, 9:53 am
#995
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
Not quite all. Last time I looked, Gary was in favor of government enforcement making airlines honor mistake fares.
May 14, 2019, 10:12 am
#996
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
May 14, 2019, 10:39 am
#997
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Fairmont Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,041
" 2 Year Old Bitten By Dog at the Centurion Lounge: Who’s Responsible? "
If only there was SHOCKING video in the headine!
smh
If only there was SHOCKING video in the headine!
smh
May 14, 2019, 11:57 am
#998
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,587
May 14, 2019, 2:24 pm
#999
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
May 14, 2019, 3:55 pm
#1001
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,309
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.
May 15, 2019, 12:11 am
#1002
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,587
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!!!
^
May 15, 2019, 12:29 am
#1003
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,132
Award booking is a messy business, the effort required is nowhere close to the return you get selling credit cards.
May 15, 2019, 7:16 am
#1004
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
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.
May 15, 2019, 7:59 am
#1005
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095