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Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 22762973)
I dunno. He TOOK the gold.
But then I suppose he DID feel guilty about it and confessed, taking his penance in his comments section. The catholic in me wants to absolve him. :)
Originally Posted by SanDiego1K
(Post 22763028)
Hilton imposed the gold on him. He had no part in that action. Today, he asked Hilton to return him to silver. They have done so.
Great that he's not taking anything - I don't think he would outright do so. But he's already a phone call away from having HHonors Gold anyway. |
Originally Posted by SanDiego1K
(Post 22763028)
Hilton imposed the gold on him. He had no part in that action. Today, he asked Hilton to return him to silver. They have done so.
Originally Posted by PWMTrav
Gary has an Amex Platinum. It's in his "what's in my wallet" post from not long ago. Therefore, he has HHonors Gold as long as he calls in and asks for it. Does a travel blogger really not know that?
Great that he's not taking anything - I don't think he would outright do so. But he's already a phone call away from having HHonors Gold anyway. <shrug> |
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 22763219)
Sorry. I had a hot date
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Originally Posted by 84fiero
(Post 22760813)
I don't know how anyone can conclude that the AAdvantage folks are "still improving" when AAdvantage hasn't produced any concrete public evidence of either actual improvements or at the least, better management and rollout of devaluations. In fact "still" improving seems to imply some improvement has been happening in the past, and that's a joke.
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Originally Posted by nsx
(Post 22763324)
Your wife had a hot date too! ;)
She said 'how is taking gold from hilton any different than taking cash from chase? Hotels and credit cards are both products he reviews and recommends. He should either take both or neither.' I didn't have a good answer. I guess you either trust bloggers or you don't. |
Gary addressed my wife's question directly:
I’m far from pure. There are comps that I would take. If Aman Resorts wanted to give me a suite at one of their better properties, I would take it. I think the old apocryphal Winston Churchill story makes sense here (“now we’re just haggling over price”). But I’m not going to give anyone the idea that my reviews and opinions are influenced by a mere Gold status. :) |
I think the old apocryphal Winston Churchill story makes sense here (“now we’re just haggling over price”). |
VFTW accepting or not accepting comps is a huge issue in the blogosphere... but as Mrs Koko put it, it really doesn't matter. The HH gold for Amex Plat was out there only for a trial period in Q4/2013, it was not there when I called in for it in Feb 2014.
VFTW and OMAAT (plus probably some others, but I don't all) clearly mentioned some weeks ago that achieving elite status (ie forking over a lot of cash... erm loyalty to one airline) doesn't benefit anyone, just sign up for cards, do manufactured spend and live the great life of premium travel. Taking such positions basically disqualifies you in the eyes of the managers administering the programs. Any points you make are considered, but not really deal breakers for upcoming changes. Instead the collective howl in the blogosphere probably confirmed that they made the right changes ;) |
Frankly if Hilton offered me free Gold (which isn't necessary, since I live in Australia and have a Visa Infinite card :-) ) as a comp, I would be embarrassed. Diamond, yes ....
(Not that the benefits are any better, but you need to have principles!) The whole thing is bizarre UNLESS you assume Gary is, by association, making a point to people who think he has been bought off by AA! |
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 22760222)
It's neat that these guys are rubbing shoulders with the program managers.
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Originally Posted by itsaboutthejourney
(Post 22789325)
Neat? One of the co-owners of MilePoint/Freddies/FTU posted on social media with excitement that he was headed to DFW to see one of his favorite AA execs. On one hand it was transparent, but on the other hand it made me cringe thinking back to this thread.
Remember when points and miles folks used to have favorite lounge attendants or flight attendants? This game has changed...into a business.
Originally Posted by oliver2002
(Post 22772375)
VFTW accepting or not accepting comps is a huge issue in the blogosphere... but as Mrs Koko put it, it really doesn't matter. The HH gold for Amex Plat was out there only for a trial period in Q4/2013, it was not there when I called in for it in Feb 2014.
VFTW and OMAAT (plus probably some others, but I don't all) clearly mentioned some weeks ago that achieving elite status (ie forking over a lot of cash... erm loyalty to one airline) doesn't benefit anyone, just sign up for cards, do manufactured spend and live the great life of premium travel. Taking such positions basically disqualifies you in the eyes of the managers administering the programs. Any points you make are considered, but not really deal breakers for upcoming changes. Instead the collective howl in the blogosphere probably confirmed that they made the right changes ;) Where does he suppose the credit card issuers get the cash to pay him his hundreds dollar commissions per sign up!? From annual fees!? The whole business model, including affiliate payments, is BUiLT on people making irrational financial decisions. If everyone took his advice he would be out of the advice business and back to the advice hobby. |
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 22816769)
Where does he suppose the credit card issuers get the cash to pay him his hundreds dollar commissions per sign up!? From annual fees!?
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Originally Posted by Raffles
(Post 22817563)
For Amex charge cards, the answer is clearly yes, since you can't roll over a balance!
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View from the Wing calls out the AAdvantage police via non-censored comments
Read his post. Here's what I wrote there:
What a clever tactic: Post the general outline and rely on readers to name names. Nobody can blame Gary for that because this blog has an established policy against censoring comments. Well played! If other bloggers need a reason to stop censoring comments, this example should suffice. |
Strange blog post. If that individual at AA was so vile, why not email some of his contacts high up in AA and ask them why such a person was going after the innocent?
When I was audited by US in 2011 I just emailed Fern and asked why. Soon after the audit block was lifted. |
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