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Inside Flyer Magazine to stop publishing [relaunches online Q4/2015]
http://insideflyer.boardingarea.com/...ersen-retires/
Although I last subscribed to IF in like 1999 (his own creation, FlyerTalk, made it pretty redundant to me), if it weren't for Randy none of us would be reading this today. Quite a legacy. Congratulations on an amazing publishing career and much continued happiness in your digital ventures and retirement, amigo! Keep that RV revving!!! ^ |
Hard to say the words "retired" and Randy together.
I learned about Flyertalk almost 15 years ago when I saw Randy on a news show. The rest is history! |
I don't think he's retiring. He just won't be publishing the magazine any more. And yes, the magazine was the predecessor to FlyerTalk, thus being in our genealogical history. Randy has done a fine job across all the years, sensing where the market will go next. First the magazine, then FlyerTalk, and now a blogging platform that gets from 150K to 200K views a day. He is a true visionary.
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I don't believe he's "retiring" either... We all know how many irons he has in the fire. I appreciate him giving me and another Flyertalker the chance to write a guest piece on Northwest Airlines for IF back in 2004... wow I am dating myself too! My bet is that we'll see Randy on some holographic channel in the next ten years!
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Originally Posted by thezipper
(Post 24238701)
I don't believe he's "retiring" either... We all know how many irons he has in the fire. I appreciate him giving me and another Flyertalker the chance to write a guest piece on Northwest Airlines for IF back in 2004... wow I am dating myself too! My bet is that we'll see Randy on some holographic channel in the next ten years!
Inside Flyer's child -- this place -- has given me a lot, and for that I am very thankful to Randy Petersen. By the way, Richard Quest (an FTer) has been talking to him again. CNN has (or will have) a piece that has him on it again. |
What happens to existing subscriptions / just recently renewed subscriptions?
And will it continue in some form online? None of this was answered in the February issue that announced the end of "publication". And, btw, the January issue said that the March international issue (which will now never be "published") would feature Cathay. |
Originally Posted by sdsearch
(Post 24278728)
What happens to existing subscriptions / just recently renewed subscriptions?
And will it continue in some form online? None of this was answered in the February issue that announced the end of "publication". And, btw, the January issue said that the March international issue (which will now never be "published") would feature Cathay. |
Conguratulations!!!
I am very lucky to be a member of this amazing community. 15 years and counting!
Thanks Randy and Flyertalk!!! |
...and it seems to be back again:
http://insideflyer.com/ The last issue of InsideFlyer magazine was in February of 2015 and in that issue's editorial, Publisher/Editor Randy Petersen wrote this proclamation, “While this may be the last printed issue of InsideFlyer magazine, its brand will likely face that famous footnote of the digital universe—“pivot”—and will continue to influence, support and provide a resource for many more frequent flyers to come”. On Friday, October 2, we’ll all find out what he meant by that statement. |
Yes, it will be back.
But as in the cycle of life, when something is born something must die ..... |
The name is coming back, not the magazine. It is an interesting play. I'm intrigued but cautious about it as well.
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Originally Posted by sbm12
(Post 25404305)
The name is coming back, not the magazine. It is an interesting play. I'm intrigued but cautious about it as well.
I like the vision here but fear for the cost base. And the logic behind it - that serving only 'hobbyists' is for losers, effectively - is sound. TPG and to a lesser extent MMS made that clear. |
Originally Posted by Raffles
(Post 25405396)
To give Randy and Tommy credit, their ability to constantly reinvent how they serve their constituency is very impressive.
I like the vision here but fear for the cost base. And the logic behind it - that serving only 'hobbyists' is for losers, effectively - is sound. TPG and to a lesser extent MMS made that clear. |
Originally Posted by 84fiero
(Post 25405860)
You mean things like MilePoint, which is just FlyerTalk with a sexier look but without the content? Or a blog conglomeration like Boarding Area where one can read twenty times about the latest SPG AMEX?
I wasn't thinking of Milepoint when I made my comment - it was worth a try though, you can't blame them for trying. |
Originally Posted by Raffles
(Post 25405993)
I do genuinely find the BA home page the single best place to go online for an 30 second overview of what is going on.
I wasn't thinking of Milepoint when I made my comment - it was worth a try though, you can't blame them for trying. I agree in full with the notion that the bigger money from loyalty program/travel coverage is to be had by diversifying into a broader market segment than just those fishing for the lowest CPM travel to maximize miles/points earned from travel for travel. |
MP was just because he was out at FT
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Originally Posted by Kagehitokiri
(Post 25406554)
MP was just because he was out at FT
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I rarely check MP anymore (and I'm a Premium member). Seems to be dying a slow death.
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Re-brand MilePoint as Inside Flyer as part of a brand creation?
Here's the thing: the entire frequent flyer game is dying a slow death. Anyone who wants to survive in this space long-term is going to have to move beyond the points and miles paradigm. And while Randy's horizon may be shorter than his track record, Tommy is clearly looking toward the long-play. |
Randy says on Facebook that his new venture suffered a DDOS attack today. And that is was carried out by his competitors.
Do we know what the venture is yet? Is this related to the malware littered all over Boarding Area that they can't seem to get rid of? |
competitors??
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Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 25423291)
Here's the thing: the entire frequent flyer game is dying a slow death.
Anyone who wants to survive in this space long-term is going to have to move beyond the points and miles paradigm. The real gold mine in travel is TripAdvisor. Supplant them and you will make hundreds of millions of dollars. And let's face it: TripAdvisor reviews have a lot of deficiencies, not the least of which is inability of customers to engage in conversations about properties. |
Originally Posted by Kagehitokiri
(Post 25441879)
competitors??
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Originally Posted by nsx
(Post 25442035)
The death of the FF game is a LOT slower than I ever expected it to be. What I did not see coming 15 or 20 years ago was the ability to accrue so very many points through the incomprehensible generosity of credit card issuers toward churners, or that this clearly unsustainable generosity would continue for well over a decade.
The real gold mine in travel is TripAdvisor. Supplant them and you will make hundreds of millions of dollars. And let's face it: TripAdvisor reviews have a lot of deficiencies, not the least of which is inability of customers to engage in conversations about properties. |
Originally Posted by GUWonder
(Post 25442726)
Which competitors, and located where?
Weird... DDOS attacks are commonplace nowadays, FT got one Sep 2. |
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't really out to get you. ;)
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Originally Posted by GUWonder
(Post 25442734)
Hotel reviews have been on MP team's radar for quite some time. It also seems to possibly have been on IB's radar as they created a forum called "Expert Hotel Reviews" on FT.
And for elites, there is no better review source than the FT hotel forums. A marginally better mouse-trap in that space would be nothing more than a content-less MilePoint alternative to FlyerTalk. It's gotta be something bigger than that!
Originally Posted by sbm12
(Post 25444246)
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't really out to get you. ;)
I mean, I'm no IT Sith Lord, but how can you have a denial of service attack on a service that is not yet functional!? |
Originally Posted by oliver2002
(Post 25443646)
DDOS attacks are commonplace nowadays, FT got one Sep 2.
I suppose there is the motive of ransom payments, but I presume that IB like other companies refuses to start down the slope of paying extortionists. By now, criminals must know which companies will pay and which companies won't, so there's no need to waste effort on the companies who won't pay.
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 25444355)
I mean, I'm no IT Sith Lord, but how can you have a denial of service attack on a service that is not yet functional!?
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Originally Posted by oliver2002
(Post 25443646)
https://twitter.com/ranflyer/status/644609011426422784
Weird... DDOS attacks are commonplace nowadays, FT got one Sep 2.
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 25444355)
It's a bizarre claim.
I mean, I'm no IT Sith Lord, but how can you have a denial of service attack on a service that is not yet functional!? Is a DDoS really something reputable companies like IB, TA, etc. engage in? Maybe it is, I just have no idea about this stuff. |
Originally Posted by 84fiero
(Post 25444613)
Well, a lot of people may be visiting the countdown clock on a regular basis!
Given how infected Boarding Area is, the KISS principle would suggest operator error. @:-) |
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 25444648)
That's my point! To have a denial of service there must be a service to be denied. What service is being denied other than the opportunity to look at a count-down clock!?!?!?
Given how infected Boarding Area is, the KISS principle would suggest operator error. @:-) |
Originally Posted by nsx
(Post 25444377)
The few people (and governments) sufficiently capable to execute cyber attacks are not normally irrational.
Bridges and trolls. |
Presumably this is related:
We're about to look different. Join the celebration as Milepoint becomes what it was always meant to be. It's our time to upgrade the online experience for road warriors / frequent flyers and if you have the miles, the time, the interest and ability to be close to New York City on Friday night, October 23, I'd like to thank you personally for your support and take the time to explain the path that Milepoint has taken. Milepoint will never be the same ... and if you are interested, Y-E-S, we'll announce the new third tier of membership. If it works for you, please go here and register: http://goo.gl/forms/OfVwENxVjp If not, no worries as there will be plenty of information online to guide you through the new Milepoint. And here's to nothing less than a good weekend ahead for you. Cheers, Randy Petersen co-founder, Milepoint |
Originally Posted by nsx
(Post 25444377)
I suppose there is the motive of ransom payments, but I presume that IB like other companies refuses to start down the slope of paying extortionists.
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Originally Posted by sbm12
(Post 25446421)
Presumably this is related:
Join the celebration as Milepoint becomes what it was always meant to be. [ducking!] |
Originally Posted by Canarsie
(Post 25447240)
There is no need to presume, as I know this from personal experience.
Originally Posted by kokonutz
(Post 25447299)
Successful? :eek:
[ducking!] I'm mildly curious what the "new MP" (or is it going to be renamed Inside Flyer?) is supposedly turning into. The only unique thing that popped into my head was having read something where RP mentioned that the Milepoint name had been conceived some time ago as the name for a sight that would have operated similar to what Points.com does. Though it seems like it would be difficult to be a new entrant in that arena. If the change is just a new outer shell or site design I'm not sure it would make any real difference. |
Originally Posted by 84fiero
(Post 25448732)
So how much did you try to extort from IB? :D
That is funny; and I can see how it can be read that way! I do know that the extortionist in question — not me, just to be clear — quietly backed down after unsuccessfully attempting to extract a few thousand dollars... |
Originally Posted by 84fiero
(Post 25448732)
Ouch! They did kinda set themselves up for that :)
I'm mildly curious what the "new MP" (or is it going to be renamed Inside Flyer?) is supposedly turning into. The only unique thing that popped into my head was having read something where RP mentioned that the Milepoint name had been conceived some time ago as the name for a sight that would have operated similar to what Points.com does. Though it seems like it would be difficult to be a new entrant in that arena. If the change is just a new outer shell or site design I'm not sure it would make any real difference. |
Originally Posted by oliver2002
(Post 25403184)
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Originally Posted by nsx
(Post 25442035)
TripAdvisor reviews have a lot of deficiencies, not the least of which is inability of customers to engage in conversations about properties.
Originally Posted by GUWonder
(Post 25442734)
IB's radar as they created a forum called "Expert Hotel Reviews" on FT.
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