The Points Guy: We never accept free flights [merged TPG discussions]
Apr 22, 2016, 7:06 am
#466
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Location: London
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I don't think we have the whole/true story on the Centurion Card Caper. His "explanation" post sounds very defensive (and lame). He seems to be throwing a lot of money around right now, like someone who won the lottery or hit it big in Vegas. Easy come, easy go, if he isn't careful.
However, smart people find a friend with Centurion and pay them the fee (UK £500) to issue them a supplementary card which they promise not to use. Voila, all the benefits and none of the fee.
Apr 22, 2016, 8:29 am
#467
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,511
It sounds 100% true to me. Because of the tax write off, the maths would even make sense for me and Brian has 13x more monthly unique visitors.
However, smart people find a friend with Centurion and pay them the fee (UK £500) to issue them a supplementary card which they promise not to use. Voila, all the benefits and none of the fee.
However, smart people find a friend with Centurion and pay them the fee (UK £500) to issue them a supplementary card which they promise not to use. Voila, all the benefits and none of the fee.
Apr 30, 2016, 4:40 am
#468
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Posts: 3,041
Apr 30, 2016, 7:34 am
#469
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Cheers.
Apr 30, 2016, 8:32 am
#471
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
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While I agree good for him, we really need to stop using the term "The American Dream" so loosely. It isn't "making a lot of money" and building Barbie's Dream home, but rather refers to hard work and social mobility for ones family and children over generations. Even if one thinks Brian and the life he lives is amazing, its not the American Dream.
Apr 30, 2016, 8:58 am
#472
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
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While I agree good for him, we really need to stop using the term "The American Dream" so loosely. It isn't "making a lot of money" and building Barbie's Dream home, but rather refers to hard work and social mobility for ones family and children over generations. Even if one thinks Brian and the life he lives is amazing, its not the American Dream.
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/american-dream
1. the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American.
2. a life of personal happiness and material comfort as traditionally sought by individuals in the U.S.
Apr 30, 2016, 9:08 am
#473
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
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While I agree good for him, we really need to stop using the term "The American Dream" so loosely. It isn't "making a lot of money" and building Barbie's Dream home, but rather refers to hard work and social mobility for ones family and children over generations. Even if one thinks Brian and the life he lives is amazing, its not the American Dream.
I'm not a guy who had that entrepreneurial streak. I've done better than my parents did but certainly not as well as a guy like Brian. I'm happy with what I've done, I assume he's happy with what he's done. That to me is a fair amount of the American dream.
And I'm sure that nice house is, in part, a way of basically saying to a lot of folks around here who have offered their criticism of his business, his practices, and website (if he even cared), "shove it."
Apr 30, 2016, 9:27 am
#474
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,511
What Brian did is a component of the American dream though. He came up with an idea and then worked to implement that idea. In retrospect, it's easy to see that he understood from the beginning what his end game was and even to believe that what he did was simple. The reality is that he quit a good job on Wall Street to pursue that dream without any assurance it would turn out as well as it did. His business plan was solid, including making sure he cashed in on his business before the peak of the points/mile game hit. I'm sure with his experience and contacts, he knew how to open channels to put his business on the market in ways that other bloggers couldn't have guessed.
I'm not a guy who had that entrepreneurial streak. I've done better than my parents did but certainly not as well as a guy like Brian. I'm happy with what I've done, I assume he's happy with what he's done. That to me is a fair amount of the American dream.
And I'm sure that nice house is, in part, a way of basically saying to a lot of folks around here who have offered their criticism of his business, his practices, and website (if he even cared), "shove it."
I'm not a guy who had that entrepreneurial streak. I've done better than my parents did but certainly not as well as a guy like Brian. I'm happy with what I've done, I assume he's happy with what he's done. That to me is a fair amount of the American dream.
And I'm sure that nice house is, in part, a way of basically saying to a lot of folks around here who have offered their criticism of his business, his practices, and website (if he even cared), "shove it."
Apr 30, 2016, 11:24 am
#477
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Fairmont Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,041
I have been to REALLY nice homes of prospective clients whose net worth was so low due to disastrous financial mistakes and debt up to their neck. Scratch that, up to their eyeballs.
I think Brian is smart enough not to have committed the same mistakes. But we will never know for sure.
This guy has written the book on how to monetize an idea. Good for him. Hope he is happy. I remember sitting with him in a table during an edition of these Freddie Awards type dinner back in 2010 when he was doing award bookings. Wow, he's come a long way since then. He is a really nice guy by the way.
He has done more to publicize this hobby than any other blogger. I let you judge the consequences of this in your hobby activities
I am going to get my next CSP card from him #notreally
In the meantime, his last post is: "Here are the best credit cards to get if you stay at @Marriott Hotels ______"
The pumping never stops...
I think Brian is smart enough not to have committed the same mistakes. But we will never know for sure.
This guy has written the book on how to monetize an idea. Good for him. Hope he is happy. I remember sitting with him in a table during an edition of these Freddie Awards type dinner back in 2010 when he was doing award bookings. Wow, he's come a long way since then. He is a really nice guy by the way.
He has done more to publicize this hobby than any other blogger. I let you judge the consequences of this in your hobby activities
I am going to get my next CSP card from him #notreally
In the meantime, his last post is: "Here are the best credit cards to get if you stay at @Marriott Hotels ______"
The pumping never stops...
Apr 30, 2016, 11:36 am
#478
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Apr 30, 2016, 11:51 am
#479
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,626
Yes, good for him indeed!
But when I finish making my first $15 million I'm going to spend it on travel and experiences, not stuff like a mansion. But I'm sure it's a good investment.
His mileage may vary!
But when I finish making my first $15 million I'm going to spend it on travel and experiences, not stuff like a mansion. But I'm sure it's a good investment.
His mileage may vary!
Apr 30, 2016, 2:33 pm
#480
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
I wonder how TPG will give away a trip comparable to the comp'd experience from CSP the editor is getting in Vegas this weekend. Because, you know, they won't accept comp'd trips.
https://twitter.com/ZachHonig/status/726259587561582592
https://twitter.com/ZachHonig/status/726259587561582592