The Points Guy: We never accept free flights [merged TPG discussions]
Jun 7, 17, 11:46 am
#752
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
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Posts: 6,205
Originally Posted by diburning
I'd imagine his corporate overlord doesn't want him to disclose that. He's the face of the site, and I'm assuming BankRate would want to keep up that facade.
Jun 7, 17, 3:34 pm
#753
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,660
Originally Posted by diburning
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/06/qat...flight-review/
I can't tell if the reviewer is just that dumb, lying, or if he's dumbing it down for their dumb audience.
He wasn't sure how to transfer terminals... Wouldn't a normal traveler look this up ahead of time if they were connecting between airlines? He even admits to seeing the signs that says which buses go between terminals, yet still complains about it.
Most US airlines, especially American, who he flew in on, would have terminal maps on their mobile app as well as inflight magazine. Even if he didn't pick up on the fact that E is far away from B that he would have seen the map and realized that he could have cut through the central parking garage. He'd also see that Terminal C is right next to Terminal E, and is connected airside, so PreCheck would have been possible if he went through TSA at C.
I can't tell if the reviewer is just that dumb, lying, or if he's dumbing it down for their dumb audience.
He wasn't sure how to transfer terminals... Wouldn't a normal traveler look this up ahead of time if they were connecting between airlines? He even admits to seeing the signs that says which buses go between terminals, yet still complains about it.
Most US airlines, especially American, who he flew in on, would have terminal maps on their mobile app as well as inflight magazine. Even if he didn't pick up on the fact that E is far away from B that he would have seen the map and realized that he could have cut through the central parking garage. He'd also see that Terminal C is right next to Terminal E, and is connected airside, so PreCheck would have been possible if he went through TSA at C.
Originally Posted by Adam1222
In his new 7 year anniversary post, kind of shameful/deceptive that he doesn't mention he sold the site to a credit card marketing company.
TPG wasn't too bad in its early days, there were some occasionally helpful posts but it kinda veered off into shill territory pretty quick.
Jun 13, 17, 8:00 pm
#754
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 9,281
Originally Posted by diburning
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/06/qat...flight-review/
I can't tell if the reviewer is just that dumb, lying, or if he's dumbing it down for their dumb audience.
He wasn't sure how to transfer terminals... Wouldn't a normal traveler look this up ahead of time if they were connecting between airlines? He even admits to seeing the signs that says which buses go between terminals, yet still complains about it.
Most US airlines, especially American, who he flew in on, would have terminal maps on their mobile app as well as inflight magazine. Even if he didn't pick up on the fact that E is far away from B that he would have seen the map and realized that he could have cut through the central parking garage. He'd also see that Terminal C is right next to Terminal E, and is connected airside, so PreCheck would have been possible if he went through TSA at C.
I can't tell if the reviewer is just that dumb, lying, or if he's dumbing it down for their dumb audience.
He wasn't sure how to transfer terminals... Wouldn't a normal traveler look this up ahead of time if they were connecting between airlines? He even admits to seeing the signs that says which buses go between terminals, yet still complains about it.
Most US airlines, especially American, who he flew in on, would have terminal maps on their mobile app as well as inflight magazine. Even if he didn't pick up on the fact that E is far away from B that he would have seen the map and realized that he could have cut through the central parking garage. He'd also see that Terminal C is right next to Terminal E, and is connected airside, so PreCheck would have been possible if he went through TSA at C.
Jun 13, 17, 10:44 pm
#755
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: DL GM, UA, B6, AA, WN, AS, AGR
Posts: 4,765
Does QR or BA actively discourage it? I've witnessed the same thing at IAD. The AF lounge had a lamp and a sign on the counter welcoming QR customers, yet the BA lounge was next door, and I thought that was odd at the time considering QR and BA are in the same alliance.
Jun 15, 17, 5:58 am
#756
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Derry, Ireland
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 131
Originally Posted by exoticfusion
Seriously? https://thepointsguy.com/2017/05/fir...it-card-draft/.That whole site is so vapid and full of junk content.
Jun 15, 17, 7:28 am
#757
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 9,281
Originally Posted by diburning
Does QR or BA actively discourage it? I've witnessed the same thing at IAD. The AF lounge had a lamp and a sign on the counter welcoming QR customers, yet the BA lounge was next door, and I thought that was odd at the time considering QR and BA are in the same alliance.
They of course can't prevent people in the know from visiting but they can try and limit by directing people elsewhere.
Jun 15, 17, 3:22 pm
#758
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: DL GM, UA, B6, AA, WN, AS, AGR
Posts: 4,765
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/06/air...flight-review/
I like how his own loyal readers are calling him out in the comments on how his review lacked content.
I like how his own loyal readers are calling him out in the comments on how his review lacked content.
Jun 20, 17, 3:36 am
#759
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN**
Posts: 43,825
If they are paying editors to do his work then they better pay them very little. No clean up of the pictures, and the exif data reveals he is using a pretty expensive Olympus E-M5 mkII rather incorrectly making the pictures look worse than the iphone he used previously. 
Jun 21, 17, 5:59 pm
#761
Community Director
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 31,859
Quite the kudo from Forbes for thepointsguy.
Forbes Top Influencers: The Points Guy, Brian Kelly, On Turning Miles Into A Media Empire
Brian “The Points Guy” Kelly (No. 1 in Travel) — The 34-year-old New Yorker has mastered the credit card points and frequent flyer mile systems. His following is such that Chase hired him to launch its newest card, paying upwards of seven figures for the campaign. Kelly is using his fame to advocate for life-saving causes. He has donated hundreds of thousands of air miles to Rainbow Railroad, helping to rescue LGBT people from places where their lives are at risk, most recently Chechnya.
I have high respect for what he has accomplished. He has done an amazing job of building a passion for points and miles into a company that employs 20, has 50 additional contributors, and an office infused with witty references to travel in New York City.
Forbes Top Influencers: The Points Guy, Brian Kelly, On Turning Miles Into A Media Empire
Brian “The Points Guy” Kelly (No. 1 in Travel) — The 34-year-old New Yorker has mastered the credit card points and frequent flyer mile systems. His following is such that Chase hired him to launch its newest card, paying upwards of seven figures for the campaign. Kelly is using his fame to advocate for life-saving causes. He has donated hundreds of thousands of air miles to Rainbow Railroad, helping to rescue LGBT people from places where their lives are at risk, most recently Chechnya.
I have high respect for what he has accomplished. He has done an amazing job of building a passion for points and miles into a company that employs 20, has 50 additional contributors, and an office infused with witty references to travel in New York City.
Jun 21, 17, 8:02 pm
#762
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
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Posts: 6,205
Originally Posted by SanDiego1K
. His following is such that Chase hired him to launch its newest card, paying upwards of seven figures for the campaign.
While you say he has built a company out of a passion for points, not quite accurate. He built a brand; Bankrate is the company. The company is built off of unsophisticated customers, over-leveraged American consumers, and an under-regulated market.
Jun 22, 17, 1:48 am
#763
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
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Whilst the US market is pathetically underregulated (I am the only UK miles blogger licenced by the Government to write about credit cards), at least Bankrate makes sure everything is done to a decent level of compliance. That is more than you can say for many other sites.
Jun 22, 17, 4:55 am
#764
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Posts: 2,941
Originally Posted by Raffles
... at least Bankrate makes sure everything is done to a decent level of compliance. That is more than you can say for many other sites.
Can anyone guess the next place Brian Kelly goes to promote his merchandise? What else will he make his staff do after requiring them to open their wallets and pose with credit cards like Emily at MMS does...
Sad
Jun 22, 17, 5:30 am
#765
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
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Posts: 43,825
Originally Posted by Adam1222
The company is built off of unsophisticated customers, over-leveraged American consumers, and an under-regulated market.
