The Points Guy: We never accept free flights [merged TPG discussions]
#976
Join Date: May 2010
Location: TPA
Programs: All The Programs
Posts: 2,201
I just read that piece of hot garbage. It reads like a whiny high schooler's book report.
The author even goes as far as to defend himself with statements along the lines of "I know you are, but what am I?" when almost everyone criticized the article. (TPG readers might not all be mindless credit card acquiring drones after all)
The author even goes as far as to defend himself with statements along the lines of "I know you are, but what am I?" when almost everyone criticized the article. (TPG readers might not all be mindless credit card acquiring drones after all)
Back to this author, though. Look at his article history. The next previous article describes how he almost fell in to a scam when he agreed to go to dinner and stay with some random dude he met on a train in Africa. Who does that? This is who TPG has hired to advise us? No wonder we get garbage articles about "fraudulent" airline seats.
#978
Join Date: May 2010
Location: TPA
Programs: All The Programs
Posts: 2,201
#979
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,272
People love the glamorous life of "free" luxury travel and seemingly no real life consequences/responsibilities that TPG sells. But also the volume of garbage and their SEO essentially drowns out the market.
Until and unless they get sued/regulators step in, the garbage will continue.
Until and unless they get sued/regulators step in, the garbage will continue.
#980
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,001
Its the same with VFTW: 8 of 10 entries are not relevant to the target audience, but it builds SEO. If you don't have volume the ranking drops.
#981
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,617
It's probably sustainable because all of the people who got credit cards through their affiliate links are probably trying to get the "carefree travel lifestyle" experience that TPG is also pushing along with the credit cards. That's probably the target audience of their stupid "5 ways to not get kicked off an airplane" style lists.
#983
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,272
Sorry bud, but call it "fake news" all you like, but there continues to be serious journalism out there, journalistic integrity, editorial standards, and divisions between advertising and content.
No "traditional media" I know of would ever allow a writer to accuse a company of fraud on these facts. It's an insult to the noble people pursuing that difficult, underpaid profession to suggest otherwise.
#984
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson
Posts: 35,232
Reading comments here almost makes me want to go read what these sites are writing for the expected entertainment (or eyeball-stabbing-inducing reaction?)
#985
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,617
They can't even tell the difference between the Danish and the Dutch. Shameful.
https://thepointsguy.com/deals/us-sc...31-round-trip/
https://thepointsguy.com/deals/us-sc...31-round-trip/
#986
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,805
I guess people who make excuses like this are one reason why TPG and other garbage commercial websites pretending to be media survive. Sorry bud, but call it "fake news" all you like, but there continues to be serious journalism out there, journalistic integrity, editorial standards, and divisions between advertising and content. No "traditional media" I know of would ever allow a writer to accuse a company of fraud on these facts. It's an insult to the noble people pursuing that difficult, underpaid profession to suggest otherwise.
paid media has always been an issue, and people are not aware of it, still
travel journalism keeps getting reduced in favor of paid media (lots of things being reduced)
paid media evolves as a single giant entity owns (multiple) media plus things media is covering
everyone in media is (privately) celebrating the money they are making from one thing these days
re "allow" it depends on a lot, editor, who owns media, who owns target, etc, very complex
surely you have noticed some old media adding 'contributors' vs staff
lots of changes in online world of old media, including 3rd party aggregator content
think i saw a photo of TPG on AOL (not calling AOL old media) via an aggregator
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Nov 28, 2018 at 11:19 pm
#987
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,001
Try reading Conde Nast and all those 'travel' magazines. Don't get me started on People and intouch and the like.
#989
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,272
Regardless, celebrity gossip mags dont pretend to be otherwise. InTouch doesn't purport to be giving objective expert advice on anything. If a Conde Nast publication accused someone of fraud in these circumstances, there would be a demand letter from a lawyer in 48 seconds.
Even if you think they are garbage, they have much clearer disclosures of advertising.
It's not a retort to the deceptive, garbage nature of the Points Guy to say "But InTouch."
#990
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,272
This is patently false and continues to be an insult to the thousands of hardworking, underpaid journalists with integrity, struggling to make ends meet in a culture where the media is attacked every day.