The Points Guy: We never accept free flights [merged TPG discussions]
#1066
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,178
Ths morning it was at 1.4 cents per mile... Zach has already written a piece on the new policy, Summer is also cranking out blog posts on the new regime. At the same time the 60k offer for united MP is out which surely pays extra for TPG...
#1067
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,320
He also posted about his exclusive pre-opening look and tour of a Marriott property. Guess what he thought about his " chance to step beyond the pre-opening barricades for a private tour with the staff"? Shock of all shocks, even though it wasn't open and he didnt actually stay there, it's AMAZING.
"even the ground-floor lobby felt like a sanctuary compared to the commotion just a few feet away."
"I thought the St. Regis was stunning."
"From the marble floors to the grand elevated lobby and the thoughtful light fixtures — inspired by “old Hong Kong” street lamps I’m told — it’s clear that no expense was spared here."
"I could picture this space being tranquil in the evenings, with its traditional moon gate and a long centerpiece water feature."
But perhaps the piece de resistance which pushes this into deceptive and misleading beyond the fact that it is an advertisement, not an objective article:
"I also had a few minutes to explore a St. Regis Suite — this is the base suite, so Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador guests may be upgraded here, assuming one of the 10 is available upon check-in. There are also four nearly identical suites on higher floors with harbor views, in the “Metropolitan” category, and complimentary upgrades may be available there as well."
Want to bet how many Bonvoy Platinum members get complimentary upgrades to a St. Regis Suite in the next 10 years? I'm guessing between zero and zero. (Unless they work for Bankrate)
"Given how beautiful the property is, in fact, I could even see getting carried away."
Well, I agree on that Zach Honig, you certainly did get 'carried away' in your attempt to please corporate.
#1068
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Fairmont Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,041
Yeah....Mommy Points is sure busy with
>>>>>>Why the Capital One Venture Rewards Card now has a front spot in our wallets
Amazing what exclusive partnerships scan do hey!
>>>>>>Why the Capital One Venture Rewards Card now has a front spot in our wallets
Amazing what exclusive partnerships scan do hey!
#1069
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: check swarm
Programs: DL DM & 2MM, SPG/Bonvoid LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, $tarbucks Titanium
Posts: 14,404
Sheesh, what a shill he's become. I assume he's in HKG with Bonvoid, agreeing to write 1-2 pieces as an 'influencer' for Marriott. So this is 1 piece down.
#1070
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
https://thepointsguy.com/news/5-thin...-needs-to-fix/
Oh Zach, you do realize that you're not a journalist if you're selling something, right?
I’ve also been a member of its loyalty program since before I began my journalism career
#1071
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,343
Do they have any credibility to people with more than one brain cell? I know it's not restricted to travel, but the schilling is just so darn obvious that I cannot believe that anyone buys into it. Good luck to them for working out how to manipulate the media, corporations, but they know they are tainted.
#1072
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,320
Do they have any credibility to people with more than one brain cell? I know it's not restricted to travel, but the schilling is just so darn obvious that I cannot believe that anyone buys into it. Good luck to them for working out how to manipulate the media, corporations, but they know they are tainted.
#1073
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Do they have any credibility to people with more than one brain cell? I know it's not restricted to travel, but the schilling is just so darn obvious that I cannot believe that anyone buys into it. Good luck to them for working out how to manipulate the media, corporations, but they know they are tainted.
#1074
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
It's a shame, some of the better writers they had don't seem to post much anymore so you have to wonder what is going on. Either that or they're in the 20 to 30 posts a day I just skip over because the post title is enough to make you not want to read.
#1075
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
Probably the same type of people who swear by politically leaning news. They can't see it for what it is once they drink the kool aid.
#1077
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
It is also worth noting that, last year, an identical competition to win free transatlantic flights ran on Head for Points (to target the UK) and TPG (to target the US). The promotion got twice as many responses from HFP than it did from TPG, but I 'only' have 350,000 uniques per month.
Last edited by Raffles; Apr 15, 2019 at 8:28 am
#1078
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, mid-tier with pretty much everyone else
Posts: 873
Of course, uniques do not equal engagement. Would love to see his bounce rate metrics and average session time, but do not have much room to say anything because my bounce rate and average session time are both atrocious.
His ad sales probably start a little higher simply because of that figure though. It's interesting to imagine just how much cash he's going through with the hires and offices he's invested in recently.
His ad sales probably start a little higher simply because of that figure though. It's interesting to imagine just how much cash he's going through with the hires and offices he's invested in recently.
#1079
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,320
I don't think anyone is disputing that they're getting lots of traffic. We have explained that they have done so by publishing garbage, stealing from other blogs, posting ads masquerading as content, and spending money on SEO. Whether it's "right" depends on whether one thinks simply getting traffic makes a blog worthwhile. I can think of many publications that get a lot of readers that I find morally repugnant.
#1080
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Fairmont Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,041