I find it interesting that most of the popular bloggers out there have deals that they use and dont post them on their sites. They only post the deals they feel cant be "ruined" or dont apply to them.

While relatively new to FlyerTalk, I've participated in different airline miles / hotel points programs for over 25 years. In my profession I was involved with the internet since the 80's when no one had ever heard of it (ah the old Usenet days with rec.travel). Whether it's the internet, travel programs, cell phones, ... etc., for every person who responsibly makes use of technology there are a thousand idiots who misuse the privilege. I am sure that for every blogger who has released details of schemes which should have have remained low profile, there are FT'ers both old and new that have ruined great deals by greedily pushing things over the limit and getting them shut down.

While 99% of what I read on either FT or the blogs takes the high road, what bothers me most is how some people will speak with disdain regarding the banks / airlines / hotels with which they are working the system to collect money / miles / points. I am very appreciative and respectful of any company which offers a promotion that I agree to participate in. This 1% seems to want to rationalize their unethical behavior by painting the banks / airlines / hotels with a broad brush - "They screw people over every day so I am sticking it to them now".

For example, there are quite a few posts from people who call up retention at their credit card company and manage to get a credit or miles if they agree to keep their card for another year. Once they get the credit they go ahead and cancel the card anyway. Then they go on FT and brag about it! Shows you where our society is headed.

wow you guys are seriously lame. if you don't want to share then don't share. Stop complaining about other people sharing.

This is why we can't have nice things.

You are missing the point completely.

Blog posts that talk about deals in a way that is either misleading or sabotaging the potential of the deal others isn't sharing, in fact, it's quite the opposite. Most of the time this is done to either attract a credit card referral, or to establish oneself as the ultimate authority in order to attract future credit card referrals...

Flyertalk is full of helpful information; so are some of the blogs. That some others are 'ruining' deals and whatnot is just the open nature of the internet.

Instead of whining, let's keep trying to make Flyertalk the best it can be.

So how does one start a blog anyway? With the Spirit changes, I could make some $$$ by pushing the Spirit Credit card & pushing travel insurance!!!


You all have given me a good idea, one of the posters on another forum wanted a secure credit card. This could be my nitch for the Ultra Low Cost Flyers!

You should see some of the people interviewed on Million Mile Secrets every Friday. Many of them have only known about miles and points for a year, if that. And now they are writing a blog about it. The blogger profiled today had never collected a single mile before March 2011.

Examples?

The reality is that 'traveling for free' isn't something that is accomplished here. Lots of these guys know nothing about really finding a real deal, and once the CC offers dry up (since most of them are novices who don't really travel to earn miles), they will suddenly have nothing to say.

Buying tons of points through Discover America and converting them into miles isn't free. That costs money. Sure, it can be interpreted as a good deal, but let's not pretend it's free. Those who want Y redemptions should learn how to FD, or learn how to track fares better.

Nothing annoys me more than one who doesn't understand opportunity cost, then tries to mislead everyone...

The Office Depot / Ink deal was the most recent.

FTG said in this thread(or someone said for him) that he is able to keep some of the good stuff under wraps (& that is what makes him a good blogger). As if it is for him to say "these deals are for me, and these are for the masses".

:-:
The author of that story was at FTU and spent a lot of time speaking with folks there and learning about things to educate himself and his readers. And, having actually spoken with him for a while, I have no trouble stating that he is a travel junkie just like many others here. One who realizes there is much to learn and who is looking to grow his knowledge personally.
I bet that's not true.
Sabotage? Really??
There are a few things which annoy me more, but this is definitely high on my list.

Another way to look at is he will use discretion when he posts and if you tell him something in confidence he will honor that.