reporter needs to talk to savvy ffers
 

My name is Jean Chatzky. I'm a columnist with Money magazine and I'm looking to talk to a few frequent flyers who have figured out -- really figured out -- how to make the most of their miles. I want to hear your strategies, successes, and stories about how you got good at this.
Please send me an email and tell me where/when I can reach you. A phone number would be appreciated.
THANKS!

Welcome Jean. If anyone could help her out I think it's be a plus. She's one of the better reporters out there and I'm sure the time you could spend chatting with her on this topic would be beneficial to all.

Thanks in advance for helping her.

whats your email?

Click on her name (on the left hand side from the original post), and from the dialog box select send an email ;)

If you reply to Jean and provided your best strategies, me thinks they wouldnt be very good for long. Especially after the unwashed masses get into the mix.

Ken in Phx

YGM
Regards,
Robert

I agree completelyl with Ken. I can not see how this is anything but counterproductive.

Actually, it is my experience that these types of interviews want good well balanced and broad based information and tips. That is certainly productive here. They are not looking for complicated and "mileage junkie" type information because frankly most members outside of FT would not understand it anyway. I think it is well coceived for FT to be seen as the source of all types of frequent flyers, from the average member seeking good solid broad-based tips to the niche player. FlyerTalk looks great in the media when it is not viewed as "elitist", when it is not viewed as a bunch of mileage whiners and when it is not seen as a grey market of mileage scam information. I'm not seeing Money Magazine going for the Mexican Hat Dance or the Bhat Run and for the magazine's timing, not the Icelandair thing either.

consider this - they are writing the story with or without us. I for one take some pride whenever i see a member's name in print. I'm just hoping that the name is one of our members.

Your guys attitude is really counter to what FT is all about. Since I've been here, I've had no problems sharing the trips, and tips, of frequent flyer travel
Jean Chatzky's reputation is well deserved. She's a fair and balanced reporter, author, and television commentator.


Jean: Welcome to FT. Not sure if you've been a long-time lurker, or this is your first time visit. But dozens of your counterparts in the biz from major newspapers (USA Today, WSJ, and others) have been here a long time. Welcome!

Frequent Flier Strategies and Thoughts for 2005
 

1) Be willing and able to have very flexible travel plans, in the event that your airline liquidates while en route to your destination or return city.

2) Be able to help out the airlines with job functions previously performed by laid off employees (from making announcements about delayed flights to fellow passengers to checking in and printing your own tickets, some of this I have already seen in place.) Unecessary gate agents will be reduced to one for smaller airports, 2-3 for larger airports.

3) Forget about the perks of yesteryear. With flight cutbacks, it will become more and more difficult to use frequent flier miles, as every seat will need to be "revenue generating" for cash-strapped airlines.

4) Airline clubs will all be shut down, as the employees who ran them are laid off. This will allow the airports to become even more of a congested mess.

I guess none of it really matters, as long as CEOs and upper management can keep their million dollar salaries, we should all be happy and not complain.

Question:

Which airlines have announced that managment is sharing in job cutbacks? The only one that I am aware of Northwest, but I honestly haven't been following this as closely as I should.

The reason I ask is because I am considering about flying only on those airlines on principal alone. It nauseates me to think of all of the layoffs that are going on whilst the so called "base" keeps stays in the top 1%.

Those in the know, please reply.

I would hope that unnecessary gate agents are reduced to zero for all airports.

Alaska Airlines (actually Alaska Air Group) announced a significant paring of management ranks prior to announcing any layoffs.

"Actually, it is my experience that these types of interviews want good well balanced and broad based information and tips."; We will see.

Jean, YGM. :)

How I Got Good At This
 

I got good at this by reading flyertalk. Seriously. It's far and away the best resource I've ever encountered for learning about how to get the most out of your FF program.