DC area interview subject?
Jan 22, 2003 | 1:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Posts: 7
DC area interview subject?
Hi,
I'm a journalist in Washington DC with a major news network, working on a story for a bunch of our affiliates around the country about the state of frequent flier miles. I am not posting my work email address here because last time I put it on the web, I got a lot of spam.
I am looking to interview a DC-area resident with a lot of frequent flier miles who has had trouble redeeming them for their ideal travel itinerary. Preferably someone who has had to make compromises (changing their travel plans - dates or destinations - or redeeming their miles in alternative way - for products, theater tix, etc.) or has just let them sit in their accounts, unredeemed.
If this sounds like you, please email me (rather than posting here, if possible) with your name, daytime phone number, and a little about your experiences.
Please respond only if you feel like you really fit this description. If you're responding for someone you know who fits the bill, please ask them for your permission before you give me their information -- I don't want to catch anyone unawares!
Thanks,
Karen McKinley
email: [email protected]
Edited to say: I would swing by the DC area happy hour tonight and introduce myself in person - but alas will be on a plane tonight...!
[This message has been edited by karenhey (edited 01-22-2003).]
I'm a journalist in Washington DC with a major news network, working on a story for a bunch of our affiliates around the country about the state of frequent flier miles. I am not posting my work email address here because last time I put it on the web, I got a lot of spam.
I am looking to interview a DC-area resident with a lot of frequent flier miles who has had trouble redeeming them for their ideal travel itinerary. Preferably someone who has had to make compromises (changing their travel plans - dates or destinations - or redeeming their miles in alternative way - for products, theater tix, etc.) or has just let them sit in their accounts, unredeemed.
If this sounds like you, please email me (rather than posting here, if possible) with your name, daytime phone number, and a little about your experiences.
Please respond only if you feel like you really fit this description. If you're responding for someone you know who fits the bill, please ask them for your permission before you give me their information -- I don't want to catch anyone unawares!
Thanks,
Karen McKinley
email: [email protected]
Edited to say: I would swing by the DC area happy hour tonight and introduce myself in person - but alas will be on a plane tonight...!
[This message has been edited by karenhey (edited 01-22-2003).]
Jan 22, 2003 | 1:47 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA 2.996MM & Plat Pro, DL 1MM, GM & Flying Colonel
Posts: 25,033
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by karenhey:
... I am looking to interview a DC-area resident with a lot of frequent flier miles who has had trouble redeeming them for their ideal travel itinerary. Preferably someone who has had to make compromises (changing their travel plans - dates or destinations - or redeeming their miles in alternative way - for products, theater tix, etc.) or has just let them sit in their accounts, unredeemed.</font>
... I am looking to interview a DC-area resident with a lot of frequent flier miles who has had trouble redeeming them for their ideal travel itinerary. Preferably someone who has had to make compromises (changing their travel plans - dates or destinations - or redeeming their miles in alternative way - for products, theater tix, etc.) or has just let them sit in their accounts, unredeemed.</font>
I must confess to being a tad disturbed by what seems, on the surface, to be an attempt to document a predetermined conclusion rather than to find out what's really going on. Could you explain why you're only looking for people who have had trouble redeeming miles? There are plenty of others, myself included, who have had no trouble redeeming miles, or whose troubles have been minimal and have not interfered with the essence of their plans. If you already have plenty of those and need some others to balance the story, fine, but inquiring minds want to know if this will be a balanced report or will just give the side of the story you seem to be looking for in this post.
Jan 22, 2003 | 1:58 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Posts: 7
At this point, I am trying to find out IF such problems are prevalent. I certainly know of many who have had good experiences. Although the story is just in the early stages, so may be evolving, the plan is to talk about how miles programs are/may be changing, and among other things different options for redeeming all those miles that are out there. Thanks.
Jan 22, 2003 | 2:46 pm
#4
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Out of nothing more than curiousity......may I ask what difference the DC area residency has to do with the story?
Truly not trying to be difficult, just 1) not from DC, and 2) curious.
Best wishes in any event.
Truly not trying to be difficult, just 1) not from DC, and 2) curious.
Best wishes in any event.
Jan 22, 2003 | 3:04 pm
#5
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: PDX
Programs: TSA Refusenik charter member
Posts: 16,126
Welcome to FT, Karen. It's always nice to have reporters checking in for the latest FF buzz from time to time.
Please keep in mind that the rubric for this particular forum is "The official get together page for the FlyerTalk community." Meaning, queries such as yours while welcome if well-itentioned, don't really belong here. I think MilesBuzz is the more appropriate forum. Of course, the moderator of that forum may think it more appropriate for TravelBuzz and it may be moved yet again.
Cheers.
---------
essxjay
FT Community moderator
Please keep in mind that the rubric for this particular forum is "The official get together page for the FlyerTalk community." Meaning, queries such as yours while welcome if well-itentioned, don't really belong here. I think MilesBuzz is the more appropriate forum. Of course, the moderator of that forum may think it more appropriate for TravelBuzz and it may be moved yet again.
Cheers.
---------
essxjay
FT Community moderator
Jan 22, 2003 | 3:10 pm
#7
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: PDX
Programs: TSA Refusenik charter member
Posts: 16,126
A P.S. before moving ...
As a former 16-year journalist myself, I can vouch for the validity of Karen's approach on this. Sure, reporters start out with some idea of the story they're after. But a good reporter -- and I think Karen has demonstrated this in her reply to Efrem -- will certainly revise the thesis of the story if evidence warrants it.
Let's give her some credit (unless she proves uncreditworthy
) if not some good, solid input.
Hey folks, we're always kvetching that "the media" (how I *hate* that expression) is always getting it wrong. Let's prove the obverse ... ess
As a former 16-year journalist myself, I can vouch for the validity of Karen's approach on this. Sure, reporters start out with some idea of the story they're after. But a good reporter -- and I think Karen has demonstrated this in her reply to Efrem -- will certainly revise the thesis of the story if evidence warrants it.
Let's give her some credit (unless she proves uncreditworthy
) if not some good, solid input. Hey folks, we're always kvetching that "the media" (how I *hate* that expression) is always getting it wrong. Let's prove the obverse ... ess
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by karenhey:
At this point, I am trying to find out IF such problems are prevalent. I certainly know of many who have had good experiences. Although the story is just in the early stages, so may be evolving, the plan is to talk about how miles programs are/may be changing, and among other things different options for redeeming all those miles that are out there. Thanks.</font>
At this point, I am trying to find out IF such problems are prevalent. I certainly know of many who have had good experiences. Although the story is just in the early stages, so may be evolving, the plan is to talk about how miles programs are/may be changing, and among other things different options for redeeming all those miles that are out there. Thanks.</font>
Jan 22, 2003 | 4:32 pm
#10
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by channa:
If you want a story on mileage redemption problems, post your request in the Continental forum.</font>
If you want a story on mileage redemption problems, post your request in the Continental forum.</font>
Jan 22, 2003 | 4:53 pm
#11
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Efrem:
I don't fit the bill, since I'm not from the DC area, but ...
I must confess to being a tad disturbed by what seems, on the surface, to be an attempt to document a predetermined conclusion rather than to find out what's really going on. Could you explain why you're only looking for people who have had trouble redeeming miles? There are plenty of others, myself included, who have had no trouble redeeming miles, or whose troubles have been minimal and have not interfered with the essence of their plans. If you already have plenty of those and need some others to balance the story, fine, but inquiring minds want to know if this will be a balanced report or will just give the side of the story you seem to be looking for in this post.</font>
I don't fit the bill, since I'm not from the DC area, but ...
I must confess to being a tad disturbed by what seems, on the surface, to be an attempt to document a predetermined conclusion rather than to find out what's really going on. Could you explain why you're only looking for people who have had trouble redeeming miles? There are plenty of others, myself included, who have had no trouble redeeming miles, or whose troubles have been minimal and have not interfered with the essence of their plans. If you already have plenty of those and need some others to balance the story, fine, but inquiring minds want to know if this will be a balanced report or will just give the side of the story you seem to be looking for in this post.</font>
Jan 22, 2003 | 5:55 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Bethesda, MD USA
Posts: 2,802
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by karenhey:
I am looking to interview a DC-area resident with a lot of frequent flier miles who has had trouble redeeming them for their ideal travel itinerary.</font>
I am looking to interview a DC-area resident with a lot of frequent flier miles who has had trouble redeeming them for their ideal travel itinerary.</font>
Jan 22, 2003 | 6:43 pm
#13
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by essxjay:
A P.S. before moving ...
As a former 16-year journalist myself, I can vouch for the validity of Karen's approach on this. Sure, reporters start out with some idea of the story they're after. But a good reporter -- and I think Karen has demonstrated this in her reply to Efrem -- will certainly revise the thesis of the story if evidence warrants it.
Let's give her some credit (unless she proves uncreditworthy ) if not some good, solid input.
Hey folks, we're always kvetching that "the media" (how I *hate* that expression) is always getting it wrong. Let's prove the obverse ... ess
</font>
A P.S. before moving ...
As a former 16-year journalist myself, I can vouch for the validity of Karen's approach on this. Sure, reporters start out with some idea of the story they're after. But a good reporter -- and I think Karen has demonstrated this in her reply to Efrem -- will certainly revise the thesis of the story if evidence warrants it.
Let's give her some credit (unless she proves uncreditworthy
) if not some good, solid input. Hey folks, we're always kvetching that "the media" (how I *hate* that expression) is always getting it wrong. Let's prove the obverse ... ess
</font>
Jan 22, 2003 | 7:07 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2000
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by akap16isme:
Happy hour? What happy hour? where?</font>
Happy hour? What happy hour? where?</font>
Good crowd. Just got back - but it is C*O*L*D out.