Are your friends and family savvy with booking travel?
#32
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Well a good chunk of my friends are Flyertalkers so I'd say yes
My non FT friends are not very good though. Most of my family isn't either and as my parents age they get worse and worse. My brother James (a FTer in his own right) however is the most savvy person with miles and points I know. I frequently consult him for advice on such things and it's nice having him as a resource.
My non FT friends are not very good though. Most of my family isn't either and as my parents age they get worse and worse. My brother James (a FTer in his own right) however is the most savvy person with miles and points I know. I frequently consult him for advice on such things and it's nice having him as a resource.
#33
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 347
For better or worse, I'm the go to for my family, and a large chunk of my social circle, for planning and booking travel.
For the most part, I don't mind - with two exceptions:
1) Offering help and recommendations for air tickets, sending over screenshots, instructions, and links - only to have the person call me back weeks later, typically only a few days out from the flight, and asking why the price of the ticket has now gone up from what I sent them. This happens regardless of how many times I caveat the information with "prices change frequently, don't wait to book this".
2) The huge circle of people I know who will book the *very cheapest* option between the city pair. They'll happily take two stops, a pair of long layovers, and arriving in the middle of the night to save $12 over a much faster nonstop. At least that doesn't (typically) affect me directly, but I really don't get it.
For the most part, I don't mind - with two exceptions:
1) Offering help and recommendations for air tickets, sending over screenshots, instructions, and links - only to have the person call me back weeks later, typically only a few days out from the flight, and asking why the price of the ticket has now gone up from what I sent them. This happens regardless of how many times I caveat the information with "prices change frequently, don't wait to book this".
2) The huge circle of people I know who will book the *very cheapest* option between the city pair. They'll happily take two stops, a pair of long layovers, and arriving in the middle of the night to save $12 over a much faster nonstop. At least that doesn't (typically) affect me directly, but I really don't get it.