The Chase Sapphire Reserve frenzy is on, check out some London day trips, ask for advice how to spend airline credits, find the next Amazon stock, check out the European airports with low taxes, say goodbye to Waldorf Astoria, get you up to date on the never ending troll Ingy saga and much more! Thank you for reading here and not reading the pumping machines!
TBB Blog Mission: To Entertain. Educate. Inspire. In That Order!
You can support TBB by applying for CREDIT CARDS, shopping with our AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK and clicking our REFERRAL LINKS. TBB highly recommends Express VPN. Thank you!
What are you waiting for? If you can get the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, why are you sitting it out? You can PROFIT by at least $1,097 in COLD HARD CASH, even if you do not travel at all! This is FREE money, never turn it down! This assumes of course you can get approved and do the minimum spend required for the 100k Chase Ultimate Rewards Points signing bonus Then again, if you are here you probably can…I hope! Come on now, even the New York Times says so!
The one CSR app I had in the bag was by my wife but she had to go for that stupid GAP card about 18 months ago. Yep, that was the fifth card in the past 24 months so she can’t get it again with MY link! I am still not over that…I am coping, thanks for understanding.
Breaking: Southwest relents and will allow hotel transfers to qualify for the Companion Pass. We hackers get a win at last. And this is how Southwest wins loyalists. Or is this when Marriott gives us the finger, you know they want to lol. I had to get out of bed to post this you guys #blogginglife
Good post: The airports in Europe with taxes so low BA Business Class awards are only about $200 or less in fees. Lowest three are Warsaw, Stockholm, Copenhagen.
SPG comes out with its Hot Escapes hotel list with discounted prices. In case you are nearby. Or not. Canada prices are low! And for my Michigan based readers: Ann Arbor Sheraton $96, Four Points by Sheraton Detroit Airport $88, Four Points by Sheraton Kalamazoo $84. Or how about Sheraton New York Times Square $106?
Day trips from London a train ride away. Not sure how thrilling they are but there are some good ideas among the 38 trips listed.
Your personal finance fix of the day: Looking For The Next Amazon. This is a wonderful post. So true at all levels, I have seen this happen so many times. I filter out the bullshit for you. This is excellent advice:
- A lot of people spend their life looking for the next Amazon. Few people ever find it.
- Sticking to a boring 60/40 portfolio is hard enough. Focus on getting the big things right.
- If you can’t help yourself, limit yourself to a few speculative ideas a year. Two or three sounds about right.
- Keep the amount you wager small. No more than 1 or 2% of your portfolio.
- Earning 100% on a stock can be an emotional roller coaster. Earning 10,000% can lead to a lot of sleepless nights.
- Let’s say you do find a unicorn; As the dollar amount you have invested grows, you become much more sensitive to drawdowns.
- Just because you take big risks, that does not mean you’re entitled to big rewards.
In The Grand Scheme of Things. Love these pictures, WOW!
The end of an era, the Waldorf Astoria is closing. Yeah, blame the Anbang guys, remember them? They will turn most of the rooms to condominiums. 24 hour room service started here you know.
BLOG BUZZ
Doctor of Credit is attempting to compile a worthwhile resource to track credit card bonus categories and airline credits. Check out the Payments Workshop. Or bookmark it if you want.
And they attempt to answer the question :”Why Do Banks Offer Better Bonuses In Branch“.
This blog runs in Feedly so if your blog changes its RSS feed, please let me know asap so I don’t miss any of your posts!
As you know, me and Ingy (Rick, the former founder of Frugal Travel Guy) have our differences. He has been trolling my site ever since he was “a little off” in his prediction that this blog would not last more than three months and here we are in month 50 and counting! Anyways, he is part of the entertainment. For me and some of you. Some do not like it (looking at you smittytabb) and that’s okay. Anyways, he is back at it trolling and making fun of me…when I try to keep him relevant in the game before he is forgotten. Oh boy so many credit card conversions left behind is a crime, lol.
Here comes Deep Throat again #mustread #insider.
The Points Guy Inc is so big they now buy access to a few breaking news lately, I hate it! And does this Doctor of Credit dude ever sleep?
I am torn where to burn my Amex Platinum and Citi Prestige airline credits. I think I have enough Southwest gift cards. The 50% rebate booking with Amex travel with the airline of choice is very enticing. Should I go with Delta since I am based in Detroit? You know how much I “love” them. Or go with AA instead? I am assuming the $50 gift cards still work with them when I can always do $100 with Southwest. I am open to ideas/suggestions. First world problems around here 🙂 If you wonder what works or not, click HERE. And make it snappy before the rewards abuse teams plug the holes!
And I leave you with this…Stud!
Check out my updated blog lists: Blogs I Love, Blogs I Like, Blogs To Ignore
TBB
travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com
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Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
I was going to let Gringo Loco be first, but then I decided to cave like Southwest
I can’t wait for Dan at DansDeals to take credit for this 🙂
This space reserved for ScottCastle
ScottCastle is #1!
Mr. Nice, it happens to many, it’s okay!
Hi everybody! Just wanted to apologize for all the trolling. It’s just that I’m really jealous of George and his awesome blog.
Can’t be you…you will NEVER apologize!
Ingy should pick up a hobby suitable for old geezers – shuffleboard, chess, complaining about loud music and kids playing baseball, cleaning his catheter, going around smelling like mothballs and sour milk, etc. He obviously has too much time on his hands as the occasional troll post here and on FT seems to be his only joy in life.
Kinda sad all he can do is blather on….
“I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let’s face it.”
How about Bingo?
I am working on something that COULD be BIG!
I love Southwest’s Lie Flat seats to Europe. The most comfortable. #CoachIsBestThatsWhyItsInTheBack
Flying domestic on Southwest is great!
#notentitled
Last year around this time we flew to Cancun for 14,000 points (total) and $90ish/person in fees. But yeah, the 35,000 points/person plus taxes on every other airline is definitely the way to go…
Cayman too!
Well, as the holder of two Marriott one week certificates (one category 1-5 and one category 6), I better find a place to redeem them STAT. Yikes, I see the Marriott properties devaluing in my head in real time (not that they haven’t been doing that for years already).
OK Buzz, since you called me out (not the first time) for taking a perhaps unpopular stand on the you and Ingy bromance, let me make one wee observation. Why am I not a fan of the Ingy baiting and expected response? Just take a look at the US election. You can draw your own conclusions, but people seem to love to watch bullying and it brings ratings and in your case clicks. Are the “angries” the original “deplorables” except flipped? All I know is there are better ways to draw in readers and there is enough ugliness out there, especially now. Let.It.Go. Both of you.
I do my thing here educating, entertaining, inspiring. This dude has been trolling and bullying me for years now. I am not turning the other cheek you know!
As far as ratings and clicks go: Do they go up when he shows up? Yes! Does it really matter to me? NO! This is not a page per views—->$ operation like Boarding Area.
I find the interactions very EDUCATIONAL for readers. Besides, I think me and many others find them entertaining too!
The election Trump baiting is a whole different level. That stuff actually matters!
The baiting here is…harmless. It is about clearly non important things about a hobby that is dying/devaluing faster than you can say…Reserve!
I hear you about Marriott…somewhere in HQ they are talking when to kill the packages, no doubt!
It is easy to stop this…He should follow his own advice. NOT to read blogs he does not like, how about it?
I hate to say it George, but with this post you have officially jumped the shark.
1. You’re now doing exactly what you’ve made fun of the titans doing all along, pumping a card with a bonus that is ending, but not really ending.
Saying you feel free greedy about it is no better than saying to someone “No offense, but…(insert offense here)”
Yes, we all want to feed our families for the obscene hours we put into blogging. Welcome to the old boys club. But unless you offer a mea culpa for this blog’s raison d’etre I think it makes your action hypocritical.
Call me Ingy if you would like.
2. The Southwest win is NOT your win. You were perfectly content to sit back and let them do what they wanted to you without making a fuss. Calling it your win is asinine.
I do not know if it’s my win. I do know I mobilized hundreds of people to file DoT complaints that were sent in bulk to Southwest and that my postings on the issue helped raise a social media storm.
I do know that you said “Can’t believe he asked readers to report Southwest to DoT. WTF!”
I do know that making noise works. Just ask Google: http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/98444
I do know the aggregate noise made is why Southwest make an about-face.
I’d the say the score is roughly
Noise makers and rabble rousing blogs: 1.
Southwest and TBB: 0
As a WN stockholder, I find your actions deplorable.
As a US taxpayer (who doesn’t even live in the US), I find your actions in re: DoT deplorable.
I did like your use of SPG points for the World Series.
res ipsa loquitor
In that case I’m proud to be deplorable and proud to have contributed to change.
Where do you draw the line?
What if WN woke up tomorrow and decided to cut the value of their points in half?
Do you sit back and take it? Or do you raise all the noise you can about a deceptive change made without warning?
As I said yesterday or the day before (they tend to run together):
(1) Loyalty is a two-way street. Transfer to SPG to transfer to Marriott to transfer to WN to travel for FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE (for 2 years) isn’t loyalty to WN.
And as much as we all hate to remember, the “subject to change” clause exists and for a reason.
(2) If WN devalued their points overnite, I could personally care less — not only do I not have any, I wouldn’t fly on them for FREEEEEEEEEE!
Generally speaking tho, it would suck. Bigly. Especially if I had earned the points via putting my butt in their seats. Not so much if I had acquired the points via shiny pieces of plastic or transfer-to-transfer-to-transfer.
Just spit-balling but I would think a(nother) WN devaluation is probably coming sooner rather than later after this episode. Guess it depends on how many “hackers” can take advantage of the re-opened window and how much that FREEEEEEEEEEEE travel will (potentially) impact the bottom line.
(3) “Making noise” by complaining to DoT, a Federal agency that in no way whatsoever has authority to regulate airlines’ (so-called) loyalty programs, is a waste of (already wasted) tax dollars. Where do YOU draw the line? Class-action, take it to the Supremes? Feel entitled much?
1. No argument. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t give warning before making a change.
2. It will suck if they do it. But it’s deceptive if they do it without warning.
3. Swing and a miss:
“The Transportation Department (DOT) by the end of 2018 will decide how much warning time airlines must provide to consumers before changing frequent-flier program terms and conditions.
The action comes in response to a new report from the DOT’s Inspector General (OIG) report that cited shortcomings with the DOT’s process for identifying unfair or deceptive frequent-flier program practices. Included was the issue that airlines, under existing rules, can make changes to such programs with little to no notice, devaluating award seats.
The programs, in which passengers earn free flights or upgrades through loyalty to one airline, are reviewed by the DOT periodically as part of a carrier’s compliance-inspection process. Along with flagging any unfair or deceptive practices, and unfair methods of competition, inspectors can review consumer complaints on frequent-flier programs. The DOT requires that airlines disclose their frequent-flier rules to customers.
“While DOT officials told us they consider an air carrier’s change to the terms and conditions of its frequent-flier program without reasonable notice to be an unfair or deceptive practice, they rarely investigate whether this practice occurs,” the OIG stated.
At issue is a lack of specific guidance to airlines on how much time would be considered “reasonable notice.”
Auditors who visited American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Virgin America reviewed 36 of the 76 frequent-flier complaints from 2012–14. They found that four complaints contained potentially unfair or deceptive practices. One consumer said a carrier announced its intent to impose a fee for using miles to upgrade a class of service just two weeks before implementing the change.
“[The] DOT took no further action and forwarded the complaint directly to the airline to resolve with the consumer,” the OIG stated.
The OIG ultimately issued two recommendations, both of which the DOT agreed to implement:
•Train DOT analysts on what constitutes unfair or deceptive
practices.
•Define what constitutes reasonable notice for consumers
regarding changes to frequent-flier programs’ terms and conditions,
and require airlines to provide such notice.
The DOT said it would complete the first recommendation
by June 30, and would satisfy the second with new rulemaking no
later than the end of 2018.”
This may expedite the move for the airlines to say “phuck it, lets go all revenue based BURNING to save us all the harrassment we get from the Feds”…
Time will tell…
You don’t think they would have done it by now if they could?
They know good and well that the banks will eat their lunch if they set a fixed value per mile lower than 2%.
ah hell, I simply MUST give up the Flor de Caña!
Somehow I lost ALL of 2017. And ALL of 2018.
Sigh
You said they have no interest in loyalty programs.
Clearly that is false.
Sorry, Dan, but I did not say that DOT has no interest. I said:
“a Federal agency that in no way whatsoever has authority to regulate airlines’ (so-called) loyalty programs”
Unless I am mistaken (happens often), until a Fed agency promulgates rules, they have no authority.
And given the timeline (end of 2018), methinks DOT’s “interest” is more to get the OIG to STFU than actually regulate “loyalty” programs.
IOW, spamming DOT with your “outrage” at not being able to exploit WN (and ME as a shareholder!) for two more years of FREEEEEEEEEEEEEE travel served no purpose other than to waste tax dollars (MINE!) because DOT could have done nothing to change the situation.
Except that it worked. DoT forwarded our complaints to WN, told them to respond, and WN gave in.
Or they gave in due to aggregate noise on social media and emails.
Either way, it worked.
People also complained when I made the Google shutdown story go viral. “Why would I help people that violated (an obscure) Ts and Cs?”
Lesson learned is that people love to complain.
I move to ban Latin from the Internet. 🙂
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
I made my response to ScottCastle above BEFORE I saw your post here, wow!
I disagree with #1 completely. Coming from a blogger with DIRECT links and posts littered with them is, hmm, a bit hypocritical? A little?
This blog exists to entertain, educate, inspire. Whatever little money brings in is total gravy. I don’t need it to feed my family, thank God!
I find nothing more greedy than littering posts with DIRECT cc affiliate links and having content DRIVEN by such clicks. PERIOD.
I may have found a mainstream media journalist willing to do an expose on the TPG and MMS and FTG type operations… #developing Been trying for years, something about raison d’etre you said?
You are no Ingy, there is only one!
#2 I still find it awful Southwest had all the DofT complaints against them! This is DIFFERENT than Google. This is equivalent to Ingy filing a complaint for being too slow to go on that $4 United deal due to…age. WTF!
1. I haven’t had direct Chase links in years.
Surely as the points blog’s self appointed watchguard you know that 😉
There are 3 paragraphs in this post dedicated to shilling credit cards. I think it’s great that you are trying to monetize your work. Everyone deserves to make a buck. But the fact that you only see direct links as pumping and yours as innocent is a laughable distinction.
Join the club and own it.
And then perhaps someone will start a “TBB” for TBB posts. After all, quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
2. Again, where do you draw the line?
What if WN woke up tomorrow and decided to cut the value of their points in half?
Still against using the DoT to apply pressure?
Bottom line: The noise worked.
1. I am very aware of your Chase link situation. I was referring to your other ones, hard to avoid getting blasted with them you know!
Two paragraphs on the best travel rewards credit card on the market today, not three. In about 17 paragraphs. And you whine about that, are you serious?
We disagree on the distinction obviously. It’s okay.
“Join the club and own it”. WTF does this mean? I have NEVER inquired about DIRECT links and do NOT want to. We both know I now do not have a chance lol. And that is okay. By the way, other than scheduled tweets, this site does not spend any time on Promoting. It exists to primarily entertain, mostly myself lol.
2. You are making a BIG mistake. This is a temporary “win”. This hurts the company’s bottom line, they do exist for their shareholders you know. It is BEST for us NOT to make waves and be NOTICED! So, when they have a BIG devaluation next, would you fight back by egging on your readers to file more DoT complaints? Where do YOU draw the line? Maybe YOU big bloggers are responsible for this “hobby” going to shit? But hey as long as you make a buck…
Phuck it, I am going to eat a pizza at Blaze. Got bogo free with its app, maybe you should inquire about that promo code 🙂
I see 3 paragraphs. Are you reading what you write and responding with a straight face?
Do you really not see any hypocrisy here over all this for a card that’s not really expiring?
“-You can support TBB by applying for CREDIT CARDS”
“-What are you waiting for? If you can get the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, why are you sitting it out? You can PROFIT by at least $1,097 in COLD HARD CASH, even if you do not travel at all! This is FREE money, never turn it down!”
“-I feel horribly greedy doing this…but you can apply for the card with my link, you see that banner on the right hand side?”
You started off by blasting bloggers for doing exactly that.
Own it means to admit that blogging is tough work and that monetization isn’t the devil but a necessary evil in a world where we can’t charge for content.
The best bloggers all went for years blogging for free before realizing that they need to grow up and make a few shekels. As I said, welcome to the club.
The time to not be noticed is when things are going good.
When companies think they can pull a fast one on us it’s no longer time to be silent.
Now they know that we have a voice and we are aren’t afraid to use it.
Personally I think they will learn from this and will think twice in the future before making any more unannounced devaluations. That’s not a big mistake, that’s a big win.
Daughter is too late getting up so we can go for pizza so…
Ok, I did not count the first paragraph you state. It is ALWAYS there, I have it as a template actually. I don’t WRITE it so I did not count it. I find it pretty petty to be arguing about paragraphs lol.
I always said blogging is hard work and monetization is not the devil. And have always tried to help worthy bloggers with good content. If they don’t get help, they quit and the Titans win!
>>>>>>>>>>”The best bloggers all went for years blogging for free”…Yeah, like TPG and MMS, sure lol.
>>>>>>>>>>”Welcome to the club” – Okay, thanks. I guess. I do my thing here. You do yours. I appreciate the feedback, thanks.
>>>>>>>>Now they know that we have a voice and we are aren’t afraid to use it.
I disagree! They are the house and they CAN make the rules. And they have not been afraid to use it in the future (Amex Rewards Abuse Team anyone?). Winning a tiny battle about “loyalty” (lol) while we have been routed in the war and about to raise the white flag.
It is not us, the readers. The turbo boost for the hobby going to shit is provided by greedy entitled bloggers who “fight” for their readers while primarily monetize selling credit cards.
I think it is just sad where this whole thing is going…
This is my club, I own it, I speak my mind. BS filtering at its finest. I did feel dirty adding those two paragraphs lol
Does Wolfgang Puck make kosher sandwiches? I may ask him to fix me on in your honor this Saturday night? Thank you readers for the CSR apps paying for this experience!
TBBon!
George. You are a Liar. From our 2013 email chain you inquired directly with more than one affiliate company at an affiliate marketing conference. I had just sold to ib and you were asking for info. I suggested your credibility would be enhanced by politely calling out bloggers and developing a real watchdog approach.
I can post the emails if it will help refresh your memory
conference.
@smittytabb: You see…He was so eager to post he double posted lol.
Lets go back on a trip down memory lane. It was 2013 back when I was posting legendary (ok, I am biased lol) content like this:
http://travelbloggerbuzz.com/travel-milespoints-blogosphere-has-turned-into-a-giant-credit-card-pumpization-scheme/
The “love” was not full blown by then, we were actually trying to communicate like adults, even though it was pretty difficult to reason with my #1 fan, troll I mean. He is the one who coined “Conversions is all that matters!” Anyways, I decided to attend Fincon conference, a conference for personal finance bloggers as I was interested to learn about blogging in general as it was pretty obvious I was SO green in this field (about a year into this blast, I mean, journey).
For new readers, I am a financial planner and I must say I am fairly well known. More on that later. So, I knew many of the attendees and I still find it odd when I say I am associated with this TBB blog. It is kind of odd/funny actually. Because, obviously, I could be doing a lot better if MONEY was my #1 motivator! But lets get back to Fincon13.
It was in St. Louis I think at a Hyatt. I met Andy the Lazy Traveler who had a suite at the hotel and lounge access we took advantage the most, thanks Andy, the lounge and freeee food and drinks were awesome!
I learned a lot about blogging at the conference. Actually, that is when I decided to move to WordPress I believe. Which I should have started with, oh well. So, that info was really good! And then were the giveaways and swag! I remember Chase had the biggest booth and I snagged many cell phone charges. Heck, I think most back in my Greek village had one of them, thanks Jamie Dimon woohoo!
So I was interested of course to learn about this monetizing thing. I was spending hours a day at the time having fun TBBing it would be okay I thought to learn more about it as I was (and mostly still am) clueless! Talking to the Chase people it was obvious they had no clue either lol. And I stopped at another booth, not Bankrate, but the other one that went bankrupt or got out of the business some years ago and said “you know, I have this new travel miles points related blog and I keep hearing about credit cards and want to learn more”. I really wanted to LEARN how this thingie works, mostly for research purposes and see IF there was a way to do it AND do it in a way that you do not surrender you soul or bend over or you know what I mean.
There was this cheery marketing lady and she asked me about some Google Analytics stuff and I was like, WTF is that? Anyways, she promised to get back to me. Then, she didn’t. So I emailed/phoned/Linkedin messaged her. No response. I wonder if my friend had something to do with it, I guess we’ll never know. She left the company, I forgot her name. But, in business, you know, if you do not take the time to get back to someone you promise you will contact…do you really want to be associated with them and their company? Hell no!
My friend always made the wrong assumption that I am in it for the MONEY. And could never understand that money does not really motivate me and certainly does not drive my decisions! If it comes with it while doing it MY way and doing it right by ME, cool, I am not a communist! But this has NEVER been a $ generating operation obviously.
I could have taken my friend’s approach to kill TBB and rebrand as the Wall Street guy who loves what…TPG is doing. Hell no, I would rather surrender to ISIS, this is NOT me. I am perfectly happy with what I am doing and I don’t need the money. Heck, I have shut down the doors to new clients so I can have time to TBB…because to me this IS fun.
At the same time, I have come to realize how tough blogging really is so some clicks once in a while mostly as psychic rewards to keep this baby going are certainly welcome. Obviously, it is a fine line I am walking being associated with the creditcardsdotcom clicks but it works fine for now. Or as long as I can keep them and continue to doing this MY way.
So I guess I am a liar too…
From the guy who threatened to expose me to the WSJ, which I happen to write for and have not written much lately because I am pumping my links here at TBB…Amazing!
At the end of the day, to all readers, to be happier: Do NOT read blogs you do not like and, for crying out loud, do not spend ANY time commenting on them. Because, if you do, something must be really really wrong with you…
Has anyone had Blaze pizza? You can build your own and PILE ON THE TOPICS, try it! I think I am set…for the day #winning
At the end of the day, what comes first is, the life defining question:
Are you entertained?
I sure am.
Thanks to Dave for the CSR app and the kind words, much appreciated.
Dear Lyin’ George. Watching you wiggle is hilarious.
First you tell Dan that “you NEVER inquired about direct links and do NOT want them.” and now back off when the truth came out.
Then you say you never stopped at Bankrate but in an email to me dated 11/3/2013 you say and I quote: ” I talked to a Bankrate/Synegry/LinkOffers dude”
What can your readers believe Lyin’ George? People are gonna start to think you’ve wanted links since day one, have been trying to get them from the start and are still whining and moaning because you can’t get them. Your ACTIONS speak loudly as do your constant reminders that you need more clicks and have only made .93 and pimp, pimp, pimp everyday.
How can you continue to try and take this morale high ground when your actions show it is all an act of hypocrisy!!!!
Its been fun this last couple days watching how far you’ll stoop. OBTW I found about 7 more old emails from earlier than the last group I’ve quoted you from twice. More good stuff to come if you wanna keep going 😉
George. You are a Liar. From our 2013 email chain you inquired directly with more than one affiliate company at an affiliate marketing conference. I had just sold to ib and you were asking for info. I suggested your credibility would be enhanced by politely calling out bloggers and developing a real watchdog approach.
I can post the emails if it will help refresh your memory
I’ve never perceived TBB as being against CC referral income in and of itself. And I think there’s quite a difference between today’s TBB CSR paragraphs and pimping bloggers who
(a) CONSTANTLY pimp and shill sometimes more than once per day
(b) Ignore and/or censor information on better offers
(c) Omit or distort information to sway readers to their own links, whatever form that may take
It’s the difference between an honest car dealer and the one who rolls back the odometer, etc.
I think the record was 44 cc aff links in one post by MMS. I stopped counting a long time ago 🙂
Yep, you got it. Thanks!
For those who don’t live anywhere near a Chase B&M bank, the bonus IS ending 12 January!
Glad to see my current hometown (Whitstable, no 28) made it to the excursion list – despite being a bit over an hour away, it’s often unknown even by long-term London residents… And the restaurants here are pretty damned good!
Steve, is the Limerick, “There Once Was a Man From Kent” a true story?
Seriously, your town sounds lovely and now in our travel plans for August, mind if we stop by for Dinner?
Signing off for several hours…
Time to focus on work that pays the bills instead of counting pumping paragraphs lol
You’d think that my next in-box arrival will be another ‘Southwest changes their mind’ e mail.
Where would I be without all the travel bloggers? Groan. #MakinFun
In case readers here didn’t see my comment last week, I used the TBB Amazon link to buy a pair of shoes. #DoingMyPart
I entered the spam folder today because I was falsely accused of censoring. I found some of your comments. No idea why this happens man, sorry. If they do not show up right away, let me know!
And thanks amigo. Get me that writeup/link for the BRT. Loved paying for pizza the 2016 BRT and feeding everyone at the Ann Arbor Art Fair DO party at my house. Giving back. When that buy out offer comes along I will go on a US thank you tour and blow it treating every one who has supported the TBB experiment along the way. You know, like Trumps’ thank you tour lol.
I expect to post the BRT thread on Flyertalk sooner rather than later.
Can all of you play nice. The bickering isn’t as entertaining as you think.
Aren’t you a wee bit early for “last”?
Oh wait, I can’t even read a calendar (!)
Would love to actually attend BRT this year instead of just buying you a bottle of wine.
Earlier in June better than later in June for my schedule (!)
Ok, I appreciate the feedback. Yeah today, my stomach turned. Obviously some people have way too much time on their hands trolling sites they do not like. At least this baby is all mine.
“Can’t we all just get along?” Rodney King
“Peace and Love is all we need.” John Lennon
“WTF is going on around here?” Ramsey
“To be or not to be”
or maybe it should be:
“To beat or not to beat” it
I miss Rodney.
Tupac link for you tomorrow, it is nuts!
It got a little too warm for Lyin” George. Looks like he just deleted a comment
Looks like it’s getting a little too warm for lyin George
He deleted my last two comments and George will NEVER delete comments
Got caught in the spam folder, how appropriate is that hey! Next to Viagra and other shit. Approved now and showing.
For commenters: If your comment does not post, it is held up by the WP spam plugin I am using. For whatever reason, no idea! Let ME know if you do not see it, I avoid going into the spam folder.
Apologies to dhammer53, I found a few of your comments, let me know asap man, I am not ignoring you or, heaven forbid, censor anyone!
Mike: An old one from you too, sorry!
To Ingy: Retirement must be going great hey. Or are you auditioning for a writing job gig again? Not getting an offer from me, only Quality posts appear here.
Entertainment.ForFree.TBB
But then again. He “NEVER inquired about direct links and does NOT want them” that until he questioned about it. He “stopped at another booth Not bankrate” He must have forgot as his email to me in 2013 said “talked to the Bankrate/synergy/Linkoffers guy”
It appears lyin’ George has wanted links from day one and his moral high ground is just a cover for his failure to get them approved. I mean come on. He begs more than any other blogger
Had a few drinks with that Bankrate rep at the Happy Hour. For freeeeee. I don’t remember much from the conversation. Obviously not worth anything to remember. Or maybe it was the alcohol.
Ingy and moral high ground should NEVER be in the same sentence. EVER!
anybody know is it slander, libel or defamation of character to post that someone was let go when the opposite is the truth?
Watch out Lyin’ George. I’ve got lots more emails where we talked about you walking away from the moral high ground when suggested. You wanted to be a badass bean counter.
My emails are much juicier honey!
So are my plane rides to the carribbean on private jets #POTUS42
I am starting to think smittytabb is right. We are obviously dealing with an individual who needs help. Why is this dude so obsessed with me for so long? No wonder they did not want him around at the blog he founded, Jeeeesuss!
To be fair he brings up a valid point.
Did you or did you not try to get direct links and/or ask him how to get direct links? Can you claim a moral high ground just because you couldn’t get direct links? Is there really a difference if you’re doing pumping in every post you make with direct or indirect links or is it a convenient way of pointing fingers while being able to deflect hypocrisy claims?
Reminds me of when Jared got booted from direct links and then claimed to be taking the moral high ground:
http://www.onlinetravelreview.com/2013/08/09/chase-reconsideration-line-phone-numbers-yes-banks-do-influence-some-travel-blogs-including-this-one-but-not-anymore/
As Adam commented there, “Yeah this reads as a bit of spin. Amex: we’re kicking you out of the affiliate company. Jared: you can’t kick me out, I’m quitting on principle. Yeah, principle that’s it.”
Are you on higher moral ground if in an ideal world you would be doing exactly the same as others?
You’ll notice I’m the only active blogger commenting here.
I do think you’ve done some good work over the years and have had good takes on blogging. And I do think you’ve jumped the shark today.
/.02
I appreciate the feedback. If someone takes any time to make a comment, I value it. And then there are some like Ingy lol.
I would LOVE to get DIRECT links man, who wouldn’t, come on? Do you think is fun getting emails from readers telling me they could not find the XYZ credit card link in my site??
BUT there is one HUGE factor involved here which I left unstated because, PHUCK, I thought it was clear. Apparently not. I would LOVE to get DIRECT links with MY terms. Which are I must ALWAYS have the best offer (looking at you too!) and complete editorial control. And no quotas if possible. Well, I learned VERY fast at that 2013 conference that that is NOT going to happen. I felt disgusted by what shit you bloggers must go through to appease the direct cc over lords. That is a lot of shit I could NEVER do.
The present arrangement works for me. I can still blog about whatever I want and do my thing here, entertain/educate/inspire make the world a better place. There is still some crap I have to mess with (like making some changes to my site FAST and one time a compliance dude had a problem with my headline including the word vagina…near the word Chase). I am still mad about that but I got over it 🙂
I miss Jared. I remember that post!
I always said you know your shit. The Titans in the Blogs To Ignore list do not, they are just mega online marketing branding experts.
I think there is a HUGE difference between pumping direct links that take you to the app directly than a creditcardsdotcom banner where you have to find the card without any pics and arrows! Yuuuuuuge! Dont get me started on what appears as content now…come on.
I have a good link tomorrow explaining where this online Trump influenced world is going…
I could NEVER do what some of these Titans are doing…NEVER! Just not me man. So yes I believe I am on a higher moral ground here. Readers ALWAYS come first. PERIOD. In an ideal world junk would not exist and some of these celebrity bloggers would be having real jobs behind a desk being someone’s bitch. But we don’t live in an ideal world, some people eat junk food and never go to to the gym too. Or think Trump has their best interest in mind. Or whatever.
I think I need to go to the gym and work off that Blaze pizza
Keepinitreal
#hintcodeapp
I can’t believe I said “higher moral ground” which were not my words in the first place I believe. I sound like a douche bag. Which brings to mind TPG’s bag…oh nooooooooo!
Was it an episode of happy days when the fonz jumped the shark? Maybe I don’t know what that phrase means…
Hey George, I’m thinking of getting the amex platinum with your 40k link. Is that a pretty good deal?
Didn’t you know that my links are the best? By far! Each click gets you a massage by Alexa, a Companion Pass for 3 years and free peanuts for each flight for the rest of your life and ALL your family members! You just can’t go wrong, click NOW, hurry, it is a time limited deal…actually, it’s your LAST CHANCE.
Do you think I have talent in this pumping thing.
For crying out loud, if any newbie is reading this, I AM JOKING and the Amex Plat 40k link out there EVERYWHERE is so bad it may even give you Zika! Stay.The.Hell.Away from all of them, including mine.
Lying George 😉
Wow who knew this would turn into the Watergate hearings?
Ingy whining about lies and moral high ground is pretty rich.
I was away…counting my paragraphs 🙂
Maybe someone should call Chad and Stephanie up in Fort Collins and ask about moral high ground.
If there was a way to get a conversion out of that…FTG would find a way probably lol.
I should ask Wolfgang Puck Saturday to make me a sandwich and name it “Moral High Ground”. Hold the mayo! #reallybadforu
Is Rick putting a group together to go to the Super Bowl on miles and points this year? I heard there are a lot of rooms available in Miami.
Oh wait-the game’s in Houston.
You had me there for a second…Too bad it is not in Miami, I could crash in TPG’s condo, I hear he throws the best parties. For freeeeee!
I jumped the shark today…after 50 months of blogging…
I had a paragraph I always place on top of each post and has never changed in such long time.
Then I had a paragraph linking to PointsCentric (next one making it to the Like list, guaranteed!) with a killer post showing the yuge value of the CSR for even a person who does not travel. And then linking to a NYT article from a writer who is an FT member by the way.
And then a paragraph starting with a sentence kindly asking to use my link (not linking of course) and showing what my wife did…
And then I jumped the shark…
And then I had an orgasmic thought…What if each comment was a CSR app with my link:
https://twitter.com/FlyerTalkerinA2/status/817130519318188032
I am working on a yuge expose of the Titans, naming names. Dan, you are safe 🙂
What is going on here today? Our algorithms are off the chart!
Just checked the cc clicks, I wish I could see his face woohoo!
So much drama over two paragraphs.
If I presided over a forum that contained a dumpster fire of a thread on “New Coins” I wouldn’t be spending time in someone else’s comments talking about the “moral high ground”.
On another note, I was curious if Southwest had ever broken out any financial details of the CP given that it is a pretty unique benefit. So I googled -Southwest earnings release companion pass- first three pages of results are blogs telling me how to earn the pass without actually spending money on Southwest and one link to a story about a guy who sued Southwest over credit card billing cycles and the CP (clearly not a blog reader). For some reason this made me laugh out loud.
I am sensing we may not be laughing at all when another stealth type devaluations happens…you know when suddenly the points are worth some cents less…At that time I am going to ask my readers to complain to DoT for not giving us notice 🙂
Great comments exchange today! I am exceptionally entertained and even educated. Thank you for keeping this up for 50 months.
Aloha from Kaua’i, 6 nights in, 9 to go. Thanks to Amex, Citi, BoA, Chase and Barclays for 4 r/t tix, 15 nights and a car rental. Great sight seeing with the family and quality cycling to boot!
Hang Loose,
PedroNY
P.S. I decided to do United Gift Registry for all of my Amex Plats, as MPX died last month. Maybe that would make sense for you, who knows.
Best,
PedroNY
I used to enjoy putting trips together paid for by the banks…After TBB-era, don’t have the time anymore, I am here feeding trolls lol.
Anyways, I will definitely do Kaua’i in the near future, only major island I have not been yet over there. Any tips on routing/award seats for 3 that has plenty of space? Or barely enough? Any screaming hotel deals?
I am not sure this was entertaining, I think it was nuts. I should not be feeding the troll. I still have not decided how to blow the credits. At the end of the day, Southwest works for me, I have not paid for a domestic ticket for a while!
We flew Alaska here via SEA, they had awards open for 4 of us . I burned some SPG points and Hyatt. Nothing special, just trying to ‘churn, earn and burn’. You know me, I book 11 months out or 2 weeks out, so my award seats are usually there.
I do have plenty of WN $$, so decided to do United this time. For me, EWR is less than an hour away, so it made sense.
Cheers,
PedroNY
Churn SPG? Do Tell.
Used to churn SPG, now Marriott a bit. I don’t discriminate on hotel chains. My general approach in this hobby is to churn CCs, earn and spend points/miles. Like everyone else, right? SPG was special, my parents and inlaws were down for my management of their accounts.
Best,
PedroNY
Or AA electronic GCs, which never expire. Good thing that since you’ll likely never find Saver space on AA.
Holy shit 70 comments.
Loved these exchanges.
George, I would say Dan is clearly in a different level than those other bloggers. In part because he is more transparent and in part because Dans audience is more of a “deal” audience that know how to hustle, versus the newbies who wanna travel for free after reading about CSR in wsj.
Love to see you bring ingy’s BS to the abrupt end!
You make a great point about Dan’s audience, so true.
Tomorrow’s pic shows that the trolling is out of control. Lets stop feeding it, let him just go on here with his nonsense.
TBB
bad ass bean counter——–> WTF!!!!!
Has Dan had any links to cheap diapers lately?