The Most Helpful Frequent Flyer Blogs, Including Comments on Comments

July 25, 2011 - Rick

There is a very interesting thread on Flyertalk where people weigh in on their favorite travel blogs. I’m glad to take the positives offered about my blog and I have big enough shoulders to take the negatives as well. Instead of posting to the thread, I’ll chime in with my own favorites here.

#1 The PointsGuy: When Brian started blogging full time, everybody in this hobby became a big winner. He is young, in touch, very detailed and writes magnificently. His blog is clean, and his categories section will be an encyclopedia of knowledge in the future. I told my friend Brian several months ago that I expect he will be the main blogger and future of travel blogging.

#2 Gary Leff – View from the Wing: Gary is the master of information and the most experienced blogger of all. I quite honestly don’t understand how he can hold down a full time job, book 100 million miles of award travel for others, blog, and still have time to travel. He has the best industry contacts of my favorite bloggers and is now listed as a co-founder of Milepoint in his screen name. This guy is a leader and in my opinion, does the best investigative analysis of the issues. He sees things that I quite often pass over in announcements.

#3 Ben S. – Lucky9876Coins – One Mile at a Time: Ben is the youngest of my three favorites, the funniest, and definitely the most enthusiastic. His knowledge of mileage running, bumps, and customer service vouchers is unmatched in the industry. If you have not picked up his weekly column on TravelSort.com, do so and bookmark it. I personally think it is some of Ben’s best work. Also a full time blogger, he will be on the scene for years to come.

I read these three guys every single day and consider each of them friends as well as compatriots. There is no animosity among any of us and very seldom a feeling of competitiveness. You’ll note that each and every one of these guys is on the program of speakers who will appear at the Chicago Seminar this October. They are the new faces of travel blogging and will be around for years to come.

And as for the Frugal Travel Guy blog… I like it. It may be old fashion in design, but I’m comfortable with the platform and layout. I tried switching to WordPress this spring, but if I had I would have lost all my archived posts (due to my lack of computer skills). I didn’t want to do that.

My writing style is not as professional as the guys listed above, but I’m just me and that is who I am. I’ll never include a picture of my food in the blog (I’m too busy eating it) and won’t show you pictures of the bathroom, either. I try to spell-check every piece, but errors in grammar still happen. On Day One of my blogging career, I was taught that the most important facet is content, content, content.

Telling it like it is — that’s my responsibility as a blogger. Although I do get referrals from the card companies, I have no problem calling them like I see them. (Last week’s Explorer card is an example: It was a lousy offer for a new card.) And I don’t have any problem emailing a card issuer behind the scenes and telling them what my readers and I think of their business practices.

We all have minds of our own and we’re going to disagree. Even with the grief I got for my comments on Brian’s accepting a comped trip, Lucky has as well. I still won’t do it and have discussed and agreed to disagree with them on the topic. You need more than one point of view. If not for the other bloggers, I’d be stuck in my own head everyday, all day. And that’s a dangerous place to be!

My policy concerning comments on my blog:

Just to make things clear, I do edit comments. Every comment that regards my daughter’s sexuality is deleted. Period. I have two or three readers who don’t like her posts, and they say so in the most negative way in their comments. They have been heard, but I won’t allow them to attack her personally. Likewise, comments calling me a fat ____ are also deleted. They provide nothing to the conversation. As far as editing other comments that disagree with me: Why not re-post the comment in a civilized manner? If you do, you’ll find it on the blog. I rarely delete comments and try to do so only if it’s absolutely necessary.

I’m 60. I’m set in my ways. And the guys listed above better fit the demographic of the majority of the audience. I’m a three-star kind of guy, I’m happy flying business rather than first class, and I don’t care about a limo ride to my flight or a massage at the airport lounge. Get me from A to B in comfort and on time — that’s what I’m looking for in a flight. As for hotels, I want them clean, well located, and safe, and I want free wi-fi and a complimentary breakfast. All the jazz and glitter means nothing to me.

What we’re doing here at The Frugal Travel Guy blog seems to be working. Readership has doubled since last September. But don’t just read my blog. You also need to read the three I recommend above. They are the future of our hobby and each gives a different, unique, and valuable perspective on seeing the world at prices we all can afford.

-Rick

sara

Rick- I am a newbie to all this CC churning business. I have the CO, United, Chase Sapphire, Delta , Amex Gold and Amex Plat CC's. When you churn every few months are you just applying for the same cards over again? Do you close the previous accounts? I would like to apply for some new cards. Any advice?
Jim

Kim, thanks for the info. My nephew just graduated from college , and is interested in getting started. What Amex did your grandson get.
Jim H
Mr Paul

I've been trying to get my wife to convince me to do this for some time now. I'm hoping that this post will be the nail that breaks her. Our credit & income is plenty high for this to work for us.

She keeps saying that this is going to hurt our credit but if we churn right everything I'm reading says it will be a wash.
Kathy

United Mileage Plus gives 10K points to college grads up to a year after graduation if they are already enrolled. Send them a note with proof of graduation. If you don't have a place to stay in BCN, I stayed at the Marriott Renaissance in Barcelona this month on points. Adequate (by US standards) hotel costing 350-500 Euros a night…exceptionally good service. If you have Marriott status a full buffet breakfast in the restaurant is included plus tapas and cocktails in the concierge lobby. The Stay two nights get one free certificates in USA work at that hotel too.
Kim

Jim Its my son. I applied for the Amex gold right under the dealine when they were offering 50,000 sign up points and the chase one pass. He was approved instantly on both. So he has 50,000 mr points and 50,000 points in his continental account. With an out of town girlfriend this is a great thing for him!
Kim

Rick –
So here we sit at the Westin in the Caymans. And you started it all! Again, thank you! I can't stop giggling!
megs92

Thanks for the inspiring story! I really enjoyed it. But I'm wondering what Rick's answers to Kim's questions are as I have some of the same questions
Anonymous

I would like to take advantage of the SPG offer but just cancelled an SPG card around the middle of June. Sooo … I would like to know what have your experiences been with the amount of time between canceling an SPG card and applying for and being approved for a new card??

Anyone ???
Anonymous

Kim
I am also off to the Cayman's, staying at the Westin on points and cash! We will be doing some diving too! I arrive on Tuesday afternoon, maybe we can meet by the pool and talk about churns!
Bringing my husband and 2 kids!
Worldtraveller2
FrugalTravelGuy

sara; We seldom apply for the same card over again. Most banks now enforce a first time cardholder retriction.

Megs92: I don't see Kim asking any questions????
Anonymous

I can't speak for Megs92, but I assume she is referring to the questions in Kim's blog – 12th paragraph (toward the end of her blog before the P.S.)
Betsy

Thanks Kim for the advice on asking your "old" credit card to give you a long time due sign up bonus. I just emailed the company of the card that I've had all my life! Have my fingers crossed! Great idea.
TJ

hi, what is the amex open business card? Is that the amex business gold (true rewards)?
megs92

Yup, I was asking about her churn date question: "My question is, when should that be? It looks like from your blog you churn every three months? March and then June? But I thought somewhere I read every thirty days?" I'm a new reader so may have missed the reasoning for your 90 day churn cycle. Just curious
Kim

Worldtraveler2
I would love to meet you – but we are leaving Tuesday -our flight is at 2:30 so leavingWestin around noon. Do you hv an early morning arrival?

Kahty. Tks for the ua tip. I'm on it!
gregillinois

Rick, I am 60 and love your info. Reading all the happy news this year we got British Air, Alaska and Amtrack cards. I have house, good job, pay bills etc. Just tried for new Cont. card and told at reconsideration "too many apps" by Chase. How does everyone seem to churn all over.? I assume I should lay off Chase for the rest of the year and maybe try Citi-thanks for your thoughts- Greg
FrugalTravelGuy

gregillionois: Call the reconsideration line back again and offer to drop your credit line on an existing Chase card or if necessary close one you already have received your points on.
TravelerMSY

Not to pick nits, but the word 'churn' has a very specific connotation in Flyerland. It means to apply for and recieve the initial signup bonus on a card more than once. As in, "the Citibank cards used to be churnable every 61 days, and now they're not."
bill

Kim, could you please elaborate on the following part of your post? "MR 50,000 bonus — because I secure-emailed them and said I was feeling badly about never receiving a sign-up bonus and I've had the "green" card since college"
Thanks!
gregillinois

Rick, Your advice worked and by lowering credit limit on older BA card I could then get new Cont. card. To eventually build this account should I wait until 2012 to get the United Card? Again thanks
Michael

Thanks for this list, It’s very useful! I’m having trouble believing the troll problem your experiencing on here. People need to grow up. Anyway, curious as to whether you’ve checked out
Mileblaster or the apps they offer. They provide a really great service to those who like to track their miles and want to extend their use. You should think about giving them a little review on here.

The Most Helpful Frequent Flyer Blogs, Including Comments on Comments

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