We weep over the latest British Airways Avios devaluation, show you how to join the Mile High Club, do the Ultimate Michigan Bucket List and much more!
TBB Blog Mission: To Entertain. Educate. Inspire. In That Order!
You can support TBB by applying for CREDIT CARDS, please consider doing your shopping with our AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK and clicking/forwarding any of our REFERRAL LINKS. Or click on the Amazon Banner on the right side, thank YOU!
Well, the news spread like wildfire on Wednesday morning when British Airways announced the end of the 4,500 Avios award for short distance flights. Devastating. I went on a rant on Twitter and not going to reproduce here, you can see my tweets from Wednesday morning here. The hits in The Hobby just keep on coming and it is time to reevaluate if it is time to get a new hobby. Do not believe the pumping bloggers, it is in their interest to keep you hooked and, most importantly, to keep bringing in newbies to pump them left and right with credit cards while keeping them in the dark. What most are missing is that this is the prelude to a mega massacre by American Airlines AAdvantage coming soon. The change only involved USA, the 4,500 Avios award was left intact elsewhere. Why? Ask AA CEO Parker, the dude is hitting on all cylinders and is going to get us. Thinking of a total rebrand here, I am tired and starting to get bored reporting one hit after another. You are all sick, hopeless addicts. Get some help 🙂 Maybe going cold turkey will work? Hmm…. #developing Here is how to use Avios or not in the new era.
Chris Elliott goes on another rant “Why Are Travelers Cutting Up Their Affiliate Cards?‘. Seriously? Or does he have a point? My commentary in brackets:
“Frustrated by blackout dates, high mileage requirements for award tickets and an annual fee…” [You.Don’t.Say!]
“It’s something close to addiction,” [Tell me something we don’t know!]
“Michele Paiva, a psychotherapist and neuromarketer in Downingtown, Pa., says compulsively collecting miles is akin to drug dependence. (Neuromarketing is the study of consumers’ cognitive responses to marketing stimuli, such as lower prices or promotions.) “An affinity card creates a false sense of relationship, of being special,…” [Wait, of course we are special and this is like crack!]
“Many of them appeared to be coming from the readers of several small travel blogs, whose publishers were understandably angry. After all, they were pocketing generous commissions from credit card companies for each new customer they referred, and my stories were bad for business. Even more disturbing was that some of these bloggers had been cited as travel experts by colleagues in the media.” [Travel experts, you for real? Taking digs against Boarding Area again. So sad that BA did not work out for you man]
“Of course, talk like that is probably considered blasphemy in the Church of Miles, but facts are facts. Unless you pay all your bills on time and have time to master the complex rules of this game, you’re better off without these cards.” [We worship in the Church of Miles and we always pay all our bills on time every time. If you are not, get out of here!]
10 Life Changing Trips by AFAR.
Advice on how to join the mile high club. Because…we are all about educating around here too. And inspiration 🙂
10 Sports Terms that Help Explain Wall Street. Must read, excellent!
Wingsuit flying over the world’s tallest volcano stack. Incredible video and pictures, wow!
The Ultimate Michigan Bucket List: 50 Things you Must Do. Wonderful!
The highest sauna in the Dolomites. Wow!
And I leave you with this.
Thank you for making TBB a part of your life, I am honored! Help bloggers you appreciate & make a positive difference in your life by spreading the word about their blogs, emailing and commenting and using their few $ links.
Check out my updated blog lists: Blogs I Love, Blogs I Like, Blogs To Ignore
TBB
travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter @ FlyerTalkerinA2 and add TBB on Google+
Three devaluations for BA in four years. Pump that.
And this: First.
Who is counting? 😉
Oh well dansdeals will just change the “22 FREE flights” to “14 FREE flights” to pump the chase BA card and life goes on
The enthusiasm selling plastic never stops!
You are all sick, hopeless addicts. LOL. Third
I speak the truth.
Get BA 100k Visa, LAST CHANCE!
🙂
I don’t see it all so negatively. NO ONE likes devaluations!! When things are good you ride the wave, when they change you still keep on traveling. It just cost more miles. Oh well, that’s why 100/150k sign up bonuses are great. Since this is not France, remember no one is going to give you cheese with that whine.
Been riding the wave for too long….finding those awesome waves with a magnifying glass lately…
In the words of Hyman Roth: “I never asked who gave the order, I said this is the business we’ve chosen”
“Bankrate, an aggregator of financial rate information, reports that its Money Pulse survey found that cardholders “express little enthusiasm for accumulating extra rewards.” In fact, half the respondents said they wouldn’t care if their card stopped offering loyalty rewards altogether.”
Isn’t this the same Bankrate which owns TPG?!
Yes 🙂
Ha, I think it’s the 1-2% of us (people who want cheap travel, not your readers of course) that are massive credit card appliers and users that drive the revenue at TPG.
God I hope not. I mean, the mega churners should know better not to support commercial sites that have been primarily responsible for expanding this hobby and the massive inflation of miles which direclty leads to devaluations. Well, I can tell you that these mega churners are sure not using this site either lol. #sad
“…..a mega massacre by American Airlines AAdvantage coming soon”
As a thought leader, what’s your best guess? Mine is Q1 2016.
February 2016.
I have been wrong many times but not more than the thought leader 🙂
How about Hyatt purchasing Starwood. How will that play out? Not even the evil TPG could have caused it 🙂 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/29/business/dealbook/hyatt-is-said-to-be-in-talks-to-acquire-starwood-hotels.html?_r=0
Titans only care how this will affect credit card sales 🙂
D O C has been in a slump lately, resorting to Amex Offer updates. Leave that material to Grant please.
Not much exciting going on these past few months. I suppose that’s it.
I was here.
I am always here
There no question that the miles hobby is a tough game, and most people are ill-suited for it. But those who do have the skill set can still reap a tremendous windfall by playing. Particularly if you are an avid traveler. If Ellliott doesn’t see how this is possible, he is a fool.
BTW, everyone who wants to cut up their Chase cards now because it’s a 7500 mile Avios minimum should also consider that it’s gotten easier and cheaper to accumulate Avios points in the past month thanks to changes at OfficeMax and Staples. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. That’s how The Hobby works. It’s never static.