Sometimes Better To Listen Than Talk

I don’t feel like going on a long rant about this. Frankly, I’m saving up for a big one. So I’ll just write a quick note to get something off my chest…

I can’t believe how little common sense some of you people in this game have. It truly is hard to grasp. I spoke to someone who works in a position of power at one of the companies that has been very helpful to us. He verified that the death of our best deal in the last few years (the deal in which letters went out recently)…can be traced directly back to your actions. To be specific, your arrogant online presence.

I don’t know if it’s youth, inexperience, or ego…maybe it’s all of that. Do you realize you have the power to blow a special thing for all of us? Maybe not. The only other possibility is that you truly don’t give a shit.

When I tried to figure it out today, I couldn’t come up with that answer. Here’s the thing…

For the most part, I stopped reading other blogs a long time ago (for reasons that should be very clear by now). And I can’t even remember what year I last logged into Flyertalk. Obviously, everyone knows I don’t do social media. So, at this point, I’m out of any loop that includes careless people. In fact, I don’t even know how many of your kind are out there now. It sounds like a lot. So if you’re one of the people who like to brag about fragile loopholes that are obviously not supposed to be exploited…

…saying specifically how much you’re taking a bank for…

…naming that bank…

…publicly laughing in their faces to delight your minions…

Then you were directly responsible for the death of our best deal in years. I know this for an absolute fact. Your very specific naming, pointing, and taunting of a multi-billion dollar corporation is what killed it for everyone. There was a chain reaction and it started with you.

This week, to learn more about the state of newbies…I tried to spend an hour on Reddit for the first time in my life. I had to stop because brain cells were being lost quickly. I was seeing incredible amounts of ignorance. No idea about who the players are in this game, what the history of this is, or how big the deals have gotten. You think you know but I can assure you that you don’t.

(Oh, by the way, fuck you for making me sound like an old guy talking about back in his day)

Why not see the impact you’re having in your day? Here’s a clue – you’re causing damage to the people around you. But I doubt you see that. Shit, at this rate, why not just put on a bow tie and glasses and pretend you’re about helping people.

Apparently, one of you even did some sort of online play-by-play when confronted by law enforcement after buying money orders. I’m telling you for a fact – these kinds of things do not go unnoticed. They are reckless and destructive. But I get it. You don’t care.

Listen, I’ve spent too much hours in my life trying to talk to people who don’t get it. And I know you’re not going to get it now. I doubt you ever will.

So, for everyone else out there, just be very clear that these kinds of people have done you a disservice. In a huge way. So don’t praise them. Don’t compliment their careless behavior. It’s your job to know better.

milenerdSometimes Better To Listen Than Talk

American Airlines Gift Card

Only a couple of these posts left.

Again, thanks to the amazing response from you guys in May, I’ve had some good stuff to give away…

Been trying to space these out the best I can. So far, I’ve given out 13 United Club passes and free rentals with National. Today, I have $247 in American Airlines gift cards (technically split into 3 virtual cards but they can all be used for the same booking). Yes, I’m trying to build up in order of value. Huge thanks to my friend and long-time reader who donated these. He doesn’t want his name posted but you know who you are. I really appreciate this, man. Here’s the deal:

  • One person will win all 3 of the gift cards.
  • As with all of these giveaways, I know a bunch of you will be disappointed and only one person will be happy. It sucks and I’m sorry, but hey…that’s the way it goes. Still a lot better than the other alternative (not giving away anything).
  • One email per person please. Send by 11:59 PST tonight.
  • That inbox is for contest entries only. Other than the winner, no emails sent there will be read or responded to.
  • Send to the address below with the subject “American Gift Cards.”

milenerdAmerican Airlines Gift Card

Tuesday Triple

  • Thanks to fancy pants reader Rob who earned a bunch of American miles from this Neiman Marcus promo.
  • Pretty decent batch of choices from IHG this time. As always, their PointBreaks options are 5,000 points per night. Still one of the best values in the hotel game (if you find somewhere you want to stay on the list).
  • Thanks to non-fancy pants Alex for sharing this link to the American Express Ameriprise Gold card. The bonus is 25,000 points and the fee is waived for the first year.

milenerdTuesday Triple

2 Weekend Tips

A couple of good email tips from over the weekend that I wanted to share…

Chris with a reminder of how helpful Twitter can be – “Southwest debacle. My flight was one of the many cancelled today.  I had much better luck getting through to Southwest on Twitter DM than the phone, although I eventually got a nice lady on the phone after 50 minutes of hold time.  Unfortunately I did have to call to make changes due to a companion pass reservation attached to my booking, I wished I could have done the changes through the app.  This may help anyone affected.”

Steve with some data on the new world of Chase card applications – “I wasn’t sure if you were aware of this or not, but just in case, some people are keeping tabs on which Chase cards don’t seem to be included in 5/24 yet – Reddit, Google sheet results, and submission.

tip jar

milenerd2 Weekend Tips

A Pair Of Offers For Cardholders

  • Starwood cardholders are getting 2,500 points for adding a user.
  • And United is giving a billion miles away to its cardholders.

milenerdA Pair Of Offers For Cardholders