I’ve written a lot about pondering loyalty of late. It would be easy to conclude that I’ve given up on mileage programs and moved on, but nothing could be further from the truth. I continue to value miles and points, I continue to accrue them, and I continue to enjoy them. It’s simply that my expectations and the things that I personally value have changed over time.
It never was about “the game” to me. I’ve never laid awake at night wondering what innovation I could create to pad my miles or points balance. Throughout, I’ve just been focused on picking up whatever I could to make trips more comfortable. I don’t blog about every trip I take or every mile I spend, but I do enjoy picking up a few extra miles every now and then, but that’s not really the point.
There are enough people that blog about credit cards, gift cards, and reloadable cards, and I’ve learned something from all of them. Someone in the travel business put something in words a few days ago that I’ve been thinking for a long time, but have never quite been able to say. No one ever blogs about the journey. I’m not sure that’s 200 percent correct as I read a lot of trip reports and lounge reviews, and I think those are all part of the journey. But it surely is a valid point…and one that really resonated with me.
After nearly 8 years of MJ on Travel, I’m neither disgruntled, disappointed or ready to do something else. What I am is ready to blog about the journey. Coming soon, an administrative blog post, a Disney cruise finale (believe me, that was a journey), and a word on the journey ahead.
-MJ, May 6, 2014
I think what bothers me is that I love “the game” I enjoy it so much that I would rather earn 10k airline miles on a credit card than 5% back on some card I don’t really like. I know the ROI is better with many cash back deals but I’d rather have miles as my reward. That is what also bothers me about many travel bloggers is that they spend all this time telling me how great cash back is.
My thoughts on “cash back” have evolved over time. I do carry the 2% Fidelity card, but use it only sparingly. There have just been too many deals for miles out there…. 100K AAdvantage miles, 60K Chase, etc. 100K AA miles is worth way more than 200 bucks (assuming I spent 10 grand) to me…but someday, that may not always be the case.
Lucky’s One Mile at a Time, and your MJ on Travel blogs are pretty much the only ones I continue to read. I personally have enjoyed your point of view as a former airline manager as it is comes from first hand experience,something lacking in most of the other blogs. The hawking of credit cards and links to “must have travel” aids has gotten old. Whatever your future plans, know that many of us have enjoyed your blogs and appreciate your stable, knowledgeable and well thought out views, and appreciated your sharing of them.
I couldn’t help but think about Lucky when reading your post. I agree with you that too many of the bloggers just hawk credit cards, but whoever says “no one ever blogs about the journey” has never read Lucky’s reports or other TRs. If not for them, who the heck would sign up for these CC bonuses? Why? The tease has hooked us.
@Colleen, Lucky is one of the reasons I put my note about not being “200 percent certain” in the post. 🙂