I’ve been blogging for over 18 years now, and there’s no denying that the internet has changed a lot in that time period. The reason I’ve been able to “work” 365 days per year is really because this industry is my hobby and passion, so it never feels like work. But ultimately, this blog is also a business (even though it was never the goal when I started writing it), and the way the internet functions has changed massively over the years.
I’m terrible at business and self promotion, because I’d rather spend my time focused on what I love, rather than running some enterprise that maximizes profits at all costs. It’s one of the reasons that I never even entertained selling this site, because I don’t want to have to report to anyone as to what I can write about.
In recent times, we’ve made some changes here at OMAAT, and they’ve genuinely been done with the intent of improving the reader experience while reflecting the reality of how the internet functions in 2026. One thing I absolutely refuse to do is gaslight readers, and tell them something is different than it actually is (or at least different than how I perceive it to be).
You might not agree with my take or how I feel, but I at least promise to be honest and sincere. So along those lines, let me provide a bit of background on why we’re making changes, which might be useful.
In this post:
Making money on the internet keeps getting tougher
It goes without saying that the internet has evolved a lot in the past (nearly) two decades. This is true big picture, in terms of the increasing shift from written content to video content, but it’s also specifically true for people who write content like I do.
A while back, I wrote about the honest state of travel and points blogging, and as I explained:
- As anyone who publishes content online can attest to, search traffic has decreased greatly, due to Google’s AI Mode (and other similar features), which basically summarize the answers to questions, rather than directing people to the actual content
- Speaking of AI, nowadays over half of the content produced online is from AI, so the sheer volume of content one is competing with online has increased massively (and the AI content doesn’t involve the same time investment)
- The way that people consume media has evolved, especially with younger generations getting news via short form video on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, etc.
- We’ve seen multiple travel blogs sold, including to huge media companies, venture capital firms, etc.; there’s nothing wrong with that, but their goals are almost always focused around revenue rather than profit, meaning they might spend millions per year buying online ads to beat out competitors
- We’ve seen mainstream media news sites get into the travel story and credit card rewards space, as this has much broader appeal than it used to
- When it comes to affiliate marketing, the space has become much more fragmented, so it’s not nearly as lucrative as many people assume; people just aren’t applying for credit cards through affiliate links the way they used to, as banks have added restrictions on eligibility, there are refer-a-friend links, etc.
- We’ve seen all kinds of sites pop up that are so clearly exclusively about SEO, making it hard to compete on that front
To be clear, none of this is specific to OMAAT, but it’s true (basically) across the board for the internet. It’s also why you’ve seen so many sites change their monetization models.
You have more websites than ever before switching to a subscription model, introducing Patreons, etc. Then you have other sites just switching to pure clickbait garbage, since at least that generates page views, which generates revenue.
And then you have other sites that are pushing the boundaries in terms of the type of sponsored content they’ll produce. I mean, a certain miles & points site does everything from reviews of Taco Bell’s loyalty program, to content about how skincare is like miles & points, sponsored by a skincare company.
I can’t just put blinders on as to how the internet works
I recently (coincidentally) met someone who runs a pretty big YouTube channel focused on a certain consumer products sector. We talked a bit about our respective businesses, and my jaw nearly fell to the floor when I learned how that whole sector is monetized.
He does reviews of products (again, I’m trying to be vague here, because it’s not about this one person), and he gets paid by the company he’s reviewing for each review he does. Every single video review he does, he’s paid by that company. Period.
I asked, “well how do you review things honestly if they’re paying you for the content and reviewing it?” “Well people can tell if something isn’t good based on what isn’t mentioned,” he said. I followed that up by asking “do you get a lot of hate in the comments for that?” “No, everyone is really supportive, and it’s how the whole industry works, so people are conditioned to that,” he explained.
I couldn’t help but contrast that to the OMAAT world, and for that matter, the larger miles & points space. I very much appreciate constructive feedback from people, and I have thick skin. But still, I couldn’t help but think “damn, people have things to say no matter what I do.”
I thought about that for a while, because I feel like the miles & points corner of the internet is unique in that sense. If you go onto social media, there’s endless content that’s sponsored, and young people just seem totally unfazed by that. I mean, fair enough, everything is monetized nowadays, because the economy has changed.
So I think what it partly comes down to is an age thing, reflecting demographics. I think a lot of people around my age and a bit older grew up during a period where the internet was very poorly monetized. We all participated in internet bulletin boards, so there weren’t really people making a living.
I get told all the time “well why don’t you get a real job.” If I’m doing something that creates value and that pays my bills, I think that’s a real job. I think there’s a bias there that doesn’t exist among younger generations. All of that is fair enough… I’m just trying to unpack how we got to this point.
The thoughtful way we’re trying to evolve OMAAT monetization
Let me be perfectly blunt here — if I just kept doing exactly the same thing, I’d make (materially) less money year after year. This is absolutely my hobby, but it’s also a business. I have people who work with me, I have a family to support, etc.
It would be negligent on my part to just say “oh, we shouldn’t change anything, everything is fine.” Does anyone disagree with that sentiment? I can’t imagine there are many in the OMAAT community who work in an industry (whether for someone else or self-employed) where there’s no thought put into economics… that’s even true for those who work in charity!
With that in mind, there are of course different ways to monetize things:
- You can put things behind a paywall; that’s just something I have no interest in doing, and I don’t think it makes sense for the type of site this is
- You can do a bunch of sponsored content; I’m not opposed to doing more of this if I have to, but I really don’t particularly enjoy it (I love my editorial independence), and I also get that people don’t generally enjoy sponsored content, and that’s something that’s just done “to pay the bills”
- There’s of course affiliate marketing, and that’s still a significant source of revenue, but without any changes it declines year-over-year, between challenges with search traffic due to AI, plus the general appetite for new products being down (especially when you have a pretty long term readership, and they already have most of the products you cover)
- There are impression based ads, and the more of those of you put on a page, the more money you can make
- Nowadays there’s also the newsletter model, where you get people to sign up for your newsletter, and then hope to sell sponsorships for that, so it’s the same concept, but the content is just being taken elsewhere
Jeremy joined the OMAAT team several months ago (when Tiffany left), and he’s working on business development, and also on trying to improve the user experience in the background. For one, Jeremy is just an all-around great guy. But beyond that, he “gets” OMAAT. He understands the community we have here, and also how vocal people are. 😉 He understands how deliberate we have to be with changes, because people really do care… and that’s something that’s humbling.
He has made a massive number of changes based on reader feedback in recent months (like, changes based on actual feedback, not “enhancements”), and he has even set up a forum where people can share issues and recommendations. We’re only getting started, and I mean that in a way that’s supposed to genuinely be positive.
As we brainstormed how we could evolve things, we considered how we could slowly work on improving monetization, while also trying to increase engagement and the user experience for the most loyal OMAAT community members. I’m being brutally honest here:
- Of course a good amount of blog traffic comes from search and “news” stories, and those are largely people who click on the site once, and never visit again; honestly, those are the people where there’s the most upside in serving them a good number of ads, as that’s part of the monetization formula needed for a blog to work
- But obviously we don’t want regular readers to have to suffer through that in the same way, and that’s why we recently introduced the new points based system for engagement, and the more engaged you are, the fewer ads you’re served
- That’s a direct expense to us, but we feel it’s a worthwhile investment in creating engagement and trying to make the community a kinder place; the hope is that by making it more pleasant to engage, other people will be more encouraged to join in as well, etc.
- Since most of us are miles & points geeks, personally I love the gamified system Jeremy came up with for earning status, because I think it’s kind of fun
- Some people mentioned that they are frequent readers but don’t necessarily like engaging, and asked if there was a way to buy status points; so that’s why we’ve just added that, so that people also have the option of avoiding ads and instead paying some amount for an ad free experience
I know that last point rubs some people the wrong way. I get it. “Oh, now you’re charging to read?” No, that’s really not the intent. I know ads aren’t a new issue that readers have with the site, and I get that’s a feeling people have had for a long time.
The intent here isn’t to say “oh, let’s make the situation worse, so people are forced to pay.” We just took the current state of things, and said “how can we start to take away ads in a way that’s mutually beneficial?” I am totally fine if no one chooses to pay to remove the ad experience. The goal is just to give people options, though of course we appreciate the support.
Want a better ad experience without that, but don’t want to engage in the comments? As Jeremy covered yesterday, you can also earn 2,500 status points simply by signing up for our newsletter and adding OMAAT as a preferred source on Google through your account. That’s enough for OMAAT Gold status, which already gets fewer ads (it removes advertisement pop-ups and video ads). That alone will make the ad situation better than it has been in a long time. I don’t think that’s a huge ask.
Admittedly I’m biased, but I’d like to think these are thoughtful, deliberate ways to try to make changes that are mutually beneficial. And again, we’re totally open to feedback, so if people have others ideas, we’d love to hear them as well (though we have a lot more in the pipeline).
Anyway, I think I’ve rambled enough, so thanks for coming to my TED Talk…
Bottom line
While I don’t ever expect everyone to agree with me, I’d at least like people to know where my head is at, to be transparent about the state of things, and to explain why you see the things you do around here.
The internet has changed a lot over the years, and the simple reality is that the internet is monetized completely differently nowadays compared to nearly two decades ago. Trust me, I wish it weren’t the case, but I’d be a fool to sit here and just yell at the sky and deny reality.
We’re trying to make genuinely thoughtful changes, with the goal being to be a bit more efficient with how we monetize things, while also trying to create a sense of community, and showing our appreciation to regular readers. Will we always get everything right? Of course not. But I do hope people can understand the logic for the changes we’re making, and where we’re coming from…
Either way, thank you so much to everyone for reading and for their support! And of course you’re free to sound off respectfully, whether you agree or disagree!
I know you attempted to do video previously and probably found out how much work it is.
You can try video again! It might not go hand-in-hand with the blog, but there should be a big audience on socials for the content that you'd create. You're a one-of-one when it comes to flight/hotels/and now cruise experiences.
I'm a video professional and I can talk you through what you can do to get back...
I know you attempted to do video previously and probably found out how much work it is.
You can try video again! It might not go hand-in-hand with the blog, but there should be a big audience on socials for the content that you'd create. You're a one-of-one when it comes to flight/hotels/and now cruise experiences.
I'm a video professional and I can talk you through what you can do to get back into it. Probably don't need to hire anybody right now, but it could be a way to really help the monetization.
onlyfans??? ;)
Question for Ben or Jeremy: appreciating that nothing is a given, what are you thoughts about what happens in 6 months since the gold status from newsletter + Google will expire in February?
I'm guessing you'll play by ear based on the economics of ads and other factors?
I feel bad how it became difficult to use your referral links. Banks began to offer better bonus or better approval odds if apply through their own links. AMEX has so called NLL links that otherwise I cannot get approved anymore. And with huge spendings required these days, I open less cards than before, meaning even less chances to use your referral links.
Just keep up your good work. You brighten our day, every single day.
I work for a pretty large SEO/marketing company. While I manage the backend data and don't know many of the tricks of the trade I do know that we're evolving. In the past that meant adjusting to Google changes and today it means AI readiness for our customers. Your right to adapt; it's not doom and gloom these days, it's changing for future trends
Thanks for a peek under the hood.
Super thoughtful Ben and Jeremy on so many levels!
If you gave me 3 guesses about that YouTuber I wouldn’t need two of them.
Firstly, thank you for openess.
And second and honestly - do a subscription without ads. You can keep ads for one-time visitors or those who cannot afford to pay. Everyone will be happy.
Sorry, but OMAAT to me was a source of information. If you turn that into a commercial entity, I'm gone. I know that I am old-fashioned (and old), but it reminds me of a song by Tom Petty, "The Last DJ": "all the boys upstairs wanna see, how much you'll pay for what you used to get for free". Listen to it and think about it.
Alex, I'm also huge fan of Tom Petty, but you'd think after all these years we... Won't Get Fooled Again. If you're worried about OMAAT becoming a mere "commercial entity," the last fifteen years of affiliate links mean that ship sailed long ago. Still, private equity ghouls are a different beast, which is why it's disturbing to see folks like George Romey (see below), who are gleefully inviting those vultures in. So, if a content-mill...
Alex, I'm also huge fan of Tom Petty, but you'd think after all these years we... Won't Get Fooled Again. If you're worried about OMAAT becoming a mere "commercial entity," the last fifteen years of affiliate links mean that ship sailed long ago. Still, private equity ghouls are a different beast, which is why it's disturbing to see folks like George Romey (see below), who are gleefully inviting those vultures in. So, if a content-mill ever swallowed this blog, it'd probably be more 'meet the new boss, same as the old boss'—just with a lot less soul, and no comments allowed. I hope Ben will keep these independent spaces alive as long as possible.
@Alex, what I hear you saying is that you don't want Ben and the others to be able to earn a living providing you with the information you use. Is that correct?
@Alex--No, you're just used to getting things for free, and never thought once about the labor it took to deliver it to you.
Thank you for your honestly. Like all of your posts this one was well written with sincerity. I believe you more than Isom delivering his state of the airline speeches.
Ben, after getting a job back in early 2020s that required me to fly and stay at hotels weekly, your blog absolutely helped me utilize and take advantage of what seemed like at the time an overwhelming task of maximizing points/miles as a newbie. I will always appreciate your reviews and work and will continue to support your page. Thanks again for all you do!
Good honest post. Thanks Ben. Keep providing us solid info.
If looking for other ways to monetize, I know I (and others) would pay for an in-person meet-up of some type. I had a blast geeking out with ppl at a TPG Super Bowl happy hour event in 2020.
I know you’re an introvert, but could have guest speakers or just make it more of a community happy hour where you barely have to talk.
the funny thing about the AI search thing is I specifically have to search things like "when do airline points expire omaat" so that i get your results first, instead of garbage other posts (I think making you a preferred source helps with this, but i've been doing this for years lol)
Ben, can’t tell you how much I appreciate your thoughtful article and hanging it out there - it’s clear you have and are going through painstaking process and taking all aspects into consideration. Being completely open and candid and sharing that with your readers is why I earnestly read your Blog every day - this philosophy comes through in ALL your articles and is such a breath of fresh air in this world we live in today. Thank you for all that you do!
Ben, really appreciate your post here. It’s obvious you painstakingly and thoughtfully deliberated which direction to go for quite some time. Sharing this with openness and frankness with your readers is so refreshing (and pleasantly surprising) in this world we live in today - and this ‘hanging it out there’ attitude comes out in each and every article you write - and a main reason I read your Blog with earnest every day. Thank you!
Hey Ben, been coming to OMAAT daily for the past 3 years and I’m totally hooked! I get 100% of my aviation news here ! You have to earn a living some way or another, so I totally support these changes.
Ben, I think you lost the bandwagon on following the social media trends. And thank god for that because it would not feel natural, or you, in a way. I've seem the ways in which you tried throughout the years in YouTube, but in a land of Josh Cahill, PointsGuys , JebBrooks and even guys who would review food and started reviewing airline food to seats, where would you fit in? The problem for me...
Ben, I think you lost the bandwagon on following the social media trends. And thank god for that because it would not feel natural, or you, in a way. I've seem the ways in which you tried throughout the years in YouTube, but in a land of Josh Cahill, PointsGuys , JebBrooks and even guys who would review food and started reviewing airline food to seats, where would you fit in? The problem for me is that maybe it is not possible to translate the feeling of reading your texts here into watching a video of you, for instance.
One creator that I've lost interest in is Sam Chui. I used to devour his reviews on Airliners. Every single word. It was magical. Then he went all in on YouTube and it felt weird, not natural. I did not get the same excited feeling that I used to have by watching him. So I drooped instantly. Now, at least for me, I just not watch YouTube content as much as I used to. Tiktok is the way to go. And I get the same feeling by watching some YT creators trying to succeed in Tiktok and not having as much views and attention as in the golden days of YouTube.
For me, OMAAT is about your writing your experiences and perspectives about the trips you take. And we get to read it. It is one of the blogs / websites that I always remember to visit (on a daily basis). I don't even go to BoardingArea anymore.
The question I'd like to ask is: shouldn't OMAAT be more like a great hobby to you? In a way that maybe in your current state in life you don't need to make money out of it? Or am I being too ingenious?
"TikTok is the way to go." (That's what Xi said.)
You seem genuine, other "George," but you spent three paragraphs lamenting how unnatural it is for old-school blog writers to force themselves into awkward new video formats, only to conclude that Ben should shove himself onto the short-form CCP algorithm meat-grinder? Oof.
New member "Kreative" was in here pushing that too, but let's be honest—they just want to see Ben do a dance trend... (I'm...
"TikTok is the way to go." (That's what Xi said.)
You seem genuine, other "George," but you spent three paragraphs lamenting how unnatural it is for old-school blog writers to force themselves into awkward new video formats, only to conclude that Ben should shove himself onto the short-form CCP algorithm meat-grinder? Oof.
New member "Kreative" was in here pushing that too, but let's be honest—they just want to see Ben do a dance trend... (I'm not opposed. We all should probably dance a little more.)
Are you the new "Tim", 1990?
I think Ben should continue to write his review the way he writes because this is what I think most people who follow him are attracted and attached to. Going to other types of media may not feel natural and capture new audiences.
I bet there are a dozen twink travel influencers doing dances in TikTok and Reels right while pitching some Chase card down there lol There cater to younger and (maybe older?) people.
George, if by 'Tim,' you mean, someone who comments frequently here, then, sure, there are a few 'Tims' among us, myself included. However, if you meant someone shills for a specific airline, then, no, that is not me (I'm a free-agent). And, I may disagree with him (and others) on some topics, but I admire his passion, and anyone who frequents this and the other blogs. (Also, my, my, you do have a way with words.)
YT creators complain and rightfully so all the time that the monetization is all over the map, can be changed at any minute and often the process is opaque. You get what you get and no one will explain why. AI will also change content creation. If will make it easier and cheaper to produce.
There are hundreds of really great content creators on YT and Rumble but the field is too crowd to gain...
YT creators complain and rightfully so all the time that the monetization is all over the map, can be changed at any minute and often the process is opaque. You get what you get and no one will explain why. AI will also change content creation. If will make it easier and cheaper to produce.
There are hundreds of really great content creators on YT and Rumble but the field is too crowd to gain traction. The few really good ones like AsmondGold got in early and draw millions. There are only so many hours in a day to take in content and few can financially support more than handful of creators. So the moral of the story is a blog or channel isn't a realistic way of obtaining financial success.
Ben if you have the ability to sell this website for a decent price you should. The competition is only going to increase. You have to remain in a perpetual state of working 365 to put out content that will by nature have a limited audience. Better to have a nest egg and be a contributor or something else in life.
"Just sell your website" says the guy who claims to be a Concierge Key, plans to retire soon, and frequently promotes neo-lib talking points on here, but won't even register an account.
(Anyway, yeah, sure. Zack Hoyt, born 1990, I might add... he sure "made it," didn't he, all just by 'getting in early,' not innovating along the way, or working tirelessly to maintain an audience.)
Low IQ moron. I said if the price is right. If Ben got an offer that would make him comfortable in the medium term why not? He can always supplement that nest egg by doing contribution pieces.
I have no idea what his website might fetch. But if it means no longer working 365, spending more time with family, not pressed constantly for engagement and wondering if tomorrow his sponsor are going to screw him...
Low IQ moron. I said if the price is right. If Ben got an offer that would make him comfortable in the medium term why not? He can always supplement that nest egg by doing contribution pieces.
I have no idea what his website might fetch. But if it means no longer working 365, spending more time with family, not pressed constantly for engagement and wondering if tomorrow his sponsor are going to screw him (just listen to other content creators) why wouldn't he. Or maybe he should just keep slaving away. After all you apparently think people being financially set are awful, except for yourself.
Some people get wise with age. Not the case here.
George Nathan Romey, 'have you no sense of decency, sir!'
Ah, yes, nothing screams "wise with age" quite like flying into a rage because someone dared to scrutinize your armchair-CEO financial advice.
My point is that reducing a thriving, independent publishing business to a fire-sale just because you think a daily content schedule is "slaving away" forgets why people actually build things. Not everyone wants to cash out at the first sign of a market...
George Nathan Romey, 'have you no sense of decency, sir!'
Ah, yes, nothing screams "wise with age" quite like flying into a rage because someone dared to scrutinize your armchair-CEO financial advice.
My point is that reducing a thriving, independent publishing business to a fire-sale just because you think a daily content schedule is "slaving away" forgets why people actually build things. Not everyone wants to cash out at the first sign of a market shift just to become a freelance "contributor" somewhere else.
Now, I know you're busy with the retirement planning, but do you require a step-by-step tutorial to register an account, or do you have that covered?
This place is unique (in my experience) in that there's a lively Comments section (here), plus a normal forum section just added in Community area too. Which one thrives long-term will be interesting to see.
Monetization of any medium is nothing new. In the early days of TV, there was:
- Texaco Star Theater
- Philco Television Playhouse
- Phillip Morris & I Love Lucy (actual commercial where Desi & Lucy smoking cigarettes)
- Chesterfield Cigarettes & 1950’s Dragnet (Jack Webb smoking cigarettes on air as well)
The above was the same for radio when it developed in the 1920’s and grew thru the 1950’s.
Now,...
Monetization of any medium is nothing new. In the early days of TV, there was:
- Texaco Star Theater
- Philco Television Playhouse
- Phillip Morris & I Love Lucy (actual commercial where Desi & Lucy smoking cigarettes)
- Chesterfield Cigarettes & 1950’s Dragnet (Jack Webb smoking cigarettes on air as well)
The above was the same for radio when it developed in the 1920’s and grew thru the 1950’s.
Now, the internet is the “new” medium and advertising and endorsement have fallen into the picture. It’s virtually impossible to watch a YouTube video without an embedded endorsement or sponsor; let alone commercials with the count down clock in the bottom right. And if you look at network news, it’s reduced itself to rehashing Twitter (X) and TikTok videos between 60 second commercials.
Ben, I understand the gravity of sponsors and the financial rewards. We are all trying to keep a roof over our head and food on the table. However, please don’t allow sponsors to control the entire message. If so, the audience will move to those who are clueless; can’t think; and looking for pure entertainment. Unfortunately, a lot of the web has already moved in that direction.
The whole AI thing is changing how we search for & receive information, but for me I want more details like you provide including date of review and photos. Keep doing what you do Ben and I'll keep reading!
Ben is a lifestyle brand. It's the human touch that makes this site attractive. It's an organic phenomenon. Follow your instincts and heart to remain ahead of the pack. UBU
young ppl have been, in many instances, absolutely beaten into submission. they have willingly become nothing but a product to be milked by companies.
look at how media platforms are trying to claim that users know that if they press a 'buy' button for something, that they dont really own it, theyre just getting a license that can be revoked at will.
theyre the first generation that have grown up knowing nothing else, so theres...
young ppl have been, in many instances, absolutely beaten into submission. they have willingly become nothing but a product to be milked by companies.
look at how media platforms are trying to claim that users know that if they press a 'buy' button for something, that they dont really own it, theyre just getting a license that can be revoked at will.
theyre the first generation that have grown up knowing nothing else, so theres no pushback or fight against it anymore.
Thoughtful update.
Sponsored content is also a reality nowadays, I guess the declarations around it just need to be clear. The same goes for (shared) business interests.
Monetizing content just seems to get harder, with the insane amount of copycats and also content-fatigue, since everyone does the same thing all the time (there are hundreds of flight review channels now on YouTube...).
Speaking of AI, I'm still waiting for data centers to have their very own Bastille moment.
We can only dream.
Thanks for the opportunity to contribute
I've been reading your blog daily for more than 10 years now
I cannot express how much you brought me professionally. Thanks to your insights I can be sharp in my work life, always up to date and engaged in what I do.
I'm very happy to finally be able to give back to you via a subscription. For me this is exactly the right move.
...
Thanks for the opportunity to contribute
I've been reading your blog daily for more than 10 years now
I cannot express how much you brought me professionally. Thanks to your insights I can be sharp in my work life, always up to date and engaged in what I do.
I'm very happy to finally be able to give back to you via a subscription. For me this is exactly the right move.
I'm aware that you are taking a risk, and I hope you won't be too disappointed by the volume of contributions.
You deserve to make a good living, and I'm more than happy to pay my share to help you secure your independence, which I value a lot.
Thank you for loving travel and sharing your tips with us for so many years! I've been reading your blog since early 2010. I feel your passion and the need to evolve your business. I appreciate you are candid about it. I just signed up for your daily newsletter and google thing. Hope your business and readership continue to grow!
It's always hard to apeace everyone. To be honest, the advertising was so bad, that I only read the side with the Safari reader mode, but I get the importance of adds for you, especially for one-time visitors. So this is definitely something understandable!
Regarding monatization, my understanding is, that many youtubers have sponsored content, here the video is usually not about the product but it is only a 30s advertisement in the video that...
It's always hard to apeace everyone. To be honest, the advertising was so bad, that I only read the side with the Safari reader mode, but I get the importance of adds for you, especially for one-time visitors. So this is definitely something understandable!
Regarding monatization, my understanding is, that many youtubers have sponsored content, here the video is usually not about the product but it is only a 30s advertisement in the video that can be skipped and is clearly presented as sponsored. Actually having something similar could be fun for you as well, i.e. getting sponsored travel accessories to take with you and writing about. Just an idea here.
Perhaps if this goes well, it'll provide a chance to move away from the regularly scheduled programming of 6 credit card adverts, followed by 1 post complaining about points devaluation?
"certain miles & points site does everything from reviews of Taco Bell’s loyalty program, to content about how skincare is like miles & points"
To copy what so many airlines bull$h*t about.
That site is positioning itself as a "lifestyle" brand.
The problem is with the 'self manufactured' gen Z of wanting a unique 'identity'.
The market would end up with 2 billion 'unique' lifestyles. Mostly would be a unique trash. But that's what...
"certain miles & points site does everything from reviews of Taco Bell’s loyalty program, to content about how skincare is like miles & points"
To copy what so many airlines bull$h*t about.
That site is positioning itself as a "lifestyle" brand.
The problem is with the 'self manufactured' gen Z of wanting a unique 'identity'.
The market would end up with 2 billion 'unique' lifestyles. Mostly would be a unique trash. But that's what Gen Z is defining themselves. That's why taco skincare would fit in just fine with airline status.
I thought that was a joke. Nope. August 19, 2026. "Gen Z is right. Taco Bell Rewards is pretty fantastic — here's why"... and I see they may have brought back comments. Wuttt.
Truth in travel. Your mission statement. Always.
I read your emails everyday. It’s helped in so many trips, taken us around the world twice. We’ve had more first and business class trips because I got those ideas from you.
I get asked frequently how I plan these trips with miles and points. I give them OMAAT.com.
Good luck with the new changes. I’m sure any changes will be very thoroughly thought through.
Bon Chance!
Thank you thank you thank you for a paid ability to avoid ads! I just don’t have the time to do community engagement but read the site almost daily. Very happy to pay to avoid ads.
I would say that monetization is always what you should do for a brand. I agree that Ben has made a good reputation of the honest day-by-day thoughts of the travel industry and the way to get those unique travel experiences. This is his secret sauce for this site.
However, we have seen this pivot before....The Points Guy....is now just an AI scraped and really not very deep "news site" now. As a result...
I would say that monetization is always what you should do for a brand. I agree that Ben has made a good reputation of the honest day-by-day thoughts of the travel industry and the way to get those unique travel experiences. This is his secret sauce for this site.
However, we have seen this pivot before....The Points Guy....is now just an AI scraped and really not very deep "news site" now. As a result they really have lost the value of the name.
I fear this will be the way OMAAT will head aswell.....the pivot needs to be the trust of the readership and have them actually pay for the content....and most importantly it needs to be relevant and useful to the reader. Its very much a balance.....
The key of other websites is the removal of ads and other paid sponsored content is for the reader for the relevant stories. However, the concern here is that many posts are promoting paid links and promotional push to a side business as a blog post....you dont see that say in a Wall Street Journal or the sf chron....its pure storied content. Its hard paying to be promoted to....you already get that on social media. They key is to get enough "thorough and useful content" as a result of your paid subscription.....I am not sure where that where be here....but the minimum is to get rid of the posts saying there is a points bonus promo out where there is monetization of the links...that usefulness from the reader is limited.
Been a reader for over a decade (but only just recently made an account now that it finally let me!), and seeing this blog evolve over time has been a joy honestly. You've stayed true to yourself while keeping up with the modern trends on how the internet operates. I find these new protocols pretty fair and valid.
If anything.....I just wish I could get a how to on adding you on a preferred source so I can get gold since I have no idea what that means ahaha
Morning, cwestpvb. If you navigate to your member account, under the notifications tab, we've got a button for "Add OMAAT to Google". Just a quick two clicks and the points should post immediately.
https://onemileatatime.com/settings/notifications/
You do you you Ben, you're a good you. Differnt than me--but you. Been reading like since late 90's..
You took more "chances" on scoring points back then. All good. I find your view refreshing
It all sounds pretty sensible.
I don’t understand what you are doing after reading this!
“Business models have to evolve, or else… wink” *photo of Spirit* Oof. Got’em!
One of the changes I dislike is that I can't comment unless I agree to receive your newsletter. If I only want to engage by reading selected articles and the occasional comment shouldn't I be able to do that if I don;t care about engagement status?
If you unclick "I want to stay connected with ..." the post button dims and you can't post. What's up with that?
Agreed. Is that even legal in the EU (GDPR)?
Ben, please keep doing what you’re doing. Evolve the site as you want and need to. I guarantee you everyone who loves your content will keep reading x
The complaints are all very silly.
It's your product and you are within your rights to determine its monetization or not. While I won't pay, it doesn't mean that someone else won't. I say you do you.
Hi Ben
Feel free not to answer if I'm being intrusive, but I'm presuming that one of the key ways you monetize the site is by using it to drive traffic to your husband's travel agency? I was surprised to not see that mentioned above.
I'd got the sense that the site was pivoting more to acting as a feeder for Ford's business from the increased focus on reviews of Four Seasons, Virtuoso, Hyatt Prive,...
Hi Ben
Feel free not to answer if I'm being intrusive, but I'm presuming that one of the key ways you monetize the site is by using it to drive traffic to your husband's travel agency? I was surprised to not see that mentioned above.
I'd got the sense that the site was pivoting more to acting as a feeder for Ford's business from the increased focus on reviews of Four Seasons, Virtuoso, Hyatt Prive, cruises etc. that he speailises in.
Nothing wrong with this, by the way - the site is free to view, so you have to monitize the content somehow. I'd far rather have the relatively subtle promotion of Ford's business that you do, than a bunch of obnoxious sponsored content.
+1. It felt kinda cringey reading about the business model behind the recent cruise reviews. It felt like there should be a disclaimer. Ben pays, Ford earns, Ben highly reviews, Ford gets new bookings. Sorry, my unpopular opinion. I trust Ben, but this doesn't feel right.
The point is that you're fully aware of that relationship when reading the review. Commonly when these relationships exist they are often obscured from the buying public.
I think those of us who've been around for a while understand the Ford TA relationship, but it would be great for Ben to make sure the disclosure is clear each time. Not everyone understands that Ford earns commission from the booking, for example. So it's kind of a "discount" for the Ben & Ford family.
What you offer is something that is extremely hard to find anymore online… authenticity.
The minute you start taking paid sponsorships and promotions one of your brand’s core values gets annihilated.
The younger generation may be numb to paid sponsorships and reviews, but they aren’t your demographic… (dont have the means), so it’s my humble opinion that you keep doing what differentiates you from most everyone else… and that’s offering honest and unbiased...
What you offer is something that is extremely hard to find anymore online… authenticity.
The minute you start taking paid sponsorships and promotions one of your brand’s core values gets annihilated.
The younger generation may be numb to paid sponsorships and reviews, but they aren’t your demographic… (dont have the means), so it’s my humble opinion that you keep doing what differentiates you from most everyone else… and that’s offering honest and unbiased opinions about luxury travel and their related programs.
Keep up the good work !!
While I agree with your sentiment, I would hasten to point out that the younger generations are taking over. We, on the other hand, are becoming older. Point of reference, I voted for LBJ while in Nam. They are multiplying, while we are declining ( not me, just you).
(Fair points, AlanZ—and credit to you for surviving that era. Countless people have been helped and saved by those Great Society ideals you voted for back then (Civil Rights, Medicare, Head Start, etc.). Much of that is under attack and being rolled back right now, and most people are deeply unhappy about it, so hopefully this pendulum will swing again soon. No group is a monolith, but rest assured, plenty of younger folks are still...
(Fair points, AlanZ—and credit to you for surviving that era. Countless people have been helped and saved by those Great Society ideals you voted for back then (Civil Rights, Medicare, Head Start, etc.). Much of that is under attack and being rolled back right now, and most people are deeply unhappy about it, so hopefully this pendulum will swing again soon. No group is a monolith, but rest assured, plenty of younger folks are still carrying the torch and building on the foundations you laid. Sorry to go a little off-topic, but needed to be said.)
The short term issue is monetizing a product that has a lot of readily accessible, freely available, competition. I am not young but I think the sponsorship issues raised in the Blog are not as significant as you might think. I watch Youtube videos for Apple products and most are sponsored. The Youtuber makes a point of saying the video is sponsored by product x and rambles for a minute or two extolling its virtues....
The short term issue is monetizing a product that has a lot of readily accessible, freely available, competition. I am not young but I think the sponsorship issues raised in the Blog are not as significant as you might think. I watch Youtube videos for Apple products and most are sponsored. The Youtuber makes a point of saying the video is sponsored by product x and rambles for a minute or two extolling its virtues. It does not matter how many YouTubers tell me that a particular brand of screen cover is as good as paper. I do not buy the product. If I need paper, I use paper. The YouTube video is not usually about the sponsored product directly. There are also YouTube videos where the YouTuber will provide a detailed breakdown of how they make money and how much they generate from each revenue stream. Monetization of this blog is a short term problem.
The bigger issue for this blog, however, is the long term sustainability/viability of a service/product that is rapidly losing its utility. Miles and Points are becoming harder to use. The cycle of credit card companies, airlines and businesses paying large fees to the credit card companies (in the US and a few other countries) that sustains this miles and points schema is coming under strain as a model. Simply looking at the credit card aspect of the model, while I enjoy being able to book a hotel in Reykjavik in ISK using an American Credit Card issued by a non American bank, the big three credit card companies, Amex, Visa and MasterCard, are waging a multinational war to preserve their monopoly and high profit margins which sustain the transfer of money to airlines to support the miles and points game. Countries like Brazil have already issued their own card. Sovereignty issues, cost, and other factors are eating away at the big three's monopoly. This does not even begin to address the discontent and frustration customers of the Credit Card companies will begin to experience when they start to realize that the 200,000 bonus they got with their shiny new credit card gets them an economy trip on a packed flight within continental USA and not the business class pigs in space trip advertised on the glossy promotion material. Unless there are significant changes, the entire miles and points game may be nearing the end of its cycle. If the miles and points game becomes a fringe hobby, then this blog has bigger issues than monetization.
Woah. You went full-manifesto in the second half: “Amex, Visa and MasterCard, are waging a multinational war to preserve their monopoly and high profit margins which sustain the transfer of money to airlines to support the miles and points game.” WWIII, right there.
And, “the discontent and frustration customers of the Credit Card companies will begin to experience when they start to realize that the 200,000 bonus they got with their shiny new credit card gets them an economy trip on a packed flight within continental USA and not the business class pigs in space trip advertised on the glossy promotion material.” I love me some spiiiicy hot-takes! The Yowzers! button was made for this.
I would pay not to have 1990 providing commentary on every comment
Thank you
Not to mention that banks in Europe are starting to process cc, competing against Visa/MC. U.S. processor market is finite, not unlimited. When they hit that wall, points and miles may no longer be relevant.
I tried subscribing to the newsletter to get the points and I see a little toast message pop up that says 'subscribing' but it doesn't actually catch my subscription and give me the points. any way to update that?
The same thing happened to me
The same thing happened to me until I realised you have to go to your email inbox where it just sent you an email. You then have to click to accept to subscribe. Then the points were added.
This was great feedback. We've added a confirmation screen noting that your email has been logged, that the next step is to check your inbox for a confirmation email, and that you should come back and refresh the screen after you've accepted.
You're super fun to read. Do what you need and I'm happy that I get to check in every day!
Reasonable changes and I'm excited for the next chapter of OMAAT. I hope it continues not only provide for your family, but live well. Keep it up!
I've been a loyal reader for years and I want to thank you for the transparency and just generally keeping your readers in the loop. I wouldn't be so quick to discount some sort of paid content. A couple years ago I would have completely rejected the idea of paying for content. But I've now subscribed to multiple paid newsletters and substacks that I think have really interesting content that I can't get anywhere else.
Writing my comment again because your ad partner just refreshed the ads which kicked me out of the comments section and deleted everything I’d written.
Love the site and didn’t know you could pay to get rid of ads, will be doing that. FWIW - a combo of the number of ads and whoever is serving them essentially grinds my Chrome browser to a halt on both my machines.
We've paused the partner that was causing the ad refreshes in comments. Thanks for reporting.
I wish you success.
Ben/Jeremy,
I have been reading the blog for almost a decade, but have maybe commented three or four times over that time period. I’m one of those “lurkers.”
Whenever I can, I have applied and will continue to apply for Credit Cards through your links in order to support the blog. I have never, nor will I ever purchase anything through an ad I view on the Internet… so I would love to...
Ben/Jeremy,
I have been reading the blog for almost a decade, but have maybe commented three or four times over that time period. I’m one of those “lurkers.”
Whenever I can, I have applied and will continue to apply for Credit Cards through your links in order to support the blog. I have never, nor will I ever purchase anything through an ad I view on the Internet… so I would love to see those reduced, but also understand they are an important part of monetization.
I am excited at the prospect of purchasing the ability to reduce or eliminate ads. I don’t expect you to change your business/pricing model based on my comment, but just as a point of reference, I will have a bit of a hard time spending $225 per year for the platinum plan. However, I would absolutely pay $10 per month and not think twice about it. I realize the end of the day that’s not a huge difference but $10 per month feels like an afterthought and $225 feels like a bigger lift. At a minimum I’d like to see a monthly subscription model even if the pricing comes in higher than I’d like.
Thank you so much for all of your hard work creating content over the years!
One reader’s two cents FWIW:
You provide a great service at incredible value (free for most). Make money however you think is best, and remember that the loudest voices are rarely representative of the majority.
I have been reading for years, while I see changes both good and not so good, I have not felt the monetisation to be squarely in my face as a reader. But in the end good content costs money to create, and the bills don't pay themselves.
Of course I will not like all changes, but what I don't like, might be what the next reader over likes very much. But overall the information...
I have been reading for years, while I see changes both good and not so good, I have not felt the monetisation to be squarely in my face as a reader. But in the end good content costs money to create, and the bills don't pay themselves.
Of course I will not like all changes, but what I don't like, might be what the next reader over likes very much. But overall the information I get from the site is generally good, and I enjoy reading it.
Some people complain that the site is moving away from a pure points blog, and going in to more cash based travel. Might even just say moving towards being a travel blog rather than a points blog. With the overall development in airline, hotel, and credit card points, we all (probably) feel the challenges in travelling purely on points, and also start mixing far more cash purchases into things. So, I'd say it is only of interest to get more non points input. But maybe that's just me?
I want to endorse your comment about non-points, cash-based travel (like, I thought Ben’s thorough review of the new FS yacht was excellent, and clearly not a mere points redemption); that said, even on an epic round-the-world points and miles trip, I have to imagine there’s still very real cash expenses behind it. (Like, I don’t recall in-depth discussions on how said points were earned to begin with.) So, a variety of content is really...
I want to endorse your comment about non-points, cash-based travel (like, I thought Ben’s thorough review of the new FS yacht was excellent, and clearly not a mere points redemption); that said, even on an epic round-the-world points and miles trip, I have to imagine there’s still very real cash expenses behind it. (Like, I don’t recall in-depth discussions on how said points were earned to begin with.) So, a variety of content is really best. Something for everyone. And if some folks don’t like a particular topic (or comment, or commenter…), they can ignore or engage.
@1990
In the immortal words of "he gets it," I fully concur.
Since I retired and moved here to Malta (that's MLA not MIA), I lost access to accruing more points and miles because I could not get a U.S. based CC here. And Europeans treat CC a lot different than Americans. Most use debit cards or CC that must be fully paid by end of month
So, for the most part, I,...
@1990
In the immortal words of "he gets it," I fully concur.
Since I retired and moved here to Malta (that's MLA not MIA), I lost access to accruing more points and miles because I could not get a U.S. based CC here. And Europeans treat CC a lot different than Americans. Most use debit cards or CC that must be fully paid by end of month
So, for the most part, I, too am a free agent, paying by cash. Can't really complain when our cost of living here is about 40% lower than in Seattle. (Can you imagine, buying a house here and paying property tax only when you buy it and when you sell it?)
But I started reading Ben's postings. Forgetting that most of the talk is about how to monetize your travel. He was speaking directly to cash-based travelers, too. We like good things, too. Along the way, I learned about Ben's background (Germany and father who worked for LH). And having flown LH two- or three-times a year from Seattle to Helsinki, I looked into LH. They had several daily flights to FRA and MUC. Each connected with intercontinental flights to most anywhere in the world that we wanted to visit. And he talked about how well you are treated when flying FC out of FRA (FCT). Yes, I knew that the FC and Biz class seats were very dated. But, we both sleep comfortably, and service has always been fantastic for us. And has for doors, they remind me of the old western barns with swinging doors. Stand next to it, and you can see what you are doing.
And from time to time, Ben speaks about his love for Japan. So, we flew to Japan a couple of years ago, going to Tokyo and Kyoto. Enjoyed it very much. Just wish they had more temples and shrines!
One thing led to another, and I read an article inside their Worldshop Magazine. And lo and behold, there was an article on Beppu, a city on the northeast side of Kyushu. Words and pictures aplenty. Beppu is noted for a preponderance of thermal spas (Onsen), due to being built directly on top of a geothermal. So, you can walk from your hotel in your bathrobe, with towel to the spa you want. And there many "flavors" of spa water to taste, Each designed to cure what ails me (wonder if there is one that will make the Orange man go away? When you are finished, or in between spas, you can stop at one of the numerous thermal restaurants along the roads, and have some boiled shrimp, corn on the cob, or steamed potatoes.
My wife selected our hotel, the Amene Resort, Gahama Terrace, a 5-star ryokan resort on the bay. But, they do also have some suites with traditional beds, not tatami mats. My back thanks them. On the tenth-floor open terrace there is a jacuzzi and a traditional hot tub. So, not too far to fall into bed!
The bottom line is two-fold. I will use cash. Others may use points/miles, although this hotel, and its sister hotel are the only two hotels on the bay, with no affiliation with any program.
While I assume the vast majority of readers on this site are "in it" for the points and miles info, the rest of us gather the nuggets of information for our own use. It is not just Ben that provides the nuggets that I seek. I can thank you, his long-time followers.
So, Ben, keep on providing the information. By formatting it that that users of points and miles can gain valuable money saving ideas, at the same time providing the rest of us valuable, and practical, information.
p.s. While I agree with Ben that younger people have much different sources of information than their parents, it's worth pointing out that some countries are banning the Tic Toc's, Instagram's, and facebook from providing news via short blurbs, unless they pay for that content.
As if by magic, no sooner than I posted the above, I received an email from Worldshop. In it they reprised many of those blogs inserted into their Worldshop magazines. Here's the one on the Onsen in Beppu. Makes you just want to spend the days in various steam baths. https://www.worldshop.eu/en/blog/japan
Ben, I wish there was the ability to be automatically logged into the site. Like others have said, I only log in if I want to comment - can we stay logged into the site somehow? It would make it much easier to comment or like etc plus get the benefit of your new status system.
When you log in, there's a button option to stay logged in. As long as that is selected, you stay logged in for 14 days. The team is working on extending that period. Hoping to have that out in the next week or so.
Appreciate the transparency, and think your changes are fair
Ben, I've been following your posts for a number of years and have enjoyed them from any number of perspectives including interesting destinations, industry “issues,” quality of service, costs, etc.
The only issue that I have with this blog is its current almost entire orientation towards (or maybe obsession with) ultimate luxury – the front of the aircraft (business class or better), five star hotels, the fanciest restaurants, etc.
Not all of us are travelling...
Ben, I've been following your posts for a number of years and have enjoyed them from any number of perspectives including interesting destinations, industry “issues,” quality of service, costs, etc.
The only issue that I have with this blog is its current almost entire orientation towards (or maybe obsession with) ultimate luxury – the front of the aircraft (business class or better), five star hotels, the fanciest restaurants, etc.
Not all of us are travelling on a generous expense account. The days in which Gold status (based on actual miles travelled on the airline) either on American or United Airlines would yield free upgrades to the front of the plane are long over. (I have “lifetime” Platinum status on United, but it has been many years since I have been able to score any free upgrades based on status!) I understand that “cash is king” and that the airlines would prefer any cash or an exorbitant miles/points expenditure to get to the front of the plane over a “free upgrade” based strictly on “loyalty” (whatever that means these days). And the airline or credit card lounge situation has totally gotten out of control with overcrowding and, especially in domestic lounges, marginal food. And hotel loyalty programs have become a real joke (including Marriott, Hyatt, and Hilton) with resort/destination fees, failure to provide any room upgrades at all or to honor alleged commitments for early check-in, late check-out, “free” breakfasts, lounge access, etc.
What I am suggesting is that you occasionally devote a column to “slumming it” in your travels and reviews. Describe your good, bad, and indifferent experiences in “economy class” (not the super-cheapo not-even-a-carryon class) flights including being “stuck” in middle seats, the airport dining options, non-luxury (2, 3, and some 4 star) hotels both domestically and around the world, typical non-Michelin Guide restaurants, etc.
You might even find this to be a fun exercise every so often, possibly even more so than dealing with the Cairo Airport!
So we are going to get Lucky to do tiktok dances is what i am hearing (reading).
I'm even willing to download TikTok to watch that!
That’s what Xi said…
Ben,
Thanks so much for sharing your insights. I really appreciate the opportunity to understand what you’re going through and how the world is changing and how it affects you.
I totally understand and appreciate what you need to do and would love to do anything I can’t to still continue to enjoy the products that you produced, and the articles that you write. The world is moving at Mach .9 so if...
Ben,
Thanks so much for sharing your insights. I really appreciate the opportunity to understand what you’re going through and how the world is changing and how it affects you.
I totally understand and appreciate what you need to do and would love to do anything I can’t to still continue to enjoy the products that you produced, and the articles that you write. The world is moving at Mach .9 so if we’re evolving with it, it’s gonna pass us by glad you’re in the sky and welcome to the sadness of today.
Thanks for this post - it's the level of transparency displayed in this post and the editorial independence that makes this blog worth reading and coming back to again and again. I think the changes you have made are sensible, even if some new features are hard to discover.
FWIW your recent changes have made it so that I cannot view your blog on my work computer. You block the access because of the controls on my work computer that I cannot change. That’s fine, but it means that I engage a lot less with your content. If I am searching for an answer to something, I simply chose a different source than your blog since if I click on a link you all...
FWIW your recent changes have made it so that I cannot view your blog on my work computer. You block the access because of the controls on my work computer that I cannot change. That’s fine, but it means that I engage a lot less with your content. If I am searching for an answer to something, I simply chose a different source than your blog since if I click on a link you all will block me from accessing. This may be harming your traffic more than you realize. You don’t owe me anything but thought you would want to know.
Same here, it thinks I'm using an ad blocker when it's just the company's firewall. So I only read omaat on the bus now :p
I really don't care how many ads there are, I'd still read if it's accessible.
Thanks for these reports. We've made some adjustments, and you shouldn't have any issues with the company firewall (but let me know if you still do).
I understand the tradeoffs one must make between business sustainability and user experience, especially in a space as competitive and commoditized as travel blogging (not to mention niche! not everyone geeks out about optimizing travel as we do!). I'm a technical product manager at a large tech company, so I get it.
I'm liking the changes you and Jeremy are bringing to this site, and how you're thinking about building community. At the end the...
I understand the tradeoffs one must make between business sustainability and user experience, especially in a space as competitive and commoditized as travel blogging (not to mention niche! not everyone geeks out about optimizing travel as we do!). I'm a technical product manager at a large tech company, so I get it.
I'm liking the changes you and Jeremy are bringing to this site, and how you're thinking about building community. At the end the day, I visit OMAAT to read about your honest, unfiltered opinions and experiences regarding the travel industry, and to engage the passionate member community. The more you build community around your core site members, the more the organic community will attract new members by creating an additional layer of value around what you (Ben) do.
That said, the site stability needs some work (I re-wrote this comment in my iOS Notes app because the site crashed, reloaded, and erased my draft; Jeremy, I know you're working on it!). Ben, please organize a meetup next time you're in Seattle. Would love to chat more!
As always, I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and transparency. What a wonderful respite from some of the other garbage on the internet. I support your proposed changes and appreciate you letting us know. A lot of times I don't bother to sign in before I comment because the system would kick me off and I'd have to re-enter - it was a pain in the butt. I'll make sure to sign in from now on so I can get credit and potentially reduce my ads. :)
Hi Ben
Long time reader and HUGE fan. I will always support you and this endeavour.
That includes, should it ever come to this, a paid subscription.
Thanks for your passion, transparency and quality.
Oh yeah...please move to St. Petersburg...it's just better over on this side LOL !
So that guy you spoke to is making money by breaking the law, you realize that right?
While I love the site and follow it, I’ve got to say it has some of the most annoying and detrimental ads(in terms of blocking the actual content/making it difficult to read) of any site that I visit.
So if having multiple video ads playing at the same time and crowding out the article isn’t enough to make a living…..oof
As always will appreciate your openness and transparency!
Not a fan of requiring email list sign-up to comment.
We've updated the flow to make it clearer that you can create a member account instead.
Long time reader and I have no issues with what you are doing with your blog.
It's yours to run as you see fit and if people don't like it, then they can stop visiting.
Your content is still head and shoulders above the AI-generated and click bait slop in other travel blogs.
Keep up the good work!
"You can do a bunch of sponsored content; I’m not opposed to doing more of this if I have to..."
That second phrase surprised me. As others have noted in the comments, we come here because you're honest. That is exactly what makes your site attractive, and the more you dilute that, the fewer loyal readers you'll have. I mean, even when you're NOT trying to monetize something, people scream about "Click bait! WAAH!" because...
"You can do a bunch of sponsored content; I’m not opposed to doing more of this if I have to..."
That second phrase surprised me. As others have noted in the comments, we come here because you're honest. That is exactly what makes your site attractive, and the more you dilute that, the fewer loyal readers you'll have. I mean, even when you're NOT trying to monetize something, people scream about "Click bait! WAAH!" because they think your intention in posting something that might have a sensational aspect to it is just to increase clicks and revenue. Well, imagine how they'll scream if they see paid/sponsored content?
That said, your core audience is a tough one: we're all in the miles and points game because we enjoy getting stuff for "free" (or at least getting good value). So very few are going to pay for content, yet you have to pay the bills. I don't envy the balancing act you're forced to devise! But I do appreciate (most of) your content and I do go out of my way to find your affiliate links when I decide to apply for a credit card. Least I could do.
@ snic -- Yeah, as I mentioned in the second part of that bullet, it's something I'd rather not do much of, though. So it falls more in the category of "well, if I have to" rather than "yep, I'd like to."
"You can do a bunch of sponsored content; I’m not opposed to doing more of this if I have to..."
Ben, there is an implicature (as we say in the language business) here that you have done sponsored content before, I was not aware of that. Was it designated and I missed it?
“we enjoy getting stuff for "free" (or at least getting good value)” … thank you for adding that parenthetical, because even those sign-up-bonuses require careful planning, actually reading and understanding terms, the privilege of decent credit, opportunity cost, etc.
It would be great for those of us long time readers and commenters, who hadn't created accounts until recently, to earn points for past "engagement."
(Or, pretend this is a SUB, actually read the program rules, visit/contribute a few times each week, and you'll be up to Diamond in no time... you could be 'Gold' tomorrow, just by signing up for the Newsletter and Google-thing via the Notifications tab on your Profile on the site. Eh, you do you.)
It would be great if said long time readers and commenters instead created an account, if they want credit for things they posted. Accounts here have always been free.
So, 'it's a business, not a charity.' Huh. Wild. For real, though, Ben (and team), you don't ever really have to explain yourself, but thank you for trying to, regardless. Your site (and a few others still out there) really do a great service for this hobby and community. Even before I became a commenter, I sought information from your guides. I'll admit, I didn't 'want' some of the changes at first, but I did...
So, 'it's a business, not a charity.' Huh. Wild. For real, though, Ben (and team), you don't ever really have to explain yourself, but thank you for trying to, regardless. Your site (and a few others still out there) really do a great service for this hobby and community. Even before I became a commenter, I sought information from your guides. I'll admit, I didn't 'want' some of the changes at first, but I did register, and some the new features have been helpful. And, you do get less ads when you get higher up the 'status' list. (C'mon, OMAAT Diamond Reserve 360 Global Key...)
"signing up for our newsletter and adding OMAAT as a preferred source on Google through your account."
I am already signed up for your newsletter,
i did add one mile at a time as a "preferred Source". I had to google how to do that....I must be older than you, because computers are not intuitive
maeve, you'd need to register an account; like, currently, you're not logged in (Guest).
Does OMAAT Diamond Reserve come with free breakfast? :)
*sigh* Biscoff only. I think OMAAT Diamond Reserve Elite Plus includes lounges (and up to 70 lbs of carry-on!) Yowzers!
Just testing, sorry.
@ricky_ test complete, I think.
I just wanted to say keep up the amazing work. Your blog truly is outstanding. And thanks for sharing :)
Absolutely 100%! We support you all the way, and hope to see OMAAT doing well in another 20 years!
Maybe it's because I'm in your generation, but I've come to abhor the way that online media is turning into all sponsored content and ulterior motives. I've been a long time reader (mostly lurking) and have appreciated how balanced your viewpoints are. It's such a shame that the modern creator economy doesn't reward content that's impartial and nuanced, so if this is what you need to do to pay the bills, I'm here for it.
@ happy_mango -- Hey, thanks for the kind words, and we feel exactly the same way. Honestly, trying to make a living online is incredibly frustrating nowadays if you actually value the quality of what you produce, want to be ethical, and aren't just a full-time salesperson.
Sadly, nowadays even scientists have become full-time salespeople. You just have to read a grant application and you'll see... :'(
Well put!
Hi Ben, thanks for sharing your perspective on this. Bit of a stretch idea, but have you considered doing "edutainment" video reviews for flights and hotels, where the content is partly footage of the review itself, and partly a discussion on the history, background, airline economics, etc. of the product you're reviewing? (I'm thinking of the channel FlightFormula on YT, I think he's great)
I think that this would make for some popular content,...
Hi Ben, thanks for sharing your perspective on this. Bit of a stretch idea, but have you considered doing "edutainment" video reviews for flights and hotels, where the content is partly footage of the review itself, and partly a discussion on the history, background, airline economics, etc. of the product you're reviewing? (I'm thinking of the channel FlightFormula on YT, I think he's great)
I think that this would make for some popular content, especially given your readership.
@ brewing_altitude -- Appreciate the idea! We'll be launching a video concept very soon. While it won't initially be what you're suggesting, that's a great idea, and maybe something we can expand into. Thanks.
What if we were already subscribed to daily emails? Is there a way to get the "points" without opting in? (Opting out and back in doesn't look like it triggers).
I agree with all the changes. In a world where tech (AI) and consumer habits are changing rapidly everyone, even the big companies have to think like start ups. Innovate, change, or... Not good.
As long as the email you're subscribed with is the same as the email on your account, it'll get picked up, and you'll be awarded the points. I confirmed that's the case for you. If you load the notifications tab now, you should see your points (as should anyone else).
I see it now, thank you! Finally gold after 15 years of reading!!
Loooong time reader, and I truly appreciate the perspective, next time changes are made like this it might not hurt to lead with this article rather than dive into the details
@ Kiwi -- Thanks for reading! :-)
i was very touched to read that! !!
These posts haven’t been the easiest to digest, especially if you’re just skimming through. I didn’t even realize I’d get less ads when signing in; I only sign in when I want to comment and not when just reading articles (the latter being most the time). These aren’t the exciting posts most of us come here for so I wouldn’t be surprised if I other aren’t reading them or fully taking the time to understand...
These posts haven’t been the easiest to digest, especially if you’re just skimming through. I didn’t even realize I’d get less ads when signing in; I only sign in when I want to comment and not when just reading articles (the latter being most the time). These aren’t the exciting posts most of us come here for so I wouldn’t be surprised if I other aren’t reading them or fully taking the time to understand them.
Maybe it’s the consult in me but would be nice to just have a simple one page diagram that explains these changes. Similar to how airlines show earning status and the different benefits.
A quick link to that at the top of each article, and further links there with additional info, may be an easier approach
@ Alec -- Thanks for the feedback on how we're communicating the changes. Given that we've been implementing multiple changes in quick succession (just so we don't do too much at once and have something break), I think we're still trying to figure out the best way to communicate all of these things.
If you go to the top of the site and click on "Community" and then "Membership & Status," you'll see most of...
@ Alec -- Thanks for the feedback on how we're communicating the changes. Given that we've been implementing multiple changes in quick succession (just so we don't do too much at once and have something break), I think we're still trying to figure out the best way to communicate all of these things.
If you go to the top of the site and click on "Community" and then "Membership & Status," you'll see most of the new program explained. We'll probably try to link something in posts for some amount of time, as you suggest, but we also don't want to be annoying. So thank you for the thoughts!
These "TED talk" posts are the ones I read slowly, savoring every single line. Whereas if it's a review of a cruise ship in the tens of thousands of USD, I'd probably inspect the food pictures and wait for the next post. Of course, I'm not in the target demographic for said cruise ships.
However, I do believe that long(ish)-form reading (because none of Ben's posts is actually long) is becoming more and more of...
These "TED talk" posts are the ones I read slowly, savoring every single line. Whereas if it's a review of a cruise ship in the tens of thousands of USD, I'd probably inspect the food pictures and wait for the next post. Of course, I'm not in the target demographic for said cruise ships.
However, I do believe that long(ish)-form reading (because none of Ben's posts is actually long) is becoming more and more of a dark art for lots of people, as casual readers seem to only feel comfortable with bullet point lists. The idea of reading a whole paragraph or a small number of pages seems to have turned into an anxiety trigger for many, imo.
As much as I personally dislike pre-digested elements, such as diagrams or one-liners, I do think they have an audience that only seems to grow larger as time goes on (and this does not even consider video, short-form video, etc., which deserves its own discussion).
Anyways, looking forward to the new OMAAT with diagrams and one-liners... (sigh)
@ hbilbao -- Honestly, that's a great point, and I perceive a similar trend. Admittedly I'm a bit too wordy, but it almost feels like everything over 300 words is wasted, because people just don't have the attention span...
I feel ya, @Ben. We'll now just have to wait until people start losing their attention span for bullet point lists, diagrams, and one-liners (I've already met people like that). Sigh!
Here's the thing, I am very appreciative that we currently experience an OMAAT community that goes beyond short, stubby, brief points. It's especially ironic considering that, 300 years old, your average student would learn English, French, Greek, and Latin, and now, people don't even try to read a proper article. So yes, it's awesome to have a more in-depth, thought-out system like OMAAT, and I hope it continues to endure.
Basically, please don't lower your...
Here's the thing, I am very appreciative that we currently experience an OMAAT community that goes beyond short, stubby, brief points. It's especially ironic considering that, 300 years old, your average student would learn English, French, Greek, and Latin, and now, people don't even try to read a proper article. So yes, it's awesome to have a more in-depth, thought-out system like OMAAT, and I hope it continues to endure.
Basically, please don't lower your standards. It's a treasure in our current environment, and for the readers here who are truly invested, and relish in exciting stories like the surprise destination flight on Air France years ago, the PJs incident, many Emirates adventures, we really hope to enjoy that same quality for years to come.
I like the written word (with photos as appropriate) over video, as it lets me skim through and read what I'm interested in (especially if there are useful headers for different sections) rather than sitting through listening to someone talk.
@hibilbao:
Yikes, I hope no POWERPOINT!
My view is you're not monetizing enough. If folks can watch a youtube channel like LA Flights and sit there watching plane spotting and making relatively large donations for their comment to be read out "on the air" to the 2,000 people watching at any given time, I see no reason why you cannot have a nice prominent "tip jar".
Just put in a slogan at the top so the folks that didn't read to...
My view is you're not monetizing enough. If folks can watch a youtube channel like LA Flights and sit there watching plane spotting and making relatively large donations for their comment to be read out "on the air" to the 2,000 people watching at any given time, I see no reason why you cannot have a nice prominent "tip jar".
Just put in a slogan at the top so the folks that didn't read to paragraph 14 or whatever of this article get the message: OMAAT is [always] free to read. User engagement or [$50] unlocks an ad-free experience!"
@ Peter_ -- Hah... thank you for the idea! We will definitely get better about communicating this.
Blog in poetry and monetize in prose.
Tryin' new things can also be fun... If you haven't seen 'em yet, gotta say, Matthew's (LALF) 'Minute Review' recaps, his new segments (on YouTube), are pretty good... he also had a YouTube 'Short' on his 'visit' to LH a340 unique downstairs lav... (peak av-geek content). Bah!
I love your TED talks, @Ben.
“Then you have other sites just switching to pure clickbait garbage, since at least that generates page views, which generates revenue”
You could have at least included a hyperlink to View from the Wing here!!
My exact same thought, lol
Hey, you fellas be nice to the ‘thought leader’… he was allegedly at the AA 773 new cabin event at DFW earlier today. We’re gonna get some on-the-ground scoops soon over there…
Thanks for sharing an update on this Lucky.
Everything you said in the post made sense to me, so I am totally supporting your blog's recent changes!
Keep doing the good stuff. :)
Lucky, been reading for a long time but primarily thru a RSS reader like Feedly. I don’t think I am missing out on stuff vs going to the website and not sure how the changes will impact RSS but happy to hear more about it.
Ssssh! Don't remind Ben that we exist
Good point. I have been following Ben from the start and have found value in his reviews as well as finding much of his take on things to be entertaining. However I rarely go to the site and comment only when I think I have particular relevant experience and expertise. In the past I have supported the site by applying for credit cards using his affilate links, but I am quite conservative in that regard...
Good point. I have been following Ben from the start and have found value in his reviews as well as finding much of his take on things to be entertaining. However I rarely go to the site and comment only when I think I have particular relevant experience and expertise. In the past I have supported the site by applying for credit cards using his affilate links, but I am quite conservative in that regard and my credit card ownership hasn't changed in a number of years, having long ago found what works best for me. Many years back, while commenting on Ben's writing style, (and having had hands on experience with online media, I asked been what he would do when due to structural changes, his business model could no longer adopt to reality and suggested he get an MBA to improve his business skills and prepare to work in the industry, perhaps for an airline. I appreciate the fact that there are people who just don't fit into a corporate culture, but a successful business career reqquires beng able to adopt rapidly and get ahead of the curve. Frankly I have absolutely no interest in achieving ant kind of status on ben's website, so the current changes are not at all relevant to me (and am pessamistic as outlined today they will be successful in generating the incremental revenue he expects). And as to Ben's competition, I have to add that I find The Points Guy (post sale) to be a great value (indeed intentionally or not, much of its industry news is duplicated by Ben). I understand and can tolerate Ben's more recent efforts to increase revenue, including promotion of booking travel through Ford, but if I could no longer follow the RSS feed I would miss Ben's personna, but would find that The Points Guy more than fulfills one's knowledge as the industry has changed.
Yikes, Staurt, bottom of your lengthy message, I can’t disagree more on your hot-take about TPG “(post sale)”… dude, they’re bought-and-paid-for, inauthentic, and hostile to any sense of real community (recall, they literally got rid of their comments section, so, you couldn’t even write a message supporting them over there, like you just did here.) *facepalm*
Woah, I just checked. Turns out TPG brought back some comments. When did that happen? Did they like literally see my whining and took it to heart...
Another Feedly user here. No wading through comments by people desperate for attention.
You don’t need to justify the changes but I understand the motivation, when I first started following you went on wild trips, many airlines and hotels both 3 and ultra luxury. Then the family dynamic crept in and of course your priorities change and with that the reviews are very much at the upper luxury end of the industry and honestly as a business traveller I don’t get to experience these everyday but are for...
You don’t need to justify the changes but I understand the motivation, when I first started following you went on wild trips, many airlines and hotels both 3 and ultra luxury. Then the family dynamic crept in and of course your priorities change and with that the reviews are very much at the upper luxury end of the industry and honestly as a business traveller I don’t get to experience these everyday but are for special occasions. Then AI came along and changed everything, I’ve been offered early retirement and your similar situation is that AI makes finding information so much easier and with personal AI agents now it’s a game changer. Bottom line you had to diversify in order to maintain the status quo and yes you will see some change in the audience demographic as you change, your doing what a good responsible business owner needs to do.
Ben, one thing that has always made OMAAT standout (besides the incredible reviews) is your transparency. At the end of the day, it's your blog and you don't need to explain anything to anyone. However, it is much appreciated and look, some people are always going to complain no matter what it is. The updates so far have been great and as long as you keep putting out reviews, we will be reading.
@ pstm91 -- Thank you for reading, and also for your great contributions, especially on luxury travel topics! :-)
That’s a lot of words for describing the enshitification of the site. I might pay if you had blocking or a Timmy-free version.
@ Jack -- I believe Tim is boycotting the site or something, because he hasn't commented in 13 days. Do you want to send me a check, or just send over your credit card details? :p
There are about a half dozen of your commenters, Ben, who I have weened myself off of. I just skip right over them. Saves time and annoyance.
And his boycott is costing you money. You always seemed happy to keep him around for the clicks.
Massive fan of the blog and the content you produce overall. There's a reason I constantly come back and want to keep doing that. Making money from this is absolutely fine - you more than deserve it, get rich from it! Just please just stop bricking the site performance to do it. I honestly think you'll end up worse off for doing so.
@ Joe -- Jeremy has been working on improving the site performance in so many ways. I realize some people may not realize it, but the number of glitches he has fixed in the past few weeks is more than the number we fixed in the decade prior. If you do have any specific issues or feedback on site performance, please do share them with Jeremy.
I think you're giving way too much credit to Jeremy... seems things have gotten worse since he came along. In fact, you could monetize the blog by firing Jeremy and then you'd instantly save whatever you are paying him.
@ Tim Steinkey -- Hey, I respect your take, but that's not happening. But maybe we can work on solving some of the issues you have, with perceiving the site getting worse? Could you share what you think has gotten worse?
I have not noticed anything having gotten worse, but ever since you updated the comments section many years ago I've seen comments headlined "Success! Comments from new and unregistered users require moderator review, though should be published shortly.". I assume they're only supposed to be visible to those that posted the comment, but it seems they're visible to everyone.
@As203 I've seen those notices appended to comments from new users as well, but don't recall seeing them in the past couple of weeks so maybe they did update that?
@Lucky, thanks for this thoughtful post. It seems like you're trying to balance everything (profitability, independence, traffic, etc.) without alienating long-time readers.
Personally, the changes have made me log in and stay logged in. Previously, I'd browse as a guest, but the ads were becoming annoying. It does seem to have made me more engaged, too, so I guess it's working? :-p
Hope you can eventually find the right mix and balance while...
@Lucky, thanks for this thoughtful post. It seems like you're trying to balance everything (profitability, independence, traffic, etc.) without alienating long-time readers.
Personally, the changes have made me log in and stay logged in. Previously, I'd browse as a guest, but the ads were becoming annoying. It does seem to have made me more engaged, too, so I guess it's working? :-p
Hope you can eventually find the right mix and balance while keeping the essence of your site. As for the sponsored content, please try to avoid it as much as possible; every time I see "this video is sponsored by...," I immediately skip. Regardless of the message, I question the content/credibility, even if they say, "these are my own opinions, blah blah blah."
@ Tennen -- Hey, I appreciate the feedback, and always grateful for you keeping me honest, whether you agree or disagree. Happy to hear the new system is "working" on someone. :p
I don't necessarily think it's true, but given that you largely these days review luxury and uber luxury products, it feels like you must be making bank from this platform in order to pay for those experiences.
@ nobody -- I hear you, and that's a fair assumption to make.
First of all, I certainly do pretty well, and also keep in mind that I've been working for around two decades (longer than my age suggests), so I've saved up a fair bit over the years. Having two kids definitely does cut into the "margins" there, though, I'll say that. :p
As far as the topic of luxury travel goes,...
@ nobody -- I hear you, and that's a fair assumption to make.
First of all, I certainly do pretty well, and also keep in mind that I've been working for around two decades (longer than my age suggests), so I've saved up a fair bit over the years. Having two kids definitely does cut into the "margins" there, though, I'll say that. :p
As far as the topic of luxury travel goes, that's a combination of a couple of things. Yes, I fly a lot of premium cabins, but that's booked almost entirely with points. When it comes to luxury hotels, you're right, that has also evolved a lot over the years. Those stays are mostly paid for through Ford and his business, because I do provide a fair bit of "advertising" there.
Honestly, in a way it's just an evolution of the business model as well, though I do think it reflects a bigger change in the hotel industry, along with points redemptions values at so many hotels getting worse:
https://onemileatatime.com/insights/hotel-industry-evolved-preferences/
To be fair, this has always been about *aspirational* travel... it seems natural for Lucky to write about the space more broadly.
I'm not the target audience for this site in the sense I don't fly a lot, but when I do I fly economy; I don't have any real points or mileage etc. I just stumbled upon this site once a few years back doing web-surfing and loved your detailed reports, pictures, etc of all the random places you've been and airlines you've flown, on top of your industry commentary/news. Guess I'm just trying to say...
I'm not the target audience for this site in the sense I don't fly a lot, but when I do I fly economy; I don't have any real points or mileage etc. I just stumbled upon this site once a few years back doing web-surfing and loved your detailed reports, pictures, etc of all the random places you've been and airlines you've flown, on top of your industry commentary/news. Guess I'm just trying to say thank you for running a good, fun, clean site and your honesty on matters like this.
@ APJ -- Thank you for reading and for the kind words, I appreciate it! :-)
I am relatively new to these airline blogs, but yours is by far the best from what I can tell. It is also obvious that you care about your customers and the quality of the product. Best of luck.
@ rebel -- Thank you, and also thank you for keeping a certain someone slightly honest. ;-)