Each month, the blog just keeps growing. Year over year last month readership almost doubled and, as you can see, a great many of you are new to the blog. Any given month, on average, a quarter of all readers are new and have just found the blog for the first time.
If you are new this year, my warm welcome and sorry for not welcoming you sooner! I hope you are finding it valuable as a frequent flyer as well as one who tends to spend a great deal of your travel time on jets with “Delta” painted on the side!
So today let’s get a bunch of basics and house keeping out of the way and some common questions that always seem to come up.
1) Contact. Please either use the “Ask Rene” tab or feel free to e-mail me anytime. I am, well, a bit obsessive and want to answer your questions that same day. However, many times I have already answered your question in the “Ask Rene” tab. If you are new, take some time please, and look at other readers questions. Next, I get hundreds of e-mails each day. I try my best to get back to you ASAP no matter where I am even if on a jet via GoGo or on the other side of the world. If I do not get back to you inside of 24hrs, please, just e-mail me again. Seriously, even if just a cut-n-paste of the exact same e-mail. I will NOT be offended! I promise. It is just that with the volume of e-mails I get, old ones get buried way too fast. I want to get back to you so thank you for this help.
2) Who I am. The blog, when taken in totality, is just my thoughts as a frequent traveler that can maybe help you out. Yes, I spend a ridiculous amount of time on Delta jets, in SPG hotels as well as earning and burning boatloads of frequent flyer points each year. If that is you, or something you want to learn from, tag along for the ride!
3) Search. See the little box in the top right of the blog, or if on mobile toward the bottom of the page, please use it. Type in anything and you will likely find the result you are looking for. After thousands of posts, and so many years of blogging, you are likely to find something that answers what you are looking for.
4) Rookie. Between the almost weekly Rookie Wednesday or the Rookie tab at the top of the blog (or even searching for the term Rookie) you are also likely to find an answer to what you are looking for. Even if you don’t, you are very likely to pick up some nice tips. Make the time to linger, click and see what you learn!
5) Essentials. Want to NOT burn up all your SkyMiles in just one ticket (yeah, only Delta Air Lines wants that to happen)? Want to learn how to earn a bunch? Have just about any questions answered about being a frequent flyer on Delta (or a frequent flyer in general) then the Travel Essentials tab is really the place to begin.
6) Share. With so many loyal readers much of what I publish comes from a tip from YOU. The TSA has a saying, that is way more important than the blog but the theme is the same, that is “See Something, Say Something”. Same thing goes for the blog. If you see something that does not look quite right, with Delta or a travel card or anything else, please let me know in a comment in a post or via e-mail or better yet on twitter!
7) Elite points. Let’s face it, elites are treated WAY better than every day flyers and especially so when we are talking Delta. If it takes a mileage run to get or keep your status – do it (I do). If it means positioning to some distant city to get a great deal – do it. I almost always position to where my mileage runs begin. You know what, I often end up with way more points or bumps or whatever when I do, so just give it a try. It really is kinda fun!
8) Secrets. Are there secrets I do not blog about? You bet there are. Want to pick my brain? I am happy to share one on one with you at the Chicago Seminars so try to come for a visit some year. If you cannot make it, reach out and join me on a mileage run some time. Happy to have you fly along for a few thousand miles and share what’s in my head!
9) Fellow BA bloggers. If you are not checking out my fellow BoardingArea bloggers you are missing out on a GOLD MINE of information. The guys, and gals, are just brilliant. They are some of the most amazing travel minds on the planet. Make time to check the BA home page out each day (you can thank me latter)!
10) Support. Last, but not least, being a blogger takes time. More time than anyone can ever dream of. Sure it is fun (most of the time) but also a huge commitment. Without support from you I cannot keep investing the time it takes. I ask you, please help support the blog. If you need a travel card please use the links here on the blog. Have a need for some specific travel card then please e-mail me for my suggestions. It really does makes a difference. Thank you in advance.
After all of the above, still have unanswered questions? Then just fire away in the comments section below in this post. I am happy to help all I can – Rene
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Speaking of reminders, what ever happened to ‘Saturday Swag’?
@Kelly W – LOL I need to bring that back. Yes. Thanks for that reminder 🙂
I religiously follow your blog each day but one frustration i have are the old posts at the bottom…i have clicked on several only to find they are from 2013!!!?? So much has changed they are just about worthless? Im only interested in current and future info!?
@Steve – Thanks for reading the blog. To say the older posts are worthless is not correct. Much info is still relevant. But feel free to only read the current posts 🙂
Oh common, you really think 2013 posts are relevant? I think these are auto placed without regard to content? I was only making a suggestion…how about posting the dates so we can avoid them? I have as yet to find anything other than irritation when i open one. Just me?
@Steve – They are an auto-related WordPress item. I think, again, you are being extreme and I disagree and think most of the post still are very relevant. But, as said, you don’t have to click on them do you 😉