A product invented so you won’t buy it, get the best Southwest seat, a reselling mistake and more

In the Frequent Miler week in review around the web, we highlight some of the interesting, useful, and informative posts we came across around the ‘net during the week. This first weekend in December, we have posts covering a product you’re not supposed to buy, the most ridiculous fee in the hotel industry, what you need to know about the Platinum Uber credits, and more. Read on for the recap.

When Airlines Offer You A Product So You Don’t Buy It

If your local corner shop puts an item in the window with a price tag on it, they’d like you to buy it, right? That’s generally how business works — a company offers a product for sale in the hopes that somebody will pay for it. But Edward Pizzarello at Pizza in Motion covers a fascinating trend developing in the airline industry: offering a product for sale that’s so bad you don’t want to buy it. I suppose that model works best in an industry where the same exact product can be sold at a multitude of price points — and even sold beyond supply with the gamble that some people will pay for it and not actually consume it. This is a trend that I’d rather not see continue, but I think it’s here to stay.

Hilton New York Has the Dumbest Hotel Fee I’ve Ever Seen

Years ago in a legendary Chicago Tribune column made famous by the Sunscreen Song, Mary Schmich beseeched graduates to accept a few inalienable truths, among them the fact that “prices will rise”. Dear Hilton New York: I can accept that…..but stop it with this “Urban Destination Fee” nonsense. Gary Leff at View from the Wing exposes the fee, what’s included, and the multitude of reasons why it’s ridiculous. I don’t see it happening in the near future, but I hope that one day hotels face a mandate to display the total price with all mandatory taxes & fees — which would make it much easier for consumers to compare.

A $4,000 lesson from ticket reselling

At both the Chicago Seminars and FTU Chicago, I briefly touched on reselling in a couple of my presentations. Several people also asked me questions on the topic privately over the course of the weekend. One of the things I always tell people who are interested in getting involved to play it like Vegas: start slow and only get invested for what you are willing to lose. I’ve made my share of mistakes along the way, and had they been on my first go-around, I may have stopped reselling long ago. I’ve really enjoyed reading Vinh’s post at Miles Per Day about ticket reselling as I’ve never really dabbled in this realm, but I’ve been impressed with some of the returns he’s reported. However, this post made my stomach sink for Vinh, — it’s an important reminder that it’s not all roses and sunshine when it comes to reselling.

How to Get the Best Seat on a Southwest Flight [Complete Guide]

This post from Brian McAdam captures all of the best techniques for getting a good seat on a Southwest flight. I’ve done many of the obvious methods — paying for early-bird, upgrading to A1-15 at the gate, paying for one of us to have A1-15 and saving a seat for the other, being ready to barter (though I’ve only considered cash bartering, not the ideas that Brian suggests). However, I thought this list had a couple of think-outside-the-box ideas when it comes to how you might be able to sneak into the family boarding group even if you’re not with your family or how to identify which middle seat might actually score you an aisle.

Everything You Wanted To Know About The American Express Platinum Uber Credit ($35 Credit Not Working Properly For December)

As someone who does not have a personal Platinum card nor Uber in my immediate vicinity, I am not an expert on the Amex Platinum Uber credits. Thankfully, Chuck at Doctor of Credit brings us a full rundown with answers to great questions like: Does it work for UberEATS? Do I have to pay with my Platinum card? What can I do if my credit isn’t showing? Unfortunately, it sounds like there is a glitch affecting the credit this month (which should be $35 instead of the usual $15) — you can read more about it in this comprehensive post.

That’s it for this week around the web — check back soon for this week’s last chance deals.

Want to learn more about miles and points? Subscribe to email updates or check out our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.