Big thanks to the Admin, I enjoy reading for a long time, thanks guys.. Beaty at it’s best and keep the good work.

You will see that I have even listed out the free and/or discounted products and services I’ve received to date. (If I’m missing something, let me know.) Feedback is always welcome. Now, to address some of your comments . . .

David SFeastbay wrote:

The first thing people would say is ‘why accept anything at all’. Even Doctor’s now a days don’t permit staff to accept those free pens and coffee mugs drug reps would hand out.

The difference here is that doctors and their staff get paid to do their jobs while I don’t. With that in mind, is there anything that a doctor can’t do by turning down a pad of paper or stress ball? No. But for me, since I can’t afford to try some of these new products on my own, I have to rely on offers so that I can review them. Otherwise, I won’t get to try them.

Juan Carlos wrote:

I say either turn down all free offers and live like the rest of us do or 100% disclosure of all offers regardless of whether or not something was written up.

Works for me. You’ll now see the complete list at crankyflier.com/ethics.

Jim Brown wrote:

I always look to professional societies in order to develop my own personal and professional code of ethics and conduct. In that regard, the most recent updated code of ethics from the Society of Professional Journalists might be worthy of your attention:

Thanks, Jim. The problem here is one I’ve addressed before. If I turn down everything, then I won’t be able to experience some of these things. I did go through that code to see what else is out there. Thanks again.

Potcake wrote:

Brett: If it isn’t free travel, what are some examples of the goodies that you’re referencing?

Oh, I guess the pass to the Best Care Club in Milwaukee is one example. I’m not going to bother disclosing free pens or stress balls that I get at a conference, because that is available to anyone who walks by the table, not just journalists. You can see the full list at crankyflier.com/ethics.

John wrote:

Does this mean under these rules you would not have accepted the offer of free access to the lounge in MKE when you arrived?

No, because that was offered to me in advance. I received an email a couple weeks before our trip with the offer. It’s not like I arrived at the airport and was directed to the club without me knowing what was going on. This is more in reference to products that may end up being sent to me through the mail.

John wrote:

It seems to me that you should either stop doing trip reports (which I am sure most readers would object to) or go all in, accept free trips, lounge access, etc. and in return for this, produce fair, balanced trip reports.

I actually brought that point up awhile ago and the overwhelming feedback was that a lot of people wanted me to keep doing the reports. So I will, and I definitely understand that there is a segment of my readership that couldn’t care less about the reports while there are others who live for it. I’ll just try to keep the reports at a minimum.

Gary E wrote:

I, however, have little use for PR people. I appreciate your honesty but would like to hear more from industry leaders and not their paid to be upbeat lap dogs. Keep up the good work.

PR people can be an excellent gateway for me to reach the people that have the information I need. So, while it’s rare that anything that comes directly from an external PR person is going to be a centerpiece for a post, they can get answers for me.

In general, however, I am amazed at the amount of garbage I receive from PR people who have clearly never bothered to read my blog. Unfortunately, it sometimes means that good emails get sent to spam because of all the garbage that careless PR agencies send.

Your readers will make their own assessment of your integrity regardless of a code of ethics. We will always judge by our own standards anyway. Ultimately we can choose not to read if we don’t like your material and/or methods of production.

As for concierge – promote away. It was your IP that got a following and you can make whatever you want out of your own IP.

f someone offers you a free something- take it!

For sure. No problems if an airline tries to “bribe” you, just right about it, and always make sure to include negatives. It might mess up your relations with said airline’s PR people, but hey, if they give it to you, they want you to write about it…

I applaud you for this, but I think you may be going too far in your pursuit of ethical purity.

I, for one, want you to take advantage of all the different freebies thrown your way. I want your reporting on different airlines, their lounges, their different products (eg, first, biz, premium economy). I want you to get access to strange new things I haven’t heard of and tell me all about them so I’m better informed. Given what I assume are the measley profits of this blog, do I expect you to do it on your own nickle or as a strict business expense — hell no, and nor do I think other reveiwers and magazines/ newspapers do.

Further, I don’t think you need to separate biz and personal. You should totally use discounts, etc. on personal trips (or make personal trips out of them). This will both make your experiences more ‘real’ from a reporting perspective (rather than you taking flights for no reason), but it will also not force undue hardship on you (and your way too understanding wife). Fact is, you are a blogger and by your very nature your personal and professional lives are mixed. Don’t make things even harder — we’ll all suffer the result.

I think, as has been mentioned before, you should focus 100% on disclosure, rather than all the rest. If we know the situation (ie free night, discounted rate), we’ll be able to make our own assessment as to whether or not your being fair. If you really want to go one step beyond others, make your disclosure richer rather than taking less stuff. For those of us who want to monitor you over time, you could keep a log of ‘freebies’ you’ve received so that we can tell if any one airline is trying to ‘buy’ you (and, if so, whether or not it has been successful!).

Anyway, you do great reporting and I know you don’t give two sh*ts if someone paid for your ticket — you’ll still tell them their sh*t stinks if it really does.

Ps – Post as much about the concierge as you want. As a user, it is great. As a reader, if it is something I don’t eant to read, I won’t. Just don’t let it curtail your other ‘real’ content.

All I ask is that the blog have topics that are of interest to me, include statements that appear to be based on facts, or at least personal expericnce or observations or well-developed opinions, and something as to “what’s the point!” Being well written and entertaining adds to the experience, and you’ve done a very good job on all accounts. If I see bias (what I think that may be), unsupported facts, poorly formed conclusions, stupid opinions, or anything else I don’t like, I’ll let you know, or quit reading you.

If I were to clarify anything with your blog, perhaps I would clearly stipulate what this blog is about, who decides on what topics are being discussed, and who is responsible for what is being said, be it a conclusion or an opinion. [I assume this is you in all instances.] Furthermore, you might make it very clear that while you want readers to make comments about the topics discussed, you will decide what is inappropriate and will bar commenters who you believe acted inappriapriate.