Launch HN: Roame (YC S23) – Flight search engine for your credit card points

Post by digging » Wed, Jul 31, 2024, 1:57 PM UTC

shiroiushi wrote: post #129

digging wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think we're in agreement about what the rewards system is. I'm just saying that the side effect of getting points-users really invested in using points is a second layer of the scam. Obviously it is good for the credit card issuers if most users don't use their points, that's free money for them. > So anything that helps consumers make the most of these points, I think, should help reduce these companies' profits.…

I think banning the whole system isn't going to do anything but improve profits for them (maybe; they're doing the points systems because they think it'll convince customers to use them instead of a competitor). I think if you really want to fix the problem, you need more regulation so that prices are kept low. So, for instance, for credit card points, you need regulation forcing the CC companies to lower the fees th…

Post by timqin » Wed, Jul 31, 2024, 10:03 PM UTC

timr wrote: post #120

timqin wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but it's a push and pull. Short term vs. long-term. If you devalue your points too much and make them too hard to redeem, then consumers won't want your miles. Also, if airlines get too greedy with their points/miles, US government will step in to try and regulate and airlines certainly do not want that. ( https://thepointsguy.com/news/congressional-investigation-ai... )

I grant your point that there's an (intangible) limit to how much airlines can devalue their private currencies before people stop using them and/or they get regulated out of existence. It's just that this might come a good bit later than you can maintain a reasonable business providing transparency into their ecosystems. I don't mean to be argumentative; this is a hard question. I only bring it up because you're pro…

Post by jfdjkfdhjds » Tue, Aug 06, 2024, 1:43 PM UTC

timqin wrote: post #134

jjallen wrote: post #121

I'm trying to actually find a bookable first class flight that isn't twice as long or more than two stops. (Say ZRH->ATL). All of the flights I have tried mysteriously disappear when I go to United. How many people have actually booked long haul flights that aren't absolutely terrible (stops/duration) for less than 100k? I am trying to find a single one that actually lets me book it for any date in September. If I ha…

Happy to help here. This is where we get into the complex world of points. So with United, you're going to have a very hard time finding a first class flight for Zürich to Atlanta route in September. The only possibility is Lufthansa first class with a connection, but Lufthansa doesn't release their first class product to partner Star Alliance airlines (like United) until a few days before departure. United does not…

Post by borski » Wed, Aug 07, 2024, 8:55 PM UTC

fwip wrote: post #101

timqin wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't have readily available hard data, but flying first or business class is glamorous and an aspirational luxury product. I believe the reason why the average consumer wants to buy luxury goods like Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, etc., is the same reason they would want to experience first and business class.

I feel like we must have different perceptions of the "average consumer." Nobody I know has any aspirations of spending several thousand dollars on a handbag. Maybe it's different when you only talk to people who make at least six figures.