Joel Widzer
| Joel Widzer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1961 |
| Occupation | Travel Strategist |
| Nationality | American |
| Genre | Travel Advice, Consumer Advocacy |
| Notable works | The Penny Pincher's Passport to Luxury Travel |
| Website | |
|
www | |
Joel Widzer (born August 25, 1961) is an American author of travel-related literature, consultant, and travel strategist.[1] In 1999 he wrote The Penny Pincher's Passport to Luxury Travel.[2] He is currently the managing partner of JlwConsulting a division of JetReady LLC.
Widzer writes about luxury travel at a discount.[3] His efforts in seeking the value proposition of travel were precursors to what eventually evolved into a new body of travel discussing luxury at a discount.[4] Most notable are his strategies for obtaining first class upgrades which has been profiled in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and the TV show Inside Edition.
Critique
While writing for MSNBC and Tripso.com, Widzer was widely criticized in travel blogs as an apologist or shill for the airlines.[5][6][7]
Critics of Widzer cite that his work often takes a positive position towards airlines and that he strongly promotes adherence to airline loyalty programs.[5] His philosophy is that loyalty is rewarded by travel providers which in turn generate enhanced perks and services for those consumers who are loyal. Critics argue that customer loyalty is dead in the airline industry and therefore there is no reason to be loyal. Widzer counters this position with his experience of traveling[8][9] approximately 250,000 miles a year with over 3 million frequent fliers miles and travels to over 103 individual countries. He claims that he is upgraded on all of his airline flights due to his loyalty.
References
- ↑ Joel Widzer - Travel - MSNBC.com
- ↑ Jetready.com | About at www.jetready.com
- ↑ USATODAY.com - Penny pinchers can still go the luxury route at www.usatoday.com
- ↑ Tourism research - Intute: Social Sciences.
- 1 2 TalkingTravelers.com Forums at www.talkingtravelers.com
- ↑ Travel Columnist Says No to Cruises … Potential of disease, accident & crime, No Cruise for You | Scared Monkeys at webcache.googleusercontent.com
- ↑ Chris Elliott's latest tripe about the new luggage fees - FlyerTalk Forums at webcache.googleusercontent.com
- ↑ WebFlyer :: The Frequent Flyer Authority at webcache.googleusercontent.com
- ↑ WebFlyer :: The Frequent Flyer Authority at webcache.googleusercontent.com
- ↑ [NPR: Secret Flier Programs: 'Skull And Bones' Of The Sky]