Youngest Flyer in The Residence Suite

[samh004]

I seem to recall Paul Keating leaving school in year 10. And as someone who has more than one university degree who earns less my tradie mates, I think seeing school through to year 12 is not as important (or necessary) as perhaps it should be.

Person in question I have it on good authority left before year 10, which is against the law. However, happy to be proven wrong with proof

I agree, school doesn't suit all and certainly many business leaders in this age came about from a lack of what we would call a full education these days.

Wow. I am very shocked by the attitudes expressed here. As someone who has actually met Zac and spent a couple of hours chatting with him, you all have very much the wrong opinion.

As have I and a few other members here who have commented. We're not all merely commenting based on not having met him. Well, some might be.

For those who say you can't get a card under 18, check out the Amex thread at the moment. They are talking about the dog getting a card.

If you look upthread you will see a post by him complaining about his card being bent in the mail. It's blurry, but clear enough to see it is an American Express Explorer, which under "Eligibility" mentions: I am aged over 18, among other things.

Lets assume he isn't the primary cardholder and instead is a supplementary card holder on this card. The info page for the card says: Spend more and earn more points by getting a Supplementary Card for family members at no additional cost[SUP]11[/SUP].

Digging into the T&C I find point 11 says this: Supplementary Card Members must be over 18 years of age. You will be liable to pay for all Supplementary Card spending and associated charges including interest on your account.

If those are the T&C it would seem very much like getting a card for someone under 18, much less a dog, would break their T&C and may lead to termination of the account.

 

[Lemon_Party]

While I agree with some of the negative comments, he does post some occasional news that I haven't seen elsewhere on travel blogs and I still find it an interesting brief read.

 

[nlagalle]

Wow. I am very shocked by the attitudes expressed here. As someone who has actually met Zac and spent a couple of hours chatting with him, you all have very much the wrong opinion. Yes, he does come from a privileged background. Yes, there was some money invested in the early stages by his parents however he is doing it all off his own back now. He got his first lot by doing the cards for his parents and their business and got to keep some portion of the points.

Each to their own.. I know quite a few that know him also and say the exact opposite about him.

He had been blogging and earning some income from that for a number of years, increasing greatly over the last two. He has started on the frequent flyer speaking circuit in the US etc. He said it was all his money for the Residence and given the other stuff, I have no reason to doubt him. For those who say you can't get a card under 18, check out the Amex thread at the moment. They are talking about the dog getting a card.

His first blog "jclasstravel" hasn't been running for a couple of years, so i seriously doubt he has gleaned much income from that, his revamped site might have gotten more visits but thats only been a couple of months. And I also don't believe it was his money for the residence - mainly because of people who have known him and know it was his parents who paid for it.

Lets also not forget he claimed to get an email from Alan Joyce about being the "youngest person to get platinum", which was clearly written by a 15 year old given the poor grammar and punctuation.

Good luck to the kid, but don't lie about things as it will get found out and throw a shadow on your credibility. Thats my 2¢ on it

 

[Moindardt]

Lets assume he isn't the primary cardholder and instead is a supplementary card holder on this card. The info page for the card says: Spend more and earn more points by getting a Supplementary Card for family members at no additional cost[SUP]11[/SUP].

Digging into the T&C I find point 11 says this: Supplementary Card Members must be over 18 years of age. You will be liable to pay for all Supplementary Card spending and associated charges including interest on your account.

If those are the T&C it would seem very much like getting a card for someone under 18, much less a dog, would break their T&C and may lead to termination of the account.

Check out this post http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rds/new-amex-statement-credits-62256-354.html about Baby Gammy

 

[samh004]

Lets also not forget he claimed to get an email from Alan Joyce about being the "youngest person to get platinum", which was clearly written by a 15 year old given the poor grammar and punctuation.

Case in point:

I personally know a 3 year old QFWP member, and she's held black cards since she was a new born thanks to Mummy and Daddy's fortnightly trans-pacific crossings.

Good luck to the kid, but don't lie about things as it will get found out and throw a shadow on your credibility. Thats my 2¢ on it

I think this is the biggest take home in this thread. If you have a public profile and are going to rely on it, you need to be truthful about things. Saying that you don't actually have your own AMEX, or that someone else sponsored your flight will not harm your reputation as much as being found out lying to your audience.

Check out this post http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rds/new-amex-statement-credits-62256-354.html about Baby Gammy

Interesting post, but I note another key take home is:

If gaming the system, one needs to assess the possible consequences of being found out and assessing one's own risk vs reward.

In this particular case Amex do randomly check the ID of Supp Cardholders, BUT they do not always do it. I have had various Sup Cardholders for various Amexes for over a decade and some have been checked and some not. Sometimes they have checked on application, and sometimes afterwards by separate follow up.

Many forumites have also reported similar random vetting.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Check out this post http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rds/new-amex-statement-credits-62256-354.html about Baby Gammy

Yes but Baby Gammy does not write posts on how they Baby Gammy gains points. It is rather held by an adult.


Not being critical as I have had pet birds etc with memberships of various things, but it was I and not my pet.


However in this era of advertising pay per view (eyeball), or click, the purveyors of many news and blogs sites have often found Fake News to be more lucrative than the actual reality.

 

[NoName]

Check out this post http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rds/new-amex-statement-credits-62256-354.html about Baby Gammy

What is the relevance of this? If you are trying to use it as justification of a minor obtaining a supplementary card you have failed badly. Getting a supplientary card for "Baby Gammy" is also against the T&C. :S




On another note is it just me or are all the news stories on this kids blog basically the same as what's found on dozens of other blogs?

 

[Princess Fiona]

He said it was all his money for the Residence and given the other stuff, I have no reason to doubt him. For those who say you can't get a card under 18, check out the Amex thread at the moment. They are talking about the dog getting a card.
.

The difference is that those on that thread are hiding behind a keyboard, not posting a pic of the dog's card publicly on Twitter with a link to their blog.

You'd have to be very naive here to think that there isn't the tiniest bit of envy from myself and others over the terrific experiences that Zac has had and continues to have.
Transparency regarding the procurement of these experiences is something that would add greatly to the write-ups and serve as a point of differentiation between himself and his idol Ben.
I wish him well and hope he has wiser heads than me guiding him in the future.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

How did you afford P1, samh004?

 

[samh004]

How did you afford P1, samh004?

It's all a matter of public record on AFF from 2013 and 2014.

But essentially for a couple years before P1 I qualified for and then re-qualified for WP by taking regional QFLink flights around QLD with a comfort seat. I became very knowledgeable on the subject and took great pride in the fact I got there mainly on discount-Y sale fares. Then at the end of 2013 I took some JASA's under double SC and propelled myself to PG level.

My year was due to end in early 2014 and I said I'd only go for P1 if an attractive offer came about. That happened, another DSC and I flew a crazy BNE-MEL-PER-KTA-PER-BNE-MEL-PER-KTA-PER-MEL-BNE. I felt awful (my body) at the end of that run. I'd been in J the whole way and indulged quite a bit, but it takes its toll and certainly wasn't as fun as some of my shorter QFLink flights.

I had a great year of P1, but didn't come close to maintaining even WP. And now I'm slowly slipping down the ranks.

A fun fact: at this time in my life I didn't have any credit cards. I can't recall if Qantas Cash was around then... if so, it accounted for perhaps 20,000 points but by and large all my points were from flying. These days it's a different story haha.

So essentially, to answer your question, it was relatively cheap to earn as the majority of it was DSC and taxes on JASA's (which were lovely and low).

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The difference is that those on that thread are hiding behind a keyboard, not posting a pic of the dog's card publicly on Twitter with a link to their blog.

You'd have to be very naive here to think that there isn't the tiniest bit of envy from myself and others over the terrific experiences that Zac has had and continues to have.
Transparency regarding the procurement of these experiences is something that would add greatly to the write-ups and serve as a point of differentiation between himself and his idol Ben.
I wish him well and hope he has wiser heads than me guiding him in the future.

Yes I agree that he is having a wonderful time and is acquiring a lot of useful knowledge...and yes to the envy part too.

And not just on flying for less, but on how to run a blog including as a business. A very good apprenticeship I would believe.


However being the evening with a bit more time I have read through the site more. Most of the info is pretty good, but what really strikes me is more what is not there, rather than what is there. There is virtually no information on how to acquire points, let alone the much more restrictive ways that a teenager could gain points. There also does not seem to be that much advertising and so one would wonder about how much income the blog would generate.

That much flying in premium cabins is a lot of points. It is also a lot of $$$ if you are buying points and fares.

So like many in this thread, one would have to really question how much of that extensive amount of flying is really truly self-funded.

 

[JohnK]

You'd have to be very naive here to think that there isn't the tiniest bit of envy from myself and others over the terrific experiences that Zac has had and continue to have.

Envy? Couldn't care less what Zac or anyone else does travelling up the front of the aircraft. Seriously. Not even a tiny little bit. I have enough issues of my own to worry about that take precedence over things to do that stroke the ego a little further along.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

So like many in this thread, one would have to really question how much of that extensive amount of flying is really truly self-funded.

Agreed. Just as I wonder about samh004's flying. Which of course I wouldn't have thought to mention if not for the stone-throwing. Glass houses and all that.

 

[nlagalle]

However being the evening with a bit more time I have read through the site more. Most of the info is pretty good, but what really strikes me is more what is not there, rather than what is there. There is virtually no information on how to acquire points, let alone the much more restrictive ways that a teenager could gain points. There also does not seem to be that much advertising and so one would wonder about how much income the blog would generate.

That much flying in premium cabins is a lot of points. It is also a lot of $$$ if you are buying points and fares.

So like many in this thread, one would have to really question how much of that extensive amount of flying is really truly self-funded.

I would seriously be amazed if his site had generated even a 4 figure sum.. There isn't much in the way of how to, more like, "hey look at me doing this" which is great if you want to live through someones travel, but no good if you want to emulate it.

As I said earlier I know most (if not all) has come from his parents.

 

[nlagalle]

Agreed. Just as I wonder about samh004's flying. Which of course I wouldn't have thought to mention if not for the stone-throwing. Glass houses and all that.

Which part do you wonder about? I remember when he did his runs etc to get P1, as he said a lucky chance of the stars aligning.

 

[samh004]

Agreed. Just as I wonder about samh004's flying. Which of course I wouldn't have thought to mention if not for the stone-throwing. Glass houses and all that.

I presume you checked out my blog where I mentioned my status? But I still don't get what you're referring to? No credit cards were used (unfortunately?).

Perhaps you think I'm younger than I am, if so I presume that's a compliment. But unfortunately I'm in my 30's.

You'll have to be more specific instead of beating around the bush as you've lost me.

Which part do you wonder about? I remember when he did his runs etc to get P1, as he said a lucky chance of the stars aligning.

Pretty much sums it up.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Envy? Couldn't care less what Zac or anyone else does travelling up the front of the aircraft. Seriously. Not even a tiny little bit. I have enough issues of my own to worry about that take precedence over things to do that stroke the ego a little further along.

I'm sure you couldn't. I don't think your opinion reflects that of the target audience though.

Lots of these on this thread, they're everywhere

 

[Deleted member]

I have only met Zac the once, I found him to be a nice enough young man. Like all young men, he has a young man's view on the world. I wish I had the knowledge and foresight at his age to do what he is doing. I can only congratulate him on his passion. He is sure to polarize opinion , but as I get older, I am more and more inclined to not let these things get to me ...... or at least try not to let these things get to me

 

[burmans]

He is sure to polarize opinion , but as I get older, I am more and more inclined to not let these things get to me ...... or at least try not to let these things get to me

Admirable statement and I must admit I tend to follow the same general guidance. Not that it always works!.

While everyone is entitled to their opinion it does in general surprise me about how passionate some become with their opinions, particular on issues which don't really impact on them, are generally probably none of their business and they can't/won't change things even if it was. So in general not sure that people do tend to be more laissez faire as they get older, there are plenty who just get grumpier and feel they have some sort of entitlement to comment on others opinions and/or actions as they get older. Before anyone gets upset, I must note I am intending this as a general reflection on old(er) age (and the behaviours it engenders) rather than a comment on anyone here or their posts.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I've met Zac and he's a down to earth genuine guy. Good for him and what's he's achieving with his blog. Not everyone is designed for the 1800s style schooling system and I'd suggest he's learning more by traveling the world than he ever would in a traditional classroom.

I do enjoy making fun of him not being able to drink alcohol though