Scott K
Member
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2017
- Posts
- 273
Forget about Tyson Vs Paul, the real bust-up online appears to be the confected drama between Josh Cahill and Sam Chui.
I reckon we're all going to collectively groan as that rubbish drama plays out, but I am curious about what everyone else's current presenter subscriptions are and if there's others that may be worth giving a subscribe to. What you think their weakness and strengths are? Maybe someone needs to rate them in a tier system.
Here's my view on the state of YT and some alternatives I feel you could look at
Chui is probably the biggest personality in this space, so it is hard to avoid him. I do subscribe, but have found his videos straying quite some way away from the realms of reality and into the kind of soft holiday mindspace that shows like 'Getaway' used to. I don't feel Sam reflects my, or even anyone's travel reality but is interesting from an Avgeek prospective. I have subscribed to Sam for a long time and feel his holder videos are the best.
Wingin' It Paul Lucas
As an alternative to Chui, Paul's personal presentation ability is much more watchable than Chui, even if he doesn't have the polish of his videos. He's very well researched and all round much more grounded a guy. Long time subscriber here.
Cahill on the other hand, I have watched many of his videos at the time of suggestion on YT I have never subscribed. He covers a lot of different airlines frequently and does chart changes well. However I have found him to have the personality of a cashed-up bogan that is complaining about cleanliness standards on a cheap holiday to Bali - nothing is ever good enough, but everyone else is held to an arbitrary standard that they could never meet themselves. I've never subscribed as I find his videos turn me off wanting to travel more than anything else.
Non-stop Dan.
As an alternative to Cahill, I think Dan has travelled just as much and keeps a balanced and a critical eye. years ago I found Dan infuriatingly annoying but his channel has matured beyond Cahill's in both quality and presentation, as he himself has matured. I eventually subscribed, but only recently. Like Cahill though he can be a bit of a deference to travel and a bit prone to shifting the narrative.
Dennis Bunnik.
I learned of Bunnik through this very forum and have stuck with his reviews for a long time. Dennis reviews from his position as a Tour Guide operator and has occasionally been given some of the privileges Sam Chui gets to look at things behind the scenes. Denis seems very down-to-earth, and does occasionally give a solid serve at an airline when it is due (take the Jetstar video of his as an example). However his presentation style isn't as polished as some. Subscribed.
Jeb Brooks
Jeb is a great bookend too Dennis. If you subscribe to one, you may as well subscribe to both. Jeb is very much a travel reviewer, although I am not sure what industry Jeb is in. Clearly a good presenter, he's very watchable. Yes, Subscribed.
Noel Phillips
Probably the most click-baity of presenters, Noel gets himself onto some of the less mainstream of airlines, and into some very odd locations that you wouldn't expect to travel. From this point of view he offers plenty to watch, however despite his amazing ability to book himself onto unexpected airlines, he's quite probably one of the least researched and lax planned travellers out there, and the only Youtuber I have found myself screaming "what the **** are you doing"? at the screen over. I subscribed during Covid as his content was reassuring to watch which stuck in lockdowns, but is terrible advice for travel.
Jayden Wong
As an alternative to Noel, I strongly suggest Jayden Wong. Jayden is a Hong Konger that has lived in Australian up until very recently, and is probably one of the nicest and politest Av Youtubers out there. I think I was the one to encourage Jayden to start saying 'G'day' in his videos, back when he was still getting to grasp on Australian English, and used to subtitles his videos. Today his videos, while long - are quite fun and always honest. He has the everyman charm of Phillips while demonstrating a few greater sensibility and travel knowledge. Long time subscriber here, and the only channel I subscribe to their Patreon.
LoungeIndex
Often poorly filmed, and using an AI voice that suits the topic but not the quality of the footage, LI does get around a few airports and interesting airlines if you really want point-of-seat reviews. Unsubscribed
Economy Traveller.
If the context of LI sounds like your bag, ET also keeps that point of traveller view, while not using a pretentious voice, while getting into some of the more interesting locations in Asia. Not subscribed.
The Flip Flop Traveller
Very much in the same stream as Cahill, TFFT gets around a lot, but seems to have the amazing ability to make you want to stay in the comfort of you own home. While he presents much better than Cahill, the acopic genera really is over-represented as it is. Not subscribed.
Traveller & Copenhageninfocus
As an alternative to TFFT, this couple tends to explore the same territory, and are actually quite fun to watch. Not hugely well presented and polished, but it is YT - there's an audience for that. Subscribed.
Paul Stuart
Paul has one of the biggest Avgeek hearts out there. I love his videos, and presents quite well, although not quite with the charisma of his contemporaries Bunnik and Brooks. Moving more into exploring museums lately, Paul does do a reasonable Travelogue when he wants. Subscribed.
Rory Ding Travels
Rory is a lot like Paul Stuart in his presentation, however where Paul likes exploring a plane museum, Rory gets his hands into interesting public transport items around Australia.
Mentour Pilot
Spanning several channels now, Mentour has probably one of the broadest minds in travel on YT and is a gifted presenter. Always worth a watch, although we rarely see him exploring a travel destination or a plane these days. Subscribed.
74 Gear.
Kelsey, like Mentour is also a pilot, but his presentations are rougher, less planned out but always hold a lot more urgency. Subscribed.
Quick caveat, I have not included a bunch of Silent Vloggers that I have subscribed to. While I enjoy these, they are definitely an acquired taste and not great for general viewing.
Happy flying.
Scott K
I reckon we're all going to collectively groan as that rubbish drama plays out, but I am curious about what everyone else's current presenter subscriptions are and if there's others that may be worth giving a subscribe to. What you think their weakness and strengths are? Maybe someone needs to rate them in a tier system.
Here's my view on the state of YT and some alternatives I feel you could look at
Chui is probably the biggest personality in this space, so it is hard to avoid him. I do subscribe, but have found his videos straying quite some way away from the realms of reality and into the kind of soft holiday mindspace that shows like 'Getaway' used to. I don't feel Sam reflects my, or even anyone's travel reality but is interesting from an Avgeek prospective. I have subscribed to Sam for a long time and feel his holder videos are the best.
Wingin' It Paul Lucas
As an alternative to Chui, Paul's personal presentation ability is much more watchable than Chui, even if he doesn't have the polish of his videos. He's very well researched and all round much more grounded a guy. Long time subscriber here.
Cahill on the other hand, I have watched many of his videos at the time of suggestion on YT I have never subscribed. He covers a lot of different airlines frequently and does chart changes well. However I have found him to have the personality of a cashed-up bogan that is complaining about cleanliness standards on a cheap holiday to Bali - nothing is ever good enough, but everyone else is held to an arbitrary standard that they could never meet themselves. I've never subscribed as I find his videos turn me off wanting to travel more than anything else.
Non-stop Dan.
As an alternative to Cahill, I think Dan has travelled just as much and keeps a balanced and a critical eye. years ago I found Dan infuriatingly annoying but his channel has matured beyond Cahill's in both quality and presentation, as he himself has matured. I eventually subscribed, but only recently. Like Cahill though he can be a bit of a deference to travel and a bit prone to shifting the narrative.
Dennis Bunnik.
I learned of Bunnik through this very forum and have stuck with his reviews for a long time. Dennis reviews from his position as a Tour Guide operator and has occasionally been given some of the privileges Sam Chui gets to look at things behind the scenes. Denis seems very down-to-earth, and does occasionally give a solid serve at an airline when it is due (take the Jetstar video of his as an example). However his presentation style isn't as polished as some. Subscribed.
Jeb Brooks
Jeb is a great bookend too Dennis. If you subscribe to one, you may as well subscribe to both. Jeb is very much a travel reviewer, although I am not sure what industry Jeb is in. Clearly a good presenter, he's very watchable. Yes, Subscribed.
Noel Phillips
Probably the most click-baity of presenters, Noel gets himself onto some of the less mainstream of airlines, and into some very odd locations that you wouldn't expect to travel. From this point of view he offers plenty to watch, however despite his amazing ability to book himself onto unexpected airlines, he's quite probably one of the least researched and lax planned travellers out there, and the only Youtuber I have found myself screaming "what the **** are you doing"? at the screen over. I subscribed during Covid as his content was reassuring to watch which stuck in lockdowns, but is terrible advice for travel.
Jayden Wong
As an alternative to Noel, I strongly suggest Jayden Wong. Jayden is a Hong Konger that has lived in Australian up until very recently, and is probably one of the nicest and politest Av Youtubers out there. I think I was the one to encourage Jayden to start saying 'G'day' in his videos, back when he was still getting to grasp on Australian English, and used to subtitles his videos. Today his videos, while long - are quite fun and always honest. He has the everyman charm of Phillips while demonstrating a few greater sensibility and travel knowledge. Long time subscriber here, and the only channel I subscribe to their Patreon.
LoungeIndex
Often poorly filmed, and using an AI voice that suits the topic but not the quality of the footage, LI does get around a few airports and interesting airlines if you really want point-of-seat reviews. Unsubscribed
Economy Traveller.
If the context of LI sounds like your bag, ET also keeps that point of traveller view, while not using a pretentious voice, while getting into some of the more interesting locations in Asia. Not subscribed.
The Flip Flop Traveller
Very much in the same stream as Cahill, TFFT gets around a lot, but seems to have the amazing ability to make you want to stay in the comfort of you own home. While he presents much better than Cahill, the acopic genera really is over-represented as it is. Not subscribed.
Traveller & Copenhageninfocus
As an alternative to TFFT, this couple tends to explore the same territory, and are actually quite fun to watch. Not hugely well presented and polished, but it is YT - there's an audience for that. Subscribed.
Paul Stuart
Paul has one of the biggest Avgeek hearts out there. I love his videos, and presents quite well, although not quite with the charisma of his contemporaries Bunnik and Brooks. Moving more into exploring museums lately, Paul does do a reasonable Travelogue when he wants. Subscribed.
Rory Ding Travels
Rory is a lot like Paul Stuart in his presentation, however where Paul likes exploring a plane museum, Rory gets his hands into interesting public transport items around Australia.
Mentour Pilot
Spanning several channels now, Mentour has probably one of the broadest minds in travel on YT and is a gifted presenter. Always worth a watch, although we rarely see him exploring a travel destination or a plane these days. Subscribed.
74 Gear.
Kelsey, like Mentour is also a pilot, but his presentations are rougher, less planned out but always hold a lot more urgency. Subscribed.
Quick caveat, I have not included a bunch of Silent Vloggers that I have subscribed to. While I enjoy these, they are definitely an acquired taste and not great for general viewing.
Happy flying.
Scott K
