YouTubers. Youtubers everywhere [Travel Bloggers]

[SeatBackForward]

I have no idea what this thread is about, something about influenza's?

 

[moa999]

Kym Illman (of WA's Messages on Hold) recreated himself as a F1 photographer.
He takes us along on his various flights, hotels etc following the F1 circus, which I usually find quite frank.

Agree Kym is a decent vlogger, though his focus is F1, probably only about 10% of his content is travel related

 

[drron]

I haven't watched any of these people apart from a couple posted on AFF. I really don't see the point.

 

[muppet]

I sometimes have a look at youtube before I book an unfamiliar airline/hotel - but can’t imagine subscribing and viewing it regularly even as an avgeek.

 

[RooFlyer]

I haven't watched any of these people apart from a couple posted on AFF. I really don't see the point.

You need to discriminate between the “I’m travelling first class isn’t this / aren’t I fabulous” types, and the pilots commentating on various aspects of flying, types.

In the latter category, Mentour Pilot is very professional and analytical ( jb747 quotes him occasionally), Juan Browne Blancerillio is good at general and specialist aviation in the USA where there happens to be a lot of accidents and incidents. Kelsey on 74gear takes us aboard his flying many different aircraft all around the world on charter, freight etc. Also comments on incidents and accidents incorporating the ATC audio.

I do look at the other type of stuff occasionally - not following any particular channel, but if I want to see what a seat looks like on a plane that I’m contemplating flying, I’ll have a look at that but pretty much ignoring the commentary though.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I watch way too much youtube as it is with my running.
Sam Chui and Noel Phillips I both find annoying so if its an interesting location i look at that video but don’t subscribe.
2 that haven’t been mentioned is “My layover life” and “Away Together”

 

[aikman]

I can't help but admire the YouTube business model where anyone can earn the big bucks just by literally talking to a camera.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I haven't watched any of these people apart from a couple posted on AFF. I really don't see the point.

Entertainment

Blogs can be useful to find out things like legroom at bulkheads, whether or not a seat is missing a window, or what you might actually end up with on board. For example when airlines contract with Wamos it can be useful to see what the IFE will be like.

 

[drron]

I have enough entertainment on AFF.
As to flight and seat conditions I judge them when I see them. My likes etc are often not shared by others and vice versa.

 

[Happy Dude]

I buy Lonely Planets. I'm in the "What's the point?" camp. Rather rot in hell than spend time watching someone's tedious or biased travel "content".

Having said that, I do like TRs here and consult Youtube for music and how-to type content (eg fishing knots, recipes and fixing stuff).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have enough entertainment on AFF.
As to flight and seat conditions I judge them when I see them. My likes etc are often not shared by others and vice versa.

Exactly! You may want to know if your seat is missing a window. Or if the bulkhead seats have extra legroom, etc. Bit late once you’ve got onto the flight to find out!

Post automatically merged: Today at 12:28 PM

I buy Lonely Planets. I'm in the "What's the point?" camp. Rather rot in hell than spend time watching someone's tedious or biased travel "content".

Having said that, I do like TRs here and consult Youtube for music and how-to type content (eg fishing knots, recipes and fixing stuff).

That’s the beauty of youtube… just scroll to the bit you’re looking for. A minute’s time and you can select a better seat for example.

 

[Quickstatus]

There is a social media streamer that got arrested in Korea for streaming some very disrespectful /illegal antics in South Korea. He got ejected from Japan for doing similar. He is giving all the expats and tourists a bad name so the expats there are coming down hard on him. His antics at the Statue of Peace was particularly reprehensible.

 

[drron]

Exactly! You may want to know if your seat is missing a window. Or if the bulkhead seats have extra legroom, etc. Bit late once you’ve got onto the flight to find out!

I find out that stuff on the airline website or AFF. All you have to do is ask a question.
Most of the flights i take now are on airlines I have flown before and know the product.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I find out that stuff on the airline website or AFF. All you have to do is ask a question.
Most of the flights i take now are on airlines I have flown before and know the product.

Yes, but case in point, someone recently asked here on AFF whether an exit row seat on ANA had a window, or if the window was misaligned.

I found a blog mentioning the aircraft which incidentally showed the window was behind the seat. The OP also confirmed by finding a video.

So asking on AFF worked, but the source of the answer was a blog!

 

[kookaburra75]

I make use of Youtube quite heavily on practical things, like changing the radiator in my BMW. There was one person who did it one-handed while filming on his phone, and in clever ways that weren't in the workshop manual, and a lot easier to do. I use it for reviews etc in the gliding 'sphere' - Stefan Langer and others.

I hadn't thought about it for travel planning, and I will certainly be checking out the suggested channels, as there is always some good tidbits amongst the masses.

 

[kelvedon]

I find watching these vlogs useful for gleaning the expectations on the airline, aircraft, and flight. But the popularity of these videos is in some ways self defeating. Many of these Vloggers are now recognised by the crew and, I suspect, treated to more attentive service than anonymous me, and is therefore, imo less representative of the standard customer experience.
A lot of them visit the associated F lounge ( on account of their status ) which again, not an experience open to those “merely” travelling in J.
I enjoy the dry humour of Paul Stewart’s commentary, and agree that Josh Cahill’s videos can be overly dramatic.
Completely agree with @SCM comments about Nonstop Dan’s Vegan and alcohol choices, but otherwise find his vlogs informative and unbiased.
Noel Philips has some unusual airline reports but the “loo review” gets fast forwarded, and I’ve given upon Sam Chui, whose vlogs have become too advertorial.
As for print media, I always go to the bottom of the article first and if i read “ the author travelled as a guest of xx airlines” then I skip it.

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

Surprised Trek Trendy hasn't been mentioned here. Generally high quality reviews of high end cruise and plane products. I regularly watch Paul, Dennis, Jeb and Noel. Can't stand Josh or Sam anymore, so far removed from the regular traveller.

I find Noel now does more extreme challenges (smallest airport, most southern, torturous bus trips across south america etc...) but still pretty entertaining.

With regards to the comment about Kym and the Qatar sponsorship he alluded to it not only being a personal thing but also due to the F1 tie up. His travel videos are quite honest, especially on our favourite red roo.

I spend way too much time watching the above and a few others. BrightSunTravels is quite informative for Canada/US hotels and cruises. I've also got into Sebby Fung a little (as well as his partner Mandy Roams) lately, their content is a little cringe ,constantly saying S Tier and Player 2/3 etc... but they have reviewed some interesting properties and flights.

 

[Pushka]

I haven't watched any of these people apart from a couple posted on AFF. I really don't see the point.

It's just a video version of a trip report.

 

[moa999]

Another Aussie to add is
Stefan Drury - more of an ad-hoc travel blogger and more jovial than a step by step review, alongside his adventures flying his Cirrus SR22 G3 along with some other aircraft, and other travel news.

He's just published a vid on QF3 AKL-JFK.

 

[dajop]

I can't help but admire the YouTube business model where anyone can earn the big bucks just by literally talking to a camera.

And mainstream media is any different? Lots of people who just literally talk to a camera. Or they used to. Now they have to sit at a desk or on a sofa and have someone of the opposite sex sitting beside them and they do fake conversations with each other that are filmed

To be fair, there are a number of YouTuber's who do put a lot of research into their content and some do provide some very interesting material, particularly in niche areas of interest.

I think airline bloggers sit somewhere in the middle. The challenge is how many times can you review the same sort of product and keep it interesting?