To Allow or Remove Travel Blog Comments, That is The Question

by joeheg

Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary, or put ads on our site? Go to the bottom of this post for information about that.

One of the bigger stories in the travel blog world this decade was when the site with the most web traffic and brand identity suddenly shut off the ability to comment on posts on its website. Also, all previous comments were deleted.

So now, if you visit that site, you’ll only see corporately approved content. No dissenting opinions or even tips that would add to your knowledge about the topic. I’m not saying which site it is, but it was previously run by a guy who wrote about points.

Sharon and I have talked about whether we should allow comments on Your Mileage May Vary. In the beginning, we were just happy that anyone was actually reading what we wrote and took the time to respond. Once we joined with Boarding Area, it didn’t take long for the trolls to reply with some hateful comments. We’ve been moderating comments on the site ever since. It’s shocking what people will write on the internet, especially when they can do it relatively anonymously.

We’re thick-skinned enough to be able to deal with someone who disagrees with our opinions. However, we’re not going to turn our site over to people who want nothing more than to spew hate out into the world.

We still plan on allowing comments to our posts but we felt it was necessary to spell out the guidelines we have when it comes to our approving a comment or not.

  1. Don’t make insulting, demeaning or any type of racist, sexist or any other discriminatory comment in your post. That’s a 100% guarantee your comment won’t get approved.
  2. You must stay on topic and add something constructive to the conversation. If the topic is about a change to a travel destination and your reply is simply that the change is happening because of the [pick a political party], it won’t be approved. Merely calling us or another commenter a name is not adding anything and no one else besides us needs to waste time reading your words.
  3. If you notice a mistake, kindly forgive us – we’re only human. Please do let us know but be aware that although we may fix the error, we may or may not publish your comment because it doesn’t really add to the topic (see #2).
  4. Be kind and respectful. We understand that people might have different opinions and that’s usually a good thing. Being able to discuss these topics like adults can broaden the horizons of all our readers. But if you’re not polite about it, your post won’t be approved. If you write a comment that makes good points but some parts of your response are unkind or disrespectful, we reserve the right to approve the post but to remove the offending sentence(s).
  5. Regarding COVID, we both believe in science, medicine, vaccines and wearing masks as a way to decrease the spread of the virus. Posts that condone unsafe lifestyles or suggest that coronavirus is a hoax or conspiracy will not be approved.

We also ask that you understand that we don’t monitor the site 24/7. If you write something and it doesn’t show up right away, just be patient. If it passes the above requirements, we’ll eventually approve it. If we have an answer to a question, we’ll even reply. If we don’t approve your comment and you write an even more hateful comment about how we’re censoring you, don’t be surprised if you’re no longer able to comment on any post on our site.

That being said, if you have a specific question that’s not directly related to a post, it might be better to write us an email at info@yourmileagemayvary.com.

Let’s all have an internet that works for all of us.

Please and Thank You.

Want to sponsor a post or write something for Your Mileage May Vary?
Thank-you for the offer but no, we don’t do that. Again, thanks and we wish you all the best.
Want to put ads on our site?
Thanks for the offer, but no thanks. We already have someone who does that and we’re very happy with them.

Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.

Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!

This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary

49 comments

Gene August 1, 2020 - 10:18 am

Please keep comments!

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Greg Coleman September 26, 2022 - 7:45 am

You may have had 12 minutes at 9:00am Sunday in Clear line , I Had 42 minutes at 3:33 pm , while my wife opted for TSA pre check line (our own 2 sample experiment), and she beat me by 10 minutes.

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David November 18, 2022 - 7:41 am

Great and wise comments policy. Thanks for supporting science.

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Gloria August 17, 2023 - 10:58 am

Considering that Southwest does not charge for carry-on, I’m fine with the size!!!
Love my Southwest!!!

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Dominique August 28, 2023 - 6:48 pm

I liked you’re article but it’s incorrect when you state the only way to get around NYC is to use a MetroCard, please update to you can also use cash on both the bus and subway.

Thank You

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joeheg August 28, 2023 - 7:45 pm

I know that you can pay with exact change in coins on busses. To pay cash for the subway, don’t you need to load a Metrocard at a vending machine?

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TJ Johnson August 1, 2020 - 10:21 am

Thank you for allowing comments on your site. I found the decision to not allow comments on the other site unfortunate. I believe the comment section of many sites insightful, helpful and balancing.

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Kim B. July 21, 2023 - 11:29 pm

Agreed.

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Darin August 1, 2020 - 11:52 am

Why would you not say the website?

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Christian August 2, 2020 - 1:19 pm

+1

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Constance Golubic August 14, 2021 - 5:00 pm

Communism at its finest . Wake up Americans!!!!

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Larry September 18, 2021 - 12:48 am

Taking away history is not ok you learn from your mistakes

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Keith manheck April 10, 2022 - 3:46 pm

We found the food to be excellent overall. Avoided the restaurants that were obvious tourist stops. And no we didn’t try the fermented shark and some of those other oddities that’s really not what the people eat there anyway that’s just to try and impress stupid Americans. If you like lamb you’ll love the lamb here. Personally I’ve never cared for the game he taste of lamb but after experiencing the Icelandic lamb I’d be willing to definitely eat it. Located a restaurant called Apotek. It basically means apothecary which is what it once was. The food here is probably among the best in the city definitely what I would refer to as gourmet. I ordered the filet mignon with foie gras on top. I never go simple. Brother had the lamb rump steak which he really liked. Spouse Richard had the rack of lamb which he liked. My sister-in-law had the Plaice, a nice flavorful whitefish. If you’ve not had Arctic char which is available at whole foods on a regular basis I do recommend having it here in Iceland because you’re going to have it fresh and it really is good when you have it here in Iceland. Overall the bill for the four of us came out to about $400. Like I said we don’t go for the simple stuff. For best prices at hotels and such I would recommend coming in the late winter to early spring or the early to mid fall just before winter hits. You will find hotels to be much more reasonably priced. Those who wonder what the weather is like it’s very similar to what we have up here in New England except for the Summers the summers in Iceland are definitely quite a bit cooler. Reykjavik is similar to Boston in the winter about 40 inches of snow lot of rain lot of dreary weather typical for parts of New England. If you go further inland it’s more like going to Northern New Hampshire Vermont or Maine it will be quite cold and very snowy. Nothing that we haven’t seen before

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Thomas W. Abbott March 20, 2022 - 9:14 am

1. I read your post twice, looking for the Air Bnb rates for your unit. I didn’t find it, but believe that would be useful.

2. I found the comment “there are reports of people in this area that don’t believe in COVID safety” to be unnecessarily political and in violation of your own posting guidelines. No doubt COVID is real and safety is important. But your statement could apply to people in any location, world-wide. Why politicize your article by negatively labeling the local area unfairly?

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joeheg March 20, 2022 - 9:55 am

After all the Airbnb fees, we paid $340/night for a Thurs-Sunday stay in June. Regarding the safety protocols, there was no distancing, masking or anything else going on. Considering that vaccination rates in Florida, Alabama and Tennessee (the three license plates we saw the most) were around 30-40%, I’m sure that everyone there on vacation was fully vaccinated (who were the only ones who were supposed to be maskless.)

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Mike May 3, 2023 - 4:50 am

30 year gate agent for UNITED AIRLINES retired..and absolutely this happens time to time..if pax is causing ruckus and its near or pax departure, we send them back up jetway to see agent and close that a/c door and be gone..yes indeed

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K-MoCha September 25, 2020 - 5:25 pm

She’s being funny. (it’s funny) 😀

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Susan Glenn Barany November 24, 2020 - 10:17 am

Can you say ‘Read what the lady wrote’ and then do it?
She very cleverly and cunningly DID tell us.

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Jason S August 1, 2020 - 3:44 pm

I agree 100% with your posting rules to keep the posts respectful, civil, and relevant. I wish all sites would do this.

I have frequently visited the site you were referring to. Unfortunately many of the posts are misleading or incomplete, which is not helpful for readers who don’t know better or are new to the miles and points hobby. By eliminating or censoring the comments, people can’t post helpful information and or correct incomplete or misleading comments.
It seems like many of the articles are written by people who don’t have much knowledge of the subject and primarily done to generate clicks and get CC referral income.

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Christian August 1, 2020 - 5:41 pm

I hadn’t heard of comments being shut down but I’m glad you don’t follow suit. You two have a quality blog and your different areas of strength really adds some variety. Sorry about the trolls. Thanks and keep up the good work.

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Joseph brodaggia September 17, 2020 - 5:07 pm

coronavirus is a hoax and a conspiracy , a brainwashing scheme and a complete idiot like yourself has proven that its easy to fool a fool

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Michael February 26, 2021 - 6:00 pm

That is until you have your son come down with COVID and is hospitalized for over a month in a ICU and your not allowed to visit or hold his hand. Thank God he made it out and is now home in a hospital bed with 24 hour oxygen and a nurse.
It’s only a hoax until it hits home.

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Evan Torch September 18, 2020 - 9:45 am

It’s quite clear to everyone that
1) you are REALLY warning people not to diagree with you. Your views voice the typical, liberal “embarrassment” that there are demented, confused white people out there ( as is true of every race) but I as a caucasian am responsible for every other caucasian’s actions?
2) when the subject is race, any comments which take a different pov are inherently not “ nice” and will be removed— I guess it IS hour private domain
3) But then again, you two only want contributors
who agree with you or their comments get eliminated.
Why not simply eliminate the comments section, as other viewpoints are not welcomed if they aren’t in lockstep with the thought police.

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joeheg September 18, 2020 - 3:15 pm

“Amazing! Every word of what you just said was wrong”. — Luke Skywalker

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Joan October 30, 2020 - 10:46 am

Policies should be short and sweet. ALL Airlines boarders, only shorts [ thighs & down or long pants, tee shirts, blouses or dresses no wifebeaters or halters

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Scott September 1, 2021 - 11:38 pm

I also had to file a DOT complaint against united to get a refund for a similar situation. It took a long time but it did work.

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K-MoCha September 25, 2020 - 5:31 pm

oh boy. (see photo at top). ✓
[but ♡ this site!]

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KATRINA M SMITH October 27, 2020 - 2:03 pm

Pass holders would live to go to Universal Studios during the week if the operating hours accommodated it. They close at 5pm during the week…..too early.

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Pam Dixon October 27, 2020 - 7:27 pm

Hopefully I didn’t just sign up for another political site. I do Disney to get away from politics. With that said, having been going to Disney for years, I am comfortable in the Covid aspect but distancing the queue literally has people standing everywhere. So much that it was hard finding the end of many lines. Idk how hard it would be, but would be awesome if at least some lines could be virtual like Star Wars Resistance. The way it stands now, the entire park has become a line with small paths between them.

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Pamela November 5, 2020 - 11:37 am

First ALL passengers should be required to sign a mandatory face wearing document that is bidding with financial repercussions if they refuse to wear while or after boarding. Because they normally obide until time for departure or in the air. Secondly for the consideration and health guards of other passengers a secluded place in the BACK of the plane should be reserved for all those violators so they can sit Together without disrupting other passengers. Eliminating delays and additional cost to passengers and the airlines. Just a THOUGHT

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Dawn Geers June 3, 2021 - 3:43 pm

Re: Uber story. I was charged Surge x2.4 in the amount of $56.14. I had no idea there was going to be a surge fee. I ordered car the night prior. Very disappointed in how this was handled. Uber did credit me $23 but still quite a hit.

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swoopest December 17, 2021 - 8:18 am

Regarding the Dec. 16, 2021, post summarizing rental car toll-road fees: As per https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/productservice/index.jsp?targetPage=USplatepass.jsp, Hertz charges $5.95 per day only for days in which the car is used on a toll road.

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Donna Huber April 1, 2022 - 10:35 pm

We just stayed at the Grand Hyatt. Unfortunately, our room was in the other wing overlooking a noisy road and parking lot! Had a much better room at the Hyatt in Maui. If your readers go to Kauai, request the Poipu wing!!

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Ellie April 7, 2022 - 11:40 am

Only been to Panama City beach January and February as a snowbird (4 times, skipped 2021). Different place then than summer months. Rented condo (from owner) on beach with heated pool. Eastern end. Ocean too cold to swim in. Town has many snowbird activities. We leave first week of March before the spring breakers take over.

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Susan May 15, 2022 - 6:40 am

I must say thank you for the post on how the hack hotel air conditioners at 2am as I was sweating- you were my only hope. THANK YOU!!!

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Luis Hernandez May 20, 2022 - 12:41 pm

The article about the Jitney bus at JFK is fantastic.
Thank you

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Barbara May 24, 2022 - 7:16 pm

I’d love to see an article on the difficulties of traveling with/as a disabled person. My husband and I love to travel, but have yet to find a hotel room that is truly accessible.

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Rocco Ronzoni July 13, 2022 - 2:06 pm

Thank you for this article. Yes, we have been Bonvoyed in more ways than one by Marriott.
I used to put enormous amounts of monthly credit card payments on their business and personal card. The, they took away the 15 days for each and only credited the days toward one card. (as you mentioned, they later reversed this). Then, they took away the credit they gave for a one day stay for every $3000-3500 spent on the card. That was the last straw for me. I went virtually exclusively to the Hilton Honors card and have stayed there since.
Recently, they reintroduced the credit for a one day stay but for every $5000 spent. I’m sticking with my Hilton card.
Some of have a lot of money to spend on credit cards, but we don’t travel on business as much or have retired. We still would like to have all of our stays at Marriott, paid and free, but we really value the access we have had to their concierge lounge and want to keep it – we are willing to spend quite a bit through Marriott to do that, but they don’t seem to want to hear it.
So… I DO love my Hilton Honors card!

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MBK September 6, 2022 - 6:20 am

The Original Metrocards were Blue. Not Gold.

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Judy Nemzer September 6, 2022 - 7:37 am

Using a credit card w an interest rate makes the ride more expensive. That’s hard on a senior’s budget!

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ENRIQUE Cruz September 7, 2022 - 12:04 pm

I think that taking the metro card is not a good idea but the government is Boss we can’t make no demand hopefully some people have the money for that new card I don’t have it

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inez cruz September 8, 2022 - 1:48 am

Question I don’t have a bank account and I get paid weekly but my schedule change ever week and I only put money on my metro card for the days I work. To me it is not fair at all cause my job don’t buy metro card or giving us extra money too our metro card and there are many out there don’t have a metro card, but how can I get a OMNY, thank you.

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Christy LeMay October 12, 2022 - 12:00 am

I’m sorry, but I have to disagree with your post. Surely, you won’t post my view, but here it is.
We just returned from our 5th trip to Kauai, staying at Hanalei Bay Resort. This walk/hike is about 2 miles round trip on the beach. It was a beautiful walk to see what could’ve been. If you go the entire walk you end up at a juice shop and and Alice walk back through the Makai Golf Course back to an amazing Resort.
Take our advice. GO!

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Gary December 7, 2022 - 10:21 pm

I just sat down and went through the Dec. 7, 2022 stories and short information notices. I had the BEST LAUGH in a long time after reading about the 12 ridiculous questions tourist ask when visiting Alaska. After a long hard day,…… It just made my day. Thank you. BTW, I live in Hawaii and a few years ago, we had a friend come to visit and she brought her best friend along and this young lady has never been anywhere outside her county.. (growing up, school, college, work) never left the state, never flew in an airplane. Her first travel trip, and in an airplane !!
She was a bit perplexed when we got her to our home, as we pulled up to the house she said very
sincerely, oh my lord I thought y’all lived in grass shacks……………LOL.

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Wayne R. Arguin Sr. April 30, 2023 - 8:53 pm

I worked at the Naval Training Center for 20 yrs. , and after they closed the training center I went to work for the Orange County Government as a Safety Analyst. During my time in Orlando I visited many interesting places, the B52 park was very informative , I wish more people would visit it. It’s part of the Orlando History.

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Shannon Hughes July 8, 2023 - 5:57 am

Good information in the article. I have enough rapid rewards to fly around the world 4 times. However, I’ve started leaning towards other airlines where I can pick my seat. It does cost more, but I can place myself strategically in a seat that will, 98% of the time, garauntee that I can make a connecting flight. Southwest used to be great. They let a new CEO do things his way and ruined the reputation. Big difference between bean counters and quality counters. I hope they can clean it up and bring it back up.

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Joanna September 25, 2023 - 6:00 am

Solving the handicapped boarding issue on Southwest Airlines has already been solved. There is no need for the card like the amusement park card, because there is a Government issued blue handicapped card already in existence. If a person just has this blue card that’s proof they need to preboard. You cannot get it without a doctor filling out the legal form.

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Alan Bowen January 4, 2024 - 3:16 pm

Virgin Voyages hasn’t been the same great success here in Europe, they have been sailing with between one-third and a half of berths filled, despite offering huge incentives to travel agents to promote them. The price seems to be the issue, in comparison to other mega-ships, they simply look to be too expensive. It’s good to know that isn’t the case in the US, although like most Virgin products, Sir Richard Branson hasn’t invested in the business, he simply takes a licence fee for the use of the name, and is happy to do PR when necessary

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Robert Imperato February 10, 2024 - 1:20 pm

Spot on for sharing that JetBlue information. Makes you wonder who makes these decisions?

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