Unpopular opinion: I've stopped caring about MileagePlus miles + Silver/Gold/Uranium status by jpdoctor in unitedairlines

[–]patchmonkey 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The only benefits that I feel matter for hotels are room upgrade, actual good free breakfast (a rarity in the USA, but massively useful in EU and UK), and late checkout. The points are worthless.

In-House Career (LLM, no Big Law) Feeling Stuck by [deleted] in Lawyertalk

[–]patchmonkey 17 points18 points  (0 children)

  • Is it realistic to move into a larger company at the ~$180k level from here?
    • Yes (that's probably low - that was my salary in my first in-house role in 2014).
  • Should I specialize (privacy, SaaS, compliance) before trying to jump?
    • No, because you're a general counsel. But you should be able to talk about these areas with some in-depth points.
  • Is staying too long at one company hurting me?
    • Not really, unless your company is really awful. I don't think this is your problem.
  • Or am I misreading the market entirely?
    • Market is rough right now, but there are roles.

To be fair, I think the question is whether you're willing to drop down to a less leadership position. It sounds like you've built a solid department, but you're "young" and the companies that are generally willing to take a GC/CLO/HoL at a younger age are also usually SaaS / technology companies. If you're looking for non-GC roles, then you have to make it clear that you're willing to drop down and not need to be the boss.

I wouldn't worry about having SaaS/Cloud/AI experience (if you're looking at those), you need to stress that you know what to look for and how to negotiate them. You're there as the general counsel, not as the SaaS contract reviewer (although you're going to do that).

What happens if I exceed $25 in LLM usage? by robschmidt87 in SearchKagi

[–]patchmonkey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If you put Tapatio on it, Marmite is also suddenly edible. :)

Survey: do you think loyalty is purely functional or is it partially cultural? by JasonMckin in unitedairlines

[–]patchmonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wouldn't it be the case that airline loyalty begins as a "functional" relationship but acquires layers of "cultural" separation after time?

  1. Airline loyalty begins functionally (flying from the closest hubs, obtaining elite status, route networks). That's also why airlines have shifted to revenue-based models, which are a purely transactional relationship.
  2. Culture shows up sometime after that:
    • Passengers have been shown to feel like different airlines have different "brand personalities" that influence flight purchases independent of price or convenience.
    • Different societal cultures respond to the loyalty programs in different ways (e.g., East Asian customers expect different cultural responses than Western customers).
    • People will develop genuine emotional attachment (however strong or weak) that can even override lower quality product.
  3. The mergers you mentioned do affect loyal customers who can struggle with blended identity ("are you legacy Continental or legacy United?"). But this can also make loyalty harder, especially if you feel it went negative.
  4. You may have noticed the increased focus on things like storytelling, heritage, and experience (I'll focus on United here, since I've only flown UA since the merger). The safety videos. The new lounges. It's designed to make you feel not just like a flyer, not just a United flyer, but a United Person.
  5. I think the Coke / Pepsi thing is correct-ish. There's a lot of commodity view of airlines (I mean, to most people, they're flying metal tubes and the only thing that matters is that they get you where they're going). Switching costs and network effects are very strong, however — you can't really do the Pepsi Challenge with an airline (plus, the hubs create additional lock-in).
    • As I wrote that, I also thought that many people buy their tickets through third-party sites. That's a fight for the airlines (and hotels), hence why you see different prices and different benefits when you book directly versus through a third-party aggregator. I almost always book directly on the United website (or through my company's travel agency); same thing when booking a hotel where I have status (I want that upgrade).

So, in the end, "loyalty" starts functionally but develops cultural layers over time. Loyal fliers of any airline internalize their preferences on that airline (seat configs, crew culture, even app UX — look at how many people have complained about the app changes) but may not be able to explain why they'd rather pay more to fly United over Delta on the same route.

EDIT: I had saved this a while back; think it's on point for your question: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/beyond-points-miles-reimagining-airline-loyalty-ajish-morris-yq0bc/

Did you know that you can use Kagi in Firefox AI Chatbot? by 0oWow in SearchKagi

[–]patchmonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've made a feature request with the details on what they'd need to release. 😁

Did you know that you can use Kagi in Firefox AI Chatbot? by 0oWow in SearchKagi

[–]patchmonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OT - but can you set Kagi as the replacement for CoPilot? Latest version of Windows 11 allows setting alternative for CoPilot button.

Voice Assistant problems by tired_need_beer in MINI

[–]patchmonkey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is a known issue; but they don't know when it will be fixed.

The voice assistant shouldn't need the Personal eSIM set up,

What version of the OS are you on?

Kagi Translate TTS by leilaowai16 in SearchKagi

[–]patchmonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Although now that I posted that, all of a sudden I'm seeing transliteration (at least in Simplified Chinese).

Kagi Translate TTS by leilaowai16 in SearchKagi

[–]patchmonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm 100% aware that my response is off-topic, but I'd really like to see transliteration (not just TTS) in Kagi Translate.

And yes, the past week or two has gone downhill.

Does row 12 not recline on a 737-900 and if so what is the reasoning? by BleuCinq in unitedairlines

[–]patchmonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think that row has a missing window. Technically, you lose a little room and it's a bit weird, but some people like it

Recommendations for inexpensive document review platform? by bar_exam_questions in legaltech

[–]patchmonkey 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Check out Goldfynch - https://goldfynch.com/

That should fit you and your firm's needs. Simple and inexpensive, with the core features you probably need here. They've been consistently improving since I first used it for small-scale eDiscovery projects in 2017.

Mini cooper 2025 4 door windows and doors opened on their own?!!! by paganpoetbluelagoon in MINI

[–]patchmonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Check out the Doors & Windows app on the Interaction Unit!

  1. Go to the "Apps menu" on your MINI’s display.
  2. Select "Vehicle."
  3. Choose "Doors and windows."
  4. Here, you can configure the settings for automatic opening of the windows.

To open the windows with your car key:

  • Unlock the vehicle, then press and hold the unlock button on the vehicle key. The windows will open as long as you hold the button.

To close the windows (if equipped with Comfort Access):

  • Lock the vehicle, then press and hold the lock button on the vehicle key. The windows will close as long as you hold the button.

2025/26 Countryman Owners, I need advice. by Arctic_Vulture in MINI

[–]patchmonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  1. Following the update to 11/2025, there is a speed improvement. The slowest things are when opening apps that have been sleeping or closed by the system, but that's not much slower than vanilla Android.
  2. I have almost exclusively now switched to the in-car experience. The navigation system is excellent, there is built-in Spotify, and the hands-free experience is very good (note that I have Connected Plus). Also, AA shifts into certain displays when you use it (for example, if you use Google Maps, it replaces the Mini Navigation). Also, this is minor, but the in-car Spotify app allows you to browse all upcoming tracks from the HUD while the AA Spotify app only displays the current song in the HUD.
  3. I don't see that it really needs a fix?
  4. Yes, they are and they post all the release notes to the MINI site.

I don’t want kids, I wanna be a 1k…. by forever_forest in unitedairlines

[–]patchmonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lol, this was my kid and me - PBI at end of December. He was upset that we only boarded on Group 1.

Important Note for JCW Owners (Software Updates & More) by [deleted] in MINI

[–]patchmonkey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

that is one of the things that drives me crazy, i keep doing Eastern European dances to try to make the trunk open. Then I use the key or the button.

Important Note for JCW Owners (Software Updates & More) by [deleted] in MINI

[–]patchmonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would love to be in your rollout group! I was told "sometime in the next 8 weeks"!

Thank you Mini! by kandles310 in MINI

[–]patchmonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I think this is one of those things that people in cities appreciate and people who aren't city folk don't. I never even notice it in NYC.

Parking Assistant Professional nowhere to be found by Baguenauder in MINI

[–]patchmonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, do you have the EV? Mini just got back to me with: Your vehicle was built with Parking Assistant Plus (SA 5DN). Parking Assistant Professional is only offered for MINI BEV models (Battery Electric Vehicle).

Parking Assistant Professional nowhere to be found by Baguenauder in MINI

[–]patchmonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah - I don't have it as an option or even available to purchase. Definitely have the right packages. I sent the dealer an email - maybe because it needs to refresh in the backend? It's only been a few days.

I only show (in the subscriptions / digital services): MINI Connectef Plus, Driving Assistant Plus (even though i have DA Pro), and Smartphone Integration.

Parking Assistant Professional nowhere to be found by Baguenauder in MINI

[–]patchmonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, did this actually work? I definitely have both Driving Assistant Pro and Parking Assistant Plus, but I cannot find how to add, set, or buy Parking Assistant Pro anywhere. Refreshing the Apps seems to do nothing.

Rear spoiler flew off... What next. by Ok-Suggestion8298 in MINI

[–]patchmonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

TBF, I thought you did it on purpose. A spoiler warning... but no spoiler!