AFF Information Sharing?!

[legroom]

Re: Levelling the playing field with AFF

No hard facts. It is a suspicion I have. I could be wrong.

I did not create this thread. I posted on an Introductions thread where someone mentioned they have learnt heaps from this site and it was now time to give something back. Membership count grows daily yet the people posting are the same. Go back into some of those Introduction threads about people promising to contribute and you will find very few posts from that person.

Also take note of some of the popular threads such as Any Seat awards, US Dividend Miles and take note of the number of lurkers in the thread as opposed to members. You will be surprised.

As I said I try to help out where I can. But there are some loopholes I am not going to post at the risk of forfeiting the loophole.

That's all I want to hear, JK.

Your observations !

... which I harbour the same but probably I would not use the poetic licence to state "growing by the day" - too melodramatic it seems.

Many times I do not reply to PMs from some low-count posters asking for specific tips.

From known members, instant* reply is the norm


EDIT: * = within reasons

 

[amaroo]

Re: Levelling the playing field with AFF

How to ensure you don’t lose your Frequent Flyer points | News.com.au

Interesting article......take a look at one of the quoted sources

 

[OATEK]

Re: Levelling the playing field with AFF

No hard facts. It is a suspicion I have. I could be wrong.

I did not create this thread. I posted on an Introductions thread where someone mentioned they have learnt heaps from this site and it was now time to give something back. Membership count grows daily yet the people posting are the same. Go back into some of those Introduction threads about people promising to contribute and you will find very few posts from that person.

Also take note of some of the popular threads such as Any Seat awards, US Dividend Miles and take note of the number of lurkers in the thread as opposed to members. You will be surprised.

As I said I try to help out where I can. But there are some loopholes I am not going to post at the risk of forfeiting the loophole.

I can see where you are coming from, and no doubt there a many who come on with all sorts of good intentions that they don't carry through.

As someone who has been on less than a year, I know I would not have known about let alone attempted an xASA booking. In fact it has taken me about 10 months to attempt this, and then it went wrong. But with Serfty's encouragement and Jessica's thread and the spreadsheet, I got back in there and sorted it out.

So I am grateful for everything I learn here, and it has only been possible because of the generosity of those who share their knowledge and experience. I have attempted to repay that with a few contributions, but I often find that the real experts get there way ahead of me.

 

[JMFK]

FWIW, I was a long time lurker before eventually joining and becoming a paid up member of AFF.

When I first joined, I obviously had a low post count and found people unwilling to answer questions that I'd posed.

As my post count has grown, and I've contributed where I can, I've seen people's willingness to help increase, including out-of-the-blue PM's from people which was a nice surprise.

My next step is to get along to an AFF meet, even though I'm scared I won't be cool enough or have enough knowledge to fit in!

You get out what you put in!

 

[markis10]

My next step is to get along to an AFF meet, even though I'm scared I won't be cool enough or have enough knowledge to fit in!

If you can drink (water/soft drink/ alcohol) and eat, you will fit in.

 

[harvyk]

As my post count has grown, and I've contributed where I can, I've seen people's willingness to help increase, including out-of-the-blue PM's from people which was a nice surprise.

There can be some degree of holding back with those who have a low post count... It's not uncommon to see a one post wonder who will come on here, cough about the fact that the right type of wine was not available on their (almost always QF) flight, and won't even stick around to see the answers.

My next step is to get along to an AFF meet, even though I'm scared I won't be cool enough or have enough knowledge to fit in!

You get out what you put in!

100% agree you should get along to one or more AFF meets. They are always interesting, and as some have alluded to, it's the place where the juiciest tips are shared, plus it's always nice to put some faces to names. Plus where else could you talk about planes and travel with others for 3 hours without worrying that your boring everyone?

 

[bismarck]

I must say that I've learned so much from being on here, and have recently booked tickets in J to Europe that I absolutely would not have been able to afford without the info shared on here (re USDM).

I certainly don't travel as much as many here but would love to give back wherever I can.

Hope to get along to a SYD meet one day....SWMBO would never let me talk about planes for 3 hours on end!!

 

[JMFK]

If you can drink (water/soft drink/ alcohol) and eat, you will fit in.

I do both of those quite well. I'll probably need the dutch courage!

 

[amaroo]

There are many ways to contribute to AFF....not everyone is a walking encyclopaedia on the dark art of aviation travel.

I've clocked a few miles however, overwhelmingly, I'm a bog standard PAYG flyer. I have bugger all status with hotels (never been interested) and well over 90% of my flying status has been from paid tickets devoid of DSC, ASA, status runs or any other secret FF methods

Answering Qs, writing TRs, attending AFF functions and posting interesting and humorous things are some of the things we all can do to contribute. AFF and FT are the only social media "things" I do.......I reckon I got lucky!

TBH it doesn't matter how many posts you have. Some of the most informative and interesting posts I've seen are from members that have a very low post count!

 

[drewbles]

The best part about AFF social events is the vast broad knowledge possessed by members here. We have 'experts' on a lot of different areas, many rather niche. You're bound to run into someone who is a wealth of knowledge on a particular FF program, or Hotel program, or loop holes on different airlines.

That, and the alcohol (and a seemingly very common interest in Champagne!).

 

[Moody]

Re: Levelling the playing field with AFF

How to ensure you don’t lose your Frequent Flyer points | News.com.au

Interesting article......take a look at one of the quoted sources

“Always pay your bills on time and in full each month,” the insider, who asked not to be named, said.

Is this supposed to be secret squirrel info, only to be shared amongst the true believers? (Yes - there is some "real" insider knowledge if you can stop laughing at the above.)

Hmmmm...

I don't come here to find scams and loopholes - I come to share useful tips about air travel and for light entertainment. I understand that business class awards and upgrades are technically the best value, but I never redeem them. I understand that vouchers and gifts are generally the worst value, but I have used them.

I don't care a jot about secret SC runs because I am not sad enough to bother with them. I also don't fly to random destinations via weird routings just because the airline has a pricing glitch.

In short - I think that people think less about you* than you think.

[*You in this context are people who take all this waaaayyyyyyy too seriously!]

 

[bryanjones]

Re: Levelling the playing field with AFF

“Always pay your bills on time and in full each month,” the insider, who asked not to be named, said.

Is this supposed to be secret squirrel info, only to be shared amongst the true believers? (Yes - there is some "real" insider knowledge if you can stop laughing at the above.)

Hmmmm...

I don't come here to find scams and loopholes - I come to share useful tips about air travel and for light entertainment. I understand that business class awards and upgrades are technically the best value, but I never redeem them. I understand that vouchers and gifts are generally the worst value, but I have used them.

I don't care a jot about secret SC runs because I am not sad enough to bother with them. I also don't fly to random destinations via weird routings just because the airline has a pricing glitch.

In short - I think that people think less about you* than you think.

[*You in this context are people who take all this waaaayyyyyyy too seriously!]

tell us what you really think!

 

[cove]

Re: Levelling the playing field with AFF

I do squirm when I hear a friend has left their points lie idle for just over 18 months to get their frequent flyer account zeroed.
AFF is quite helpful in improving the quality of our travel experience and that works well for our family and friends.

 

[samh004]

Re: Levelling the playing field with AFF

Everything has already been said before I even got along to the party...

But what I will say is thus, there's always going to be info you think would be better shared in a small group and/or info that is only shared in a small group, and for this reason every member is encouraged to come along to a social gathering. I love spilling the beans on a few 'tricks' when I've had a couple beers

 

[straitman]

FWIW, I was a long time lurker before eventually joining and becoming a paid up member of AFF.

When I first joined, I obviously had a low post count and found people unwilling to answer questions that I'd posed.

As my post count has grown, and I've contributed where I can, I've seen people's willingness to help increase, including out-of-the-blue PM's from people which was a nice surprise.

My next step is to get along to an AFF meet, even though I'm scared I won't be cool enough or have enough knowledge to fit in!

You get out what you put in!

Where are you from JMFK :?:

 

[JMFK]

Where are you from JMFK :?:

Melbourne - I'll try to get to a meet soon!

 

[JessicaTam]

Melbourne.

Then getting to a meet should be easy. There are more of them each month than on time trains.

 

[JMFK]

Then getting to a meet should be easy. There are more of them each month than on time trains.

Hahahahaha. No more excuses then eh?

 

[drron]

This is a subject I have often thought about.however our travel patterns are such that the mistake fares and loopholes are of little use to us as we have planned ahead.I don't mind giving a heads up if I stumble across one-eg in November,december 2012 AA had the QF awards via DXB whereas QFF did not until the deal was officially ratified.there was a window of opportunity for F awards to Europe on QF metal with AA miles.
Most of my contributions are pretty general pointing out various opportunities to save money etc that are out there but often not known to less frequent travellers.None is a loophole.
I also don't mind helping specific requests if an area I know reasonably such as AA awards.
But I admit I have got much more out of AFF.Avianca is the latest.Though this is tempered by the fact with all the publicity with the US and LM schemes SQ have pulled premium awards off others FF schemes.There are though work arounds and I hope one day to join the SQ suites club.
There is always going to be some who just take and give nothing back,it is human nature.However I still believe the great majority are decent so I hope I can keep exchanging info on AFF for many years.

 

[Craigie]

It's an interesting debate and I swing both ways (in the debate)

As a low count poster one could look back over what I've posted and probably not think I've contributed very much. As others have alluded to, for me it can sometimes feel almost intimidating because you know that your knowledge pales in to insignificance compared to some gurus and I feel I don't want to be posting clutter. I know people will say not to worry and just post but it's not in my personality!

But also as a low count poster I've tried to refrain from asking questions as well because i do like the fact that this place is a gold mine and putting some time and effort into finding things is more rewarding.

I'm not in the industry not do I travel for work but my love of aviation and flying has made this place a hobby and an enjoyable place to be. The sharing is fantastic but the idea that there's more and that it's hidden excites me even more!