AFF Membership levels

[duffshot]

OK I have not been around AFF in any real way for about 6 weeks but what is the go with the new membership levels we now have the opportunity to pay for ? It doesn't really appeal to me but what does everyone else think? I couldn't see any discussion on it in a quick search so maybe it is a real new thing???

 

[JohnK]

See if you can follow the discussion in this thread.

You might want to try a few pages before as well.

 

[DPG]

duffshot...

I have upgraded to a silver membership as it removes the advertisments, which seemed to be multiplying every time I logged in. I have no problems with adverts, but a payment of $35 to make the viewing of AFF much more enjoyable was a no brainer.

D P G

 

[NM]

Its going to have different value for each person. If you can use the benefits of the various membership levels, then its good value and the ad-free experience is a bonus. For some people, just removing the ads is a good enough reason to sign up.

If you can count the travel insurance and ExpertFlyer discounts as savings (may be for some people, not for others) then the cost of Gold is covered.

 

[Dave Noble]

Its going to have different value for each person. If you can use the benefits of the various membership levels, then its good value and the ad-free experience is a bonus. For some people, just removing the ads is a good enough reason to sign up.

If you can count the travel insurance and ExpertFlyer discounts as savings (may be for some people, not for others) then the cost of Gold is covered.

I've managed to save $80 with EF deduction plus a hotel booking and the $50 saving on the travel insurance will make EFs benefits good value to me

Dave

 

[Aircrash 1]

As a 'Moderator" ther wouldn't be a conflict of interest would there?????

 

[Dave Noble]

As a 'Moderator" ther wouldn't be a conflict of interest would there?????

Huh. Why would there be? I don't get the income

Dave

 

[serfty]

My Travel Insurance is not due for renewal 'til next March and I had just subscribed for 12 months on Expertflyer (via v-flyer) when AFF subscriptions came in ...

Hmmm ... ads? I can read/use/ignore at my leisure when I have to use IE.

All thing being well, I can readdress these issues next Autumn.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

As a 'Moderator" ther wouldn't be a conflict of interest would there?????

Moderators are all volunteers who generously give of their time for nothing.

 

[Yada Yada]

OK I have not been around AFF in any real way for about 6 weeks but what is the go with the new membership levels we now have the opportunity to pay for ? It doesn't really appeal to me but what does everyone else think? I couldn't see any discussion on it in a quick search so maybe it is a real new thing???

As JohnK mentioned there was some brief discussion about it when it began, but you'll have to sift through that long "forum software" thread.

I have not joined up as there is no value for me. My job provides me with travel insurance and I fly mostly for business so I rarely spend time trying to find award flights and therefore don't need the software.

As for the ads, I am using a tweak on my PC that blocks those annoying Google ads no matter what website I visit, so the only ones I see are here are AFF's own ads. Like most internet advertising, I tend to not even notice it after the first sighting.

The number of PMs you can have in your inbox is now limited to 10. Not a big deal for me because email is free. The loss of the signature line similarly is no big deal for me personally. However I do view it as a loss of functionality for the community - e.g. newer members could glean some helpful information about members from their sig line, e.g. the programs they belong to, links to other info, etc which perhaps helps build some confidence when reading a post.

So I am staying put where I am as a NB because it works best for me.

 

[JohnK]

As for the ads, I am using a tweak on my PC that blocks those annoying Google ads no matter what website I visit, so the only ones I see are here are AFF's own ads. Like most internet advertising, I tend to not even notice it after the first sighting.

I am not using any tweaks but apart from the first few days when AFF software was upgraded the ads are now part of the background and easily ignored.

It is not worth $25/yr or whatever the price to remove the ads and neither is the premium membership. I have no need for discount travel insurance, nor do I have a burning desire to get expert flyer. Membership of expert flyer is overpriced anyway and on the 3 occassions a year I travel overseas if I really need to know how full a flight is then I ask someone for help. I have no problems with booking award seats, just check the QF award booking engine regularly or move the dates of travel.

 

[Damien]

There are ads?

 

[DPG]

There are ads?

Not for me!

I love my Silver membership!

D P G

 

[kpc]

The loss of the signature line similarly is no big deal for me personally.

Ahh...so that's what happened to the signature line. I presume subscribers can still see mine

I personally cannot see a lot of value in paying for a subscription to avoid the ads...God knows, with all the advertising in my life, I have trained my brain to ignore them so it really doesn't bother me...also, I refuse to click on any of the ads:mrgreen:

 

[serfty]

Ahh...so that's what happened to the signature line. I presume subscribers can still see mine ...

I've noticed a plan B ; check locations ...

From admin: Just a gentle reminder that the location field is to be used for location only! I really don't want to play policeman and would prefer it if the biographical fields are used for their obvious intended purpose only. (If you wish to have "signature" type information, please consider unpgrading your membership to Silver.)

 

[oz_mark]

I've noticed a plan B ; check locations ...

Good idea!

 

[kpc]

I've noticed a plan B ; check locations ...

:!:

 

[DPG]

Ahh...so that's what happened to the signature line. I presume subscribers can still see mine

Sadly it is the other way around... Subscribers cannot see non-subscriber's signatures, but everyone can see a subscribers signature...

One thing that I don't feel has been said abut the subscriptions is that it gives money back to AFF, as I am sure that there are certain costs involved, especially with the constant improvement of the site.

D P G

 

[JohnK]

Sadly it is the other way around... Subscribers cannot see non-subscriber's signatures, but everyone can see a subscribers signature...

You are right although it is possible to see a non-subscriber's signature by clicking on information about the user. The OLD signature is displayed on screen but there is no way for non-subscriber to maintain because they need AFF subscription.

One thing that I don't feel has been said abut the subscriptions is that it gives money back to AFF, as I am sure that there are certain costs involved, especially with the constant improvement of the site.

If AFF is a great site then it should have been able to pay for itself with advertisements and sponsorships. I feel memberships were not a great idea but as Clifford owns the site and he can choose what to do with it.

 

[oz_mark]

From admin: Just a gentle reminder that the location field is to be used for location only! I really don't want to play policeman and would prefer it if the biographical fields are used for their obvious intended purpose only. (If you wish to have "signature" type information, please consider unpgrading your membership to Silver.)

It would, however, be nice if it were possible to have peoples loyalty memberships displayed with the messages, rather than having to go into the users information to see what their levels are. This is a piece of information that I find useful in understanding someones experience with a particular program. Even the software, by having an information field for memberships, respects that this is strictly not "signature type information". My suggestion for an improvement: include the membership information with the posts.