AFF Verified Airline Status

[Princess Fiona]

Are there any issues with this?
My QF status has disappeared from my profile. Logging into profile the information (no, PIN etc) is still there?

 

[Gold Member]

Haven't noticed this feature before. Is this where all the DYKWIA'ers fess up?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Haven't noticed this feature before. Is this where all the DYKWIA'ers fess up?

Yes, it's right up your alley

 

[admin]

I have seen posts on AFF today stating that there have been some issues on the Qantas website and I think the problem you had was related to this.

The AFF Verified Status program periodically checks your status on the airline website. If the check fails for whatever reason (e.g. communication problem/ airline website down/ invalid credentials), your airline status is removed from your AFF profile as it could not be verified by AFF. After about 24 hours, AFF Verified Status program will check again. Once verified, your status will be displayed again on your AFF profile. Hope this makes sense.

I see your status is back on your AFF profile, so I'm sure that was the problem

Are there any issues with this?
My QF status has disappeared from my profile. Logging into profile the information (no, PIN etc) is still there?
View attachment 34540

 

[opusman]

The AFF Verified Status program periodically checks your status on the airline website. If the check fails for whatever reason (e.g. communication problem/ airline website down/ invalid credentials), your airline status is removed from your AFF profile as it could not be verified by AFF. After about 24 hours, AFF Verified Status program will check again. Once verified, your status will be displayed again on your AFF profile.

I wonder if you could do this smarter. Presumably you are screen scraping the summary page? Since this shows the end date (status will be reviewed on...) you could store this date along with the status. Since you know the status won't go down before that date, you could just used the cached status in the event of communications issues.

 

[moa999]

I agree. Checking this on a daily basis seems overkill, and presumably opens up more security holes.

I understand that the information we provided is stored in a hashed form (generally viewed as secure),
but how is my login information used to check the information on the Qantas/ Virgin sites - is it a plain text request, is it https etc.

 

[opusman]

To be frank, your FF number and PIN can't be stored in a hashed form, otherwise they would not be able to "log in" to your account. They would have to be stored as is.

(encryption is not the same as hashing, fwiw).

 

[cmon0005]

Not that I don't trust AFF but I am very protective of my FF pin. I would much prefer if it was a 3 or 6 month check and having to enter the pin every 6 months without AFF storing the pin.
An email notification informing when the re-verification has to be done.
Or better still maybe AFF site can read the status expiry date and only ask after this date.
Just a thought....

 

[SFSC]

I won't be using it because of the PIN issue. That my statuses will only be going down from now on also has a bit to do with it

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Does it really matter who's a DYKWIA and who's not? I removed all my details ages ago as I just reckon it's nobodies business but mine! (however regular readers know who's genuine)

 

[Jousams]

Does it really matter who's a DYKWIA and who's not? I removed all my details ages ago as I just reckon it's nobodies business but mine! (however regular readers know who's genuine)

Haha! My QF PS status expired several months ago, I just can't be bothered to get on a computer and change my profile. ( I don't think you can edit profile on app?)

 

[tuapekastar]

Does it really matter who's a DYKWIA and who's not? I removed all my details ages ago as I just reckon it's nobodies business but mine! (however regular readers know who's genuine)

You are quite correct re who's business it is, and I have considered removing mine, but decided to leave my main ones there not for DYKWIA purposes, but because my status may be relevant in determining the correct answer to a question I ask (of course, all relevant details ought to be included in the body of the question, but being of advancing years, sometimes I forget)

 

[markis10]

Does it really matter who's a DYKWIA and who's not? I removed all my details ages ago as I just reckon it's nobodies business but mine! (however regular readers know who's genuine)

It matters to airlines looking to do status matches via AFF as per the announcement on the feature:

(As you may know many airlines offer a "Status Match" whereby they offer to match the status you have in one airline with the equivalent status in their program. In fact, the Australian Frequent Flyer has been approached by airlines requesting details of our members who are "Status Match" candidates. By having this information readily on-hand we could facilitate this process.)

The AFF Verified Airline Status is optional, and free for all our members.

 

[JessicaTam]

I won't be using it because of the PIN issue. That my statuses will only be going down from now on also has a bit to do with it

I concur! Except I hope that it takes a while for status to drop.

 

[lovestotravel]

Oh do let me know when an actual status match ACTUALLY happens. .......

 

[Deleted member]

I don't fly enough to keep status with one airline. Let alone two

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It matters to airlines looking to do status matches via AFF as per the announcement on the feature:

So a broad based offer to forum management to assist in a SM to entice new clients for the airline or AFF management approaching airlines on behalf of members? Isn't one of the fundamentals of AFF to help others with learned information?.......if so, I'd be thinking that AFF would help by telling members (perhaps just paid up members) that xyz airline is currently offering SMs or challenges and let interested members contact said airline themselves and supply their own evidence of bona fides, rather than organising some back room deal that requires members to "trust" a forum owner and the forum IT security with personal log in details and if one doesn't wish to do that, is automatically excluded from the offer.

It's not my business (and I'm assuming AFF is a business), but I'm not that impressed by trading off members personal details and that simply makes me more intent to keep my details confidential. Thanks, but no thanks.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Fair enough, I don't think this is much different to Award Wallet or Tripit Pro.

 

[admin]

I'll respond by making a few points:
1. AFF Verified Airline Status is entirely optional. If you don't feel comfortable using it, then don't! Its that simple.
2. Airlines reps continually monitor AFF for a whole lot of reasons including to identify "high value" potential customers. I would have thought that making this earlier for them would be of mutual benefit to both the airlines and our members.
3. AFF is not in the business of "telling members" anything. We are an online community who share information. If you think that it would be useful publish current Status Match offers, you are quite free to start a thread or that purpose.
4. One of AFF's core principles is that non-paid members have access to the same information as paid members. The difference is that paid members have a smoother viewing experience (eg. no ads, full use of Apps) and/or receive financial benefits (e.g. QF Club discounts). Other than the GOLD Member Privileges forum (http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/gold-membership-privileges/) which contains financial benefit details, all members have access to the same information. We have no plans to limit non-paid member's access to any information. This includes the AFF Knowledge Centre.

So a broad based offer to forum management to assist in a SM to entice new clients for the airline or AFF management approaching airlines on behalf of members? Isn't one of the fundamentals of AFF to help others with learned information?.......if so, I'd be thinking that AFF would help by telling members (perhaps just paid up members) that xyz airline is currently offering SMs or challenges and let interested members contact said airline themselves and supply their own evidence of bona fides, rather than organising some back room deal that requires members to "trust" a forum owner and the forum IT security with personal log in details and if one doesn't wish to do that, is automatically excluded from the offer.

It's not my business (and I'm assuming AFF is a business), but I'm not that impressed by trading off members personal details and that simply makes me more intent to keep my details confidential. Thanks, but no thanks.

 

[Deleted member 9370]

Thanks Admin, but why do I have to put in my PIN? Not happy to do that.