TalkBoard Elections/05 - Question 1: What are your key substantive contributions to helping members learn...

This question was submitted by member gleff (Because I'm not just a candidate, I'm also a voter, something I'd like for candidates to answer is):

"What are your key substantive contributions to helping members learn about miles and points generally, or a program in particular? (Please provide links to relevant threads.)"

I'll start by saying that when a candidate poses a question, it is likely relevant to disclose that fact. I don't mind candidates fielding questions - that is actually a positive in my mind. But full disclosure is always a good idea to avoid appearances of a conflict of interests. Gleff is an excellent candidate and someone I believe would do an outstanding job, but as the submitter of the question it should be noted that he is a candidate.

Next, I want to assert that we are not electing a help desk. I hope this is not about simply identifying the most prolific or even the most friendly posters. Instead, I trust this is about electing a board with a divergent set of backgrounds who can provide input on what serves the membership as a whole. I am not afraid of this question, but I am also not sure it best defines what we should be looking for. I personally will cast my vote for people who demonstrate an ability to provide some level of thought leadership and for those who represent a cross section of the entire community. I will vote for some who give lots of advice, but also for some who know what it is like to seek advice.

As for my posting contributions, I freely admit they are not as numerous as those of some other candidates.

I have tried to be both informative yet respectful in my postings, such as this one referring to an FTer who will sooner be losing his job due to a recent bankruptcy ( http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4634132&postcount=6 )

I’m not afraid to state an opinion ( http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4645536&postcount=3 or http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4599841&postcount=8 ) or provide a reference (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4602710&postcount=5 ) or to ask for help (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=475610 or http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=474889 ). Sometimes though, it is just about thanking someone for doing an outstanding job (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3674023&postcount=8 ).

I don’t know if those are the best examples, but they are all posts in the first page of a search on my own name. They are all recent and should be a representative sample of the types of conversations I tend to get involved in.

I'll start by saying that when a candidate poses a question, it is likely relevant to disclose that fact. I don't mind candidates fielding questions - that is actually a positive in my mind. But full disclosure is always a good idea to avoid appearances of a conflict of interests.
John C, fair enough, and thank you for the kind words Gleff is an excellent candidate and someone I believe would do an outstanding job

There's little secret I'm a candidate, also a current TalkBoard member.

And for the record when I submitted the question, really just to get the ball rolling, I prefaced it with: Because I'm not just a candidate, I'm also a voter, something I'd like for candidates to answer is:My prefactory remark just didn't make it into Randy's post. Nothing nefarious going on here. ;)

And while we may not be electing a help desk (hah! that was pretty funny, actually) I thought I'd just give folks an opportunity to put their best foot forward and highlight their contributions. Speaking selfishly as a voter, there are some posters who are certainly well-regarded that are running but they tend to post primarily in forums that I don't visit particularly often. Their contributions to the community might otherwise escape me.

Best regards, John, and good luck to you! ^

I'd like to add that indeed gleff did include that statement in his oirginal question and it has now been added to the question. In the future we will try and make this same notation as the question is asked.

Thank you.

If the number of prior posts is key to winning this election then I’m out of Schlitz. There are many types of users at FT and I hope to represent the “Lurker” and those that don’t post frequently.

I hope to work with the membership and other TalkBoard members to find ways to get feedback from those that don’t post frequently so that we can ensure we are serving them also.

It doesn't seem long ago that I stumbled upon FT one late evening...

As a person traveling since I was 10 months old, working at the age of 16 in London for a travel company, and more recently with a 3 year long-distance relationship and logging lots of miles on my own dime, I've become known as the mile vampire (I did live in NOLA) among my friends.....now having written a few articles for specific newsletters on how to take advantage of frequent flier programs and travel advisor for a national non-profit association.

I love reading FT forums, it's a nice way to unwind each night. Although there are many who get upset with people asking basic questions, I"m always happy to help, giving my best thoughts, advice and opinions. I remember what it's like to be a newbie, to be too tired to do an extensive search and well, happy to help someone in need.

I often ask questions, and try to follow up with my own experiences.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=323118&page=2&pp=30&highlight=chocolate
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=458352
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=473991
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=462601

Way back in 2001 I instigated one of the first threads (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5537) on purchase of US Savings Bonds with affinity credit cards. What a bonanza that was! My wife earned a bunch of free tickets on Southwests and at least 2 Companion Passes before the gravy train stopped.

In early 2004 I posted a list of obscure facts and tips about the Hilton Waikoloa Village (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=312757), where I have stayed a total of about 100 days over the years. It's heaven for children, and I'm going back next spring.

More recently, I compiled and posted the Southwest and Rapid Rewards FAQ (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=422264). I continue to keep it fully updated. This huge FAQ contains virtually all known tips and tricks about flying Southwest and maximizing benefits from Rapid Rewards.

Because Southwest operates so differently from traditional carriers, and because some of these differences could trip up even an experienced traveler, FTers can read this FAQ and become "instant elite" on Southwest. You see, elite status on Southwest in conferred by knowledge, not mileage.

The FAQ was a ton of work to assemble, but FTers greatly appreciate it. I requested Moderator status in order to be able to maintain the FAQ, and FTers welcomed me as moderator with unanimous approval (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=411246). gmax58 wrote: "before I became a member, most of the really good advice I read from the WN forum was from nsx."

As moderator, I make sure that the several Southwest employees who post on the Southwest forum are treated respectfully. Their information and insights are valuable to FT, since we could otherwise have a one-sided customer-centric perspective. People on the Southwest forum understand that a business has to make a profit. If there are to be devaluations, we try to anticipate them and plan accordingly. Protecting ourselves from devaluation is the flip side of the "maximizing miles" coin. Southwest hears us loud and clear, even if they don't always accede to our wishes. We just gained an official Southwest lurker this week!

I don't know if I dislike this question or not either. I mean, as John C said, this is not a helpdesk election, but a advocate group.

That being said. I also don't hesitate to speak my mind, take this post for example:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4696757&postcount=17 (just made it as I was searching for my own posts)

This thread shows that i've helped at least parlay some experience to try and answer the question at hand: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=479894

Here's another: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4637733&postcount=4

Thing about these posts is that none of them are stickes, or contain earthshattering information - that's not always what FT's about but what it IS about is parlying experiences that one may have into practical use to assist others. The two previous posts showed someone was concerned and needed at least some reassurance that their requests/questions/concerns were not outlandish and at least (hopefully) made them feel that they weren't getting screwed.

Thing is though too is that you're not your post count - not every has the time, ability or even the sheer knowledge that others contain to post. Those who have regdates in 2000 are automatically not any smarter or knowledgeable than someone who has one in 2004 or 2005.

Point is this, just because you don't have a large postcount or aren't even very well known, doesn't mean that 1. that person is not a solid contributor; 2. that person may have very well gone through the same learning curve that most do on FT. We all have learned something from FT whether we've been here one day or five years.

I cannot link to a specific thread at the moment as my posts are few and far between. I am more a "reader" than a poster. I feel that the board could benefit from my feedback as well since I would represent a huge percentage of the type of person that comes to this BBS.

When I have contributed, I have shared honest real-life testimony to specific questions raised.

As you could discern from searching for, and reading, my posts in Travel Bidding (http://flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=204) I help members save real spendable cash by helping them learn about Priceline, especially for hotels. Unless one is spending Other People's Money, it makes no sense to pay $159 for a $49 hotel room just to get a couple of hundred Points. Or if it does make sense, nobody has as yet explained to me why it does.

Good question. And FlyerTalk is all about sharing travel experiences.
I've been a business traveler for 35+ years and have a great deal of airline, hotel, rental car, etc. experience.
But I'm a long way from having been everywhere and done everything.
I try to help members if they ask specific questions pertaining to my experience. Like the best way to get an upgrade on Aeromexico, where the best Delta Crown Room Clubs are, what my experience is with various Marriott properties, etc.
I don't fake it if I don't have an answer. Frequently I'll post a link to another thread that may be helpful to a member. If I can help, I'll post a reply. Otherwise I'll often follow the thread and post if the thread develops in a direction where my experience kicks in.
And as a couple folks above said, post count isn't a determining factor for giving great advice. Many times I've received the best advice from a poster with just a handful of posts.

More recently, I compiled and posted the Southwest and Rapid Rewards FAQ (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=422264). The Southwest FAQ is a great thread!

FTers welcomed me as moderator with unanimous approval (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=411246). Well, now you're just asking for trouble. I'd lock down that thread if I were you, tempting fate and all... ;)

As one of my first posts on FlyerTalk had to do with getting a Priceline discount on airfare to make mileage runs cheaper (not knowing that Priceline tickets don't generally earn miles), I can honestly say that since those my early days on FlyerTalk, I have been able to give back to the community. I'm a deal loving FlyerTalker and I feel that a one of the best things that I have done to help people learn is to compile & manage the Mileage Run Tools thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=312559). I did this before I was the moderator of that forum and I did this as a way to give back to the community to have all the tools that I and others could find, in one place. As a newbie on FlyerTalk, the concept of a mileage run made sense to me - but the tools to do it & understand the logic behind it made absolutely no sense to me. I learned quite a bit about it at one of Viajero Joven's mileage run seminars when he was living in DC & before he went on "tour" teaching classes across the country. With this new found understanding, I have since been able to help others understand the logics of one of, what I believe, the toughest things to master. To date, I still don't consider myself a master of this art, however, by willing to learn more myself and by helping folks that don't understand the logics behind MRs, I feel I have given back to the community.

Other things that I have done to help out new members include always trying to provide information about things I know. You will note that at this time, I have almost 4,000 posts on FlyerTalk - only a small majority, probably less than 20 of them, are in OMNI. I feel that I have been a regular contributor to the subject of points & miles and that my knowledge & understanding of this game we play has been beneficial in my posts & numerous PMs with others.

My field of "expertise" if you can call it that is the Alaska Air Mileage Plan. My very first post (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25310) was in the Alaska Air forum, and now, nearly 5700 posts later, it's a privilege to have a good enough reputation/knowledge base in the forum that sometimes, the questions are directed specifically to me. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=434329&highlight=missy%2A)

While I haven't travelled as extensively as some on the boards, I do try to contribute in the general travel discussions as well when the questions/comments involve places I've been, and especially when it involves the Seattle area.

One of the best posts we can make regarding gaining points and status is the "me too" post. Some may hate it, but as Koko said in his nomination statement, we are junkies for this sort of thing and knowing that there are others like us out there is strangely comforting. More than that, it confirms that what we are talking about is real. Lots of us actually benefit from knowing that many members are engaging in a particular activity which they profit from.

These days I do a lot of "me too" posts. Why? Because my youthful days of discovery in the world of frequent travel are over. In the early days of Flyertalk, I found many great tricks and tools to improve my elite status and gain miles and points. I dutifully reported them here, but as they are back in the 90's and number in the hundreds, I'll let the avid researcher go look for them. After a few years and a huge membership growth here, I noticed that others became more adept at sniffing out the deals. So I left it up to them to find most of them (I post new info from time to time such as http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=426527), and I mostly stay in the confirmation role "yep, it worked for me too, thanks!".

Also my trip reports (see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=435372) try to inject a little humour, yet relate a lot of information.

Without a doubt, my most visible example of helping members learn is my thread "How to Construct and Book a Mileage Run" (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=391187). It is a cookbook for getting your MR booked that demystifies the process, so that anyone willing to spend a bit of time at it, can do it. BTW: You might want to follow the links in that thread to some of my Trip Reports - a lot of folks find them highly entertaining.

Like many of my fellow candidates, I have also made various posts to answer questions, and clarify confusing issues. I have posted observations and strategies for making use of program features.

But a lot of my contributions happens behind the scenes. Many times, members will PM me with questions and requests for advice. I do what I can - sometimes it is a simple answer, while in the case of another, an email exchange of over a thousand lines occured where I mentored him on MR's and various program rules.

On occasion, I will PM folks when I can make suggestions that will help their particular situation, but would otherwise steer the thread farther off topic and other times I will choose to PM because I am suggesting a loophole that is better off not advertised, lest the program managers "fix" the loophole.

I also encourage lots of friends, relatives, seat opponents, etc. to take a look at FT and know that more than a few signed up. By turning them on to FT, I help them learn quite a bit about miles and points. ;)

Hello One and all,

Well first of all a bit of history to put things into perspective, one of the main reasons that I joined FlyerTalk was on advice of my mate Bounty. We are both very keen points collectors and he thought FlyerTalk would help me further my points balances.

Since joining FlyerTalk I have enjoyed the benefits of members advice, so much so that this year I had 16 nights stay in European hotels (Priority Club) and did not have to pay a penny for the rooms, this meant that I could spend the money saved on my family and have and even more enjoyable holiday, after all family are the most important thing in life (sorry to say even more important than FlyerTalk!)

I received lots of help from people and made good use of their findings. I am a firm believer that in returning the favours.

I am a very keen (my wife would say compulsive, colleagues say obsessed) collector of British Airways Miles (via BA directly and dare I say Tesco) and Intercontinental Hotels (Priority Club).

I have posted in numerous threads regarding points collecting. If you want to see my contributions then it’s easy enough to use the excellent search facility that FlyerTalk provides.

Also since joining the board I making the headway with BA and Priority Club, even more of my work mates are now collecting various points and one has just made Platinum. I am sure that they will soon be regulars on FlyerTalk.

I think that my best find this year was for the 40 Tier point run for a British Airways flight from Glasgow to Dublin.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=465281

Anyway, as you will have seen from your search results I take a very active part in the forums.

After all a forum is only as good as their members posting.

Sorry managed to post my reply to another question in this forum. Two many windows open at the same time.

This question was submitted by member gleff (Because I'm not just a candidate, I'm also a voter, something I'd like for candidates to answer is):

"What are your key substantive contributions to helping members learn about miles and points generally, or a program in particular? (Please provide links to relevant threads.)"
I'll let my record in the NWA/CO/DL/Marriott forums speak for itself, I believe (and hopefully others do too) that I have provided a good deal of helpful information in these forums over the past 4 years

This was my own question, I suppose I should offer an answer. My guess is that some of my 11,600 or so posts have been helpful. My answer will be far from comprehensive, but I owe at least a flavor of my substantive contributions I've made for those who might not be familiar with my postings here.

I used to maintain a list of mileage deals creating a buzz across Flyertalk (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321723). It's just that there seem not to have been as many buzz-worthy offers lately, other than a few good credit card signup bonuses and Faster Free Nights. At least nothing has put me in a tizzy.

I created The Status Match Master Thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9558) (which Randy was gracious enough to reprint in Inside Flyer) and The 'What Credit Card Should I Choose?' Master Thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=457077).

I put together general forum stickies for both the MilesBuzz forum (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=311566) and for the Starwood forum (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=338088).

My honeymoon trip report (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=444681) is one of the 10 most viewed trip reports that have been posted on Flyertalk. In addition to encouraging a whole bunch of people to go to Bora Bora, I've gotten tons of feedback that folks appreciated by detailed description of how I went about booking the awards and piecing together the trip (such as finding F award space on QF and TN).

(Gosh, I hope that more than a half dozen of my posts have been useful...)

Anyway, that's a flavor and a start, I could (hopefully) dig up more postings if anyone would find that useful.

FlyerTalk is about exchanging first-hand experiences we've had with the various programs in which we are members. This sharing should assist others with working their way through the arcane and ideosyncratic nature of some of these programs.. It is about assisting others when and if we can. Over almost 6-years of participating in this Community, I have done my share of both. To post these would flood this response with blue links, and my locating them all would take up most of the rest of the time remaining in the election campaign. Suffice to say, those who follow the fora in which I post regularly will know my contributions. Those who have received this help and even gifts of various certificates and the like, will also know this.

Of late, explaining the intricacies of the Priority Club and Ambassador programs on that forum seem to have occupied a fair amount of my posting "ink", given last summer's flood of DL members who joined the Ambassador program through the rather generous 25K DL miles promotion.

Since the primary raison d'etre of FT is to share such advice, I have both given and sought it. In the end, I take the "kramatic" view of contributing here on FT, and have not been disappointed by the return generosity afforded by other FTers.

Let me begin by thanking Randy for this forum allowing candidates to answer flyertalkers’ questions. And thank each of you who asked a question of the candidates. There is nothing more important than democracy. And there is nothing more important to democracy than open and candid communications. Only in this way can you, the flyertalk community, know where we candidates stand on the important issues of the day. And nothing is more important to democracy than THAT. Except empty promises of things like free beer and world peace. Those are more important. Oh, and the last-second change of equipment on my IAD-SFO flight this fine Sunday morning from a 757 to a 3-class 767!! Going from economy minus on a ticket I just bought Thursday to a business class seat on a 767 is waaaaaay more important, PLUS it gets me free bloody marys and an empower socket so I can address these important, important question. In fact, on second thought, screw democracy. Upgrades and airline status are far more important. I’d trade democracy for first class any day. Aw, who in the heck am I kidding am I kidding? I’d trade democracy for BUSINESS class any day.

Is my time up? Why isn’t the little yellow or red light on yet? Hm.

Ok, fine. Help members learn. Well, I have helped everyone on FT learn tolerance for stupid questions, bad jokes and an over-inflated sense of self-importance. And that IAD sucks. And those are special, SPECIAL lessons that I trust each of you will carry in your hearts for the rest of your lives. You are welcome.

And may God Bless Flyertalk.

It's really tough to say, at least for me. All I know is that I've tried my very best to bring some substance to the FT boards, in each and every fora, going back to the beginning. And I've attempted to do it in a timely fashion as well. I'd hope that if one were to "search" my posts, if they have not already read many of them, they would agree that they might've be made more aware, in general. Admittedly, however, although I've known about much of what I read here beforehand, I have gotten far more out of FT than I have given. Amazing but true! So thanks to all! :)

-Mark

I would say that my greatest contribution is how my 15 years of experience in the Security Industry allows me to shed light in the Travel Safety & Security forum.

I've learned a lot from FT and hopefully am able to help "newer" members with what I have learned.

"What are your key substantive contributions to helping members learn about miles and points generally, or a program in particular? (Please provide links to relevant threads.)"

I have made over 25,000 posts in 5½ years and the rumour is at least a few of them have been useful to other members. The stronger rumour is also that quite a few were NOT, but that's for another thread. ;)

Virtually none of these have been made in OMNI in the "Mongolian Word Association Thread" or "Which Flyertalker Will Next go To The Toilet" etc, etc - so rather boringly, most of those 25,000 are mostly on miles and points and travel matters. ;)

Importantly, I start a lot of threads that I hope offer useful info - and miles and points and discount opportunities to others.

If no-one started threads on FT there would be far less overall traffic is I guess an obvious comment, given the vast army of un-registered lurkers out there.

On FT there is an option to click against each member's profile :

"Find all threads started by ozstamps"

And out of interest, to help answer this question, I just clicked on that link.

I blew the FT search engine out of the water, as the default only goes to the last 500 threads started by any member, and in my case that only goes back to May 2003. So I guess I have started way over 1,000 threads - more than some folks have posts.

Whether they were "substantive contributions to helping members learn about miles and points" only others can judge. :cool:

Actually as I have that search page open, posted below are the last 20 threads it shows started by me still active in order of date last posted upon. I was asked to: "(Please provide links to relevant threads.)"


Thread listing all known UA revenue and award booking codes and a summary of each one (1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page) 133 posts - 30,530 views - United

Given the 6am curfew can planes land at SYD before 6am? 2 posts - 32 views - Qantas Frequent Flyer

"Oz Fest #2" in SYDNEY - Memorial Day weekend May 27/29 2005. Who is interested? (1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page) 77 posts - 29,159 views - CommunityBuzz!

Need ONE United SWU or 1 segment It'l - have 2 x CR1s. 2 posts - 44 views - The Coupon Connection

Could interest some folks here - Hilton "Diamond Club" for ~ $A200 a year (1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page) 387 posts - 15,466 views - Qantas

Overweight person buys 2 seats. Does UA award miles on both seats? 23 posts - 1,575 views - United Mileage Plus

The "New" Sydney Hilton. Report (long!) on a stay yesterday. ( 1 2 3 ) 85 posts - 5,162 views - Hilton HHonors

BAKU, Azerbaijan - anyone been there? Places to stay - things to do? Airport Lounges? 13 posts - 362 Views - TravelBuzz!
Poll - how many countries have you visited? ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) 390 posts - 5,461 Views - TravelBuzz!

QF/BA RTW from $A1,999 **INCLUDING** taxes with $200 land credit too. ( 1 2 ) 59 posts - 1,439 views - Qantas

How to pre-book an internal Spain rail ticket MAD-Valencia? Or should we rent a car? 27 posts - 525 views - TravelBuzz!

Any advice/inside info if LH will increase taxes in the next few weeks? 22 posts - 930 views - Lufthansa Miles & More

Can you UG LH to FRA with UA miles, and then swap for paper SWU on day of flight? (1 2 ) 33 posts - 698 views - United Mileage Plus

"Oz Fest 3" - Brisbane - Memorial Day weekend May 26-28, 2006 ( 1 2 3 4 ) 95 posts - 2,710 views - CommunityBuzz!

What $$ fee EXACTLY does Priceline charge on each hotel booking these days? 15 posts - 628 views - Travel Bidding

Thoughts please. Will I make a LH LAX-FRA from a UA domestic in 92 mins? 17 posts - 487 views - United Mileage Plus

Ozzies - save $A20 a night on hotel bookings. 8 posts - 257 views - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Watch it UA. SQ seems likely to get approval for OZ - USA direct flights ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) 244 posts - 10,622 views - United Mileage Plus

Just curious. Have UA Revenue squads cracked down on selling of awards on eBay? 5 posts - 539 views - United Mileage Plus

USA wants more data from incoming pax from October 4 (1 2 ) 38 posts - 1,085 views - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Any sign/rumours on arrival date of the 200*6* 15% 'PMO/Friends Plus' Certs? ( 1 2 ) 40 posts - 1,806 views - United Mileage Plus


I count way over 100,000 page views to just these 20 or so threads, so it appears some folks are reading them ..... whether they get any info from them is anyone's guess. :)

As posted on my platform I move around a lot of FT. Probably more than any other member. And thus have an ear to the ground for what members in a lot of Forums are thinking and posting and interested in. As you can see from these threads I started they are over a very wide spectrum of Forums.

A couple of these threads have around 30,000 page views already.

This one has over 30,000 views and is one I am pretty proud of:

Click for a detailed compilation - listing and outlining all known UA revenue/award/upgrade booking codes "A - Z" (and details and validity of many UA Upgrade Certificates) and how to (mostly!) access and view them on: www.ual.com (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=113792)

I started it over 3 years ago (September 2002) and keep it updated with the assistance of other members. It serves as a useful primer for folks new to FT and the UA boards, as much of the lingo and jargon we use is confusing for new members. :p

I recall it took well over 8 hours to source all the info from a bunch of threads all over the UA Forum. Then type it all up, and then keep it all updated as UA has changed things a ton in this area. Probably 20 or 30 hours work in that little baby alone. :)

"What are your key substantive contributions to helping members learn about miles and points generally, or a program in particular? (Please provide links to relevant threads.)"

I run the "Unofficial Guide to American Airlines AAdvantage (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=342145)", a website that acts as a compendium of information for the AA program, dealing mainly with elite status including how to earn status, benefits, how to do the Gold and Platinum Challenges, and other related topics.

While I haven't had as much time as I've had in the past to keep things up to date and to be able to answer questions in the AA forum, I am still committed to updating the website, which I think has benefited many FTers. In turn, I was able to earn elite status and enjoy the benefits myself too. There's nothing like getting the chance to fly at the front of the plane. :)

I also used to run the Unofficial oneworld Info Desk where I posted rules and info and fares for the various oneworld alliance RTW products and the like. However, I haven't had much time to work on this one so it's dormant for now. I hope I will one day have the chance to revive it and update it again.

Apart from these, I would say that I try my best to answer what questions I can. I'm not a big collector of miles and points and I don't have loads of travel experience, simply for the fact that I don't travel nearly as much as many FTers. So, I'm not going to be bragging loudly about my trip reports or my latest coup getting the customer service department to cough up compensation, etc. Everyone contributes to FT in different ways and that's part of what makes FT what it is. I just like to think that I've done a small part to help others have a smoother and more comfortable time with their travels.

FewMiles..