Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Quick survey: With QR winning a FT forum, do you support a EY Etihad forum, too?

For the reasons outlined in future, QR has been approved for a new forum both by the TalkBoard and in several statements on this thread by Randy Petersen.

I believe it is a good time to ask whether EY might be afforded the same consideration.

There are many reasons to support a forum for this rapidly-growing airline, whose CEO aims for EY to be the best.

EY seems to have very strong support from its owner, big aircraft plans and a rapidly expanding reach across the world.
Etihad's expansion in North and South Asia and its 2008 on-track targets for 6M pax in 2008 at 70%+ loads will make this airline an option for increasing numbers of current and future FTers.

I am sad to see QR leave but the time seems right to ask for your support, and for TalkBoard and Randy to consider Etihad for its own forum.

Please discuss before QR leaves this home.
I will ask for the assistance and advice of our kind moderators if there is support for a new forum for EY.

Do you support a forum for Etihad?

I agree with BiziBB - Etihad is old enough and mature enough for its own forum.

I'm not so sure it's a good idea to have a EY-only (or QR for that matter) forum, but would prefer a "Gulf Carrier" forum which groups EK, GF, QR and QY together. The Gulf carriers are a breed apart, in the most part, from the other Middle Eastern airlines such as Egyppoair, MEA, Royal Jordanian, etc., but don't have enough... shall we say "quality passengers who'd comment on Flyertalk" to justify multiple forums per airline.

i don't think EY posts are dominating this forum in the same way that QR did at times. it doesn't matter how big or ambitious a middle eastern airline is: if people don't post a lot about it, then the right home for it is here.

ian. :)

Not a huge fan of the QR own forum and also not a fan of an EY forum.

If EY doesnt get it own forum now, its just a matter of time. I think this airline is gonna do well.

I have travelled EY to Bangkok, Amman, London, Qatar, and soon to geneva, in the past 2.5 months. Though I live in Dubai, I much prefare EY over EK.

I do support it getting its own forum, but I would agree with moocherx, I wud much prefare a Gulf forum.

I'm not so sure it's a good idea to have a EY-only (or QR for that matter) forum, but would prefer a "Gulf Carrier" forum which groups EK, GF, QR and QY together. The Gulf carriers are a breed apart, in the most part, from the other Middle Eastern airlines such as Egyppoair, MEA, Royal Jordanian, etc., but don't have enough... shall we say "quality passengers who'd comment on Flyertalk" to justify multiple forums per airline.

A 'Gulf' forum similar to the 'Airlines of India' would work briliantly (excluding Emirates). It would contain all the hubub separate to African carriers. Such airlines could include:
Etihad
Qatar
Gulf Air
Bahrain Air
Air Arabia
etc.

Excluding perhaps GF, all of them get a lot of hype & have ambitious expansion plans which stand out separate to the other threads on this forum.

what do we think?

A 'Gulf' forum similar to the 'Airlines of India' would work briliantly (excluding Emirates). It would contain all the hubub separate to African carriers. Such airlines could include:
Etihad
Qatar
Gulf Air
Bahrain Air
Air Arabia
etc.

Excluding perhaps GF, all of them get a lot of hype & have ambitious expansion plans which stand out separate to the other threads on this forum.

what do we think?


We missed the chance to shut the gate.
QR is GONE!
Or will be soon, once its new home is open.

I like your idea but we must consider the basis on which airlines are given their own forums.

Read the very interesting discussions on Talkboard,for the Virgin America and Qatar TB discussion and votes.

There are several factors now considered in these discussions.

On this basis, if there is interest and discussion here regarding Etihad, its expansion, its services, its problems but also its new, shiny aircraft, routes and high standards...why shouldn't we consider it as the next sibling to follow Emirates and Qatar out of the house.

EY is almost halfway toward growing to the scale of Emirates, in just a few years. That's something every FTer should consider!

We missed the chance to shut the gate.
QR is GONE!
Or will be soon, once its new home is open.

I like your idea but we must consider the basis on which airlines are given their own forums.

Read the very interesting discussions on Talkboard,for the Virgin America and Qatar TB discussion and votes.

There are several factors now considered in these discussions.

On this basis, if there is interest and discussion here regarding Etihad, its expansion, its services, its problems but also its new, shiny aircraft, routes and high standards...why shouldn't we consider it as the next sibling to follow Emirates and Qatar out of the house.

EY is almost halfway toward growing to the scale of Emirates, in just a few years. That's something every FTer should consider!

Sure, but today & in the short term they're not in a position to dominate a whole forum, yet are totally dominant in the Africa/Middle East forum. A Gulf Forum would be great short term home for EY & would contain all the other carriers such as Air Arabia. The Airlines of India threads are very successful.

EY will be a major force very soon and they are already carrying pax from NA(yyz &JFK) to AUH and will expand their offerings as.soonas they have aircraft. They offer great service and very good cnx in AUH. I think their own board is, or will soon be, justified.

There were only a handful of replies posted to "Rate Etihad Airways Etihad Guest " thread. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=754197&highlight= I wonder if we really have a decent number of Etihad Guest members on FT to chat amongst ourselves :confused: But perhaps a dedicated forum would encourage more joiners?

BTW - this thread seems to have also got moved to QR by accident

ME FFP Mods (and Senior Mods),
Per my PM about returning this and the Goodbye QR thread back...
(and a reply a couple of days ago)

Moving this thread and the Goodbye QR thread back to the original forum is appreciated. ^