Nov 17, 2014, 8:07 pm
Last edit by: IBobi
Wikipost instructions: this wiki post is locked, and may be edited by Administrators and Senior Moderators; wiki contents may be printed by using the 
(lower right wiki corner)
Currently, there is no paid Premium subscription to eliminate advertising from the FlyerTalk viewing experience, and at this moment (18 Nov 2014) there is no plan for a Premium subscription in the works.
HISTORY: A few years ago, Randy Petersen, owned a number of travel-related products and websites under Frequent Flyer Services (est. 1986), including FlyerTalk, WebFlyer, FlyerGuide (wiki) and Inside Flyer magazine (more recently, MilePoint and Boarding Area).
When the FlyerTalk Premium subscription was instituted, one could subscribe to Inside Flyer magazine and through it, to an advert-free version of FlyerTalk that also included an expanded message box for Private Messaging.
Randy Petersen sold FlyerTalk to Internet Brands March 2007 and Randy Petersen and FlyerTalk went their separate ways in November of 2010.
When Premium subscriptions came up for renewal, for a period of time the Premium subscription could appear to be renewed by paying once again via the Inside Flyer webform. Unfortunately, due to the separation of ownership, this did not extend the Premium FlyerTalk subscription, and previous Premium members were presented with advertising and saw a sudden diminution of their PM message box.
CURRENT STATUS: Admin has been working on a Premium, ad-free membership solution for over two years, but at this moment there is no Premium membership, nor is there any intent for such a product in the near future.
On a case-by-case basis, Administration has extended an ads-free experience with expanded PM message box to those (relatively few) members with a recent Premium subscription due date gratis. If you feel you have cause to request that interim free service because your Premium service expired recently, please post your request here. These should not be expected to be renewed in perpetuity.
Other posts relating to the future of Premium subscriptions and related issues may be posted here as well.
When (and if) the Tech and Admin departments have a Premium subscription solution at hand, it will undoubtedly be advertised or broadcast to all FT members. For now, there's no comprehensive solution.
Thank you for your understanding.
(lower right wiki corner)Currently, there is no paid Premium subscription to eliminate advertising from the FlyerTalk viewing experience, and at this moment (18 Nov 2014) there is no plan for a Premium subscription in the works.
Hi everyone,
As of now, we do not have a solution regarding Premium. What this means is that there is currently no plan for a Premium, ads-free product. It doesn't mean there won't ever be one, but the fact that it's not on the radar means it probably won't be happening any time soon.
Regarding ads, please *do not promote ad-blocking software on FlyerTalk*. I don't know that anyone particularly enjoys seeing advertising. But the fact remains that FlyerTalk is *free* to use, and that's because of advertising revenue. In addition, the use of adblockers causes us (me) no end of headaches, because it interferes with site functionality in such a way as to make it very difficult to determine if there is an issue with flyertalk.com, or with a single user's computer. The complaint comes in and must be researched either way.
Thank you all for your help,
Paul
As of now, we do not have a solution regarding Premium. What this means is that there is currently no plan for a Premium, ads-free product. It doesn't mean there won't ever be one, but the fact that it's not on the radar means it probably won't be happening any time soon.
Regarding ads, please *do not promote ad-blocking software on FlyerTalk*. I don't know that anyone particularly enjoys seeing advertising. But the fact remains that FlyerTalk is *free* to use, and that's because of advertising revenue. In addition, the use of adblockers causes us (me) no end of headaches, because it interferes with site functionality in such a way as to make it very difficult to determine if there is an issue with flyertalk.com, or with a single user's computer. The complaint comes in and must be researched either way.
Thank you all for your help,
Paul
When the FlyerTalk Premium subscription was instituted, one could subscribe to Inside Flyer magazine and through it, to an advert-free version of FlyerTalk that also included an expanded message box for Private Messaging.
Randy Petersen sold FlyerTalk to Internet Brands March 2007 and Randy Petersen and FlyerTalk went their separate ways in November of 2010.
When Premium subscriptions came up for renewal, for a period of time the Premium subscription could appear to be renewed by paying once again via the Inside Flyer webform. Unfortunately, due to the separation of ownership, this did not extend the Premium FlyerTalk subscription, and previous Premium members were presented with advertising and saw a sudden diminution of their PM message box.
CURRENT STATUS: Admin has been working on a Premium, ad-free membership solution for over two years, but at this moment there is no Premium membership, nor is there any intent for such a product in the near future.
On a case-by-case basis, Administration has extended an ads-free experience with expanded PM message box to those (relatively few) members with a recent Premium subscription due date gratis. If you feel you have cause to request that interim free service because your Premium service expired recently, please post your request here. These should not be expected to be renewed in perpetuity.
Other posts relating to the future of Premium subscriptions and related issues may be posted here as well.
When (and if) the Tech and Admin departments have a Premium subscription solution at hand, it will undoubtedly be advertised or broadcast to all FT members. For now, there's no comprehensive solution.
Thank you for your understanding.
No ad / Ads - Premium subscription (master thread)
Jul 29, 2013, 8:15 pm
#91
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: Starwood Gold, UA 1P, Hertz 5*
Posts: 81
My IF sub expired and I'm seeing ads. I even renewed said subscription only to discover FT Premium is in limbo. Can someone also help me with blocking these ads please? Its a big drain on mobile browsing for sure! Thank you.
Aug 2, 2013, 12:37 pm
#92
No longer with Internet Brands
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: DL DM 1.6MM, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 5,343
Aug 5, 2013, 1:31 pm
#94
No longer with Internet Brands
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: DL DM 1.6MM, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 5,343
Aug 14, 2013, 12:41 pm
#97
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF Lifetime SG, LH HON, OZ Lifetime Diamond +, HH Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 14,372
Aug 14, 2013, 1:26 pm
#98
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Home
Programs: AA, Delta, UA & thanks to FTers for my PC Gold!
Posts: 7,676
Aug 16, 2013, 10:28 am
#99
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF Lifetime SG, LH HON, OZ Lifetime Diamond +, HH Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 14,372
Aug 26, 2013, 12:29 pm
#101
No longer with Internet Brands
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: DL DM 1.6MM, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 5,343
Sep 19, 2013, 3:38 pm
#102
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: UK
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, UA 1K
Posts: 822
No solution yet?
I'd happily pay to have an "ad free" experience
I normally read FT using my iPad, my "fat fingers" often accidentally open ads
Although this may be good for IB as I guess "every click through helps"
I normally read FT using my iPad, my "fat fingers" often accidentally open ads
Although this may be good for IB as I guess "every click through helps"
Sep 29, 2013, 10:20 am
#103
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
No Ad free FT option at this time
Recent received
and took effect today.
No sure where to direct this post, so will start here.
1) Disappointed the choice was to re-introduce (even if temporarily) ads for folks who had longtime supported the community with a subscription. Why could not the "ad free" option be continued until a true option was available?
2) This choice will drive more to the "free" option of ad blockers and foreclose future participation in any new program.
3) The announcement seems to be parallel of the customer unfriendly approach some airlines use -- with a lack of forward looking info. When will new info be available? Only a tease of what may come but in the meantime I get ads and someone gets revenue from those ads.
Believe this has been handled poorly.
Paid Subscription Expiry Notice
Hello,
Your access to the "Ad Free w/ One Year InsideFlyer.com" is scheduled to expire soon.
Currently, we do not offer a premium service. We are working to put together an ad-free service for FlyerTalkers, and will announce a new package site-wide when this is available.
Yours,
FlyerTalk Forums team
Hello,
Your access to the "Ad Free w/ One Year InsideFlyer.com" is scheduled to expire soon.
Currently, we do not offer a premium service. We are working to put together an ad-free service for FlyerTalkers, and will announce a new package site-wide when this is available.
Yours,
FlyerTalk Forums team
No sure where to direct this post, so will start here.
1) Disappointed the choice was to re-introduce (even if temporarily) ads for folks who had longtime supported the community with a subscription. Why could not the "ad free" option be continued until a true option was available?
2) This choice will drive more to the "free" option of ad blockers and foreclose future participation in any new program.
3) The announcement seems to be parallel of the customer unfriendly approach some airlines use -- with a lack of forward looking info. When will new info be available? Only a tease of what may come but in the meantime I get ads and someone gets revenue from those ads.
Believe this has been handled poorly.
Sep 29, 2013, 11:00 am
#104
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Milton, GA USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Discoverist, Radisson Elite
Posts: 19,040
While I wish there was an ad-free version available to all members, remember you were supporting Randy Petersen and not really Flyertalk.com. IB was being generous to give you ad-free access for the past few years even though Randy Petersen was not involved with this site.
Sep 29, 2013, 11:15 am
#105
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
While I wish there was an ad-free version available to all members, remember you were supporting Randy Petersen and not really Flyertalk.com. IB was being generous to give you ad-free access for the past few years even though Randy Petersen was not involved with this site.
Another negative -- my PM ability has been disabled as I exceed the "free" limit.
What else has this broken? To this longtime active supporter of FT, this feels very customer unfriendly. Forcing ads and not providing an option (and even a timeline for the option), disabling functionality, ....
I must admit it has been eye-opening to see the aggressive amount of ads on FT. I understand the need for revenue, but lacking any other choice I will not tolerate the ads.