Art234

Location: Dix Hills, NY (Long Island
Experience: Member since 2000, membership here led me to co-found FFOCUS, a Frequent Flyer Advocacy Group

What is FlyerTalk to you?

Flyer Talk is a COMMUNITY-a place where people with all kinds of backgrounds come to share in a common interest-commercial aviation and frequent traveling. Flyer Talk is a Home Away from Home while we're on the road. It is a place where people come to help each other with issues-and to reach out for assistance as needed. It is a place where I have met some wonderful people and have made many new friends. Flyer Talk is where a bunch of us met and co-founded FFOCUS, back in 2002 (we were the Cockroaches then), and we have never stopped advocating for fair treatment of airline customers AND employees.

What has to change on FlyerTalk?

While I realize Flyer Talk is a commercial venture, I'd like to see a little more in the way of consumer advocacy. I'd like us to me more active and proactive in this area, and to project a more positive image of ourselves and this community to the general public (case in point we should respond strongly to an open letter to a NW Silver who whined about not getting an upgrade, which used the Flyer Talk video as a case against FT'ers and Mileage Runners everywhere).

What do you like best about FlyerTalk?

Flyer Talk is a wealth of information and hints regarding frequent travel--I learned more than I could ever teach here-this is such a great place to share experiences, to learn new tricks, and make new friends in the process! Best of all, so many of our members, while they may be Elite on an airline or three, are not ELITEIST--we welcome everyone. I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to participate in DO's, to share my passion for aviation and flying with so many others in person, and to have once in a lifetime experiences...which I get to share with so many good friends.

State a platform motto or goals for FlyerTalk for the future.

My signature line says it--"It's the fares, stupid"... Fares need to be FAIR. I think we should make suggestions to help airlines find ways to improve their bottom lines WITHOUT adding fees, charges, or otherwise nickel and diming the customers. I also think we need to speak up as a group (which we do UNOFFICIALLY) when policies or fees change which we do not feel are fair.

I also think we need to be more reactive when people have issues--while I have seen COInsider and Starwood Lurker (to mention a few) help people all the time, we should encourage ALL travel providers to be active here, and to help people resolve issues here. I would like the opportunity to give back to this community which has given so much to me.

Name your three favorite forums and why.

US Airways Forum--which is where it all started for me. August, 2002--B. Ben Baldanza's attempted change of Dividend Miles to only count miles earned on unrestricted tickets toward status-the move which gave the Cockroaches (later FFOCUS) it's start!

Continental Forum-where I learned about all the DO's and where I became convinced to give CO a try and never looked back...and brought MANY of my FF friends over.

Community Buzz--the name says it all--COMMUNITY. I have made such very good friends here, and have had the chance to attend DO's and other special events--we are a true community here, one of which I am proud to be a member.