MSY-MSP

Location: Seattle Washington
Experience: almost 7 years as a contributing member of the community

What is FlyerTalk to you?

Flyertalk to me is a community where people of various backgrounds and cultures can come together to discuss about their love of travel. It is the love of travel, and generally the obsession, of collecting/accumulating points/miles that generates the strength of the community. It is a place I can come an openly and freely discuss topics that are of interest to me. It is a place I can learn and share about much more than the programs I belong to or the airlines I fly.

What has to change on FlyerTalk?

What needs to change at Flyertalk. That is an interesting question. I am sure that there are a number of things that could be improved or changed with Flyertalk. For example, changes in what forums there are, what the policy on signatures is, how and when a new member is granted access to some of the forums, etc. Though honestly I have to admit that I haven’t given much consideration to changes on Flyertalk up until this question was asked of me. If I had to change one thing on Flyertalk it would be part of the search feature. Specifically, one of the issues I have had with the search is when you type in a search and get the results and then realize you made a mistake, hit back and then retype the search to, for example, correct a typo or redefine the term, you often get the message that you have to wait x time to resubmit your search. It is frustrating. So that is the one thing I would change right now. However, I think that change to anything needs to be carefully considered. If you do not consider the change, and the result of the change then you are likely going to make the wrong decision. I would want to take the time to really understand what changes need to be done to Flyertalk and why people want the change.

What do you like best about FlyerTalk?

One of the things I like best about Flyertalk is the ability to learn so much more about various programs or places that I am interested in. The wealth of knowledge here at Flyertalk is beyond compare. When things happen, Flyertalk is the best place on the planet to find out information about the event or change. (Granted I am talking about all things travel related). Another thing that I really like about Flyertalk is the welcoming nature of the members here. We always make a point to welcome new members and help them along the way. Even when new members post old questions, the membership is great about answering their question and also helping them learn where and how to find the answers to their questions in the future. Yet another thing that is great about Flyertalk is/are the DO’s. Where else would I have had the opportunity to fly halfway around the world to meet people who share a common interest, but haven’t met in person. It is through the DO’s that I have traveled to places that I wouldn’t have previously visited, met people who I would likely never had met, or had experiences that would change my life (so to speak).

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

If I had to pick a motto or a platform, I would say it is “Look to the future, remember the past, live in the day”. This is the way I tend to look at things and believe it is a good way to live. By looking to the future, you are always thinking ahead and planning more carefully. Remembering the past allows you to learn from your mistakes as well as your successes. Live in the day reminds you to enjoy what you are doing, because you never know when it could all be over. I think using this motto, Flyertalk can become an even greater place than it is now.

Name your three favorite forums and why.

My three favorite forums are, in no particular order,
Travel Safety and Security: Where else can I comment on and learn about the eroding of our rights (at least in the US), comment on the absolute absurdity that they call security at the airport, discuss various inconveniences that we face each and every time we attempt to travel, or simply watch the sparks fly as people discuss these issues. An additional bonus for this forum, is that I can sometimes use the skills that I learned in law school, but cannot use on a day to day basis at my job. I truly love this forum if for nothing more than it is a microcosm of society as a whole.
United Mileage Plus: This is the forum for my primary airline. It is usually the first place that I go when I have a question or want to discuss something about travel, as 9 times out of 10 my question or desire to discuss travel is related to United. It is in this forum where I have discovered that there are a number of folks who think the same thing about an issue related to United that I do. I also have learned so much more about United than I would have before I came to Flyertalk. It is also the home away from home where I can speak about things in terms that my wife simple looks at me like I am crazy.
CommunityBuzz: It is through this forum that I have gone places and met people from around the world. It is here where the true community of Flyertalk comes together. It is the chance for those of us who desire to remove the veil of anonymity that is an IBB and see who we all are in person. Simply put, it is the place where Flyertalk meets the real world.